Region

Yellowstone Country

Sleep in Bozeman or Livingston; drive the park gates as day-trips, not hotel changes.

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Key facts · United States

Best months: May–Sep
Visa: Depends on your passport
Currency: US dollar (USD, $)
Language: English
Plugs: A · B · 120 V
Time zone: Six zones: UTC−5 to UTC−10

Month by month hereIn detail ↓

Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…

North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Yellowstone Country is south-central Montana: the towns around Yellowstone National Park's three Montana entrances, plus the Gallatin, Paradise and Yellowstone river valleys. It is a driving region. Distances between towns run 45–180 minutes, so pick one base for 3–5 nights and day-trip the gates, rivers and ski hills. Bozeman has the flights and the beds; Livingston and Gardiner sit closer to the park's north entrance; West Yellowstone is the west gate itself.

Where to sleep

7 places in this region

Sleep base

BozemanCity guide
Airport, most beds and restaurants, 90 min to the north and west gates.
Best Jun, Sep, Dec–Mar
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LivingstonCity guide
Paradise Valley access, 55 min to Gardiner and the park's north entrance.
Best Jul–Sep, Jan–Feb
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Day trip

Big SkyCity guide
Ski resort and Gallatin Canyon, about 1 h from Bozeman.
Best Jun–Sep, Dec–Mar
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Red LodgeCity guide
Beartooth Highway gateway, 3 h from Bozeman.
Best Dec–Mar
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Cooke CityCity guide
Northeast entrance; the only park road open to cars in winter runs Gardiner–Cooke City.
Best May–Jun, Sep–Oct
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Also here

GardinerCity guide
North entrance; Mammoth Hot Springs is minutes away.
Best May–Jun, Sep–Oct
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West YellowstoneCity guide
West entrance; summer flights into WYS.
Best Jun, Sep, Dec–Mar
JFMAMJJASOND
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Plan the nights

How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags

Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags

Night sequences

3 nights: Bozeman 3; one full day for the park's north loop, one for the Gallatin or Paradise Valley
5 nights: Bozeman 3 + Gardiner or West Yellowstone 2 (gate town for an early park start)
7 nights: Bozeman 3 + Livingston 2 + Red Lodge 2 (Beartooth Highway in summer)

Bozeman + Gardiner + Red Lodge + Cooke City in 3 days is four long drives and no park time.
Wildlife on the road at night: deer and elk wander onto I-90 and US-191; drive slower after dark.
Cell coverage is patchy in the Gallatin and Absaroka ranges — carry paper maps and water.

Day-trips door to door

To	From	Door-to-door p50	Last return	Note
Gardiner and Mammoth Hot Springs	Bozeman	105 min	unknown	Drive US-89 through Livingston; park entrance fee applies. Go early — the north loop takes a full day.
West Yellowstone	Bozeman	90 min	unknown	US-191 through Big Sky; the west entrance queues build from mid-morning in July–August.
Big Sky	Bozeman	60 min	unknown	Ski shuttle runs twice daily in winter; check the return time before you commit.
Red Lodge and the Beartooth Highway	Bozeman	180 min	unknown	Beartooth Pass (3,337 m) is usually open late May to mid-October only; snow can close it any month. Check status first.
Three Forks (Missouri River headwaters)	Bozeman	40 min	unknown	Short half-day; pairs with a Madison River stop.

Bags between cities

No luggage forwarding here; you drive your bags. Rent the car at BZN or BIL and keep it for the whole region.

When to go

Months and weather

Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

Only good-now countries

Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table

Country	JJan	FFeb	MMar	AApr	MMay	JJun	JJul	AAug	SSep	OOct	NNov	DDec
Bozeman	go	go	go	ok	ok	go	ok	ok	go	ok	ok	go
Livingston	go	go	ok	×	ok	ok	go	go	go	ok	ok	ok
Big Sky	go	go	go	×	×	go	go	go	go	ok	×	go
Red Lodge	go	go	go	ok	×	ok	ok	ok	ok	×	ok	go
Cooke City	×	×	×	×	go	go	ok	ok	go	go	×	×
Gardiner	×	×	×	×	go	go	ok	ok	go	go	×	×
West Yellowstone	go	go	go	×	ok	go	ok	ok	go	ok	×	go
United States (country-wide)	ok	ok	go	go	go	go	ok	ok	go	go	ok	ok

Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Climate strip

Month by month

Zone	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Yellowstone Country valleysBozeman, Livingston, Gardiner, Big Timber	cold	cold	ok	ok	best	best	best	best	best	ok	cold	cold

best: dry, mildok: workable

Yellowstone Country valleys: Park roads and most services run roughly late May to October; July–August are the busiest and priciest. Winter is a real season here — skiing, snowcoaches and the Gardiner–Cooke City road — but expect −20 °C (−4 °F) nights and closed passes.Park roads and most services run roughly late May to October; July–August are the busiest and priciest. Winter is a real season here — skiing, snowcoaches and the Gardiner–Cooke City road — but expect −4 °F (−20 °C) nights and closed passes.

Elevation matters: Bozeman sits near 1,500 m and Beartooth Pass tops 3,300 m. Snow can fall in any month at the higher elevations.

Getting in and passes

Arrival times and regional passes

Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate

From	To	How	p50	Note
BZN (Bozeman Yellowstone International)	Bozeman	Taxi, rideshare or rental car	~20 min	Year-round non-stops include Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Seattle; more routes are seasonal. Small airport, short waits.
BIL (Billings Logan International)	Livingston / Bozeman	I-90 west by car	~2 h to Livingston, ~2 h 30 to Bozeman	Montana's busiest airport and the better gateway from the east; Denver, Salt Lake City and Minneapolis are the main connections.
WYS (Yellowstone Airport, West Yellowstone)	West Yellowstone	On foot or short taxi	~5 min	Summer-only service, about three flights a day; the terminal is in town, minutes from the west gate.
Salt Lake City	Bozeman	I-15 north then US-20/US-191, or a short flight	~6 h drive	The drive is scenic but long; flying is usually the better call.

Regional passes

Verdict first

Yellowstone National Park entrance pass

buy

One private-vehicle pass covers both Yellowstone and Grand Teton for 7 days; buy at the gate or online. Check current prices.

Montana state park and fishing licences

check

Non-resident fishing licence is required on the Gallatin, Madison and Yellowstone rivers; buy online or at a fly shop.

Ski passes (Big Sky, Bridger Bowl, Red Lodge Mountain)

check

Mountains usually open mid-December to April, sometimes May. Day tickets and multi-day passes vary by resort — check before you book lodging.

Eat and move on

Regional food and where to go next

Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next

Regional food

Where and when it works

Dish	Where	Timing / trap
Beef and bison steaks, burgers	Bozeman, Livingston, Big Timber	Cattle country: meat is the default menu. Bison is common and often leaner.
Elk, trout and wild game	Bozeman and Livingston restaurants	Seasonal and not on every menu; ask what is local that week.
Wheat Montana breads and baked goods	Three Forks and regional bakeries	Locally grown wheat, made in Montana; good for a road-trip breakfast.
Wilcoxson's ice cream	Many local restaurants and shops	Made in Montana since 1912; several local flavours.
Local microbrews	Livingston and Bozeman taprooms	Small-town bars double as the local news and fishing-report hub.

Go next

Montana

planned

I-90 across the state

Billings, Butte, Helena and Missoula are the next stops.

Rocky Mountains

I-90 west then south

The wider mountain region, including Colorado and Wyoming.

Pacific Northwest

I-90 west to Seattle, ~11 h

A long drive; fly if the ticket allows.

Southwest

I-15 south via Salt Lake City

Pairs with a Utah parks loop.

Planning aids

Built from this guide's own data

Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…

Region in numbers

Where to sleep: 2 bases
Day trips: 5, 40 min to 3 h
Nights suggested: 3–7 nights
Ways in: 4 listed
Best months: May–Sep

Going in…

Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.

Pick a month.

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Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

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Sources

Ask about Yellowstone Country

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