While some early gold panning and beaver hunting were done in the area, Livingston did not start to develop until after the Washburn Expedition of 1870 and the Ferdinand Hayden survey in 1871. Reports from these expeditions piqued the attention of Jay Cooke, who was the financier of the Northern Pacific Railway. Railway officials who feared that they would be in financial trouble if they did not get more people to ride inspired the creation of Yellowstone National Park.
President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act into law on March 1, 1872, as America's first national park. While it would take another decade for the railroad to arrive, railroad officials could secure a large sum of money from Congress to encourage people to visit Yellowstone. The railroad chose Livingston to be the gateway to the park because it also needed to service trains before they went through Bozeman Pass. You will want to visit the Livingston Depot Center, which initially consisted of a restaurant, depot building, and a work area.
Once workers finished building the railroad track, the Northern Pacific Railway used artists to promote Yellowstone as a vacation destination. Passenger Agent Charles S. Fee of the railroad was instrumental in the marketing plan, and he compared the area to scenes out of Alice in Wonderland. At the same time, artist Thomas Moran created many colorful art pieces to entice people to visit Yellowstone and the Livingston area. Livingston is only about 55 miles from Yellowstone National Park, and the city makes a great place to stop for supplies on the way. You may also want to eat a fantastic meal at one of the restaurants, like Faye's Café, which is a great place to get breakfast, or Montana's Rib and Chop House, which offers greet pork chops.
Depot Festival of the Arts – This early July festival is at Depot Rotary Park, and it spans works by many different Western-state artists in various media.
Summerfest – This late July festival features music, food, and family fun in Miles Park.
Rockin' the Rivers – This August festival that started over 30 years ago features rock musical groups, and organizers hold this event four miles east of Lewis and Clark Caverns near Three Forks.
Sweet Pea Festival – This early July to early August festival features art, music, and races at various Bozeman locations.
Big Sky Country State Fair – This fair in July features carnival rides, food, and animals at the Gallatin Country Fairgrounds.
Yellowstone National Park is a fantastic place to visit. You will want to watch Old Faithful erupt about every 90 minutes sending water up to 180 feet in the air. In addition, you will want to see Grand Prismatic Spring, which is the largest hot spring in the U.S. and has fantastic colors. Go on a kayaking or boating trip on Yellowstone Lake. Hayden Valley is an excellent place to see wildlife, including bison and coyotes.
Grand Teton National Park is a fantastic place to explore. The Colter Bay Visitor Center on Lake Jackson's shores is a great place to pick up last-minute supplies and find answers to your questions. You will want to visit the Chapel of the Transfiguration built in 1923, which has a window above the altar perfectly framing the mountains. Head to Oxbow Bend when the wind is not blowing to see the mountain reflected in this section of the Snake River. Do not leave without exploring the Mormon Row Historic District, where 23 farmsteads were once located.
Missouri Headwaters State Park is at the confluence of the Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin Rivers. There is a boat launch, so you can easily go boating or fishing. You will want to see the interpretive displays about Lewis and Clark's time here in 1805. There is a campground at this park near Three Forks.
Buffalo Bill State Park is on the shores of Buffalo Bill Reservoir, and it is an excellent place to play on the water. This park has three boat ramps and a kayak take-out. Seasonally, you can go hunting for elk, deer, birds, antelope, and coyotes at this park. There is also a dedicated area for off-roading. This state park has two RV campgrounds.
Bannack State Park near Dillon is home to a ghost town containing more than 60 buildings. You can go gold panning at this location. Self-guided tours allow you to see all the buildings at your own pace. Rangers at this park hold special events, like living history days, throughout the year.
You will want to go to Sacajawea Park to see the bronze statue of the Lewis and Clark Expectation guide. Local artist Mary Michael created this statue called "At the Yellowstone." It is about 0.5 miles from where researchers believe the Corps of Engineers crossed the river. Interpretative exhibits surround the sculpture that is in a park with extensive grassy meadows.
While there are many terrific Montana campgrounds, you may want to consider Yellowstone Edge RV Park at Livingston. This campground offers stunning views, and they have a store where you can buy silver and turquoise jewelry. Another option in Livingston is Osen's RV Park & Campground, where you will love the mature trees and the park-like setting. Livingston / Paradise Valley KOA Holiday is a third choice you will want to consider. This campground features Yellowstone River frontage and a relaxed atmosphere.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Livingston, MT, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Livingston?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Livingston from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Livingston?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.