Yellowstone Gateway Inn
103 Bigelow Ln
Gardiner, MT
A mile from the Roosevelt Arch, with full kitchens for early starts and mountain views for the evenings.
This property is an Honorable Mention. It has been vetted and approved for our highest standards of cleanliness, safety, and operational excellence. While it is still evolving toward our full design-led designation, it is a proven, reliable anchor for any road trip. We recommend it with confidence.
About Yellowstone Gateway Inn
Yellowstone Gateway Inn sits off the main road in Gardiner, Montana, the small town at the northern entrance to Yellowstone National Park. The property consists of 15 apartment-style suites in cabin-style buildings, each with a private exterior entrance, a full kitchen stocked with coffee, tea, and basic organic provisions, a living room with a sofabed, one or two bedrooms, a flat-screen television, Blu-ray player, and access to a DVD lending library. Most suites have patios or decks with Absaroka Mountain views. The Roosevelt Arch, the stone gateway Teddy Roosevelt dedicated in 1903 at Yellowstone's north entrance, is 1 mile from the inn. Mammoth Hot Springs, the first major destination inside the park, is 6 miles from the arch. The inn is a practical base for extended Yellowstone stays, with full kitchens that make multi-night visits genuinely self-sufficient.
What Yellowstone Gateway Inn Is Known For
Yellowstone Gateway Inn solves the specific problem of the Yellowstone base camp: full kitchens for self-sufficient multi-night stays, adequate space for multiple travelers, quiet grounds for recovery, and a location close enough to the north entrance that early park departures are genuinely easy. These practical advantages are the reason guests consistently choose it over the standard motel options in Gardiner.
Amenities
- Pets Welcome
- WiFi
- Full kitchens stocked with coffee, tea, and organic provisions
- Private exterior entrance per suite
- Patios or decks on most suites
- Blu-ray player and DVD lending library
- Coin-operated laundry on property
What Guests Love
- Full kitchens stocked with coffee, tea, and basic organic provisions allow self-sufficient multi-night stays without depending on Gardiner's limited restaurant options.
- 1 mile from the Roosevelt Arch and Yellowstone's north entrance -- close enough for early morning park entry before the crowds arrive at Mammoth Hot Springs.
- Private exterior entrances and patios or decks on most suites give each unit genuine separation from the rest of the property.
- Pets welcome: up to 2 dogs with advance notice and a fee per night.
Worth Knowing
- Gardiner has limited dining options. Stock provisions at the local store or bring supplies from Livingston (53 miles north) for multi-night stays.
- Lamar Valley, the premier wildlife watching location in Yellowstone, is an 85-mile round trip from Gardiner. Plan an early departure for the best wolf and bison sightings.
- Pets are welcome. A pet fee applies; advance notice required. Contact the property to confirm current amounts and any restrictions before booking.
- Summer and fall weekends in Gardiner fill quickly with Yellowstone visitors. Book several weeks ahead.
The Room
Suites at Yellowstone Gateway Inn are apartment-format: full kitchens with stocked basic provisions, living rooms with sofabeds, one or two bedrooms, flat-screen televisions, Blu-ray players, and access to a shared DVD library. Patios and decks on most suites face the surrounding mountain terrain. The interiors are simply furnished and functional -- "the outside is not impressive, but the inside is super nice" captures the common guest response accurately. Bedding and bathrooms are consistently praised as clean and updated.
The Grounds
The property is a quiet cabin compound just off the main Gardiner road, with mountain views from most of the outdoor areas. A coin-operated laundry is available by the office. No pool. The surroundings do most of the work: Yellowstone is effectively the front yard, and the Absaroka Mountains frame the view in every direction.
The Experience
A stay at Yellowstone Gateway Inn operates on Yellowstone time rather than hotel time. The full kitchens allow early morning departures for the park before crowds arrive at Mammoth. Lamar Valley, the best wildlife watching location in the park and an 85-mile round trip from Gardiner, is most productive at sunrise. Evenings in Gardiner are quiet -- the town has a handful of restaurants, a bar with local character, and a general store -- and the mountain air cools reliably after dark. The suites are large enough for families or groups to spread out after full days in the park.
Details
Gardiner, MT 59030
The Boutel designation is earned, not purchased. Boutels is editorially independent and has no financial relationship with any listed property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Yellowstone Gateway Inn have EV charging?
No, Yellowstone Gateway Inn does not have EV charging.
Does Yellowstone Gateway Inn have WiFi?
Yes, Yellowstone Gateway Inn has WiFi.
What is there to do near Yellowstone Gateway Inn?
Roosevelt Arch, Yellowstone North Entrance: 1 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk. Mammoth Hot Springs: 6 miles, about a 10 minute drive. Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness: 8 miles, about a 15 minute drive.
How far is Yellowstone Gateway Inn from Roosevelt Arch, Yellowstone North Entrance?
1 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
How far is Yellowstone Gateway Inn from Mammoth Hot Springs?
6 miles, about a 10 minute drive.
How far is Yellowstone Gateway Inn from Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness?
8 miles, about a 15 minute drive.
How far is Yellowstone Gateway Inn from Yellowstone National Park?
Yellowstone Gateway Inn is 1 mile from the Roosevelt Arch at Yellowstone's north entrance. Mammoth Hot Springs, the first major geothermal area inside the park, is 6 miles from the arch.
Does Yellowstone Gateway Inn allow pets?
Yes. Yellowstone Gateway Inn welcomes up to 2 dogs with advance notice. A fee applies per dog per night. Contact the property before booking.
Do suites at Yellowstone Gateway Inn have kitchens?
Yes. Every suite has a full kitchen stocked with coffee, tea, and basic organic provisions. This makes the inn well-suited for multi-night Yellowstone stays without depending entirely on Gardiner's restaurants.
Is breakfast included at Yellowstone Gateway Inn?
Breakfast is not included, but every suite has a fully equipped kitchen for preparing meals on-site.
What is the best time of year to visit Yellowstone from Gardiner?
The north entrance at Gardiner is the only Yellowstone entrance open year-round. Fall (September through November) offers the best wildlife viewing and smaller crowds. Summer (June through August) is peak season with full park access but significant congestion at popular sites.
Is free parking available at Yellowstone Gateway Inn?
Yes. Complimentary parking is available at the property.
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Things to Do Near Yellowstone Country
Roosevelt Arch, Yellowstone North Entrance
1 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can walk.
The stone triumphal arch that Teddy Roosevelt dedicated on April 24, 1903 at Yellowstone's north entrance, 1 mile from the inn. The arch carries the inscription "For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People" from the 1872 legislation creating the world's first national park. Free to drive through and walk around, always accessible.
Mammoth Hot Springs
6 miles, about a 10 minute drive.
6 miles inside Yellowstone's north entrance, the Mammoth Hot Springs terraces are the most visually dramatic geothermal formations accessible from a paved boardwalk in the park. Travertine deposits build new terrace formations constantly; the landscape changes perceptibly year to year. The Mammoth visitor center and the historic 1887 Army fort buildings are at the base of the terraces.
Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness
8 miles, about a 15 minute drive.
The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness begins at the edge of the Yellowstone plateau, 8 miles from Gardiner. The wilderness covers 943,000 acres with dozens of alpine lakes above 10,000 feet accessible from trailheads along Highway 89 north of town. Tom Miner Basin, 17 miles northwest of Gardiner, is one of the most productive wildlife areas outside the park boundary.