Montana holds the original entrance to Yellowstone, where the Roosevelt Arch still frames the road south. Across Montana's fourth-largest state, few places capture the imagination like this one.

Gardiner sits at the park's original north entrance on the Yellowstone River.

What sets it apart

The Roosevelt Arch, dedicated in 1903, bears the words 'For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People.' It is the kind of specific that turns a passing curiosity into a lasting fascination.

The nearby Lamar Valley is among the best places in America to watch wild wolves and bison.

Why it matters

What ties it all together is a distinctly Montana balance between wildness and self-reliance. However you come to it, this is a place that stays with you long after the drive home.