Old Faithful is the world’s most famous geyser. Visit the Upper Geyser Basin in Yellowstone to watch its predictable eruptions.
Overview
We knew, without a doubt, both times we went to Yellowstone National Park that the Old Faithful area was a must. Whenever we’ve gone to Yellowstone National Park, we also included a trip to Grand Teton National Park and stayed in Idaho for that park. So, each time, we’ve had one day of a long 5-hour drive to get from our rental in Idaho to drive through Grand Teton National Park into the South Entrance of Yellowstone National Park and drive all the way through Yellowstone to our rental in Montana.
Old Faithful Geyser Plan
When coming in through the South Entrance you will come up to the Old Faithful Lodge after about an hour’s drive if you travel clockwise on Grand Loop Road. The first time we went to Yellowstone National Park, we planned to stay closer to the Northeast side of the park, near Lamar Valley, since our hotel was in Cooke City. The second time we went, we stayed near the North Entrance in Gardiner. On both visits, we decided to stop at Old Faithful on our way through the park to our next destination. Since this is something you have to time right, we wanted to leave the flexibility for the other days in the park.
Upon entering the park, we asked the park ranger at the ranger station for the time of the next eruption. That helped us determine if we should drive straight to the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center and get seats for the main attraction, or visit something else on the way. With my parents, we stopped at the West Thumb Geyser Basin on the way. With Justin’s parents, we went straight to the geyser-viewing area.
Getting There
Location
The northwest corner of Wyoming is home to Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park. The closest airport is in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, requiring a drive through Grand Teton National Park to get to the south entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Otherwise, from the north, fly into either Bozeman or Billings in Montana. No matter how you get to the park, you will need your own transportation to get into the park and drive around the park. There’s no public transportation and the park is too big to enjoy without a vehicle.
Best Time to Go
As with most national parks, the summer months are the peak season at Yellowstone National Park. Many of the roads are closed in the park from about October to May, so it limits the amount of time visitors have to enjoy the park. Ideally, go around September to avoid some of the crowds since kids will be back in school.
Stephanie & Tyler-Second time seeing Old Faithful
Ryan & Justin-Second time seeing Old Faithful
Old Faithful Geyser
Who Can Go?
There is a boardwalk that leads from the main parking area to the Old Faithful eruptions viewing area. Near the edge of the boardwalk, there are also benches for those who need them. There is not a railing at the edge so your view isn’t obstructed, so please make sure to keep an eye on small children. It is against park regulations to step off of the boardwalk and trails in Yellowstone National Park for safety reasons.
What You'll See
Old Faithful is a cone geyser that’s known for its highly predictable eruptions. Have a seat and wait to view the most well-known of the hydrothermal features in the world. Once the eruption starts, there’s often a tease of an eruption with hot water starting to spew in a short eruption. This is a leadup to the main event which shoots water up to almost 200 feet in the air at a water temperature of about 204 degrees Fahrenheit. It spews between 3,700 and 8,400 gallons of water during each eruption.
The average interval between geyser eruptions is about 74 minutes and ranges from 44-125 minutes. While waiting between eruptions, a constant billow of steam can be seen from the center of the big geyser. Most regular eruptions last from 1.5 minutes to 5 minutes.
What to Bring & Wear
Bring your patience! Seriously, it can seem like you are waiting quite a bit of time for the eruption, especially if you get there just after one is finished. Not to mention the chaos that can happen in the large parking lot as many people are trying to leave while others are coming in.
In all seriousness, bring yourself some water and a snack while you wait. Remember, the eruption time is just an estimate and it can vary by about 10 minutes. Don’t forget a camera and/or binoculars. The eruption heights are incredible, but you are still quite a ways away from the center of action.
Where to Go
Yellowstone’s most famous geyser is located in the southwest section of the park in the Upper Geyser Basin. As you drive on this section of Grand Loop Road, make sure you watch the signs for the turnoff towards Old Faithful, the Old Faithful Snow Lodge, and the Old Faithful Visitor Center. Follow the signs (and likely the line of cars) to get to the parking area near Old Faithful.
How Long Does it Take?
The amount of time you spend here will vary based on what other buildings in the Old Faithful area you want to explore and how well you time your visit to see the eruption. Ideally, plan about an hour in the area, including time to find parking and walk around.
If you have extra time in the area, don’t forget to go to the park visitor center to get a stamp for your Passport Book. You can also check out the Old Faithful Inn Dining Room, hit the Old Faithful General Store, send a postcard from the Post Office to have it stamped from the park, or go to the Basin Store gift shop.
Cost
There isn’t a cost to see Old Faithful, just the park entrance fee for Yellowstone National Park that you will pay when entering the national park.
Tyler waiting to see Old Faithful for the first time
Ryan waiting to see Old Faithful for the first time
Tips for Old Faithful Geyser
- The Upper Geyser Basin has the highest concentration of geysers in the world with about 150 in one square mile. Make sure to see others in the Upper Geyser Basin, Midway Geyser Basin, and Lower Geyser Basin such as Castle Geyser, Grand Geyser, Daisy Geyser, Riverside Geyser, Beehive Geyser, Lion Geyser, Giantess Geyser, Steamboat Geyser, Lone Star Geyser, and Great Fountain Geyser.
- For a different view of Old Faithful, walk along the Upper Geyser Basin Trail and Observation Point Trail.
- As one of the National Historic Landmarks of the United States and the icon of Yellowstone National Park, this wonder draws millions of visitors every year from around the world. Try to get there early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid some of the crowds.
- Download the National Park Service official app and it has a list of geyser eruption predictions that are updated throughout the day. The predictions won’t work when you don’t have cell service, but you can use the free public wi-fi at the Albright Visitor Center in Mammoth Hot Springs.