How Long Does It Take To Drive From Bozeman To Yellowstone National Park?

Drive from Bozeman to Yellowstone National Park will take a minimum time of 3 hours and 9 minutes through Highway 191 route. The longest path takes around 3 hours and 41 minutes.

To reach your destination, you have three alternatives. You can either travel through Gallatin County, Madison County, or Paradise Valley.

Currently, there are three routes you can take to drive from Bozeman to Yellowstone National Park.

The fastest route is via US-191 S and US-20 E also called Highway 191 and Highway 20, respectively.

1) Route Through Highway 191

Distance: 139 Miles

Estimated Time: 3 hours 9 minutes

Driving Instructions:

• On N Rouse Ave, drive south towards E Mendenhall Street.
• Head straight for around 7.6 miles and turn right towards US-191 S/E Main Street.
• Continue following the road for another 81.9 miles before turning left onto S/Gallatin Road. You should pass through Wyoming and enter Montana during this part of the journey.
• Head South through the Highway 191 and Highway 287 Intersection and continue until you reach West Yellowstone.
• Take a right at the intersection between Highway 191 and Highway 89.
• From Teton County, take a left on US Highway 20 E for 1.4 miles.
• You have arrived at your destination.

2) Route Through Highway 89

Distance: 152 Miles

Estimated Time: 3 hours 27 minutes

Driving Instructions:

• Drive south towards E Mendenhall Street through North Rouse Avenue.
• After driving nearly 1 mile, turn left toward E Main Street.
• Take the right lane and merge onto Intersection 90 East to Billings.
• To take the US-89 South route, use exit 333. Head towards Yellowstone National Park.
• Drive for around 53 miles before taking a left onto Park Street.
• Take a left and then right onto US-89 S and Temporary North Entrance Road, respectively.
• Take a left turn after driving half a mile and take another right towards US-89 S.
• After driving for 68 miles, take a left turn onto US-20 E.
• You'll the destination after heading 1.4 miles straight.

3) Route Through Highway 287

Distance: 173 Miles

Estimated Time: 3 hours 40 minutes

Driving Instructions:

• Take US-191 S through Four Corners and drive towards Norris Road or MT-84 W.
• Once you reach Norris Road, head south through US-287 onto MT-87 S.
• Drive through Idaho State Highway 87 toward US-20 E.
• From Highway 20, drive 62.4 miles to reach Yellowstone National Park.

Places to stop between Bozeman and Yellowstone include Norris Hot Springs, the Museum of the Rockies, Eagle Ridge Ranch, and more.

There are several popular destinations to visit while taking this trip.

The road trip is long enough to take a few refreshment trips along the journey. Among the three routes, the shortest route takes around 3 hours and 9 minutes.

If you are traveling with kids, you might need a few bathroom or snack breaks. Or, you can stop to enjoy the various recreational activities or places the routes offer.

Highway 191

• Big Sky Resort
• Gallatin River
• Hebgen Lake
• Ousel Falls
• West Yellowstone

Highway 89

• Montana Grizzly Encounter
• Yellowstone Gateway Museum
• Paradise Valley
• Chico Hot Springs
• Gardiner

Highway 287

• Earthquake Lake
• Ennis
• Nevada City
• Three Forks
• Virginia City

Scenic Drive From Bozeman To Yellowstone

The drive through Paradise Valley, or the second route, is probably the scenic drive between Bozeman and Yellowstone.

There are several beautiful natural sceneries to explore while driving through Paradise Valley. To take this route, drive east towards Livingston through the Bozeman Pass. Once you reach Livingston, head south to reach Paradise Valley.

You can participate in a number of activities while at Paradise Valley. Fishing, bathing in the hot springs, and dining at the local restaurants are some of the common tourist activities in this region.

Here are a few natural landscapes and sights to explore in Paradise Valley:

1. Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness
2. Emigrant Peak
3. Paradise Valley Scenic Loop
4. Sacajawea Park
5. Shields River
6. Yellowstone Hot Springs

All three routes between Bozeman and Yellowstone offer several hotels and restaurants to travelers. While the journey isn't long enough to warrant a stay at a hotel, you might need to rest for a few hours or stop to have meals.

Here are a few popular hotels and restaurants to stop while traveling through each route:

Highway 191

• Bodhi Farms
• Rainbow Ranch Lodge
• 320 Guest Ranch
• Holiday Inn West Yellowstone
• Residence Inn
• Montage Big Sky
• Lone Mountain Ranch

Highway 89

• Yellowstone Hotsprings Campground
• Yellowstone Basin Inn
• Travelodge By Wyndham Gardiner
• The Antler Lodge
• COMO
• Yellowstone Gateway Inn
• Yellowstone Riverside Cottages
• Yellowstone's Treasure Cabins

Highway 287

• Red Bear Inn
• Canyon Fountain and Grill
• Dream Drift Motel
• McAllister Inn
• One Horse Motel
• Old Faithful Inn
• Wylie's Canteen at Lake Lodge
• Grant Village Lake House Restaurant
• Two Columns

Car hire from Bozeman to Yellowstone is provided by companies like Hertz, Expedia, and Budget Rentals. You can find several budget-friendly packages on Rental Cars.

Hiring a car for a day in Bozeman will cost you somewhere between $80 to $250. The rate will depend on the type of vehicle you want to hire. Businesses provide a variety of rental cars, including Ford Fiesta, Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Transit, Hyundai Elantra, Ford Expedition, Chevrolet Tahoe, and more.

If you are traveling with family, an RV might be a more suitable vehicle choice for you. Outdoorsy offers a variety of RVs for a reasonable price, which ranges between $130 and $280.

The trip can get a little complicated if you don't drive a vehicle as there is no direct shuttle transport route from Bozeman to Yellowstone and vice versa. Instead, you will have multiple buses which might take longer than the expected time.