Gardiner (Montana)

Gardiner was officially 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 Americas first national park. Grazing elk, bison and antelope are a common sight in the field right across from main street.

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.

• Bozeman Yellowstone AirportThe airport has year-round non-stop service to Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Oakland, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, and Seattle. There is seasonal non-stop service to Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, Portland (OR), and San Francisco. There are call taxis and hotel shuttles available to bring you into town.

• Billings Logan International Airport

  phone: +1 406 247-8609
  address: 1901 Terminal Cir
  Billings Logan International is the major airport for Eastern Montana, and the busiest airport in the state. Silver Airways uses it as their 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.

Gardiner is small enough that it can all be reached on foot and several trail heads into the surrounding wilderness start right from town.

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

• Custer National ForestSpanning 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 the Northern Region.

• Gallatin National ForestThis 1.8-million acre Forest spans six mountain ranges and includes two Congressionally-designated Wilderness areas, the Absaroka-Beartooth and Lee Metcalf Wildernesses.

Wilderness Areas

• Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Areacovering 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.

• Boiling RiverJust 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

• The Yellowstone Association

  phone: +1 406 848-2400
  address: 308 Park St
  The nonprofit Yellowstone Association educates Yellowstone National Park visitors by offering trip planners, books, videos, and guided classes.

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.

• KBar Pizza

  phone: +1 406 848-9995
  address: 202 Main St
  one of the oldest places in town, they have managed to keep up with the times by expanding and remodeling but still has that old school Montana bar feeling. Pool table and video poker on the more adult side of the bar, but the walled off area on the other side is a little more family friendly.

• Yellowstone Mine

  phone: +1 406 848-7336
  address: 905 Scott St
  Mine-themed restaurant off of the main drag.

• The Silvertip

  phone: +1 406 600-4730
  address: 505 Scott St
  Mexican food, which makes you gassy

• Tumbleweed Bookstore and Cafe

  phone: +1 406-848-2225
  address: 501 Scott St

• Helen's Corral Drive-In

  phone: +1 406 848-7627
  address: 711 Scott St W
  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.

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.

• Antler Pub & Grill

  address: 107 Hellroaring St
  One of the many bars that Gardiner manages to keep going year round.

• Iron Horse Bar & Grille

  phone: +1 406-848-7888
  address: 212 Spring St

• Red's Blue Goose Saloon

  phone: +1 406-848-7434
  address: 206 W Park St

• Rusty Rail Lounge and Casino

  phone: +1 496-848-7336
  address: 905 Scott Street West

• Two Bit Saloon & Cafe

  phone: +1 406-848-7743
  address: 107 Second St

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

• Eagle Creek CampgroundOperated by the state of Montana.

• Timber Camp CampgroundOperated by the state of Montana.

• Bear Creek CampgroundOperated by the state of Montana.

• Canyon CampgroundOperated by the state of Montana.

• Rocky Mountain RV Park & Lodging LLC

  phone: +1 406-848-7251
  address: 14 Jardine Rd

Hotels and motels

• Above the Rest Lodge

  phone: +1 406-848-7747
  address: 8 Above the Rest Ln

• Absaroka Lodge

  phone: +1 406-848-7414
  address: 310 Scott St

• Best Western by Mammoth Hot Springs

  phone: +1 406-848-7311
  address: 905 A Scott Street West

• Comfort Inn - Yellowstone North

  phone: +1 406-848-7536
  address: 107 Hellroaring St
  Offers complimentary breakfast.

• Cowboy's Lodge & Grille

  phone: +1 406-848-9175
  address: 303 2nd Street South

• Crevice Mountain Lodge

  phone: +1 406-223-0148
  address: 384 Crevice Rd

• Hillcrest Cottages

  phone: +1 406-848-7353
  address: 400 Scott St W

• Jim Bridger Cabins

  phone: +1 406-848-7371
  address: 901 Scott St W

• Riverside Cottages

  phone: +1 406-848-7719
  address: 521 Scott St W
  Run by a friendly couple from Texas, each cottage has a bathroom, full kitchen, free wireless internet, heating, air-conditioning, and flat screen TV.

• Yellowstone Basin Inn

  phone: +1 406-848-7080
  address: 4 Maiden Basin Dr

• Yellowstone Gateway Inn

  phone: +1 406 848-7100
  address: 103 Bigelow Ln

• Rodeway Inn & Suites

  phone: +1 406-848-7520
  address: 109 Hellroaring St
  Located one mile from Yellowstone National Park's north entrance, the Rodeway Inn & Suites hotel in Gardiner, MT offers free hot breakfast and free WiFi.

• Yellowstone Suites Bed & Breakfast

  phone: +1 406-848-7937
  address: 506 4th Street South

• Yellowstone Super 8

  phone: +1 406-848-7401
  address: 702 Scott Street West

• Yellowstone Village Inn

  phone: +1 406 848-7417
  address: 1102 Scott St
  The hotel is furnished with handmade furniture built by the owner. Amenities include an indoor pool and complimentary breakfast.

• Dreamcatcher Tipi Hotel

  phone: +1 406 848-9447
  address: 20 Maiden Basin Dr.

Most hotels offer free wifi. It is a common sight in town to see a weary backpacker hunched over their laptop in one of the few coffee shops in town taking advantage of the free wifi.

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.

Yellowstone National Park is to the south and Livingston is to the north via highway 89