Shared tour, run by CoveredGround Tours
Guided Yellowstone Tour from Big Sky and West Yellowstone
From $275 per adult Dates and prices
Starts in West Yellowstone: Pickup at West Yellowstone hotels, campgrounds and RV parks at 7 a.m., or meet at the Visitor Center, 30 Yellowstone Ave.
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Price and dates
From $275 per adult
Checked 2 October 2026 for Sunday 4 October
Daily until 25 October. Only days the tour runs are listed.
The price above is for the date and travellers shown. Change either to check a different one.
Check availability on Viator- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Instant confirmation
- If the operator cancels for poor weather, Viator offers a different date or a full refund.
You choose the date and travellers again, and pay, on Viator, our booking partner. We earn a commission; it does not change the price.
At a glance
- Length
- 8 to 10 hours, starts 7 a.m.
- Runs
- Daily until 25 October
- Later dates
- Some dates on sale between 3 May 2027 and 25 October 2027
- Group
- Shared, up to 11 people
- Ages
- 1 and over; an adult must be in the booking
- Guide
- In English
- Park entry
- Park entry not included
Before you book
Each 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. The road from West Yellowstone into the park is open to cars until 31 October 2026, and tours that drive in stop when it closes.
Where it starts
Pickup at West Yellowstone hotels, campgrounds and RV parks at 7 a.m., or meet at the Visitor Center, 30 Yellowstone Ave. You can be picked up, or meet the group at the start point.
The 38 West Yellowstone lodgings on the pickup list
- 1872 Inn
- Al's Westward Ho Motel
- Alpine Motel
- Arrowhead Lodge by Arrowhead Properties
- Best Western Desert Inn
- Best Western Weston Inn
- Big Western Pines Motel
- Brandin' Iron Inn
- City Center Motel
- ClubHouse Inn West Yellowstone
- Crosswinds Inn
- Dude/Round Up Motel
- Elkhorn Cabins and Inn
- Evergreen Motel
- Explorer Cabins At Yellowstone
- Golden West Motel
- Gray Wolf Inn and Suites
- Holiday Inn West Yellowstone By IHG
- Kelly Inn West Yellowstone
- Lazy Duck Inn
- Moose Creek Inn
- One Horse Motel
- Pine Shadows Motel
- Pioneer Motel
- Pony Express Motel
- Sleepy Hollow Lodge
- Stage Coach Inn
- Starlite Yellowstone, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
- The Historic Madison Hotel, Motel and Hostel
- Three Bear Lodge
- Traveler's Lodge
- Westwood Motel
- White Buffalo Hotel
- Yellowstone Inn
- Yellowstone Lodge
- Yellowstone Park Hotel
- Yellowstone Townhouses
- Yellowstone West Gate Hotel
The pickup list also has lodgings in Big Sky.
In CoveredGround Tours' words
This tour picks up at all hotels and campground/RV Parks located in West Yellowstone, MT at 7am as well as a meeting point in Big Sky, MT at 6am. Call us for other possible meeting locations.
If you are staying in Cody, WY, Lake Hotel or Canyon Village, please book our "Full-Day Guided Yellowstone Day Tour". For guests staying inside the park at Old Faithful or Mammoth Hot Springs you may meet us at Madison Day Use parking area which is 16 miles north of Old Faithful at 8am.
If you are staying at Canyon Village or Lake Yellowstone Hotel please book our "Full-Day Guided Yellowstone Day Tour" and we will meet you at Fishing Bridge General Store at 9am. This tour does not pickup in Jackson or Gardiner. Guests traveling from Jackson or Gardiner will have to meet us at a meeting point.
We stop at the Madison Day Use Parking area at 8am for guests coming from inside the park such as Old Faithful Inn or the North Gate. You may park your car here for the day. We will be there at 8am near the bathroom building.
Meet between 7:00am: 7:20am in the parking lot of the West Yellowstone Visitor Center at 30 Yellowstone Ave. in West Yellowstone, MT. There are restrooms there and we have permission to park there for the day. We will likely be there closer to 7:10am.
Please meet us at The Wilson Hotel at 6am. We will pull directly into the main hotel entrance with the overhead awning. Again, this tour departs Big Sky at 6AM (we know it's listed for 7am but that is from West Yellowstone. Big Sky is at 6am).
The route
The stops in the order the operator lists them. Times at each stop are the operator's; wildlife and traffic change them.
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Firehole Canyon Drive
Drive through the Firehole Canyon Drive to see the Firehole river and waterfall in this tremendously scenic 2-mile drive.
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Fountain Paint Pot
This is many visitor's favorite feature because they get to see "All Four Hydrothermal Features" in one! See hot springs, mud pots (the paint pots), geysers and more in this very neat and historic roadside stop.
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Grand Prismatic Spring
Drive past the Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest hot spring in the world! If traffic permits we will stop and spend time getting up close and personal to this colorful, steaming spring located in the Midway Geyser Basin, just below Old Faithful. Often times we will either stop here or at Old Faithful, depending on group needs.
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Old Faithful
See the most famous and most predictable of Yellowstone National Park's geysers, Old Faithful. This varying ~150 ft. geyser erupts approximately every 90 minutes and you are guaranteed to see it in action. Also enjoy touring the historic Old Faithful Inn and numerous gift shops, cafeterias and seeing resident Bison along the way.
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West Thumb Geyser Basin
*We stop depending on timing*. See more of Yellowstone's hydrothermal features in Mud Pots, Fumaroles and Hot Springs directly on the beautiful shore front of Yellowstone Lake. See Fishing Cone and others as you walk through this incredibly scenic boardwalk.
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Yellowstone Lake
Witness the crystal clear waters of the largest alpine lake in the world, formed in the heart of the Yellowstone caldera.
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Dragon's Mouth Springs
Stop at Mud Volcano and Dragon's Mouth Springs, to see some of Yellowstone's many hydrothermal features including mud pots and fumaroles
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Yellowstone Geysers: Mud Volcano Area
See "Mud Volcano" and the bubbling, steaming (and stinky!) gesyer area in the heart of the Yellowstone Caldera.
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Hayden Valley
Drive through the stunning Hayden Valley, home to Bears, Wolves, Bison and Elk. We always slow and stop for wildlife viewing where possible.
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Artist Point
See one of the best views you will ever see of Lower Falls of the Yellowstone here at Artist Point; be prepared to be wowed!
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Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Visit Artist Point lookout to view the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, a 308 ft. waterfall and the 20 mile long "Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone" with towering, colorful walls and breathtaking vistas. We take you to another viewing point too as time permits
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Gibbon Falls
See the Gibbon Falls, centrally located in the heart of the Gibbon River, one of the tributaries that flows to the Madison River.
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Madison River
Experience the beautiful drive in and out of the West gate via the W. Entrance Rd. and earn and amazing introduction of why Yellowstone became the world's first national park.
What is included
Included
- Each guest will choose from Turkey, Ham, Roast Beef, Veggie or PB&J sandwich. Lunches come with chips and homemade cookie
- Bottled water
- Binoculars
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Spotting Scopes + Tripods
Not included
- Entrance at the National Park gate is not included and comes to $20 per adult. However, each adult with a National Park Pass covers 4 adults, and usually there are enough passes to get everyone in.
- Gratuities
Cancellation and good to know
Cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Later than that, nothing is refunded.
If the operator cancels for poor weather, Viator offers a different date or a full refund.
If too few people book, the operator may cancel; Viator then offers a different date or a full refund.
From the operator
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
The operator's description
Read CoveredGround Tours' own description
Take in the sights and earn a ton of education while our expert guide tours you and your group through the nations first National Park. We are professional guides: approved by the National Park Service, that can provide a quality tour and take you to the best stops with the most information in the highest and best way. We are passionate about the Yellowstone and know how to fill a jam-packed day with fun and amazing experiences.
Learn about park history, wildlife, natural wonders and all of the park's many hydrothermal features located within Yellowstone. We always aim to provide an epic experience unlike any other.
This all day Yellowstone experience from the West side is amazing, and departs daily from Big Sky, MT at 6am or West Yellowstone, MT at 7am. We always return you to your starting location.
Reviews
4.9 out of 5 from 118 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor, as Viator reported them on 2 October 2026.
Questions about this tour
Where does CoveredGround Tours' guided Yellowstone tour start?
CoveredGround Tours' guided Yellowstone tour starts in West Yellowstone: pickup at West Yellowstone hotels, campgrounds and RV parks at 7 a.m., or meet at the Visitor Center, 30 Yellowstone Ave.
Does CoveredGround Tours' guided Yellowstone tour include the Yellowstone entrance fee?
No. CoveredGround Tours' guided Yellowstone tour does not include the Yellowstone entrance fee.
How long is CoveredGround Tours' guided Yellowstone tour?
CoveredGround Tours' guided Yellowstone tour lasts 8 to 10 hours and starts at 7 a.m.
Can I cancel CoveredGround Tours' guided Yellowstone tour for a refund?
Yes. You can cancel CoveredGround Tours' guided Yellowstone tour for a full refund up to 24 hours before it starts; later than that, nothing is refunded.
Can children go on CoveredGround Tours' guided Yellowstone tour?
Children aged 1 and over can go on CoveredGround Tours' guided Yellowstone tour, and an adult must be in the booking.
Sources
- Viator: the listing for this tour (product code 316119P1), read 2 October 2026. Prices, dates, ratings, pickup lodgings, the itinerary and what is included come from it.
- National Park Service: Current Conditions (park alerts), checked 3 October 2026
- National Park Service: Fees & Passes, checked 3 October 2026
- National Park Service: Park Roads: 2026 road opening and closing dates (projected), checked 3 October 2026
- National Park Service: Seasons, checked 3 October 2026
Written and checked by West Yellowstone Tours. Tour photographs are the operator's, shown as Viator supplies them.