Private tour, run by CoveredGround Tours
Best in the West Yellowstone Private Tour
From $1,999 per group (up to 14) Dates and prices
Starts in West Yellowstone: Pickup at West Yellowstone lodgings, or meet outside the Stage Coach Inn at 7 a.m.
6 operator photographs, from CoveredGround Tours. Slide across to see every one.
Price and dates
From $1,999 per group (up to 14)
Checked 21 October 2026 for Sunday 2 May 2027
Next dates on sale from 2 May 2027. Choose from the days the operator runs it.
The figure above is for the date and party now selected; select others to see what they cost.
Check Availability- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Instant confirmation
- Should poor weather cause the operator to cancel, you will be offered another date or all of your money back.
At the booking partner we work with, you enter the date and group again and then pay. Our commission does not make the price any higher than booking without us.
At a glance
- Length
- 12 hours, starts 7 a.m.
- Runs
- Next dates on sale from 2 May 2027
- Group
- Private: only your group
- Guide
- In English
- Park entry
- Not stated in the listing: ask the operator
Before you book
Expect an extra $100 park fee for each traveller aged 16 or over who lives outside the US, even when you go with a guide, unless that traveller owns an annual or America the Beautiful pass. Tours that drive in finish their season when cars are shut out of the West Entrance road after 31 October 2026.
Where it starts
Pickup at West Yellowstone lodgings, or meet outside the Stage Coach Inn at 7 a.m. You have two choices: be picked up, or meet at the start.
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
Some pickup lodgings are in Big Sky.
Pickup details
Pickup outside the usual area may cost extra. Tell the company where you want to be picked up as soon as you know.
Meeting places and times:
- Big Sky: The Wilson Hotel, 6 a.m.
- The CoveredGround Yellowstone Tours office, 7 a.m.
- West Yellowstone: outside the Stage Coach Inn, 7 a.m.
- Norris Picnic Area, 9 a.m., for visitors coming from Mammoth Hot Springs or Gardiner
- Grant Village General Store, 9 a.m., if you are staying at Grant Village or driving up from Jackson; back about 4:30 p.m.
- Fishing Bridge General Store, inside the park, 9 a.m., for guests staying at Lake Hotel or Canyon Village; back about 4:30 p.m. Use one of the large parking lots to the right of the store.
About this tour
This private tour is planned entirely around your group. Many people choose it because they do not want to drive, or because their group is large. Others will only visit Yellowstone once and want to be sure they see everything. The company says all of its guides are approved by the National Park Service. The guide takes you where you want to go, makes sure you see what you came for, and teaches you a lot along the way.
The route
The route below keeps the operator's order. Each stop's time is the operator's figure, which wildlife and traffic can change.
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Yellowstone Lake
Yellowstone Lake, North America’s biggest mountain lake, has clean, clear water. Many grizzly bears and bald eagles live around it.
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Fishing Bridge
Walk out onto historic Fishing Bridge and look down at hundreds of native Yellowstone cutthroat trout where they lay their eggs. The company says the air is always freshest here.
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Dragon's Mouth Springs
Walk a short boardwalk to see the Mud Volcano and Dragon’s Mouth Spring, your first hot features of the day.
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Hayden Valley
This is your best early chance to see lots of wildlife, in beautiful Hayden Valley. Herds of bison and elk are common, and sometimes grizzly bears, packs of gray wolves, and even a moose.
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Artist Point
Many well-known American painters and photographers came to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and you will see why. It is 20 miles long and up to 1,000 feet deep, and the company says this is the best place to see it.
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Canyon Visitor Education Center
A 30-minute break at the Canyon Visitor Center to eat, shop and more. It is the first of two main breaks.
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Virginia Cascade Drive
Drive past another pretty cascade on the slow-moving Gibbon River. If you like, the group can stop here for a picnic.
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Norris Geyser Basin
See the strange features of Norris Geyser Basin, the hottest, most acidic and most changeable part of Yellowstone. The company calls it amazing.
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Firehole Canyon Drive
See the rushing water of Firehole Falls and the canyon around it. You can even dip your toes in the river if you like.
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Grand Prismatic Spring
This is one of the busiest spots in the park. Even so, the guide always tries to get you up close to Grand Prismatic Spring, among the biggest hot springs on Earth. If it is a must-see for your group, the guide will make it happen.
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Old Faithful
Watch Old Faithful, the largest geyser in the world that erupts on a regular schedule, in the Upper Geyser Basin. This is the second long break: eat, shop for gifts, or explore on your own. The guide gives you tips to make the most of it.
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West Thumb Geyser Basin
End the day at West Thumb Geyser Basin, the only geyser area right on the shore of Yellowstone Lake.
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Cody
Cody, Wyoming, is a Wild West town with plenty for families to do, such as rodeos, wild horses and live music.
What is included
Included
- Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Bottled water
Not included
- Tips for your private guide
- Any landing or facility fees
Cancellation and good to know
Plans can change: you get a full refund by cancelling no less than 24 hours before the start, and no refund after that.
Should poor weather cause the operator to cancel, you will be offered another date or all of your money back.
Good to know
- A stroller or pram can come on this private day, but babies must sit on an adult’s lap while driving.
- Service animals are permitted.
- There is public transportation near the start.
- Your group sets the pace, so any fitness level works.
Reviews
4.8 out of 5 from 16 reviews.
Questions about this tour
Where does CoveredGround Tours' private Best in the West tour start?
In West Yellowstone: that is where CoveredGround Tours' private Best in the West tour starts. More precisely: pickup at West Yellowstone lodgings, or meet outside the Stage Coach Inn at 7 a.m.
Does CoveredGround Tours' private Best in the West tour include the Yellowstone entrance fee?
The tour's listing does not say clearly whether CoveredGround Tours' private Best in the West tour includes the Yellowstone entrance fee, so ask the operator before you book.
How long is CoveredGround Tours' private Best in the West tour?
CoveredGround Tours' private Best in the West tour starts at 7 a.m.; the whole outing takes 12 hours.
Can I cancel CoveredGround Tours' private Best in the West tour for a refund?
Yes. CoveredGround Tours' private Best in the West tour allows a full refund on cancellations until 24 hours prior to the start, and no refund after that point.
Can children go on CoveredGround Tours' private Best in the West tour?
Yes, kids of every age are welcome on CoveredGround Tours' private Best in the West tour.