West Yellowstone
West Yellowstone, Montana
The busiest of Yellowstone's five entrances, and the closest gateway town to Old Faithful and the geyser basins.
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Gateway Town
Gardiner, Montana
The only Yellowstone entrance open to regular vehicles year-round, marked by the historic Roosevelt Arch.
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Town Information
833
Population
5,939
Ft Elevation
1880
Founded
Distance from Entrance: Directly adjacent to the park's North Entrance — the Roosevelt Arch marks the boundary between town and park.
Parking: Street parking and hotel lots throughout town; no dedicated park-and-ride system since Yellowstone has no shuttle.
Shuttle Connection: No shuttle system. Yellowstone has no in-park shuttle — visitors drive their own vehicles from Gardiner. This is the only entrance open to regular vehicles year-round, so it requires no winter tour booking.
Town data courtesy of Wikipedia and AI-assisted research.
About
Gardiner sits at Yellowstone's North Entrance, the only one of the park's five gates that stays open to regular vehicles all year. It's the closest gateway town to Mammoth Hot Springs' travertine terraces and to the Lamar Valley, one of the best wildlife-viewing corridors in North America for wolves, bison, and elk.
The town dates to 1880, though the area's history with the park goes back to the earliest days of Yellowstone itself — the North Entrance has served as a gateway since the park's creation in 1872, and the name Gardiner comes from Johnson Gardner, a fur trapper active in the area in the early 1830s. The town's best-known landmark, the Roosevelt Arch, had its cornerstone laid by President Theodore Roosevelt himself in 1903; its top is inscribed with a line from the park's founding legislation: "For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People."
At 5,939 feet elevation with a population of roughly 900 (833 at the 2020 census), Gardiner is smaller and quieter than West Yellowstone, but its year-round vehicle access makes it the obvious choice for winter visitors who don't want to book a guided snowcoach or snowmobile tour — you can simply drive in.
Where to Stay
Gardiner offers a smaller, quieter lodging scene than West Yellowstone, with motels and inns clustered near the Roosevelt Arch and the Yellowstone River.
Winter in Gardiner
Because the North Entrance stays open to regular vehicles year-round, Gardiner is the easiest way to see Yellowstone in winter without booking a guided snowcoach or snowmobile tour — you can drive to Mammoth Hot Springs and the Lamar Valley any time of year.
Getting Into the Park
Gardiner's North Entrance leads directly to Mammoth Hot Springs, about 5 miles and a 14-minute drive away, and beyond that to the Lamar Valley — one of the best wildlife-viewing areas in the park for wolves, bison, and elk.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Gardiner from Mammoth Hot Springs?
About 5 miles, roughly a 14-minute drive. Mammoth Hot Springs sits just inside the North Entrance that Gardiner borders.
Can you drive into Yellowstone from Gardiner in the winter?
Yes — Gardiner's North Entrance is the only one of Yellowstone's five entrances that stays open to regular vehicles year-round, via the road to Mammoth Hot Springs and on toward Cooke City.
What is the Roosevelt Arch?
A stone arch marking Yellowstone's North Entrance at Gardiner, with its cornerstone laid by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903. It's inscribed with a line from the park's 1872 founding legislation: "For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People."
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