Overview
Gardiner is a small town located near the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park. It is the only entrance to Yellowstone Park accessible by car year round and has served as a home base for thousands of tourists visiting the area.
3 sights · 3 things to do · 3 places to eat · 5 bars & cafés · 18 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Gardiner
Custer National Forest
Spanning across southeastern Montana north east of Yellowstone National Park the Forest encompasses nearly 1.3 million acres, the Custer National Forest is known best as one of the most ecologically diverse forests in th…
Gallatin National Forest
This 1.8-million acre Forest spans six mountain ranges and includes two Congressionally-designated Wilderness areas, the Absaroka-Beartooth and Lee Metcalf Wildernesses.
Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area
covering 920,310 acres, is an administrated unit of the Gallatin National Forest, Custer National Forest and the Shoshone National Forest and is named for its jagged peaks resembling bears teeth and for Native Americans …
Boiling River
Just inside of Yellowstone National Park south of Gardiner a sign north of where the road crosses the Gardner River marks the 45th parallel of latitude. A little distance south of the sign, a parking area on the east sid…
Yellowstone Rafting Company
Founded in 1978, The Yellowstone Raft Company pioneered white water rafting on the Yellowstone River and is the only company that is fully permitted by both the National Park Service and the National Forest Service to ru…
Wild West Rafting Company
Offers a variety of river rafting tours.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jun–Sep. Summer highs reach about 81°F; winter lows dip to about 12°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and May. (climate data from nearby Yellowstone National Park)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- WYS Yellowstone Airport, West Yellowstone — 31 mi away. Directions
- BZN Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, Bozeman — 56 mi away. Directions
- BOI Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field, Boise — 291 mi away (major hub). Directions
Gardiner is the only four-season gateway to Yellowstone National Park accessible from highway 89 S to the north and from Yellowstone National Park and Mammoth Hot Springs to the south.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Gallatin National Forest, Yellowstone Rafting Company
- Lunch Tumbleweed Bookstore and Cafe
- Afternoon Boiling River, Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area
- Dinner Helen's Corral Drive-In
- Evening Bears Brew
Day 2
- Morning Custer National Forest
- Lunch Yellowstone Mine
- Afternoon Wild West Rafting Company
- Evening Red's Blue Goose Saloon
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Gardiner offers a wide variety of foods for the hungry traveler. Try searching out locally sourced game such as wild trout or even an elk burger.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Gardiner was founded in 1880, but the area has served as a main entrance to Yellowstone National Park since its creation in 1872. The iconic Roosevelt arch stands as a symbol to the national and international importance of America's first national park. Grazing elk, bison and antelope are a common sight in the field right across from main street.
Get in
By car
Gardiner is the only four-season gateway to Yellowstone National Park accessible from highway 89 S to the north and from Yellowstone National Park and Mammoth Hot Springs to the south.
By thumb
Hitchhiking is more common in the Yellowstone area than other parts of the country. It is still not considered a safe or reliable way to travel, but at major attractions and entrances of the park, pairs or even groups of hitchhikers are a common sight.
By plane
The closest airports are in Bozeman and West Yellowstone the Billings airport is also convenient.
Go Bozeman Yellowstone Airport (BZN)
The airport has year-round non-stop service from Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Oakland, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, and Seattle. There is seasonal non-stop service from Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, Portland (OR), and San Francisco. There are call taxis and hotel shuttles available to bring you into town.
Go Billings Logan International Airport (BIL)
Billings Logan International is the major airport for Eastern Montana, and the busiest airport in the state. Silver Airways uses it as its hub for service within the state, and it is additionally served by Allegiant, Alaska/Horizon, Delta, Frontier, Skywest and United. Denver, Salt Lake City, and Minneapolis are the biggest hubs serving Billings. Delta (Skywest) flies to West Yellowstone three times a day during the summer.
Get around
Gardiner is small enough that it can all be reached on foot and several trail heads into the surrounding wilderness start right from town.
See
Gardiner is the northern entrance to Yellowstone National Park, it is divided by the Yellowstone River and lies just to the south of the Gallatin National Forest and is in a major migration route for animals coming and going seasonally from the higher elevations of Yellowstone Park. Elk and deer are regular visitors and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is one of the last remaining large, nearly intact ecosystems in the northern temperate zone of the Earth.
National Parks
Yellowstone National Park is a United States National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was the world's first national park, set aside in 1872 to preserve the vast number of geysers, hot springs, and other thermal areas, as well as to protect the incredible wildlife and rugged beauty of the area. The park contains 3,472 square miles (8,987 km2), and 3 of the main 5 entrances to the park are in Montana at Cooke City, Gardiner and West Yellowstone.
National Forests
- Gardiner District forest service offices 805 Scott St. Gardiner, +1 406 848-7375
Wilderness areas
See Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area
covering 920,310 acres, is an administrated unit of the Gallatin National Forest, Custer National Forest and the Shoshone National Forest and is named for its jagged peaks resembling bears teeth and for Native Americans that lived in the area.
Do
Do Boiling River
Just inside of Yellowstone National Park south of Gardiner a sign north of where the road crosses the Gardner River marks the 45th parallel of latitude. A little distance south of the sign, a parking area on the east side of the road is used by bathers in the "Boiling River", one of a very few spots in the park where visitors can soak in naturally-heated water. Bathers must walk upstream about a half mile from the parking area to the place where the footpath reaches the river. This spot is also marked by large clouds of steam, especially in cold weather. Here, the hot water runoff from the Mammoth Terraces, enters the Gardner River. The hot and the cold water mix in pools along the river's edge. Bathers are allowed in the river during daylight hours only. Bathing suits are required, and no alcoholic beverages are allowed. Boiling River is closed in the springtime due to hazardous high water and often does not reopen until mid-summer. It tends to be very crowded, so try to visit very early in the morning during peak season.
Buy
Shop Parks Fly Shop
Since 1953. They sell only flies & gear useful within fifty miles of Gardiner, local guide service, focused only on Yellowstone National Park and the Blue Ribbon Yellowstone River system outside the park.
Eat
Gardiner offers a wide variety of foods for the hungry traveler. Try searching out locally sourced game such as wild trout or even an elk burger.
Eat Yellowstone Mine
Mine-themed restaurant off of the main drag.
Eat Helen's Corral Drive-In
Arguably not just the best burger in town, but in the whole state. Consider sharing one, they are big and they are in no hurry to get it to you. Try an elk or buffalo burger for some additional local flavor. Their logo says it all 'home of the hateful hamburger', this has been a Gardiner institution for as long as anyone can remember.
Drink
Montanans take their Bars Pretty seriously and Gardiner is no exception. Bars can be a great source for local news and fishing reports as well as a chance to rub elbows with the locals.
Drink Antler Pub & Grill
One of the many bars that Gardiner manages to keep going year round.
Sleep
Located right on the park border, Gardiner is a popular place to spend the night and offers a massive number of options. In addition to hotels and campgrounds there are a number of rental cabins available.
Campgrounds
Hotels and motels
Stay safe
Though many of the animals in the park area are used to seeing humans, the wildlife is nonetheless wild and should not be fed or disturbed. Stay at least 100 m away from bears and 25 m from all other wild animals! No matter how docile they may look, bison, elk, moose, bears, and nearly all large animals can attack, and every year dozens of visitors are injured because they didn't keep a proper distance. These animals are large, wild, and potentially dangerous, so give them their space.
The weather can change rapidly and with little warning. A sunny, warm summer day can quickly become a cold, rainy or even snowy experience. Hypothermia can be a concern. Be prepared for a variety of weather conditions by bringing along appropriate clothing. Lightning can and does injure and kill people in the park area, so watch the sky and take shelter in a building if you hear thunder.
Finally, with so many people visiting the park each year petty crimes are something to be vigilant against. Lock your car doors and exercise sensible precautions with valuables.
Go next
Yellowstone National Park is to the south and Livingston is to the north via highway 89
Nearby
Yellowstone National Park
Park · 177 listings · 30 mi away
West Yellowstone
City / town · 27 listings · 32 mi away
Big Sky
City / town · 10 listings · 37 mi away
Cooke City
City / town · 9 listings · 38 mi away
Livingston
City / town · 20 listings · 44 mi away
Bozeman
City / town · 48 listings · 48 mi away
Island Park
City / town · 1 listings · 48 mi away
Belgrade
City / town · 6 listings · 56 mi away
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