Bozeman to Yellowstone

Question

We’re planning to fly into Bozeman but want to visit Virginia city and Nevada city- before going into Yellowstone- and good routes you can suggest to stop off to in the way?

Answer

Flying into Bozeman is a great starting point for exploring southwestern Montana and then heading into Yellowstone. Including Virginia City and Nevada City is a wonderful idea — both are well-preserved gold-rush towns with charming historic main streets and museums.

Here’s a suggested route and some interesting stops along the way from Bozeman to Yellowstone via Virginia City and Nevada City:

Bozeman to Virginia City/Nevada City: Head south on US-287 and then MT-84/MT-2. The drive is roughly 90–100 miles and takes around 2–2.5 hours.
Virginia City: Explore the historic downtown, museums, and saloons. Consider the Nevada City museum across the street. There are guided walking tours and gold panning experiences available.
Nevada City: Just a few minutes from Virginia City, it’s smaller but equally historic. Don’t miss the antique shops and the old theater.

From there, you can continue toward Yellowstone. Depending on which entrance you want to use (North, West, or Northeast), you have a few options for scenic stops along the way:

En route to Yellowstone’s North Entrance (Gardiner, MT): Take MT-287 south to US-89. Along the way, you can stop at the scenic Paradise Valley, the Yellowstone River, and historic towns like Emigrant or Livingston. Livingston has great restaurants, art galleries, and a historic downtown.
En route to Yellowstone’s West Entrance (West Yellowstone, MT): Continue south through Big Sky along US-191/US-287. Big Sky offers mountain views, wildlife viewing, and maybe a short hike. Gallatin Canyon along the way is very scenic, with opportunities for photos and quick stops by the river.
En route to Northeast Entrance (Cooke City/Silver Gate): You would need a longer drive through Red Lodge (famous for Beartooth Highway in summer), which is more of a northern loop, so this may be less direct from Virginia City.

Other notable detours or attractions you might consider:

Livingston: Historic railroad town with great eateries, galleries, and breweries.
Paradise Valley: Stunning river views and photo opportunities; stop at small pull-offs along US-89 for Yellowstone River vistas.
Gallatin Canyon: Short scenic drives with mountain views, hiking, and wildlife watching if time allows.
Bozeman Hot Springs: If you’re starting early and want to relax, this is a quick detour from Bozeman before heading south.

Tips:

Take your time — the roads are scenic, and a 2–3 day drive allows stops at historic towns, overlooks, and small hikes along the way.
Check for seasonal road closures, especially if traveling in early spring or late fall — some mountain passes can be closed or snowy.
Virginia City and Nevada City can be explored on foot in a few hours; plan for lunch or an afternoon coffee break there.

Overall, the Bozeman → Virginia City/Nevada City → Livingston/Paradise Valley → Yellowstone route is scenic, historic, and gives you plenty of photo and wildlife opportunities without adding too much driving time.

Bozeman to Yellowstone

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