Gateway communities are cities or towns that lie just outside major tourist attractions such as national parks, wilderness areas, or nature resort areas. Examples of gateway communities in the US include

Jackson, Wyoming Jackson is a resort town in Teton County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 10,760 at the 2020 census, up from 9,577 in 2010. It is Teton County's only incorporated municipality and county seat, and it is the largest incorporated town ...

;

Tusayan, Arizona Tusayan is a town located in Coconino County, Arizona, Coconino County, Arizona, United States. It was Municipal corporation, incorporated in 2010. It is a resort town near the south entrance to Grand Canyon National Park, acting as a gateway c ...

; and

Gardiner, Montana Gardiner is a census-designated place (CDP) in Park County, Montana, United States, along the 45th parallel north, 45th parallel. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of the community and nearby areas was 833. Gard ...

. These places provide services for guests of the adjacent attractions, such as gas, food, and lodging, and as a result rely upon these attractions to sustain their economy. Since they are neighbors, management actions taken by either the attraction or the community itself have direct impacts on one another. Shared social, economic and ecological impacts are some of the primary considerations. For example, increased seasonal tourist activity can put significant strain on the infrastructure of gateway communities. Economically, while tourism can be a boon, it can also price locals out of the community. Land prices close to

Yellowstone National Park Yellowstone National Park is a List of national parks of the United States, national park of the United States located in the northwest corner of Wyoming, with small portions extending into Montana and Idaho. It was established by the 42nd U ...

increased by 330% in the 15 years between 1981 and 1996. Near

Grand Teton National Park Grand Teton National Park is a national park of the United States in northwestern Wyoming. At approximately , the park includes the major peaks of the Teton Range as well as most of the northern sections of the valley known as Jackson Hole. G ...

in Wyoming, many locals live in the more distant communities found in neighboring Idaho ( Driggs and Victor) rather than in Jackson, WY. Ecological implications including those of watershed management, fire management in urban and wildland contexts, and noise and air pollution are concerns common to gateway communities and their neighboring attractions. Because of this shared responsibility, managing agencies often form partnerships with local municipal authorities.

List of gateway communities for U.S. national parks

References

{{Reflist Types of towns Urban studies and planning terminology