Gardiner to Hill City: A Road Trip Through Yellowstone and the Black Hills

This 430-mile journey from Gardiner, MT, to Hill City, SD, takes you from the gateway of Yellowstone National Park to the heart of the Black Hills. The drive crosses the 45th parallel near Buffalo, WY, where you’ll leave the Rocky Mountains behind and enter the high plains.

Historically, portions of this route follow the old Bozeman Trail, a gold rush-era shortcut that sparked conflict with the Lakota people. Today, it’s a route that connects two vastly different landscapes: geothermal basins and alpine peaks on one end, granite spires and ponderosa pine forests on the other.

The route's natural landmarks begin with Yellowstone’s Mammoth Hot Springs (10 miles from Gardiner), featuring travertine terraces. Continuing east, you’ll cross the Bighorn Mountains via US-14 or US-16, both offering panoramic vistas. The Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (a short detour from Lovell) showcases a 1,000-foot-deep canyon. Finally, the Black Hills of South Dakota are a dome of granite that erupted 60 million years ago, with Harney Peak (now Black Elk Peak) at 7,242 feet.

Local commerce thrives in small towns along the way. In Buffalo, WY, the Occidental Hotel (est. 1880) still operates and has hosted Theodore Roosevelt and Butch Cassidy. In Sundance, WY, the local name inspired the Sundance Kid, and the downtown retains wooden boardwalks. In Hill City, the 1880 Train offers a vintage steam locomotive ride.

Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites lie near the route: Yellowstone National Park (designated 1978) and, further south, the Yosemite-like granite spires of the Black Hills are not a UNESCO site, but the nearby Mount Rushmore is a National Memorial, not a UNESCO site—only one UNESCO site is directly on the route: Yellowstone. The Black Hills do not hold UNESCO status, but the region’s geological uniqueness is recognized nationally.

Road quality is generally good, but be aware of wildlife: deer and elk are common along US-16 and US-14 in the Bighorn Mountains and Black Hills. Also, snow is possible at higher elevations even in May. Rest areas exist at mile markers on I-90, but between Greybull and Buffalo, there are no services for 50 miles—plan rest stops accordingly.

For families, the best stops between Gardiner, MT and Hill City, SD include the Yellowstone Bear World in Rexburg (a slight detour), but more directly, the Cody Firearms Museum in Cody, WY, and the Journey Museum in Rapid City, SD. Young children will enjoy the small, walkable town of Sundance with its ice cream parlor and city park.

Pet-friendly framework is decent: most hotels along I-90 accept pets, and Yellowstone’s boardwalks allow leashed pets, but many hiking trails are off-limits. Rest areas with grass are common, but on the US-16 stretch, the pull-offs are rocky—pack a portable water bowl.

To combat fatigue, break up the drive into 2.5-hour segments. The Sundance Visitor Center offers a shaded picnic area, and the Buffalo Bird Farm (just off I-90) is a quirky stop to stretch legs. Also, the Vore Buffalo Jump archaeological site, near Beulah, WY, is an ancient bison jump with an interpretative kiosk—open only during summer months.

How long to drive Gardiner, MT to Hill City, SD is about 7–8 hours of pure driving, but plan for at least two days to appreciate the stops. The route strings together US-89, I-90, and US-16, with the only major city being Sheridan, WY (population 18,000) at the midpoint.

• Fuel: Gas stations cluster in Gardiner, Cody (slight detour), Lovell, Sheridan, Buffalo, and Hill City. On the long stretches between Buffalo and Hill City (about 160 miles), there’s no fuel—fill up in Buffalo.
• Food: Sit-down options are scarce outside towns; pack snacks and water for the 100-mile desert stretch between Greybull and Buffalo.
• Road Conditions: I-90 is well-maintained, but US-16 from Buffalo to Hill City is a winding mountain pass with some gravel shoulders.

Is it worth driving Gardiner, MT to Hill City, SD? Absolutely, if you have the time. The detour through Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley (if you take the northern entrance) adds wildlife viewing but also adds 1-2 hours. Alternatively, the direct route via I-90 is faster but skips the park’s interior.

For those seeking off-the-beaten-path suggestions, check out how to find the best stops and hidden gems between cities.