Bozeman Yellowstone International (BZN)
BZN is about 80 miles from Gardiner, roughly a 1.5-hour drive via Livingston and Paradise Valley. Rental cars are the main option.
Book summer rental cars and lodging early.
BZN Airport Info ↗Hot Springs Terraces, Bison Valleys & Wild Rivers
North Yellowstone,
Montana.
From the Roosevelt Arch in Gardiner, Montana, and the travertine terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs to the wolves and bison of the Lamar Valley and the waterfalls near Tower: explore Yellowstone's year-round northern gateway.
Information reviewed October 2026 · Live National Weather Service forecast for Gardiner, MT.
America's Serengeti
Roosevelt Arch · Mammoth · Lamar Valley.
01 / Getting Here & Around
Fly Into Bozeman, Then Drive Paradise Valley.
The North Entrance at Gardiner is the only Yellowstone entrance open to regular cars all year, reached by a scenic drive through Montana's Paradise Valley.
North Entrance & Northeast Road
From Gardiner the road climbs to Mammoth Hot Springs, then runs east through Tower Junction and the Lamar Valley toward Cooke City, staying open to cars through winter.
Other park roads close seasonally; check road status.
Park Road Status ↗Wildlife distances: Stay at least 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from bison, elk and other animals. Use pullouts and never stop in the road for wildlife.
02 / Interactive Map
North Yellowstone & Gardiner Map.
Filter by area or type, tap a pin for details, and save places to download as a shareable image.
03 / Iconic Stops
Travertine Terraces, Wolf Country & River Canyons.
The northern range is Yellowstone's best wildlife-viewing country.
Roosevelt Arch
The stone arch dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903 frames the North Entrance, inscribed 'For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People.'
North Entrance Info ↗Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces
Boardwalks wind over steaming travertine terraces just across the Wyoming line, with elk often grazing around the historic Fort Yellowstone buildings.
Mammoth Info ↗Lamar Valley
Often called America's Serengeti, this wide valley is prime habitat for bison, pronghorn, wolves and bears; come at dawn or dusk with binoculars.
Wildlife Viewing ↗Tower Fall
A 132-foot waterfall plunging between volcanic spires near Tower Junction, a short walk from the parking area.
Tower Area Info ↗Fort Yellowstone Historic District
Stone buildings from the years when the U.S. Army managed the park, now home to the Albright Visitor Center.
History Info ↗Paradise Valley Scenic Drive
U.S. 89 follows the Yellowstone River between the Absaroka and Gallatin ranges from Livingston to Gardiner, with hot springs resorts along the way.
Montana Scenic Drives ↗04 / Gateway Eats
Bison Burgers, Huckleberry Shakes & River-View Patios.
Gardiner's restaurants and Mammoth's dining room fuel park days.
Gardiner Dining
Gardiner's small downtown has cafés, pizza, steakhouses and patios overlooking the Yellowstone River, many serving bison burgers and huckleberry desserts.
Montana Dining ↗Inside the Park
Mammoth Hot Springs has dining and grab-and-go options near the hotel, but services in the northern range are limited, so pack lunches and snacks for wildlife days.
Park Dining ↗05 / 3-Day Plan
The Essential North Yellowstone Itinerary.
Terraces, wildlife valleys and Paradise Valley.
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Day 1: Gardiner & Mammoth
Pass under the Roosevelt Arch, walk the Mammoth Hot Springs terraces, explore Fort Yellowstone, and watch for elk at dusk.
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Day 2: Lamar Valley at Dawn
Leave before sunrise for the Lamar Valley to watch for wolves and bison, stop at Tower Fall, and return via Blacktail Plateau.
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Day 3: Paradise Valley
Drive north through Paradise Valley, soak at Chico Hot Springs, and explore the historic railroad town of Livingston.
Wildlife & Thermal Areas
Backcountry Conditions.
Yellowstone's animals are wild and unpredictable, and bison injure more visitors than any other animal. Keep your distance, use telephoto lenses, and never approach wildlife.
Stay on boardwalks in thermal areas, where thin crust covers scalding water. Weather changes quickly at elevation, with snow possible in any month.
NWS Billings Office ↗ · Yellowstone Safety (NPS) ↗
Mammoth Hot Springs.
Travertine terraces · Boardwalks
06 / Official Resources
Handy Links & Portals.
Park, gateway town, road and safety links for Yellowstone's northern range.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Is the North Entrance open all year?
Yes. The road from Gardiner through Mammoth to the Northeast Entrance near Cooke City is the only park road open to regular cars year-round, weather permitting. Check the park's road status page before driving.
Where is the best place to see wolves?
The Lamar Valley and nearby Slough Creek are among the best places in the world to see wild wolves, usually at dawn or dusk from roadside pullouts with a spotting scope.
How far is Old Faithful from Gardiner?
Old Faithful is about 50 miles south of Gardiner, typically a two-hour drive through Mammoth, Norris and Madison in summer. That route closes to cars in winter.
How does the saved places list work?
Clicking "Save" on any location card or map marker stores it directly in your browser's local storage. You can filter the view to "Saved" or choose "Save list as image" in the place list beside the map to generate a clean PNG containing all your chosen stops and addresses for offline navigation.