Booking choice: The lower loop van tour, from $292 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Of the gateway towns, West Yellowstone, Montana, sits closest to Old Faithful. The road runs through the West Entrance, follows the Madison River and turns south at Madison Junction.
This guide uses the National Park Service directions page for drive times and the Destination Yellowstone route guide for the distance, and it compares the tours that leave from town.
The quick answer
The lower loop van tour at $292 leaves West Yellowstone at 7 am and spends about 8 hours on Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic and Yellowstone Lake, with lunch. The geyser basin hike at $182 stays on foot, and the full-day guided tour at $269 runs 11 hours.
How far is Old Faithful from West Yellowstone?
About 32 miles, which is 65 to 75 minutes of driving without stops.
The Destination Yellowstone route guide gives the distance at about 32 miles. The National Park Service directions page lists 30 minutes from the West Entrance to Madison Junction and 35 to 45 minutes from Madison Junction to Old Faithful, which adds up to roughly an hour and ten. NPS warns that wildlife, weather and construction can make the drive much longer.
The speed limit is 45 mph and rangers enforce it. Plan for a bison jam.
Which Old Faithful tours leave from West Yellowstone?
Four options start in or near town, from a half-day express to a private day.
The table sets them side by side. The guided day with lunch also picks up in Cody, Big Sky and at Fishing Bridge inside the park.
| Option | Price | Length | Starts from | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The lower loop van tour | $292 | 8 hours | West Yellowstone hotels or Visitor Center, 7:00 am | Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic, Yellowstone Lake, lunch |
| the half-day express tour | $199 | 5 hours | 30 Yellowstone Ave, West Yellowstone | Old Faithful and top stops, no lunch |
| The geyser basin hike | $182 | 6 hours | Daisy Geyser trailhead | Six miles on foot with lunch |
| The full-day guided tour | $269 | 11 hours | Cody, West Yellowstone, Big Sky, Fishing Bridge | A full lower loop day with lunch |
| The private tour | $2,200 per group | 9 hours | West Yellowstone | Your own guide, picnic by the lake |
Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic and the lake in one small-group day, with lunch and a spotting scope.
Check dates for the lower loop van tourWhat does the lower loop van tour cover?
Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone Lake and the overlooks along the Lower Loop, with lunch and snacks.
The lower loop van tour runs about 8 hours with a professional guide in an air-conditioned van, and it supplies lunch, snacks, drinks, binoculars and a spotting scope. The park entrance fee and gratuities are extra.
Guests rate it 4.9 from 480 reviews. One wrote that the van windows were "very clean which was great for viewing and taking pictures".
Is there a half-day option?
Yes. The half-day express tour runs about 5 hours from 30 Yellowstone Ave in West Yellowstone.
The listing for the half-day express tour shows $199, binoculars and parking fees in the price, and lunch as an extra. It has only 4 reviews so far, all 5 stars, and one guest called it a "Good tour if you don't have much time". Another reports the guide offered a 2.5-mile hike through a quieter area while still making sure they saw Old Faithful erupt.
What if you start in Cody, Big Sky or inside the park?
The full-day guided tour picks up in Cody, West Yellowstone, Big Sky and Fishing Bridge.
It runs about 11 hours with a wilderness interpretive guide, lunch, binoculars and a spotting scope. Guests rate it 4.9 from 796 reviews, and one wrote that the guide adjusted the route to Old Faithful so they saw it erupt without a long wait.
One 3-star review called the day "Too rushed" and said it "Should be 2 day". Eleven hours cover a lot of the Lower Loop, and a two-day tour does cover more.
An 11-hour naturalist-guided day with lunch and four pickup towns, rated 4.9 from 796 reviews.
Explore the full-day guided tourWhat time should you leave to beat the crowds?
Early. The van tour starts at 7 am, and the route guide says to arrive before 8 am in summer.
The Destination Yellowstone route guide says midday parking at the Old Faithful corridor fills and suggests being there before 8 am. A guide who knows the eruption schedule shifts the order of the day around it, which is much of what you pay for. The eruption times guide explains how the predictions work.
What should you bring on a West Yellowstone tour?
Layers, sun protection, a refillable bottle and a camera. The tour supplies binoculars and lunch.
Mornings at about 7,300 feet are cold even in July. Stay on the boardwalks, because the ground around the geysers is thin crust over scalding water. Ask the operator how the park entrance fee is collected, and carry a card for gratuities.
A guide, lunch, binoculars and a spotting scope, with the driving done for you.
Check dates for the lower loop van tourIs West Yellowstone or Jackson the better base for Old Faithful?
West Yellowstone, if the geyser is the point. Jackson is a long day in a vehicle.
Jackson is roughly 100 miles from the geyser, and its tours run 12 to 13 hours. The Jackson Hole guide covers who should still choose it. For a private pace from West Yellowstone, the private tour costs $2,200 per group.
Your own guide and vehicle, with a gourmet picnic by Yellowstone Lake and the pace set by you.
Explore the private tourFrequently asked questions
How far is Old Faithful from West Yellowstone?
About 32 miles. NPS drive times add up to roughly 65 to 75 minutes without stops.
What time does the West Yellowstone van tour start?
The lower loop van tour starts at 7:00 am from West Yellowstone hotels or the Visitor Center.
Is there a half-day Old Faithful tour from West Yellowstone?
Yes. A half-day express tour takes about 5 hours and starts at 30 Yellowstone Ave.
Does the West Yellowstone tour include the park fee?
No. The listing shows the entrance fee and gratuities as extras.
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
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
Guided Upper Geyser Basin Hike with Lunch
Six miles past Morning Glory, Grand Geyser and Old Faithful, with a guide who explains each one
