Booking choice: The lower loop van tour, from $292 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
The figures here come from the National Park Service Old Faithful page and the National Park Service geyser activity page. Old Faithful never erupts on an exact schedule, so every prediction is an estimate with a window.
A tour does not change when the geyser goes off. A good guide plans the day around the posted time, which is the practical difference.
The quick answer
Old Faithful erupts about every 102 minutes, plus or minus 10, with gaps from 54 to 118 minutes. An eruption lasts 1.5 to 5 minutes. Predictions are posted at the visitor education center and the lodges and in the NPS app.
How often does Old Faithful erupt?
About every 102 minutes, plus or minus 10, according to NPS.
The National Park Service Old Faithful page gives a median interval of 102 minutes as of January 2025, with the gap ranging from 54 to 118 minutes. That means a wait of up to about two hours is possible if you arrive just after an eruption.
How long does an Old Faithful eruption last?
Usually 1.5 to 5 minutes, with a plume that averages 130 feet.
The table lists the NPS figures.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Median interval | 102 minutes, plus or minus 10 |
| Shortest to longest gap | 54 to 118 minutes |
| Eruption length | 1.5 to 5 minutes |
| Height | 106 to over 180 feet, average 130 feet |
| Water per eruption | 3,700 to 8,400 gallons |
| Water temperature at the vent | 203 degrees Fahrenheit |
Where are Old Faithful eruption times posted?
At the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center, the lodges and in the NPS app.
The National Park Service Old Faithful page lists those three places and a live webcam. The National Park Service geyser activity page adds a recorded phone message and the GeyserTimes website. Rangers predict six geysers, with the last posted prediction staying up until a new one replaces it.
What if there is no prediction?
Predictions are unavailable when the visitor center is closed, usually early November to mid-December and mid-March to mid-April.
In those weeks, arrive and wait. With a gap of up to 118 minutes, bring a layer, water and something to do. The boardwalk loop past the other geysers fills the time well.
A guide who plans the day around the posted time, so you see an eruption without a long wait.
Check dates for the full-day guided tourHow long should you allow for Old Faithful?
About two hours: arrive 20 to 30 minutes before the predicted time and walk the boardwalk afterwards.
The eruption itself is brief. The rest is the walk past Castle, Grand and Morning Glory and the time you spend deciding where to stand. A guided hike through the basin takes about six hours, covered by the geyser basin hike.
Where is the best place to watch Old Faithful?
The benches at the viewing area are the classic spot. Observation Point gives a wider view without the crowd.
The National Park Service Observation Point page describes a 1.6-mile round trip, rated moderate, climbing switchbacks for about 0.5 miles to a view over the Upper Geyser Basin. The trailhead is just past the Firehole River bridge, 0.3 miles around the boardwalk from the visitor center. A guest on the hike tour wrote, "We were able to see Old Faithful from the observation point, which was perfect - great view and no crowds."
Which other geysers have posted times?
Castle, Grand, Daisy, Riverside and Great Fountain, with intervals from 2.75 to 14 hours.
The National Park Service geyser activity page lists the typical intervals. Daisy is the quick one, and the others are worth timing into a longer visit.
| Geyser | Typical interval | Eruption length |
|---|---|---|
| Daisy | About 2.75 hours | About 3.5 minutes |
| Grand | About 6.5 hours | 8 to 12 minutes |
| Riverside | About 6.5 hours | About 20 minutes |
| Great Fountain | About 11.5 hours | 45 to 60 minutes |
| Castle | About 13.5 hours | 15 to 20 minutes |
Can a tour time your visit to an eruption?
A good guide builds the day around the posted time, and guests report it works.
One guest of the full-day guided tour wrote that the guide adjusted the route to see Old Faithful erupt without a long wait. A guest of the 5-hour express tour wrote, "Timing was PERFECT." Another says the hike guide timed the walk to catch several eruptions. The tour or drive yourself guide weighs the choice.
Six miles through the Upper Geyser Basin, timed around eruptions, with breakfast and lunch.
Explore the geyser basin hikeFrequently asked questions
How often does Old Faithful erupt?
About every 102 minutes, plus or minus 10, with gaps from 54 to 118 minutes.
How long does an Old Faithful eruption last?
1.5 to 5 minutes, with a plume between 106 and over 180 feet.
Where can you see Old Faithful eruption times?
At the visitor education center and the lodges, and in the NPS app. NPS also lists a webcam.
Are predictions available in November?
Not once the visitor center closes, typically early November to mid-December. The last posted prediction stays up.
Ready to book
Choose your Old Faithful tour
Every option here can be cancelled for a full refund; the deadline is on each listing. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Lower Loop Van Tour from West Yellowstone
- About 8 hours with a professional guide in an air-conditioned van
- Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic, Yellowstone Lake and the Lower Loop overlooks
- Pickup from West Yellowstone hotels, 7:00 am start
Guided Upper Geyser Basin Hike with Lunch
Six miles past Morning Glory, Grand Geyser and Old Faithful, with a guide who explains each one
Full-Day Guided Yellowstone Day Tour
- About 11 hours with a wilderness interpretive guide
- Pickups in Cody, West Yellowstone and Big Sky, or inside the park at Fishing Bridge
- Lunch, bottled water, binoculars and a professional spotting scope
