Forest bell tents near Livingston
Enter the gateway to Yellowstone for endless wilderness and recreational opportunities.
- Livingston
Popular camping styles for Livingston
Forest bell tents near Livingston guide
Overview
Enroute to the Paradise Valley and Yellowstone National Park, Livingston is adjacent to some of America’s most treasured landscapes. RV and tent campgrounds are abundant in and around town, where travelers will find a bustling community with groceries, restaurants, live music, and art displays. Head east to the lower river valley, where small towns dominate the landscape, or north for mountain ranges and big farm country. At less than one hour from Bozeman, Livingston is a nice escape from the city, offering campers adventure in every direction.
Where to go
Yellowstone River
The Yellowstone River flows right through town and offers excellent fishing and whitewater without straying far. Go south towards the park and places like Yankee Jim Canyon have wild rapids or go toward Big Timber where the river broadens but the fishing remains excellent.
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is on the wish list for many Livingston visitors and it’s a short drive at roughly one hour to the park entrance. You can camp outside the park and day trip or use Livingston as a jumping off point for a longer journey through the park.
Paradise Valley
Livingston sits at the north end of the Paradise Valley which essentially includes everything between town and the park entrance. Gardiner, Emigrant, and Pray are all amazing small towns to visit and the valley itself is bordered by public lands with camping, hiking and biking trails.
Chico Hot Springs
After camping and exploring the great outdoors, take a trip to Chico Hot Springs, where natural springs have been developed into hot pools at a quaint resort. If camp food has you looking for a break, they also have an amazing restaurant.
When to go
If there’s one thing reliable in Livingston, it’s the wind. Winter and spring are especially wind prone, so campers gravitate toward summer and fall for more comfortable weather conditions, consistent fishing, and warmer temperatures for hiking and mountain biking. That said, there are plenty of mellow winter days, when exploring the valley and greater Yellowstone region can lead to increased wildlife sightings and unique experiences. Snowmobiles make winter exploring a complete rush—or you can opt for quieter methods of travel with snowshoes or skis.
