Almost every Yellowstone trip involves at least one night in a gateway town: they have most of the region’s hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, gear shops and tour operators. They are not interchangeable. A base on the wrong side of the park can add two or three hours of driving a day.
West Yellowstone, Montana — for the geysers
A compact town of motels, diners and outfitters built right against the West Entrance. It is the closest town to the geyser basins: Madison Junction is 14 miles in, Grand Prismatic about 25 and Old Faithful about 30. That makes it the most popular base for a first visit, and the busiest. In town, the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center cares for bears and wolves that cannot live in the wild, and the Museum of the Yellowstone tells the story of early tourism by rail. In winter it is the hub for snowmobile and snowcoach trips into the park.
Gardiner, Montana — for Mammoth and the wolves
A small, friendly town at the historic North Entrance, where the stone Roosevelt Arch was dedicated by Theodore Roosevelt in 1903. Mammoth Hot Springs is five miles away, and Gardiner is the best base for dawn trips to Lamar Valley. It is also the only entrance open to cars all year, and the place to go whitewater rafting on the Yellowstone River. North of town, Paradise Valley leads to Livingston and Bozeman.
Cooke City and Silver Gate, Montana — for the far northeast
Two tiny settlements just outside the Northeast Entrance, at the eastern end of Lamar Valley. Rooms are few and simple, but there is no closer base for wolf watching. In summer the Beartooth Highway climbs east from here over high alpine plateau.
Small-group day tour from €385 West Yellowstone: Yellowstone Day Tour Including Entry Fee for US Residents
The most-booked day tour from the gateway town closest to the geyser basins, with hundreds of reviews. A guide drives the big sights of the lower loop — Old Faithful, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and the wildlife of Hayden Valley — so you can watch for animals instead of the road. Read the listing for what the entrance fee covers for visitors from abroad.
- Old Faithful, the canyon waterfalls and Hayden Valley
- Park entry included for US residents — check the listing if you are not
- Starts minutes from the West Entrance
Full-day guided tour from €325 From Jackson: Yellowstone National Park Day Trip with Lunch
A long but complete day from Jackson around Yellowstone’s lower loop: the Old Faithful area, Midway Geyser Basin with Grand Prismatic Spring, Fountain Paint Pot, the canyon and Hayden Valley. The drive through Grand Teton on the way is a bonus. Expect an early start and a late return.
- Old Faithful, Midway Geyser Basin and Fountain Paint Pot
- Canyon area and Hayden Valley
- Lunch included
Full-day guided tour from €279 Full-Day Yellowstone National Park Tour from Cody, WY
From Cody the road into the park climbs over Sylvan Pass and along Yellowstone Lake. This tour covers the historic Fishing Bridge, the bubbling Mud Volcano, Hayden Valley, Artist Point and Old Faithful in one day — a lot of ground, which is exactly why it helps to let someone else drive.
- Fishing Bridge and Mud Volcano
- Hayden Valley and Artist Point
- Old Faithful
Small-group day trip from €399 From Bozeman: Express Yellowstone Tour (1 Day)
A small-group day trip from Bozeman covering Fountain Paint Pot, Grand Prismatic Spring, Old Faithful, Yellowstone Lake and Artist Point. Bozeman is a long way from the park, so it is a full 13-hour day — but it solves the problem of not having a car.
- Fountain Paint Pot and Grand Prismatic Spring
- Old Faithful and Yellowstone Lake
- Artist Point and the canyon falls
Whitewater rafting from €95 Gardiner: Yellowstone River Half-Day Whitewater Rafting
A short, splashy run down the Yellowstone River just outside the park with a certified guide. Easy to fit into a day based in Gardiner, and one of the best-reviewed activities in town.
- Rapids on the Yellowstone River
- Certified safety guide
- Short and family-friendly
Small-group wildlife and nature tour from €275 Yellowstone Iconic Sights Tour - West Yellowstone & Big Sky
A full-day small-group tour of Yellowstone’s northern range, combining scenic drives with wildlife watching. The guide looks for bears, wolves and moose, and the itinerary takes in the area’s big viewpoints. Check the listing for the exact stops and pickup points.
- Yellowstone’s northern range
- Watch for bears, wolves and moose
- Small group with an expert guide
Cody, Wyoming — for the East Entrance and the Old West
Founded by William “Buffalo Bill” Cody, the town lies about 52 miles east of the East Entrance, through the Wapiti Valley and over Sylvan Pass to Yellowstone Lake. It has plenty of reasonably priced rooms, the outstanding Buffalo Bill Center of the West (five museums under one roof), and a nightly rodeo in summer. Every park day starts with an hour’s drive, so it suits road-trippers more than people who want to spend long days at the geysers.
Jackson, Wyoming — for Grand Teton and comfort
The town of Jackson, in the valley of Jackson Hole, is known for the elk-antler arches on its Town Square, its galleries, restaurants and ski areas. It is the gateway to Grand Teton National Park, which begins just north of town, and about an hour or more from Yellowstone’s South Entrance. It is the most expensive town in the region, but the best base if you want to give both parks time. Jackson Hole Airport is nearby.
Bozeman and Big Sky, Montana — for arrivals
Bozeman is a lively university town with the region’s busiest airport and the Museum of the Rockies, known for its dinosaur collection. It is roughly 1.5 to 2 hours from the West or North entrance, so it works best for your first and last nights. Big Sky, a mountain resort on the road to West Yellowstone, is about an hour from the West Entrance.
Which town for you?
- First visit, focus on geysers: West Yellowstone (or Old Faithful lodges inside the park).
- Wildlife, wolves, winter: Gardiner, or Cooke City for the keenest.
- Yellowstone plus Grand Teton: Jackson, or split between Jackson and West Yellowstone.
- A road trip across Wyoming: Cody, entering by the East Entrance.
- First and last night by the airport: Bozeman.
For hotels in each town, see our where-to-stay guide.
