Old Faithful

Yellowstone's most famous geyser erupts on a rhythm rangers can predict, throwing water 106 to more than 180 feet from the heart of the Upper Geyser Basin - the

Geysermid-April - OctoberRestrooms available

Yellowstone's most famous geyser erupts on a rhythm rangers can predict, throwing water 106 to more than 180 feet from the heart of the Upper Geyser Basin - the densest concentration of geysers on Earth.

Getting there & parking

How To Get There: Old Faithful has its own interchange on the Grand Loop Road between Madison Junction and West Thumb. From the West Entrance, drive to Madison Junction and turn south - about 30 miles total.
Parking Availability: Large lots that still fill midday in July and August; mornings and evenings are far easier.

When to go

Best Time To Visit: Early morning and evening for smaller crowds; midday parking fills in summer. Check the next predicted eruption at the visitor center, the lodges, or the NPS App, and arrive 20 minutes ahead.
Seasonal Access: Road access mid-April through October 31 in 2026; in winter the area is reached by guided snowcoach or snowmobile, with the Snow Lodge operating.

What you will experience

Attraction Type: Geyser
Main Features: Predictable eruptions averaging 130 feet; the Upper Geyser Basin's boardwalk network; the historic Old Faithful Inn; the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center.
What Youll See: Eruptions last 1.5 to 5 minutes and expel 3,700 to 8,400 gallons of boiling water. The median interval is about 102 minutes, give or take 10, so most visitors see an eruption within an hour of arriving.
Unique Characteristics: Predictability is the point: rangers publish eruption forecasts because a relationship exists between an eruption's duration and the length of the following interval. Within one square mile of it sit at least 150 hydrothermal features, and rangers predict five major geysers here - Castle, Grand, Daisy, Riverside, and Old Faithful.
Photo Opportunities: Eruption sequences from the boardwalk arc; backlit steam in early morning; the geyser framed with the Old Faithful Inn.
Best Viewpoints: The main boardwalk arc in front of the geyser; Observation Point for an elevated view; the Old Faithful Inn's second-floor deck.
Common Wildlife: Bison and elk move through the basin, especially in cooler months.

Facilities, fees & access

Restrooms Available: Yes
Cell Service: Limited; do not count on coverage for predictions - use the posted boards.
Interpretive Signs: Yes
Accessibility Level: Paved paths and boardwalks; the main viewing arc is wheelchair accessible.

Safety

Safety Considerations: Boardwalks only - the ground crust conceals boiling water. Swimming in hot springs is prohibited. Pets are prohibited in thermal areas.

Planning advice

Tips Advice: Predictions are posted at the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center, at the lodges, and in the NPS App
Walk the full Upper Geyser Basin boardwalk while you wait - Castle, Grand, Daisy, and Riverside are also predicted daily
Predictions pause when the visitor center closes seasonally (early November to mid-December and mid-March to mid-April)
Stay on boardwalks at all times; thermal crust is thin and more than 20 people have died from thermal burns in the park

More details

Park Area: Upper Geyser Basin
Visitor Center Present: Yes

Grand Prismatic Spring

Rainbow rim of a hot spring; colors arise from thermophiles in Yellowstone's volcanic system.

Yellowstone Lake

Caldera lake tilted by resurgent domes; hydrothermal vents dot the lakebed.

Lake Butte Overlook

Panoramic view of Yellowstone Lake from the caldera rim; distant Tetons on clear days.

Artist Point

Lower Falls overlook; canyon walls colored by hydrothermal alteration of rhyolite.

Gibbon River

84 ft Gibbon Falls; river through hydrothermal basins along Grand Loop Road.

Gibbon Falls

84-foot cascade over an ancient Yellowstone lava flow; drive-up overlook with a wheelchair-friendly path.

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Sources

YourNPGuide Editorial

Editorial review: YourNPGuide Editorial Team. Information is compiled from official sources, verified traveler reviews, and editorial research; no firsthand visit is implied unless explicitly documented. Learn how YourNPGuide works.