Old Faithful★5.0

Northwest > Wyoming > Yellowstone National Park > Old Faithful Historic District > Old Faithful

Old Faithful Geyser erupting, Yellowstone National Park

Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone National Park
Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cone geyser that erupts hot water and steam at relatively predictable intervals, drawing visitors to observe one of the world's most well-known geothermal features.

General Information

Hours:
Open 24 hours daily year-round; eruption viewing is available throughout the day and night
Fees:
Included with Yellowstone National Park admission:
Private Vehicle: $35 (7-day pass)
Motorcycle: $30 (7-day pass)
Individual (walk-in, bicycle): $20 (7-day pass)
Pet Policy:
Pets are allowed only in developed areas and must remain within 100 feet of roads, parking areas, and campgrounds on a leash no longer than 6 feet; pets are not allowed on boardwalks, trails, or thermal areas.
Closest cities with hotels:
West Yellowstone, Montana (31 mi)
Seasons:
All year; late spring through fall offers the easiest access, while winter provides snow-covered scenery and fewer crowds.
Location:
ful+Yellowstone+National+Park+WY+82190" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
Website:
ps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/oldfaithful.htm" rel="noopener" target="_blank">nps.gov

How to Get There

From West Yellowstone (31 mi): Follow US-20 E through the West Entrance of Yellowstone National Park, continue on Grand Loop Road toward Madison Junction, then follow signs south to the Upper Geyser Basin and Old Faithful.

Overview

Old Faithful was the first geyser seen by the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition when it entered the Upper Geyser Basin on September 18, 1870. It is not the tallest or largest in the park, but its eruptions are predictable: 3,700 to 8,400 gallons of boiling water reach 106 to 185 feet (averaging 145 feet) and last one and a half to five minutes, every 60 to 110 minutes or so. More than a million eruptions have been recorded. Park rangers post predicted times at the visitor center, and boardwalks circle the geyser.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Old Faithful", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0

Old Faithful Geyser erupting in the evening light
Old Faithful Geyser erupting in the evening light, Tigerzeng, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Crowds watching Old Faithful Geyser from the boardwalk
Crowds watching Old Faithful Geyser from the boardwalk, Hu Nhu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Old Faithful Geyser erupting
Old Faithful Geyser erupting
View of Old Faithful Geyser from the Visitor Education Center
View of Old Faithful Geyser from the Visitor Education Center, Don Graham, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
American bison grazing near Old Faithful Geyser
American bison grazing near Old Faithful Geyser, Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Old Faithful Geyser erupting over the Upper Geyser Basin
Old Faithful Geyser erupting over the Upper Geyser Basin, Paul Hermans, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons