Old Faithful Virtual Visitor Center (2024)

FAQs

How long is the drive from West Entrance Yellowstone to Old Faithful? ›

You can drive to Old Faithful. If you enter the park from the West Entrance, Old Faithful is 32 miles from West Yellowstone, the closest gateway city to the famous geyser. Plan on the drive taking between 45 minutes to over an hour.

At only 45 feet (14 m) inside Old Faithful's throat, the water temperature is 244°F (117°C). Prior to an eruption, the water at the geyser's vent is 204°F (96°C)—several degrees hotter than the area's normal surface boiling point of 199°F (93°C).

Geysers like Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park erupt periodically because of loops or side-chambers in their underground plumbing, according to recent studies by volcanologists at the University of California, Berkeley.

The area of Yellowstone closest to the East Entrance is a lot quieter than other parts of the park. Once you pass through the entrance, you'll continue seeing gorgeous geology and foliage all the way to the lake.

Because the west side isn't blocked by a mountain range, it's easier to get to. Also, the West Entrance is closest to the Lower Loop (part of the Grand Loop), which has most of the park's attractions including Old Faithful Geyser, Grand Prismatic Spring, and Norris Geyser Basin.

My wife and I got lucky and managed to find a parking spot really close to the geyser, we walked maybe 20-30 yds, but depending on where you park you might have to walk a couple hundred yards.

Does it cost money to see Old Faithful? No, but Yellowstone does require a $35 entrance fee that's valid for 7 days. The pass allows you to view all attractions within the park, including Old Faithful.

But Yellowstone's thermal features don't flow cold water like you're used to. Don't touch any water in or around thermal features. Never swim, soak, or wade in thermal features. More than 20 people have died from intentionally entering or falling into hot springs.

Old Faithful Geyser got its unique name in the 19th century because its eruptions were so regular and predictable. But during parts of the 13th and 14th centuries, the geyser did not erupt at all.

In 2020, a 3-year-old suffered second-degree burns on the lower body and back, and a tourist who entered the park illegally fell into a thermal feature near Old Faithful.

Has Old Faithful ever failed to erupt? ›

Now, geologists examining petrified wood from the park have found evidence that 800 years ago, Old Faithful stopped erupting entirely for several decades, in response to a severe drought.

Yellowstone National Park is one of the most iconic destinations, so it can understandably get very crowded during peak season (June, July, and August)! If you're looking to avoid the crowds, the best months to visit Yellowstone are April, September, and October.

Yellowstone is normally busiest from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the stretch between Yellowstone's West Entrance to Old Faithful usually has the most traffic.

One of the most incredible views in Yellowstone is along the Northeast Entrance road in the northeastern section of the park. You can literally park your car at any pull-off along the road in Lamar Valley, get out your binoculars and spend hours watching the best wildlife show in the country.

The Grand Loop takes 4 to 7 hours to drive depending on stops, wildlife traffic jams and other factors.

The Grand Loop Road in Yellowstone is the main way to get to the attractions in the national park. This stretch from Madison Junction to the exit for the Old Faithful area is the most popular and has the most geyser basins.

You are required to pay an entrance fee in order to access Yellowstone National Park.

West Yellowstone's West Entrance is the closest park access point to Old Faithful (30 miles away), located in the southeast quadrant of Yellowstone National Park. Please note that vehicle access to Old Faithful is closed for the winter season, usually around the start of November, and re-opens in the spring.