National parks near Livingston, Montana
Yellowstone National Park is the closest national park to Livingston, Montana — 73.5 mi (118 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 11 min behind the wheel.
Yellowstone makes a full day trip — leave early. Grand Teton is better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Livingston gates the entrance itself, but 3 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Livingston has a population of about 7,302.
National parks near Livingston
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone National Park | 73.5 mi (118 km) | 2 hr 11 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Grand Teton National Park | 130 mi (208 km) | 3 hr 31 min | Best as a weekend |
| Glacier National Park | 262 mi (422 km) | 6 hr 39 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Grasslands National Park | 278 mi (448 km) | 7 hr 2 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Waterton Lakes National Park | 282 mi (454 km) | 7 hr 7 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Theodore Roosevelt National Park | 351 mi (565 km) | 8 hr 45 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Wind Cave National Park | 377 mi (607 km) | 9 hr 22 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Badlands National Park | 417 mi (671 km) | 10 hr 19 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kootenay National Park | 440 mi (708 km) | 10 hr 52 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Rocky Mountain National Park | 443 mi (712 km) | 10 hr 56 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Livingston
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountain | Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry | Park entry | Timed reservation |
| Glacier | Logan Pass Shuttle Tickets | One road or area | Timed reservation |
| Yellowstone | Yellowstone National Park Backcountry Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Grand Teton | Grand Teton National Park Backcountry Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
Camping near Livingston
Within reach of Livingston, 35 campgrounds across 7 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 9 at Grand Teton, 9 at Glacier, 5 at Yellowstone, and 5 at Theodore Roosevelt, plus 3 more parks with fewer sites.
Recreation.gov releases most national park campsites six months before the arrival date, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Windows are set per campground, so confirm yours on the Seasons and Fees tab on that campground page.
Once a date is gone, cancellations are the real supply, and they get taken within minutes of appearing.
When to make this trip
Yellowstone National Park is generally best July through mid-September, once the high country is clear of snow, with late June and late September as the quieter shoulder either side.
High passes and trails hold snow from October into June, and some roads close entirely for the winter.
Afternoon thunderstorms build fast above treeline in summer. Start early and be off exposed ridges by early afternoon.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Livingston are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.
| Pair | Apart | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|
| Glacier → Waterton Lakes | 20.9 mi (33.6 km) | 48 min |
| Yellowstone → Grand Teton | 56.7 mi (91.2 km) | 1 hr 48 min |
Planning a trip from Livingston
Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Livingston?
Yellowstone National Park. It is about 73.5 mi (118 km) from Livingston, roughly 2 hr 11 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Livingston?
Yes — Yellowstone National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Livingston?
10 parks are within reach of Livingston, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Livingston?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 3 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Yellowstone National Park Backcountry Permits, Grand Teton National Park Backcountry Permits, and Logan Pass Shuttle Tickets at Glacier. Farther than a day trip, Rocky Mountain National Park still needs a timed-entry permit to drive in. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Livingston?
Recreation.gov lists 35 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Livingston. They are spread across 7 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Livingston?
For Yellowstone National Park, the closest one, generally July through mid-September, once the high country is clear of snow. Either side of that, late June and late September stays quieter.