Idaho · Montana · Wyoming · National Park
Yellowstone tours, or self-guided
Checked Oct 26, 2026 · Source: NPS + NOAA
The NPS lists 8 self-guided tours, 11 visitor centers and 12 guided-style activity tags for Yellowstone (checked Oct 26, 2026). Commercial tour operators pay the NPS fee: $20 for entrance - non-commercial groups and $20 for commercial entrance - sedan. 1 road or trail alert is active. Compare a real quote in the calculator.
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A guided price may or may not include the $35 vehicle entry fee, parking and meals. We print no operator prices because we have no live, licensed price feed. Enter a real quote and we prefill the park fee.
What commercial tours pay the NPS
| Vehicle size or group | NPS fee | Notes from NPS |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance - Non-commercial Groups | $20 | Non-commercial group (e.g. church groups, scouts) traveling in a vehicle with a capacity of 16 or more people. Cost is per person. Unlimited entry for one vehicle and all passengers for seven consecutive days, beginning on the day of purchase. |
| Commercial Entrance - Sedan | $20 | A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. |
| Commercial Entrance - Van | $125 | Based upon the total capacity of a vehicle that can carry 7-15 passengers, regardless of the actual number of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or… |
| Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus | $200 | Based upon the total capacity of a vehicle that can carry 16-25 passengers, regardless of the actual number of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or… |
| Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach | $300 | Based upon the total capacity of a vehicle that can carry 26 or more passengers, regardless of the actual number of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or… |
Source: nps.gov fees for Yellowstone, checked Oct 26, 2026. This is the fee operators pay, not what you pay them.
Self-guided tours the NPS publishes
Fountain Paint Pot
Along this self-guided tour you will see various hydrothermal features that are expressions of Yellowstone's still active volcano. Within this geologic system, each type of thermal feature is Time: 30–60 min. 8 stops.
Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin
Old Faithful Geyser is just one of many hydrothermal wonders to be experienced along this loop tour. Travel along a mixture of boardwalks and paved trails, though be aware there are some stairs or… Time: 2–8 h. 25 stops.
Northern Range Driving Tour
Embark on a journey through Yellowstone’s rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and fascinating geology with this self-guided driving tour. Discover stories of exploration, survival, and Time: 45–90 min. 6 stops.
Mud Volcano
Turbulent pools of hot, muddy water. Hillsides strewn with trees cooked by steam. Strange odors. A bizarre landscape. Welcome to the Mud Volcano area. Time: 30–60 min. 11 stops.
The Tukudika
This audio tour introduces you to the Tukudika Indians, a band or related bands of Mountain Shoshone whose teviwa (Shoshone for homeland) included the area that is now Yellowstone National Park. Time: 30–60 min. 4 stops.
Upper Terrace Drive
Upper Terrace Drive is a 1.5-mile (2.4-km) loop around the Upper Terrace of the Mammoth Hot Springs of Yellowstone National Park. This drive is open to automobiles and pedestrians during the summer Time: 1–3 h. 11 stops.
West Thumb Geyser Basin
Explore this fascinating thermal area on the edge of Yellowstone Lake. Time: 1–2 h. 11 stops.
Black Sand Basin
A thermal area west of the Old Faithful developed area that has chromatic and opalescent hot springs and a geyser that frequently erupts right at the edge of the river flowing through the area. Time: 20–40 min. 6 stops.
Source: NPS API tours, checked Oct 26, 2026. These cost nothing beyond entry.
Guided-style activities the NPS tags here
- Arts and Crafts
- Boat Tour
- Boat Tour
- Boating
- Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour
- Guided Tours
- Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Junior Ranger Program
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
Source: NPS API activity tags, checked Oct 26, 2026. A tag means the activity exists, not that a company runs it daily.
Visitor centers
- Albright Visitor Center (passport stamp): Here you can gather park information, orient yourself to the rest of the park (including road conditions, and campground and lodge availability), shop for souvenirs…
- Canyon Visitor Education Center (passport stamp): Stop by the Canyon Visitor Education Center to learn more about the geologic story of the area, including the Yellowstone volcano, and view a room-size relief map of…
- Fishing Bridge Visitor Center and Trailside Museum (passport stamp): The distinctive stone-and-log architecture of this old building—known as "parkitecture"—was one of several prototypes for park buildings around the country. Today, the
- Grant Visitor Center (passport stamp): Fire plays an important, natural role in the ecosystems found in Yellowstone National Park and the surrounding region. Learn more about this and the fires of 1988 in the
- Madison Information Station and Trailside Museum (passport stamp): Located about halfway between Old Faithful and West Yellowstone, you can stop here for park information as visitors have been doing since 1930. The structure is an
- Museum of the National Park Ranger: Once a US Army outpost built in 1908, this visitor center houses exhibits that celebrate the history of the park ranger profession. The current structure replaced
- Norris Geyser Basin Museum and Information Station (passport stamp): Situated on the ridge overlooking the Norris Geyser Basin, this historic building is staffed during the summer with rangers who provide park information and facilitate…
- Old Faithful Visitor Education Center (passport stamp): Located near Old Faithful Geyser, this visitor center offers views of the geyser's eruption from the tall, windowed front of the visitor center. Additionally, you can
- West Thumb Information Station (passport stamp): This facility is closed until further notice as of July 2026. A small facility at the start of the West Thumb Geyser Basin boardwalks, where you can visit with a park…
- West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center (NPS Desk) (passport stamp): Located in the town of West Yellowstone, Montana, there is a desk and backcountry office staffed by National Park Service rangers (summer and winters only). The building
- West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center (Chamber of Commerce Desk) (passport stamp): Located in the town of West Yellowstone, Montana, there is a desk staffed by National Park Service rangers (summer and winters only). The building is open year-round and
Source: NPS API visitor centers, checked Oct 26, 2026.
Road and trail alerts that affect tours
Information Traffic Delays - Gardner River High Bridge
Expect a single lane of traffic with up to 15-minute delays, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from April 1 through late October 2026. Oversized/overweight vehicles (8'6"+ wide, 75'+ long, 80,000 lbs+ gross vehicle Details on nps.gov
Source: NPS API alerts, checked Oct 26, 2026. Check the park page before you drive.
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