Livingston

History Livingston grew up as a Northern Pacific Railway town and was incorporated on December 21, 1882. The railroad made it the original gateway to Yellowstone, running a branch line about 50 miles south through Paradise Valley to the park's North Entrance at Gardiner. The town's depot, built in 1902, served those park travellers, and the railroad remains a presence, with trains still passing through the centre of town. Livingston is the seat of Park County, named for the national park.

What to See The Livingston Depot Center occupies the 1902 depot on Park Street and runs a seasonal railroad history museum. In 2026 it opened on Memorial Day, with hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Saturday. Outside the museum season the building is used as a community and event centre, and its office (406-222-2300) is open on weekdays. The Yellowstone Gateway Museum, at 118 W. Chinook Street, is run by Park County and covers local history, the railroad and early park travel. It has been open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; check before going, as hours can change by season. The depot sits on the north side of Park Street along the tracks, and the downtown blocks around it keep their railroad-era brick buildings and are easy to see on foot.

Fishing The Yellowstone River runs past the town and south through Paradise Valley, and it draws anglers and floaters from spring to autumn. Check current regulations with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks before fishing, since rules differ by river section and season, and fishing inside Yellowstone National Park follows the park's own rules.

Outdoors US-89 south of town follows the river through Paradise Valley for about 55 miles to Gardiner. It is the main scenic drive from Livingston and the route to Yellowstone's North Entrance, where the Roosevelt Arch, whose cornerstone Theodore Roosevelt laid in 1903, marks the park boundary.

Getting There Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) is about 36 miles west by road. Interstate 90 passes through town. Gardiner and the North Entrance are about 55 miles south on US-89, and the road through the park from the North Entrance to Cooke City is the only one kept open to ordinary vehicles all year. Livingston is one of the windiest places in the United States: from 2000 to 2010 its airport weather station ranked second in the country for wind, after Guadalupe Pass in Texas, so take care with high-sided vehicles and trailers on I-90.

When to Go Late May to September covers the depot museum's season, the main fishing months and the period when all of Yellowstone's roads are open. Autumn is quieter on the river. In winter, Livingston works as a base for the North Entrance, the only Yellowstone entrance open to cars all year.