📷 Yellowstone National Park from Yellowstone NP, USA, Public domainRoosevelt Arch
Gardiner, MT
The 1903 stone arch at Yellowstone’s north entrance, inscribed “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People”. There is parking beside it on the edge of Gardiner, the only Yellowstone entrance open to cars all year.
The Roosevelt Arch is a triumphal arch at the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park in Gardiner, Montana. It stands 52 feet (16 m) tall and is built from hexagonal blocks of columnar basalt quarried locally. Lonely Planet calls it Gardiner's most photographed sight. President Theodore Roosevelt laid the cornerstone on April 24, 1903, and the arch was completed in August 1903.
Above the passage runs an inscription with words from Congress: "For the benefit and enjoyment of the people". The National Park Service ties the arch's creation to the Northern Pacific Railway, the army engineer Hiram Chittenden and the Masons of Montana.
For your route planning: according to the park, Gardiner is the start of the route through Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Junction and the Lamar Valley to Cooke City, which as a rule stays open to ordinary vehicles all year (weather permitting). Most other park roads close in early November (as of October 2026, check ahead). A short photo stop is all the arch itself needs.
- Nearest town
- Gardiner, MT
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 45.0292, -110.7086
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. Cold, short days in November–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
.jpg){kind=link}
Campsites nearby
- Indian CreekCampsite10 mi from Roosevelt Arch · 70 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesDrinking waterToilets
- Tower FallCampsite18 mi from Roosevelt Arch · 31 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesDrinking waterToilets
- Norris CampgroundMotorhome stopover20 mi from Roosevelt ArchMotorhomes
- Slough Creek CampgroundCampsite20 mi from Roosevelt Arch · 16 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesDrinking waterToilets
- Canyon CampgroundCampsite23 mi from Roosevelt Arch · 273 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Tiny Town CampgroundCampsite24 mi from Roosevelt Arch · 10 pitchesFree
All campsites in Montana · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Roosevelt Arch?
Roosevelt Arch is in Gardiner, MT, at GPS 45.0292, -110.7086. It is about 21 mi from Chico Hot Springs.
Can you camp near Roosevelt Arch?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Rocky Mountain Campground, about 0 mi away; within 25 mi there are 15 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Roosevelt Arch?
Roosevelt Arch is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Chief Joseph Byway and Yellowstone’s northern range.
What is there to see near Roosevelt Arch?
Places worth a stop nearby: Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces (4 mi), Tower Fall (18 mi), Norris Geyser Basin (21 mi) and Artist Point, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (24 mi).
When is the best time to visit Roosevelt Arch?
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)