Where Is ‘Yellowstone’ Filmed? A Guide to All of the Set Locations for the Paramount Series

Credit: Paramount+

Where Is 'Yellowstone' Filmed? A Guide to All of the Set Locations for the Paramount Series

Keeping up with the Dutton family! Fans have been hooked on Yellowstone since its 2018 premiere — in part due to the wild, wild, west that it explores. While the Paramount Network series has been slighted by awards shows and voters — it has only earned one Emmy nomination since its start — more than 11 million people watched the show’s season 4 finale in January. What makes Yellowstone so popular? The Kevin Costner-led show is a compelling mix of soapy melodrama and a gritty modern cowboy story. It also stars Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton, Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton, Wes Bentley as Jamie Dutton and Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler. “The foot is still down on the gas pedal,” Costner exclusively told Us Weekly at the Paramount Upfronts in May 2022 of the show’s future. “It’s holding up the way the first four seasons did. So, I was really happy about that.” The Oscar winner continued: “I feel like we’re going the right direction. It’s not so easy to catch a high point. It’s not so easy to stay there. And I think the writing is really staying at a level that’s important.” Viewers far and wide seem to agree having latched onto the Dutton family’s story, which surrounds their life on a large cattle ranch in Montana. The drama has since inspired several spinoffs by creator Taylor Sheridan, including 2021’s 1883, which stars Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Sam Elliott and Isabel May, and the upcoming series 1923, 6666 and 1883: The Bass Reeves Story. [jwplayer 7KQwXVe2-zhNYySv2] Sheridan’s take on the modern-day western is certainly catching on and Yellowstone’s incredible scenery has furthered fan’s love of the show, which is gearing up for season 5. “At the end of the day, to go to some of these locations where most people have never been, where you’re opening up a new world, and all of these places or characters in the story, to me, it’s fascinating,” Sheridan told Deadline in January 2022. Many of the locations he speaks of are actually situated in the western United States, which helps bring authenticity to the episodes. Instead of the usual Los Angeles soundstage, Yellowstone films throughout Montana. For example, the Dutton Ranch shoots in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley not far from Yellowstone National Park. Fans of the Paramount hit can road trip from one show haunt to another by following Us' Yellowstone location guide below: [podcast_block]

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The Yellowstone Ranch

On the series, the Dutton family have owned their ranch for six generations. The real-life space where the cast shoots is the Chief Joseph Ranch in Darby, Montana. The 6,000-square-foot working ranch echoes the one fans know and love from TV and is also family owned.

Shane Libel, who is the real owner of the ranch, lives on the premises with his wife, Angela, and their family. Since the show premiered, Libel has chosen to keep the iconic Yellowstone Dutton Ranch sign up year-round so tourists can stop for a photo op.

The actors, however, stay off site while filming. “We utilized rental properties in the area or found hotels in [nearby] Hamilton,” location manager Mark Jarrett told the New York Post in July 2018. “The Libels stayed in the house, in the rooms upstairs. There’s a cabin on the property where Taylor stays with his family. We used another house for the greenroom. The ranch is so pretty you could go for a ride.”

Yellowstone fans, meanwhile, can book a night to stay at the real Dutton Ranch and feel like a part of the show. The Libel family opens this filming location up as a guest ranch from June through August.

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Beth's Office

If you were to do a grand tour of Yellowstone shooting locations, you may have to drive around for a while. Many of the surrounding scenes are not necessarily close to the Dutton family home, though they are made out to be on the show. Beth’s office, for example, is a four-hour drive away in Helena, Montana. The court scenes are also shot in the city at the State Capitol Building.

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The Broken Rock Indian Reservation

Even further from the Dutton Ranch is the Broken Rock Indian Reservation where Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham) resides. The reservation where they shoot, which is called the Crow Indian Reservation, is a seven-hour drive from the ranch. The Crow Indian Reservation is located just outside of Billings, Montana, and consists of more than two million acres. It is the largest reservation in Montana and has served as the backdrop to various shooting spots, including the Tribal Casino.

Before filming, Sheridan sought permission from Crow Nation tribal chairman, AJ Not Afraid, to be on the reservation and to learn about Native culture. Throughout the series, viewers have been following the story of the Native American tribe who want to take back the Duttons’ land, as they originally lived on the property before the family took ownership.

Birmingham, who is of Comanche descent, plays casino owner Thomas Rainwater, tribal chair and rival to John Dutton — a role Birmingham called refreshing. “It was such a beautiful opportunity to actually play a contemporary representation of a Native American, because you rarely ever see that, especially one that has some kind of leverage and is a powerful player in the game,” he told The Salt Lake Tribune in June 2020.

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Utah Soundstages

While much of the series is shot outdoors, some scenes rely on traditional soundstages. From seasons 1 to 3, Yellowstone filmed in Utah pre-built sets and spaces. Park City, Ogden and Spanish Fork, Utah were also home to many of the cast’s outdoor adventures for the first few seasons.

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Montana Spread

Sheridan switched things up for season 4, moving production entirely to Montana. According to reports, the Yellowstone project secured a 40,000 square foot space over a hundred acres in Missoula, Montana, to build out its fictional world.