West Yellowstone Tours

West Entrance today: Open to cars until 31 October

Road calendar

Yellowstone tours from West Yellowstone, Montana

West Yellowstone Tours

We offer 20+ guided Yellowstone tours that start in West Yellowstone, run by 13 operators: 8 shared, from $248.20 per adult, and 15 private, from $300 per adult.

Tours through the town’s West Entrance run while its road into Yellowstone is open to cars, from 17 April to 31 October 2026, and Old Faithful is 65–75 minutes from the entrance. From 15 December 2026 to 15 March 2027 the West Entrance takes only snowcoaches and guided snowmobiles, and none of those trips is sold here.

West Entrance, 17 April – 31 October 2026

Open to cars

The West Entrance and the roads to Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic and Norris are open to cars, 24 hours a day.

Last day for cars: 31 October 2026. The road then closes to all traffic until snowcoach and guided snowmobile travel starts on 15 December 2026.

Dates from the National Park Service, Park Roads, checked 3 October 2026. Roads can close at short notice: on the day, check Current Conditions or call (307) 344-2117.

All West Yellowstone tours

Every tour here starts in town and goes into the park through the West Entrance, unless its card says it goes in by the North Entrance. A shared tour puts you in a group with other visitors and a private one takes only your party: each card says who its price is for.

Search and filter every tour

No over-snow trips from West Yellowstone are sold here

No snowcoach or snowmobile trip from West Yellowstone is sold through our booking partner, so we have none to offer. For 15 December 2026 to 15 March 2027, book an over-snow trip directly with an operator in town.

For winter wildlife there are 3 tours that go in by the North Entrance instead, on the North Entrance to Northeast Entrance road, the only road in the park open to cars all year:

  • Winter in Yellowstone Wildlife Tour. Starts in West Yellowstone: Meet at 5:45 a.m. behind the West Yellowstone Visitor Center, in its parking lot at 30 Yellowstone Ave; the van also collects in Big Sky and Bozeman, drives north to the North Entrance and is back in town about 6 p.m.
  • Yellowstone Winter Wildlife Full Day Private Tour & Snowshoe. Starts north of the park: Pickup at lodgings in Bozeman, Livingston, Paradise Valley or Gardiner, not West Yellowstone; staying outside that area, you join the van at a meeting point the operator sets.
  • Yellowstone Winter Wildlife & Snowshoe Tour: PRIVATE. Starts north of the park: Pickup at your door within 3 miles of central Bozeman, Livingston or Gardiner, anywhere on the road between Bozeman and Gardiner, or at Mammoth Hot Springs; from West Yellowstone, you drive to Bozeman to meet the guide.

Compare the top West Yellowstone tours

Length, hotel pickup, lunch, cancellation terms and price at a glance. Open any tour for its route, its running days and a live price for your party.

TourTypeLengthRatingHotel pickupLunchFree cancellationFrom
Private Yellowstone Tour: ICONIC Sites, Wildlife, Family Friendly Hikes + lunch Private 7 to 9 hours 5.0 (997 reviews) Yes Yes Up to 24 hours before $2,200 per group (up to 6)
Yellowstone Lower Loop Tour: Wildlife & Hot Springs, PRIVATE Private 8 hours 5.0 (145 reviews) Yes Yes Up to 24 hours before $449.99 per adult
Private Yellowstone Wildlife Sightseeing Tour Private 7 to 9 hours 5.0 (111 reviews) Yes Yes Up to 24 hours before $1,200 per group (up to 4)
Private Yellowstone Old Faithful and Lower Loop Tour Private 7 to 9 hours 5.0 (83 reviews) Yes Yes Up to 24 hours before $1,100 per group (up to 4)
Private Hidden Gems of Yellowstone! Lunch w/ family friendly hikes included! Private 7 to 9 hours 5.0 (36 reviews) Yes Yes Up to 24 hours before $1,999 per group (up to 5)
Private Yellowstone Wildlife Tour in the American Serengeti Private 7 to 8 hours 5.0 (16 reviews) Yes Yes Up to 24 hours before $1,295 per group (up to 6)
Full Day Private Fly Fishing in Yellowstone Private 8 hours 5.0 (12 reviews) Yes Yes Up to 24 hours before $475 per adult
Yellowstone PRIVATE Wildlife Safari with Lunch Private 8 hours 5.0 (10 reviews) Yes Yes Up to 24 hours before $375 per person
Private Evening/Sunset Wildlife Encounter Tour Private 4 hours 4.9 (50 reviews) No No Up to 24 hours before $300 per adult
Yellowstone Upper Loop Wildlife Safari: Lamar Valley, PRIVATE Private 8 hours 4.9 (114 reviews) Yes Yes Up to 24 hours before $449.99 per adult

West Yellowstone tours reviews

West Yellowstone and the park

West Yellowstone is the town at Yellowstone’s West Entrance, in Montana. From the entrance it is 30 minutes to Madison Junction, where the entrance road meets the park’s Grand Loop, 65–75 minutes to Old Faithful and about 60 minutes to Norris Geyser Basin.

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is about 90 minutes away, and Tower Junction, where the road through Lamar Valley begins, about 2 hours 25 minutes, all before any stops. Inside the park there is no public transportation: you drive yourself or go with a tour.

Things to know before booking your West Yellowstone tours

  • Tours through the West Entrance run while its road is open to cars. The West Entrance road is open to cars from 17 April 2026 to 31 October 2026. It then closes to all traffic, and from 15 December 2026 to 15 March 2027 only snowcoaches and guided snowmobiles go in. None of those over-snow trips is sold here. A tour whose card says it goes in by the North Entrance drives north out of town to the North Entrance to Northeast Entrance road, open to cars all year.
  • The entrance fee is often extra. Each tour’s page says whether park entry is included. Every non-US resident aged 16 or over pays an extra $100 to enter the park, on a tour too, unless the group has an annual or America the Beautiful pass.
  • Check who a price is for. Prices are shown per person. Where the price each person pays depends on how many of you travel, it is the price for two, and the card says it varies by group size. Where the operator charges one price for any party up to a set size, it reads “per group (up to 6)”. The booking card on each tour’s page prices your own party for the date you choose.
  • Pickup or a meeting point. Many tours collect you from lodgings in town, and some meet everyone at a set point. Each tour’s page says where, and lists the lodgings on its pickup list.
  • Lamar Valley makes a long day. It is about 2 hours 25 minutes from the West Entrance to Tower Junction before any stops, and the same back.
  • Old Faithful keeps a rough timetable. It erupts about every 94 or 68 minutes (plus or minus 10), and the park stops predicting eruptions while its visitor center is closed, usually early November to mid-December and mid-March to mid-April.
  • Keep your distance from animals. Stay at least 100 yards (91 m) from bears, wolves and cougars and 25 yards (23 m) from every other animal, bison and elk included, on a tour as well.
  • Stay on the boardwalks. More than 20 people have died from burns after entering or falling into Yellowstone’s hot springs.

Are West Yellowstone tours worth it, or should you drive yourself?

The road in from the West Entrance is the same whichever way you go. A tour adds a driver, a guide and, on most, pickup from your lodging; driving yourself costs less and leaves the pace to you. Here is how the two compare from West Yellowstone.

A guided tour from West Yellowstone, or driving into the park yourself
Guided tourDriving yourself
Getting into the park 20 of the 23 tours pick you up in town; the other 3 meet at a set point in town. Your own car or a rental: inside the park there is no public transportation.
What it costs From $248.20 per adult on a shared tour and from $300 per adult on a private one, checked between 21 October 2026 and 22 October 2026. $35 per vehicle for seven consecutive days, plus the car and its fuel.
The park entrance fee Included on 3 tours; each tour's page says whether it is included. $35 per vehicle, or an annual or America the Beautiful pass.
Visitors who live outside the US An extra $100 each, aged 16 and over, on a tour too. An extra $100 each, aged 16 and over.
The length of the day From 4 to 12 hours, set by the tour. As long as you like. Old Faithful is 65–75 minutes each way before any stops.
Looking for wildlife The guide drives, so everyone can look out; 9 of the 23 are wildlife-watching tours. The driver has to watch the road. Keep 25 yards (23 m) from bison and elk, 100 yards (91 m) from bears and wolves.
In winter One of these tours runs once the road closes to cars after 31 October: it drives north out of town and goes in by the North Entrance. No car can enter from this side from 1 November; from 15 December only snowcoaches and guided snowmobiles go in.

A tour makes sense if

  • it is your first visit and you want each stop explained as you reach it;
  • nobody in your group wants to spend a whole day driving park roads;
  • you want to watch for wildlife rather than the road;
  • you have no car here: inside the park there is no public transportation.

Driving yourself makes sense if

  • you have a car and are staying a few days: one $35 pass covers the car for seven consecutive days;
  • you want to linger in one place, or start early: while the road is open to cars it is open 24 hours a day;
  • you are several people on a budget, since the pass is per vehicle, not per person;
  • you have already had a guided day and know where you want to go back to.

Your West Yellowstone tour options explained

The kinds of tour that start in town, how long they last and what they cost, with the three of each that rank highest. A tour can be more than one kind.

Old Faithful and the geyser basins

From the West Entrance the road runs to Madison Junction, then south beside the Firehole River past the Lower and Midway Geyser Basins, where Grand Prismatic Spring is, to the Upper Geyser Basin and Old Faithful.

Tours
12
Length
6 to 12 hours
From
$248.20 per adult

Ranked highest

Fly fishing

A day on the water with a fishing guide rather than a sightseeing tour. The operator lists a fishing licence as not included.

Tours
1
Length
8 hours
From
$475 per adult

Ranked highest

Snowcoach and snowmobile trips

From 15 December 2026 to 15 March 2027 the road from the West Entrance is open only to snowcoaches and commercially guided snowmobiles. No such trip from West Yellowstone is sold by us for now, so we have none to list: book one directly with an operator in town.

Explore Yellowstone from West Yellowstone

The park’s main road is a figure of eight, the Grand Loop, and the road from the West Entrance joins it at Madison Junction. Times are the National Park Service’s averages between junctions, before any stops.

Diagram of the roads from West Yellowstone into the park, not to scale From West Yellowstone the road runs east through the West Entrance to Madison Junction. South of Madison it passes Grand Prismatic Spring to Old Faithful, then runs east to West Thumb and Yellowstone Lake, and north through Hayden Valley to Canyon. North of Madison it reaches Norris, which links east to Canyon and north to Mammoth Hot Springs. From Mammoth the road runs east to Tower-Roosevelt, where the road through Lamar Valley begins, and south from Tower to Canyon. West Yellowstone West Entrance Madison Junction Grand Prismatic Spring Old Faithful West Thumb Yellowstone Lake Hayden Valley Canyon Norris Mammoth Hot Springs Tower-Roosevelt Lamar Valley 30 minutes 35–45 minutes 30 minutes 30 minutes 45 minutes 40 minutes

A diagram, not to scale. On a phone, scroll it sideways.

In the park: the geyser basins are to the south of Madison Junction, on the road to Old Faithful; the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is on the far side of the loop, through Norris; Lamar Valley is beyond Tower-Roosevelt, in the northeast. What is at each, and how far.

In town: West Yellowstone has its own wildlife center and museum, and Earthquake Lake is 27 miles away on US 287. Things to do in town.

A day from the West Entrance to Old Faithful, stop by stop

Most tours from town start the same way: east to Madison Junction, then south past the geyser basins to Old Faithful. These are the stops on that road, in order, with how many of the tours we compare stop at each. Times are the park’s averages before any stops.

  1. The Madison River to Madison Junction

    The entrance road runs east beside the Madison River to Madison Junction, where it meets the park's Grand Loop: 30 minutes from the West Entrance without stops.

    3 of the 23 tours stop here

  2. Fountain Paint Pot

    On the road south, 9 miles north of Old Faithful. The first part of the boardwalk is level and wheelchair accessible; further on there are steep sections and stairs.

    7 of the 23 tours stop here

  3. Grand Prismatic Spring

    At Midway Geyser Basin, 5.5 miles north of Old Faithful, with a boardwalk beside the spring. The view from above is from the overlook trail: 0.6 miles, climbing 105 feet.

    9 of the 23 tours stop here

  4. Old Faithful

    35–45 minutes from Madison Junction. The geyser erupts about every 94 or 68 minutes (plus or minus 10), and accessible walkways lead from every parking area to it.

    12 of the 23 tours stop here

  5. On round the loop, or back

    Many full-day tours carry on round the Grand Loop: 12 of the 23 stop in Hayden Valley, 14 at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and 7 at Norris Geyser Basin. Each tour's page lists its own stops.

Best West Yellowstone tours by kind

Each tile opens the full list with only those tours showing, best ranked first.

Two bison grazing at the edge of a road beside a calm river Shared tours 8 tours, from $248.20 per adult Grand Prismatic Spring seen from a forested hillside, a blue pool ringed with orange under a cloudy sky Private tours 15 tours, from $300 per adult The Lower Falls seen from a rocky ledge high on the wall of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Wildlife-watching tours 9 tours, from $292 per adult A small group walking through a green meadow toward a pine forest Tours with a hike 4 tours, from $396.50 per adult A bull elk with large antlers among pine trees at the edge of a forest Tours with lunch 19 tours, from $248.20 per adult Four children on a boardwalk, seen from behind, watching a geyser erupt in a tall column of steam Tours with hotel pickup 18 tours, from $248.20 per adult A lone tree on a sagebrush flat beside a pond, under a pink evening sky Tours under 6 hours 2 tours, from $300 per adult A cutthroat trout held up to the camera, water dripping from its jaw Fly fishing 1 tour, from $475 per adult

Top things to do in the park from West Yellowstone

Drive times are the National Park Service’s averages from the West Entrance, before any stops; wildlife on the road makes them longer. The park speed limit is 45 mph. Through October, bridge work 1.5 miles south of Old Faithful means up to 15-minute delays.

Old Faithful erupting in a tall white column of steam and water, a few people watching from the boardwalk in front of autumn grass

Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin

65–75 minutes by car until 31 October; by snowcoach or guided snowmobile in winter

Old Faithful erupts every 94 or 68 minutes (plus or minus 10) by the park’s own interval table, which was last updated in November 2020, and reaches 106–184 feet. The park publishes a predicted time for each eruption while the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center is open; this year it is open until 31 October 2026.

The park’s geyser predictions

12 tours from town stop here, from $248.20 per adult

Grand Prismatic Spring seen from the air, a blue pool ringed with orange and yellow mats, with steam pouring from Excelsior Geyser beside it

Seen from the air. On foot you see it from the boardwalk, or from above on the overlook trail.

Grand Prismatic Spring

On the road to Old Faithful, in Midway Geyser Basin

The boardwalk at Midway Geyser Basin runs beside the spring. For the view down onto its colours, take the Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail: 0.6 miles, climbing 105 feet from the Fairy Falls trailhead, 1 mile south of Midway Geyser Basin. The park says parking there is very limited.

The overlook trail on nps.gov

9 tours from town stop here, from $248.20 per adult

Porcelain Basin at Norris, a pale valley of bare, steaming mineral ground with a milky blue pool, under a dark sky

Norris Geyser Basin

about 60 minutes by car until 31 October

Porcelain Basin is a valley of bare, steaming ground crossed by boardwalk. Stay on it: the ground around thermal features can be a thin crust over scalding water. More than 20 people have died from burns in the park’s hot springs.

The park’s safety rules

7 tours from town stop here, from $279 per adult

The Lower Falls of the Yellowstone pour into a deep canyon of yellow and orange rock, with a patch of snow on a ledge

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

about 90 minutes to Canyon Village, by car until 31 October

The Lower Falls drop into a canyon of yellow and orange rock. With an hour and a half of driving each way, it fills a day on its own, or a long one if you add the geyser basins.

14 tours from town stop here, from $248.20 per adult

A herd of bison grazing in golden grass in Lamar Valley, with layered hills fading into morning haze

Lamar Valley

about 2 hours 25 minutes to Tower Junction, where the road through the valley begins

Lamar Valley is in the park’s northeast, on the opposite side from West Yellowstone. From here it is a very long day. Gardiner, at the North Entrance, is the closer base, and in winter it is the only way to reach the valley by car.

6 tours from town stop here, from $248.20 per adult

Biscuit Basin is closed

The parking lot, boardwalk and river at Biscuit Basin, just north of Old Faithful, have been closed since 23 July 2024, after a hydrothermal explosion, until further notice. Many guides still list it.

Things to do in West Yellowstone itself

Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center

Open every day of the year, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. as of October; the center says its hours change with the seasons. Adults $17.50, children 5–12 $12.50, 4 and under free. A ticket is good for two consecutive days, and the center says its bears do not hibernate.

Museum of the Yellowstone

Closed until spring. The museum says it is closed for the 2026 season and reopens in early May 2027. Adults $10; under 18 free.

Yellowstone Giant Screen Theatre

Closed. It is still on many lists of things to do here, but its own website says it has closed, to make way for expansion at Buffalo Crossing RV Park.

Earthquake Lake

27 miles northwest of town on US 287. On 17 August 1959 an earthquake set off a landslide that blocked the Madison River and formed the lake. The Forest Service visitor center is open daily, 22 May – 15 September, and is free.

West Yellowstone through the year

The road from the West Entrance into the park has four states a year, and the one you arrive in decides what a trip from here can include.

Check your dates

The West Entrance road, 2026–27. Projected dates from the National Park Service, checked 3 October 2026; weather can change them.
StateDatesWhat it means
Open to cars 17 April 2026 – 31 October 2026 Drive in yourself or join a tour. Most park visitor centers, stores and lodges open and close inside this window; check each one’s dates.
Closed to all traffic 1 November 2026 – 14 December 2026 Nothing goes into the park from this side. In town, the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center is open every day of the year.
Snowcoach and guided snowmobile only 15 December 2026 – 15 March 2027 Book an over-snow trip with an operator. The park’s winter dates for the Old Faithful visitor center and Snow Lodge are not yet published.
Closed for spring plowing From 16 March 2027 until the spring opening (date not yet published) Nothing goes into the park from this side until the spring opening.

Only one road in the park is open to cars all year: the North Entrance to Northeast Entrance road, on the far side of the park from here. In winter it cannot be reached through the park from West Yellowstone.

Old Faithful’s eruption predictions stop while its visitor center is closed, which is usually early November to mid-December and mid-March to mid-April.

The best time to visit West Yellowstone, month by month

Tours through the West Entrance run while its road is open to cars, so for them the choice is between the busy summer months and the quieter weeks at either end; a tour that goes in by the North Entrance is counted in the months it runs. The park is busiest from June to September; in May and October it is moderately busy, often colder, and the road still open.

West Yellowstone month by month. The road follows the National Park Service’s 2026–27 dates; how busy the park is, temperatures at Mammoth Hot Springs (°F) and what to look out for come from its Seasons page, checked 7 October 2026; tours with dates on sale, on days the road each takes into the park is open to cars, are the 23 we compare, between 22 October 2026 and 26 November 2027.
MonthThe West Entrance roadHow busyHigh / lowTours on saleWorth knowing
January Snowcoach and guided snowmobile only Least busy 32° / 12° 0 Steam and frost over the geyser basins; trumpeter swans on open rivers
February Snowcoach and guided snowmobile only Least busy 33° / 12° 1 Deep snow; coyotes and foxes hunting in snowy meadows
March Snowcoach and guided snowmobile only to 15 March; closed to all traffic from 16 March Least busy 42° / 20° 1 Grizzly bears start to leave their dens; the first migrating birds arrive
April Closed to all traffic to 16 April; open to cars from 17 April Least busy 50° / 26° 9 Snow still likely; bison calves and bears out of their dens
May Open to cars Moderately busy 60° / 35° 15 Bears in roadside meadows; elk and bison calves
June Open to cars Busiest 71° / 43° 16 Waterfalls at full volume; every campground open by mid-June
July Open to cars Busiest 83° / 49° 16 The warmest month; afternoon thunderstorms; the bison rut begins
August Open to cars Busiest 80° / 47° 16 Warm and very dry; bison rut in Lamar and Hayden valleys
September Open to cars Busiest 70° / 40° 16 Elk rut; bears in roadside meadows; autumn colour up high
October Open to cars Moderately busy 54° / 30° 21 Elk rut; bears easier to see from the road; autumn colour lower down
November Closed to all traffic Least busy 40° / 20° 0 Winter storms; bison move to lower ground
December Closed to all traffic to 14 December; snowcoach and guided snowmobile only from 15 December Least busy 31° / 13° 0 Very cold; over-snow trips begin late in the month

Missing the crowds on any day

The park suggests arriving at an entrance before 7 a.m. or after noon and keeping away from the main sights from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when they are busiest. An early tour start does the first for you.

West Yellowstone tours with children

What the tours’ own listings say about children, counted across all of them. Each tour’s page gives its ages and prices for children.

  • 12 of the 23 tours take travellers of any age; the other 11 set a youngest age between 1 and 12.
  • 16 listings say babies and toddlers are welcome in a stroller.
  • 4 say infant seats are available and 2 that infants must sit on an adult's lap.
  • 15 are private tours: only your family in the vehicle, so stops and breaks are yours to choose.
  • 5 listings say the tour is wheelchair accessible.

Junior Ranger

The park’s self-guided Junior Ranger program is for children 4 and older. Pick up a booklet at any park visitor center or download it before you come; a ranger checks it and gives the badge, which can only be collected in the park.

Boardwalks and buggies

At Old Faithful, accessible walkways lead from every parking area to the geyser. At Fountain Paint Pot the first part of the trail is level and wheelchair accessible; further on there are steep sections and stairs. Pets are not allowed on boardwalks, even carried or in a stroller.

Where to stay and eat on a tour day

Most tours collect you from your lodging, but each has its own pickup list. If you have not booked a room yet, these are the lodgings in town that the most tours collect from. Each tour’s page lists every lodging it picks up from.

60 lodgings in West Yellowstone are on at least one tour's pickup list. 19 are on the list of every one of the 17 tours that collect from lodgings in town, and 19 more on all but one:

  • Best Western Desert Inn
  • Best Western Weston Inn
  • Brandin' Iron Inn
  • ClubHouse Inn West Yellowstone
  • Elkhorn Cabins and Inn
  • Evergreen Motel
  • Explorer Cabins At Yellowstone
  • Gray Wolf Inn and Suites
  • Holiday Inn West Yellowstone By IHG
  • Kelly Inn West Yellowstone
  • Moose Creek Inn
  • Starlite Yellowstone, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
  • The Historic Madison Hotel, Motel and Hostel
  • Three Bear Lodge
  • Traveler's Lodge
  • White Buffalo Hotel
  • Yellowstone Lodge
  • Yellowstone Park Hotel
  • Yellowstone West Gate Hotel

Camping in the park

Inside the park, the campground on the road from the West Entrance is Madison Campground: 276 sites at $38 a night plus taxes. Every campsite in the park must be reserved; bookings open six months ahead.

Food on the road

Each tour’s page says whether lunch is included. At Old Faithful, the Geyser Grill in the Snow Lodge is open until 31 October 2026, and again from 15 December 2026 to 15 March 2027 for over-snow visitors. Carry water and snacks for the drive.

Know before you go

Fees and passes

Entrance fee
$35 per private vehicle, for seven consecutive days. There is no vehicle reservation to make; buy the pass online beforehand or at the entrance.
Visiting from outside the US
Each non-US resident aged 16 or over pays an extra $100, on a tour too, unless the group has an annual or America the Beautiful pass. The non-resident annual pass costs $250 and covers everyone in the same car, so for three or more non-US adults travelling together it costs less than the extra fees.
Annual pass for US residents
The America the Beautiful annual pass costs $80 for US residents.

Frequently asked questions about West Yellowstone tours

What tours start in West Yellowstone?

Tours that start in West Yellowstone include the 23 guided Yellowstone tours we compare, from 13 operators: 8 shared and 15 private. Of these, 12 stop at Old Faithful, 14 at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and 6 in Lamar Valley; 4 include a hike and one is a day of fly fishing.

How much does a Yellowstone tour from West Yellowstone cost?

A Yellowstone tour from West Yellowstone costs from $248.20 per adult for a shared tour and from $300 per adult for a private one, as checked with our booking partner between 21 October 2026 and 22 October 2026. Of the 23 tours, 3 tours include the park entrance fee and 19 do not; for 1 tour the listing does not say.

Do tours from West Yellowstone pick you up from your hotel?

Most tours from West Yellowstone pick you up in town: 20 of the 23 we compare offer pickup, and 3 meet everyone at a set point in West Yellowstone. Each tour's page says where it starts and lists the lodgings on its pickup list.

How long are West Yellowstone tours?

West Yellowstone tours last from 4 to 12 hours: 21 of the 23 we compare are full-day tours of six hours or more, and 2 are shorter.

Do West Yellowstone tours include lunch?

19 of the 23 West Yellowstone tours we compare include lunch, by their own listings. Each tour's page lists what is and is not included.

How far ahead should I book a West Yellowstone tour?

How far ahead to book a West Yellowstone tour depends on the tour: when we checked between 21 October 2026 and 22 October 2026, 18 could be booked for a day within the next week and 5 only for next season. All 23 can be cancelled for a full refund up to 24 hours before, so booking early costs little.

Can you see wildlife on a West Yellowstone tour?

You can see wildlife on many West Yellowstone tours, but no tour can promise it: 9 of the 23 we compare are wildlife-watching tours by their operators' own description, and 6 go to Lamar Valley, in the park's northeast. What you see depends on the animals on the day.

Is a guided tour from West Yellowstone worth it?

A guided tour from West Yellowstone is worth it if you want someone else to drive, a guide to explain each stop and, on most tours, pickup from your lodging. Driving yourself costs less: one $35 pass covers a car and everyone in it for seven consecutive days, though inside the park there is no public transportation, so you need a car of your own.

What is the best month to visit West Yellowstone?

The best months to visit West Yellowstone for a tour are May to October, while the road from the West Entrance is open to cars: from 17 April 2026 to 31 October 2026 this year. The park is busiest from June to September; May and October are quieter and colder, averaging 60° / 35° in May and 54° / 30° in October (high and low in °F, at Mammoth Hot Springs).

Can you drive into Yellowstone from West Yellowstone in winter?

No, you cannot drive into Yellowstone from West Yellowstone in winter. From 15 December 2026 to 15 March 2027 the road from the West Entrance is open only to snowcoaches and commercially guided snowmobiles, and from 1 November 2026 to 14 December 2026 it is closed to all traffic.

How far is Old Faithful from West Yellowstone?

Old Faithful is 65–75 minutes by car from the West Entrance, using the park’s own average drive times and before any stops. The road is open to cars from 17 April 2026 to 31 October 2026.

Do you need a reservation to enter Yellowstone?

No, you do not need a vehicle reservation to enter Yellowstone, but you do need an entrance pass, which you can buy at the West Entrance or online beforehand. A private vehicle pass costs $35 and lasts seven consecutive days.

Is the Yellowstone Giant Screen Theatre still open?

No, the Yellowstone Giant Screen Theatre in West Yellowstone is no longer open. Its own website says it has closed, to make way for expansion at Buffalo Crossing RV Park.

Is there public transportation in Yellowstone?

No, there is no public transportation in Yellowstone: the park says there is no public transportation, so you drive yourself or join a tour. A bus runs between Bozeman and West Yellowstone all year.

How often does Old Faithful erupt?

Old Faithful erupts about every 94 or 68 minutes (plus or minus 10), to a height of 106–184 feet. The park stops predicting eruptions while its visitor center is closed, usually early November to mid-December and mid-March to mid-April.

Where is the Grand Prismatic Spring overlook?

The Grand Prismatic Spring overlook is at the end of a trail from the Fairy Falls trailhead, 1 mile south of Midway Geyser Basin; the trail is 0.6 miles, climbing 105 feet.

Is West Yellowstone a good base for seeing Lamar Valley?

West Yellowstone is not the closest base for Lamar Valley: by the park’s average drive times it is about 2 hours 25 minutes to Tower Junction, where the road through the valley begins, before any stops. Gardiner, at the North Entrance, is closer, and in winter it is the only way to reach the valley by car.

Find your West Yellowstone tour

Every tour we compare starts in West Yellowstone. Filter them by what you want from the day, or check your dates against the road calendar first.