When you think of Yellowstone National Park, you probably immediately picture Old Faithful erupting.
Old Faithful is the world’s most famous geyser, and for good reason! Erupting every 35 – 120 minutes with a spray of over 100 feet, experiencing the Old Faithful area of Yellowstone should be on everyone’s bucket list.
Yellowstone National Park has even dedicated an entire area to Old Faithful (even naming it after the famous geyser!), complete with lodging, dining, and a 5-mile boardwalk trail that winds through the Upper Geyser Basin.
However, Old Faithful is by far the most congested area of the park so it can be overwhelming planning a visit here.
My husband and I visited Old Faithful over the July 4th weekend in 2023 (probably the busiest weekend of the year in Yellowstone, but hey, that’s how it worked out). We stayed in the Old Faithful Inn and explored everything to do in the area. We had an awesome time despite the crowds!
This post will have everything you need to know about visiting the Old Faithful area of Yellowstone National Park, including the best ways to watch an eruption, where to stay, other things to do in the area, and how to avoid crowds.
Old Faithful Area of Yellowstone Overview
Old Faithful was discovered in 1871 as a result of the Hayden Expedition. Yellowstone became the world’s first National Park in 1872 and the Old Faithful Inn was completed in 1904.
The Old Faithful area of Yellowstone is located in the heart of the park, near the west entrance. The hotels, cabins, and restaurants here provide full-service accommodations to visitors so you won’t need to leave the park to get gas, eat, sleep, or do laundry.
This area is the most popular area of Yellowstone National Park, and the amenities reflect that. There is a giant parking lot and multiple cafeterias and restaurants.
Despite the infrastructure, you will still want to plan your days strategically here so you don’t get stuck in a long cafeteria line, have to wait in traffic in the parking lot, and be elbow-to-elbow with others at the Old Faithful viewing area.
Related: The Ultimate 1-5 Day Yellowstone Itinerary
The Best Time to See Old Faithful
Peak time to watch an Old Faithful eruption is between noon and 6 pm.
There is plenty of room at the viewing area, but if you really want to avoid crowds and tour groups I would suggest going before 10 am or after 6 pm.
Get there 30 minutes before the next predicted eruption to guarantee a seat at the viewing area!
Related: The Ultimate Yellowstone Bucket List: Top 17 Things to See & Do
How Much Time Do You Need at Old Faithful?
If you only plan to watch an eruption, you will only need about an hour at the Old Faithful area.
However, if you want to thoroughly explore Upper Geyser Basin (highly recommended!), check out the Visitor’s Center, and/or grab a meal, your visit will take about half a day.
Old Faithful Eruption Times
Old Faithful erupts every 35 – 120 minutes. An eruption lasts between 1.5 and 5 minutes.
The predicted eruption times are posted around the Old Faithful area. You can also find them on the NPS website here.
The Best Way to Watch Old Faithful Erupt
There are 3 places to watch Old Faithful erupt.
Old Faithful Viewing Area
The most popular area to watch Old Faithful is at the Old Faithful viewing area. This is a boardwalk that surrounds Old Faithful with benches to sit on.
There is plenty of room here, but it will get packed midday. If you want a seat on one of the benches, plan to get there 30 minutes before the next predicted eruption.
We found that this area was a great place to have a picnic lunch while waiting for an eruption!
Observation Point
Observation Point is a short but steep trail up to a bird’s-eye overlook of Old Faithful. It’s 1.6 miles if you’re coming from the Old Faithful Inn (AllTrails link here).
Start walking counterclockwise around the Old Faithful viewing area and you’ll see the Observation Point Trail spur off from the boardwalk.
This area is significantly less crowded than the Old Faithful viewing area and would also make a great place for a picnic lunch while waiting for an eruption!
We sadly did not get to see the view from Observation Point because a bison was blocking the trail when we went!
Old Faithful Inn Viewing Deck
Another fantastic place to watch an Old Faithful eruption is at the Old Faithful Inn viewing deck.
The second floor of the Inn has a partially covered outdoor deck that overlooks Old Faithful. There are tables, rocking chairs, and benches to relax in.
There is also a bar inside right by the deck. After dinner, we grabbed a drink and hung out here and caught another eruption to end the night!
Tips for Avoiding Crowds at Old Faithful
- Visit before 10 am or after 6 pm.
- Watch an eruption from Observation Point instead of the Old Faithful viewing area.
- Do not leave the Old Faithful area of Yellowstone right after Old Faithful erupts. Most people head to their cars right after an eruption, and the traffic can be crazy! Waiting 15 or 20 minutes after the latest eruption makes a huge difference in traffic.
- Grab a seat at the viewing area 30 minutes before a predicted eruption.
- Visit the Old Faithful area during the week in May or September.
The Old Faithful area is the most crowded area at Yellowstone, especially during the peak summer months. These tips will help you avoid the crowds and have the best experience possible!
If you plan to explore Upper Geyser Basin before or after watching an Old Faithful eruption, don’t worry too much about the crowds. The boardwalk trails stretch almost 5 miles so the crowds naturally spread out.
Related: 12 Essential Tips for Visiting Yellowstone in the Summer
Other Things to Do Near the Old Faithful Area of Yellowstone
Believe it or not, watching Old Faithful erupt isn’t the only thing to do at the Old Faithful area of Yellowstone!
Boardwalks at Upper Geyser Basin
The best thing to do at the Old Faithful area in Yellowstone besides watch Old Faithful erupt is to walk the boardwalks at the Upper Geyser Basin. It is an absolute must-see on any Yellowstone vacation.
Upper Geyser Basin is the most densely concentrated area of geysers in the world, with over 150 hydrothermal wonders.
There are also 4 other active geysers here (besides Old Faithful). You might get lucky and see one or more eruptions along with Old Faithful!
Old Faithful is located in the Upper Geyser Basin, so it is really easy to watch an eruption and then walk the boardwalks immediately afterward. The crowds disperse pretty well on this trail, so don’t worry too much about this.
Walking the entire 5-mile trail will take you 3-5 hours.
Some of the highlights at Upper Geyser Basin are the Morning Glory Pool, Beauty Pool, Castle Geyser, and Grand Geyser.
Related: All 11 Geyser Basins in Yellowstone Ranked
Walking Tour of the Old Faithful Inn
The Old Faithful Inn is the world’s largest log cabin structure. It was built in 1904 and has over 300 rooms!
You can do a walking tour of the Old Faithful Inn and it is completely free! Tours depart from the main lobby at 9:30, 11:00, 2:00, and 3:30 between May and October. The tour lasts approximately 45 minutes.
Even if you can’t squeeze in a tour, it is definitely worth it to pop inside the Inn and marvel at the architecture!
Lower Geyser Basin
The Lower Geyser Basin and Fountain Paint Pot Trail is just a short drive north of the Old Faithful area.
You’ll see geysers, hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles here. A visit to Lower Geyser Basin is short and sweet, as the boardwalk trail is only 0.5 miles.
Midway Geyser Basin & Grand Prismatic Spring
Midway Geyser Basin is home to Grand Prismatic Spring, one of Yellowstone’s most famous features. It is also a short drive north from the Old Faithful area.
The Midway Geyser Basin boardwalk trail is 0.8 miles long and will only take you about 30 minutes to visit. Parking here is extremely limited, so be prepared to park along the street and walk another quarter mile.
You can also hike up to the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook starting from the Fairy Falls Trailhead. This hike is 1.5 miles with 200 feet of elevation gain. The overlook gave a much better view in my opinion!
I highly recommend visiting the Grand Prismatic Spring midday. Before 11am, the spring is covered in steam and you can’t see the colors. Going midday ensures that the steam has burned off and the colors will be bright!
Where to Stay Near the Old Faithful Area of Yellowstone
If you’re planning a trip to the Old Faithful area of Yellowstone, the best place to stay is in Old Faithful.
You have the choice of 3 lodging options here:
Old Faithful Inn: The oldest log cabin structure in the world. You can splurge on a room with a view of Old Faithful, or go more economical with a bunk room with a shared bathroom (what we did).
Old Faithful Snow Lodge: One of the only lodging facilities that is open in both the summer and winter seasons.
Old Faithful Lodge Cabins: The most budget-friendly option with choices of cabins with private and communal bathrooms.
Yes, it is expensive staying in the park and there aren’t as many included amenities, but location is key when visiting Yellowstone. Strategically planning to stay near the best attractions will save you literally hours of driving on your trip.
The in-park accommodations sell out really fast, so it’s best to book them a year in advance!
If Old Faithful is already booked up for the dates of your trip, West Thumb (Grant Village), Canyon Lodge, or West Yellowstone aren’t bad options either.
Where to Eat Near the Old Faithful Area of Yellowstone
Here are your dining options in the Old Faithful Area of Yellowstone:
- Old Faithful Inn Dining Room: reservation only, full service, buffet-style dining
- Old Faithful Inn Bearpaw Deli: coffee, grab-and-go sandwiches and salads
- Old Faithful Lodge Cafeteria: fast-casual, cafeteria style dining
- Old Faithful Snow Lodge Geyser Grill: burgers, quick meals
- Old Faithful Snow Lodge Obsidian Grill: full service dining, bison and unique cuisine
- Old Faithful General Stores: grab-and-go sandwiches, snacks
What are you most excited to see at the Old Faithful area of Yellowstone? Did this post help you plan your trip? Let me know in the comments below!
-Megan
More Information on Yellowstone National Park
Check out my other posts on Yellowstone to help you make the most of your visit!
- The Ultimate 1-5 Day Yellowstone Itinerary
- The Ultimate Yellowstone Bucket List: Top 17 Things to See & Do
- Yellowstone in One Day: 7 Best Yellowstone Road Trip Itineraries
- The Complete Guide to All 5 Yellowstone Entrances
- The Ultimate Guide to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
- Yellowstone National Park North Entrance: A Complete Guide
- All 11 Geyser Basins in Yellowstone Ranked
- 12 Essential Tips for Visiting Yellowstone in the Summer
- Beartooth Highway Scenic Drive Guide (With Tips & Photos!)
- The Ultimate 9-Day Yellowstone and Grand Teton Road Trip Itinerary (+ Maps, Photos, & More!)
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