Yellowstone National Park Gateway Communities
While we know Yellowstone National Park is the star of the show, the small mountain towns that surround the park offer a getaway from your getaway and a chance to see the Yellowstone you haven't seen yet—Montana's Yellowstone Country. The way to "do Yellowstone" is to set up basecamp in one of the park's gateway communities of Cooke City, Gardiner, Red Lodge or West Yellowstone.
West Yellowstone offers a little slice of Americana. It's Montana's biggest Yellowstone entrance town and has the most lodging options. It's also about 30 minutes from Old Faithful. Gardiner's diverse lodging options all have two things in common—a western flair with the hospitality to match, and, it's about 10 minutes from Mammoth Hot Springs.
Red Lodge offers the quintessential mountain town experience and a chance to take the famously scenic Beartooth Highway into the park via Cooke City. Or, just stay in Cooke City at a rustic lodgepole cabin or small lodge, just 45 minutes from Roosevelt Lodge.
Cooke City, Gardiner and West Yellowstone all get you right into the park, but Gardiner offers the only year-round access by car. All four gateway communities provide ease of access to the entire region and any amenities you may need, plus a dose of Yellowstone Country culture.
