We will cover the cities of: Bozeman , Red Lodge , Gardiner , West Yellowstone and Livingston . While also exploring a variety of things to do in Yellowstone National Park .
Check out this 12-day Bozeman to Yellowstone vacation itinerary below. Or if you are looking to spend 1, 3, or 7 days exploring the best of Yellowstone – explore our guides ! We put all of our knowledge into easy-to-follow, step-by-step itineraries that you just have to download and follow.
Map Of Your Yellowstone Vacation
Here is a map of our recommended route:
Here is a link to the interactive map: https://goo.gl/maps/NxEvDUEuXLmY5vQm9
Airport – Fly into Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport or drive into Bozeman to kick off your trip. Here is a great article that explains why you should fly into Bozeman.
Day 1: Bozeman, MT
Start your trip off in the city of Bozeman, Montana. Bozeman has an awesome downtown area, great restaurants and plenty of activities that you can do. It is a great way to introduce you to Montana and should be on any Montana road trip list!
Hotel: Lewis and Clark Motel
This is a family owned hotel located in downtown Bozeman and is the perfect place to stay while you explore Bozeman. They are all about making you feel like you are a friend stopping for a visit and not just a customer. From their warm welcome to afternoon appetizers and treats offered throughout the day you will feel very welcome.
Plus their pool area is AMAZING and the Eucalyptus spa is so relaxing – all included in your stay. Make sure to block off a few hours to enjoy the pool area.
Click here to book The Lewis and Clark Motel now!
Activity: Bozeman Hot Springs
With 12 pools ranging from 57 degrees to 106 you will find a great pool to hang out in. Or check their schedule to see if they have live music playing that night and head here after dinner to soak and listen to the music.
Dinner
With so many options in Bozeman it can be hard to pick where to head for dinner. We recommend checking out one of these restaurants for dinner:
Sweet Chili
If you are in the mood for Thai with a fun drink menu then Sweet Chili in downtown Bozeman is the place for you.
Mountains Walking Brewery
Looking for more pub food and a good beer? Then Mountains Walking Brewery is the place.
Montana Ale Works
A staple in downtown Bozeman, Montana Ale Works has a large menu with a variety of options from burgers, steaks, pasta and salads along with a great drink menu.
Day 2: Bozeman, MT
** Call Matt’s Butcher Shop and Deli in Livingston to place an order for some tasty sandwiches! You’ll need these for Day 3, spoiler alert!
Breakfast
Just like with dinner there are a lot of options for breakfast in Bozeman. Here are our recommendations:
Daily Coffee and Eatery
A great selection of fresh food and pastries along with good coffee. Grab it to go or grab a seat outside on their patio area.
The Coffee Pot Bakery and Cafe
A unique spot with delicious scones and coffee and a great selection of local pottery to purchase.
Activity: Museum of the Rockies
Before planning your day make sure to check the schedule for the Planetarium shows at the Museum of The Rockies. We have seen 2 shows there and both of them were really well done so it is worth planning your time here around the show schedule.
The museum has a great collection of dinosaur bones along with a section on the Yellowstone area and a changing exhibit. Plus if you have little kids they have a kids hands on area upstairs.
The museum is a great way to get an introduction and history of the Yellowstone area!
Activity: American Computer And Robotics
This could be a quick stop if you have kids who don’t want to stop and read all of the signs or can’t sit through a tour (they do offer those). Or it could be longer if you want to take the time to really look into each exhibit. In any case it is free and well worth stopping.
Lunch
There is a cool renovated area in Bozeman called The Cannery District where they took an old Canning Companies warehouse and factory and turned it into a hip restaurant and shopping area. Located just 1.5 miles from main street in downtown Bozeman it is an awesome place to grab lunch and do some shopping. The below options are all located in the Cannery District:
Pizza Campania
Craving pizza? Then Pizza Campania is a great stop and the prices are awesome and the pizza was yummy.
Deans Zesty Booch
Grab some locally brewed Kombucha – both alcoholic and nonalcoholic available. Our kids enjoyed the kombucha too!
Afternoon Activity: Rock Climbing with Montana Alpine Guides
When in Montana you should definitely try to get out and try outside rock climbing and Montana Alpine Guides is a great company to go with. You meet at a designated location, they provide all of the equipment and then take you out to the rock wall.
Once there they take care of getting everything setup and then you are ready to climb. They are very helpful at giving instructions and helping you learn how to climb. They take all ages and skill levels.
Dinner
(Pick from the list above) Sweet Chili, Mountains Walking Brewery, or Montana Ale Works. And if you want to grab a drink before or after dinner head to Map Brewery – the views are amazing and the beer is good too!
Day 3: Bozeman to Livingston
Time to leave Bozeman and head over to Livingston – the original city entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Now a city filled with history and art galleries and located right along the Yellowstone River.
Breakfast
Check out whichever place you didn’t visit yesterday in Bozeman before you head to Livingston: Daily Coffee and Eatery or The Coffee Pot (details listed above).
Drive from Bozeman to Livingston
Jump in the car to head to Livingston – about a 30 minute drive. Head straight to Matt’s Butcher Shop and Deli to pick up your lunch.
Activity: Head out to Float, Fish or Both!
Livingston is such a cool town and it is awesome how everyone works together here to customize your trip and make it what will work for you. You definitely get that small town feel here and it is great. With a family of 6 they split us into 3 on a fishing boat and 3 floating down the river in another boat.
George Anderson’s Yellowstone Angler
If you need to rent any boots or fishing gear (if you go with an outfitter they will provide fishing gear for you) this is the place for you. Also if you are going to be fishing this is where you can get your fishing license.
If you are looking for a nice float down the Yellowstone River (and if it is warm enough the kids can jump off the boat and swim) there are a couple options:
Rowdy’s River Guides or Rubber Ducky Rentals
If you are looking for a fishing trip – where they provide all the fishing gear (you would still need to buy a fishing license) then check out:
Montana Expedition Trading Company or Sleeping Giant Tours
Or if you want to do a joint float and fishing trip then just give one of the companies a call and let them know and they will work together to get your custom trip setup.
Activity: Yellowstone Gateway Museum
A great museum to go to to continue your history of Yellowstone and the surrounding area. They have a variety of hands on activities for the kids and take you from the past to the present for Livingston, Yellowstone and the surrounding area.
Dinner: Mint Bar and Grill
A family friendly bar with a restaurant that participates in “Taste Our Place” so you know you are getting local Montana food. You can feel the history in the building and the food and drinks were delicious.
Hotel: Travelodge
A nice and clean option for your night in Livingston and close to all of the activities. We were able to get connecting rooms here which was great with 6 people.
Click here to book the Travelodge now!
Day 4: Livingston To Red Lodge
Livingston is a cool historic town with a great story to tell. It is definitely a place worth stopping as you learn more about this area of the country and the history of Yellowstone. Plus it is a great place to get out on the Yellowstone River. Now it is time to head southeast, but up in elevation to the mountain town of Red Lodge.
Breakfast: The Other Cafe
Grab breakfast at The Other Cafe diner attached to the Travelodge – where the pancakes are as big as your plate! Then get in the car for the 2 hour drive to Red Lodge.
Lunch
For being a small mountain town you wouldn’t expect the food to be so good. But get ready for a variety of different kinds of restaurants all with amazing food! Below are a few options for lunch.
Prerogative Restaurant
This was such a unique option for lunch! You order a protein, then select the accompanying plate to go with it.
From meat options to vegetarian options and fun side plants like roasted carrots with truffle vinaigrette and parmesan. Plus salads, sandwiches and a great drink menu. Check out the menu here.
Red Lodge Pizza Company
A great option for pizza and a salad bar. They have some fun flavors of pizza and the crust is really yummy. They also have a great cookie dessert where the cookie is cooked in a small cast iron pan and then ice cream is added on top of it.
Activity: Rent an UTV from Red Lodge Power Sports
For a fun way to explore the surrounding area rent an UTV from Red Lodge Power Sports. They had a 6 seater and helmets for all the kids so it was perfect! They will share with you different routes to take. We went on the HellRoaring Plateau trail and it was beautiful.
Activity: Clay Class at Red Lodge Clay Center
Our kids loved the private clay class we did. One of their resident artists spent 2 hours with us teaching the kids how to make cups and bowls. It was a fun activity and perfect to do on a rainy day.
Activity: Golfing at Red Lodge Mountain
Craig hit the links for a round of golf. There were deer watching him the whole time and the views were beautiful. The course is really spread out so it was nice, wide and open.
Walk Around Downtown
There are a lot of cool shops in Red Lodge. Our kids would recommend the Montana Candy Emporium ! I would recommend the Phoenix Pearl Tea Shop – that also has a wall of board games you can play while you drink your tea.
Dinner
Dinner like lunch will be hard to make a choice! Here are 3 more great options for dinner.
Carbon County Steak House
For a nice steak dinner – with local options Carbon County Steak House is where you want to be. The atmosphere is more upscale yet jeans are totally fine. Plus the food is really well done and they have a great menu and kids menu along with lots of drinks to pick from. Click here for the menu.
Bogarts
Feeling like a Margarita? Then Bogarts is the place for you! They are known for their Margaritas and for good reason, they are delicious.
The food was good too with a variety of Mexican dishes plus pizza and salads. And they bring out chips and salsa to start which is always a win with our kids.
The Pub At The Pollard Hotel
Located right in The Pollard Hotel they offer a delicious menu of steaks, burgers, pasta and salads. Our kids really liked the huge pretzel and cheese sauce.
I really enjoyed my Huckleberry Moscow Mule. They have live music on Friday and Saturday too.
Red Lodge Ale
If you are feeling like checking out a brewery then Red Lodge Ale is the place to go. They have a variety of beers they brew on site (their Bent Nail IPA is delicious) and a selection of Ciders that they brew in Billings. They also offer a variety of sandwiches: smoked, Ruebens, paninis, and baked sammies, plus burgers, tacos and salads.
Hotel: The Pollard Hotel
The Pollard Hotel is a historic hotel located in downtown Red Lodge. It is the perfect location for exploring Red Lodge. You can walk to all of the restaurants and they have a gym and restaurant right on site.
Click here to book The Pollard Hotel now!
If you are looking for more Montana getaways check out this great post: 5 Weekend Getaways In Montana
Day 5: Red Lodge to Cooke City
Breakfast: The Pollard Hotel
The hotel offers a delicious sit down breakfast with Montana skillets, french toast, pancakes and everything you would want for a huge and yummy breakfast. Our kids loved getting the hot chocolate to start their day.
Activity: Horseback Riding with Elk River Outfitters
We have gone horseback riding in other flat locations, but going in Red Lodge where we were climbing up the side of mountains and through streams was quite the experience! The guide takes you out on a trail through the water and up the mountain to a beautiful view of 5 mountain ranges.
Activity: Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary
To continue with the educational part of Yellowstone and the surrounding area you won’t want to miss the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary. They offer a self guided tour but we would recommend booking a tour with the team here. They will walk around and give you the backstory of how each of the animals ended up there. While also teaching you about this area of the country.
The Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary is not associated with Yellowstone National Park but is privately run. We met Gary the owner who is also the author of the Who Pooped In The Park Books .
Check out this post for more on Red Lodge, Montana: 22 Amazing Things To Do In Red Lodge Montana
Lunch
Choose from the many options listed above for lunch or dinner to eat before you head out on the Beartooth Highway!
Drive: The Bear Tooth Highway
Hit the road to drive the Bear Tooth Highway to get into Cooke City (Count on 2-3 hours). Be prepared to make lots of stops at the pullouts for amazing views and pictures.
Dinner: Miners Saloon
A local favorite that is the first restaurant in Cooke City to use local and sustainable food. They offer burgers, tacos, salads, and pizza.
Hotel: Soda Butte Lodge
A great rustic but modern Montana Style lodge for your night in Cooke City!
Click here to book the Soda Butte Lodge now!
Day 6: Cooke City, MT into Yellowstone To Gardiner, MT
Breakfast: Pilots Perk
For breakfast head to the Pilots Perk for a coffee and some pastries! Plus they have a selection of local books to pick from if you need some reading material.
Activity: Cooke City – Visitor Center
We always recommend stopping at a Visitor Center before heading into the park. It is helpful to get maps, the park newspaper, and to get any updates on what is currently going on in the park. Plus there is a small museum here so it is a great learning opportunity.
Head into Yellowstone National Park
The drive itself is beautiful and you never know with wildlife how long it is going to take. It is pretty common to be stopped on the road while you wait for a Bison to cross or a slowdown for people pulling off to watch a bear or an elk. Especially when you drive through the Lamar Valley area – so keep your eyes open!
Also know you will have to stop and pay the entrance fee to the park. With all the amazing things to see in Yellowstone it is totally worth it. We have the year pass that is $80 and gets us into all the National Parks.
If you plan on visiting more then 1 national park this year it is well worth it. They also have daily and weekly passes and you can purchase all of these at the gate.
We recommend downloading the GYPSY Guide for Yellowstone before heading into the park. It will give you a great audio tour of the area you are driving through.
Tower Roosevelt Area – Towers Fall Hike
Set your GPS to the Tower Falls hike in the Roosevelt area of Yellowstone. This is a 1 mile hike to a beautiful waterfall. But be prepared it is a steep incline. But it is worth it.
Lunch: Roosevelt Lodge
After your hike head to the Roosevelt Lodge to grab lunch – they have a sit-down restaurant with a variety of food options. Then grab a drink and sit out on the porch and just enjoy the surrounding area and being in Yellowstone!
Hike: Mount Washburn
This is a 6 mile roundtrip hike up to the top of Mount Washburn. It isn’t an easy hike but it isn’t super hard either. We were able to do it with our kids when they were 7, 5, 5 and 3. The views at the top are amazing!
Activity: Stagecoach or Horseback Riding
Or if you aren’t up for a hike look into the following activities that are offered from the Roosevelt Lodge: Stagecoach Adventure or Horseback Riding,
Dinner
Head into Gardiner to grab dinner at one of the many restaurants in Gardiner. Our recommendations are listed below:
Wonderland Cafe
A newer restaurant in Gardiner that is part of the Taste Our Place program that focuses on local ingredients. We loved the atmosphere here and the great variety of fresh food options. Check out there menu here .
Stay: Sunny Slope House
Time for a house stay! And the Sunny Slope is awesome. Located just 15 minutes from downtown Gardiner and up in the mountains it is the perfect Yellowstone Vacation lodging option. Especially if you are ready for some more space and privacy after spending almost a week at hotels.
Click here to book the Sunny Slope House now!
Feeling overwhelmed by all the awesomeness that is Yellowstone?! We get it! The park is huge and there is so much to see and do. We have visited the park over 6 different times and have put together 1, 3 and 7 day guides to help you plan your ultimate trip to Yellowstone:
Get Your Guide To Yellowstone
Day 7: Yellowstone Wildlife Tour and Hot Springs
Today you will get up early for an amazing Wildlife tour and then head out to the Hot Springs to relax in the afternoon. And then the next day you will head back into the park for more exploring.
Breakfast: Included in activity
Activity: Yellowstone Wild Tour
