Yellowstone tour from Jackson Hole: Geysers, canyons, wildlife

Geysers, canyons, and bison in one long day through two national parks

This 11-hour coach tour departs Jackson Hole, crosses Grand Teton National Park, and covers Yellowstone's Lower Loop with stops at Old Faithful, Fountain Paint Pot, Hayden Valley and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. A professional guide leads the route, provides binoculars and spotting scopes for wildlife, and explains the area's geology, history and ecology. Children from age 3 are welcome; pickup happens at three fixed locations in the Jackson area, not at individual lodgings.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tour Yellowstone and Grand Teton Parks

• Drive through Grand Teton National Park
• Enter Yellowstone at South Gate
• Visit Old Faithful and lunch break
• Explore Fountain Paint Pots
• Visit Hayden Valley for wildlife viewing
• See Lower Falls at Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
• Watch for bison in Hayden Valley
• Drive back through Grand Teton National Park

The Experience

You start from one of three pickup points in Jackson—the tour does not collect from individual hotels—and drive north through the upper road of Grand Teton National Park before entering Yellowstone at the South Gate. The route is built around the Lower Loop, which means you see the park's most active geysers and deepest canyons in a single day. Old Faithful comes first, where you have time to eat lunch on your own and watch the geyser erupt on its own schedule. The guide stays with the group and can point out the timing and mechanics of what you are watching.

After Old Faithful, the tour moves to Fountain Paint Pot—a smaller thermal feature where hot springs and mud pools sit close enough to walk among without a long hike—then into Hayden Valley, where the guide hands out binoculars and spotting scopes to look for bison and wolves. The valley is open grassland, so animals are visible from the road when they are there. The day ends at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, where you stand at the Lower Falls overlook before the drive back south through Grand Teton and into Jackson. The whole day runs 11 hours from pickup to return.

The guide is a professional who knows the park's geology and wildlife patterns, and the vehicle is driven by someone who knows the roads. Bottled water and snacks are included; you bring or buy lunch. The tour suits families with children from age 3, though the long day in a coach means younger children need to be comfortable sitting still. Service animals are allowed on board.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English.
• binoculars and spotting scopes.
• bottled water.
• snacks.
• professionally driven coach vehicle through both parks.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by National Park Tours by The Driver Provider

Is this one for you?Pick this tour if you arrive in Jackson with a free day and no rental car—it covers Yellowstone's most famous stops in one long coach day, with a guide who knows where wildlife gathers and what the geysers and canyons actually are.

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Top questions

What time does the tour leave Jackson Hole and when do I get back?

Pickup happens at one of three fixed locations in the Jackson area at a time the operator confirms when you book. The full tour runs 11 hours from pickup to return, so if you leave early morning you arrive back in the afternoon.

Can I see Old Faithful erupt, or do I just drive past it?

Old Faithful is a stop where you have time to eat lunch and watch the geyser. The guide does not control when it erupts—that happens on its own schedule roughly every 60 to 110 minutes—but you are there long enough to see it if the timing works out.

Will I actually see bison and wolves, or is that just a hope?

Hayden Valley is where the guide looks for bison and wolves using binoculars and spotting scopes provided on the tour. Animals are there, but whether you see them depends on the day and the season. The guide knows where to look and when sightings are most likely.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation from my hotel to the pickup point?

The tour picks up at three fixed locations in the Jackson area, not at individual hotels. You arrange your own way to one of those three points; the operator confirms the exact locations and times when you book.

Is lunch included, or do I need to bring food?

Lunch is not included. You eat on your own at Old Faithful, where there are restaurants and shops. Bottled water and snacks are provided on the coach.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

Most of the day is spent on the coach or at overlooks and short walks near the vehicle. Fountain Paint Pot involves a short walk among the thermal features. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, and children from age 3 are welcome.