Gardiner

Gardiner ranks 5th on the list of the best day trips from Montana. Gardiner is a small town in southwest Montana, near the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park, the world's first national park. Gardiner's northern boundary was established in the early 1880s by the cantankerous Yellowstone concessionaire James McCartney. Gardiner's small-town Montana charm, natural beauty, and abundance of wildlife truly make it a one-of-a-kind "home on the range" for their nearly 900 residents. Year-round access to Yellowstone's Northern Range—the "American Serengeti"—truly distinguishes Gardiner from other Yellowstone gateway communities. Gardiner is not only surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country, but it also has a colorful history filled with trappers, miners, mountain men, and hunters, as well as well-known western characters such as Jim Bridger and Calamity Jane.

Bison, bighorn sheep, elk, pronghorn, grizzly bears, black bears, and wolves are among the many large wildlife species found in this area. The town also has the state's first access to the wild and scenic Yellowstone River, the lower 48 states' longest free-flowing river. Gardiner is a full-service community with no big-box stores. Their merchants take pride in offering everything you need for a pleasant stay, from groceries to shopping to auto repair.

Google rating: 4.5/5.0
Address: 216 Park Street | PO Box 81 | Gardiner, MT 59030
Phone: 406.848.7971
Website: https://www.visitgardinermt.com/