Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Inn: Should You Stay Here? An Honest Review

Yellowstone National Park is the crown jewel of the national parks. And, no other lodging within the park is as iconic and recognizable as the Old Faithful Inn. It’s the largest log hotel in the world and practically everyone who has visited Yellowstone sees it because of its proximity to Old Faithful Geyser. But is it worth the hype?

The Old Faithful Inn is the most memorable lodging option within Yellowstone National Park. With upscale dining on-site, a unique lobby that feels like you are in a treehouse, and the ability to walk outside and see Old Faithful Geyser and Upper Geyser Basin, this rustic log cabin, built in 1915, is the in-the-park lodging that is worth the price (starting at ~$300 a night and going up from there).

I’m Cheryl, and I have been in all 9 of Yellowstone National Park’s lodges/hotels and have personally stayed in 3 of them (plus several others in other national parks). I always pay for my own stay so I can give my honest opinion.

My husband, Matt, and I write travel itinerary guides and audio guides to help people plan their trip to the West, including Yellowstone. We live 4 hours away and visit this park every year. Getting to stay at the Old Faithful Inn was something I’ve always wanted to do.

If a trip to Yellowstone National Park is in your future (and I sure hope it is), read on to see if the Old Faithful Inn is right for you.

At a Glance

Pros	Cons
Clean, comfortable rooms	Expensive
Delicious fine dining on-site	Rooms are in high demand
Located near popular sites in Yellowstone National Park	No TV, AC, microwave, or fridge
Walking distance to Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin	Some of the rooms do not have a private bathroom
Huge lodge with a lot of room options	No WiFi
Free tours of the hotel	Noise from other rooms
Nightly music
Stunning lobby
My #1 choice of lodging in Yellowstone National Park

Location

Yellowstone National Park is really big. In fact, it takes between 4 and 7 hours to drive around the Grand Loop Road without stopping. The Old Faithful Inn is located on the lower loop and is close to some of the top sites in the park, including Grand Prismatic Spring, Norris Geyser Basin, West Thumb, Yellowstone Lake, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Staying anywhere within Yellowstone National Park has some huge advantages. First, the lines at the entrance stations can get long. If you enter the park anywhere between 9 am and 12 pm, it’s possible to have to wait 30 minutes or more. When we’ve done this, the problem doesn’t end at the entrance. We stay in traffic all day on the roads and sometimes can’t get a parking spot at places we want to go. When you stay in the park, it’s easier to get an early start and stay ahead of the crowds.

Second, you see more of the park’s scenery. It’s a wonderful experience to sit on a viewing deck and overlook the geysers before bed or wake up and take a little walk. During our stay, we woke up at 7 am. There were only a few other people at Old Faithful. People were drinking their morning coffee, sitting on benches, and just taking it in. Plus, the morning sunlight shining behind the Old Faithful eruption made it particularly beautiful.

Third, you get more rest! We rarely stay in the park when we visit, which means we have extra driving time each day to get in and out of the park. This can be over an hour each way, depending on where you stay. We often trade our driving time for sleeping time. We enjoyed the extra hour or two of rest we got when we stayed at the Old Faithful Inn.

DON’T MISS: Driving in Yellowstone: 10 Things You Need to Know

Rooms

Built in 1904, the Old Faithful Inn was built for wealthy tourists traveling by train. Although there have been many improvements over the years, our room still felt old, but in a charming way.

FUN FACT: The architect, Robert Reamer, was only 29 years old when asked to build the Old Faithful Inn. He mostly used lodgepole pines that naturally grow in the area, but hand-selected knotty wood for the interior. He strategically placed windows to make it appear that you are in a treehouse when in the lobby.

Our room was considered an “Old House” room, which means we didn’t have a private bathroom. It contained two full beds (very comfortable!) and an old-fashioned sink with a mirror that I was very grateful for, so I could get ready in my room, instead of the bathroom, in the morning. We also had a small table with glasses and a bucket for ice to get drinks, and one chair.

Our windows were old-fashioned and I really liked them. We didn’t have a view of anything, but I liked that I could open the windows because the Old Faithful Inn does not have AC. Keeping a window cracked kept us nice and cool in June when we visited.

It’s common for lodges in the national parks to not have AC, as well as no fridges, microwaves, TVs, or WiFi. The Old Faithful Inn did not provide any of those things. I don’t really like not having the option to store and prepare my own food, but there are plenty of restaurants on site (coffee, grills, fine dining) and markets, so I was never without food. I just ended up paying a lot for it.

I can best describe my room as being rustically elegant because some nice touches made it feel upscale. The included shampoos and soaps smelled great, and the towels were soft. I loved the cute bear on my counter made of soap!

There are other, nicer rooms available, including suites and rooms with private bathrooms. Our simple room was over $300 for one night and that was all we were willing to spend.

One thing about the room that we did not enjoy was the noise. It was creaky when other guests were walking around and we could hear doors closing and people in the common area talking.

HOT TIP: When we checked in, the receptionist gave us a choice of floors to stay on. He said that he prefers the top floors, so we stayed on the third floor. We agree with his suggestion. It was nice to have a view of the wood decor above us as well as below.

Amenities

There are several services available, including tours like photography or wildlife viewing that leave right from the hotel.

There are also some restaurants and gift shops.

GOOD TO KNOW: Bellhops are available to help with luggage, which is a big help. An elevator is also available.

Shared Bathrooms

Although we thoroughly appreciated the nice sink in our room, we were not fans of the shared bathrooms. There were only a few toilets and showers per floor. At the time of our visit, the showers in the women’s restroom were out of order on our floor, so the only option was to share with the guests on the next floor down.

Shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel were provided and the showers were nice. One special touch was that each room came with a bathrobe in case you needed to make a trip to the restroom in the middle of the night.

Food

The Old Faithful Dining Room is the on-site fine dining restaurant. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served, but it’s closed between meals. Reservations for dinner are recommended and preference is given to hotel guests, though there is a standby line. Breakfast and lunch are first-come, first-served and are more budget-friendly.

We obtained dinner reservations about 2 weeks before our stay. Both a buffet and entrees are available, but it seemed like most guests got the buffet. At the time, it was $49 per person and included brisket, salmon, chicken, rolls (with honey butter), a spicy cauliflower soup, macaroni and cheese, potatoes, and vegetables. Plus, huckleberry cheesecake and brownie for dessert. The food was good.

There really weren’t views of Old Faithful Geyser, but the candlelight ambience was nice, and I enjoyed the etched glass art with fun pictures of animals and the paintings inside.

Our take on eating there was that the food was good, it was a nice experience, and that we probably won’t ever do it again due to the cost. We aren’t foodies and enjoy bringing our own food and having picnics in the park.

If fine dining isn’t for you, there is also a lounge, a coffee counter, and the Bear Paw Deli that serves sandwiches and ice cream.

PRO TIP: The deli serves yummy ice cream from Wilcoxson’s (made in Montana!) It’s really fun to get a cone and eat it on the deck and watch Old Faithful erupt.

One other thing to know is that Old Faithful Inn is one of three places to stay in the Old Faithful area. There are several other stores and restaurants that are within walking distance, so you have even more choices.

READ: Where are the Best Places to Eat in Yellowstone? We’ve Got You Covered and Where to Get Groceries and Eat Picnics in and Around Yellowstone & Grand Teton for more information on food in the park.

Other Amenities

The Old Faithful Inn Gift Shop is on-site and offers typical souvenirs. We like shopping at Hamilton’s General Store right next door. They also have a pretty good grill and better prices on groceries than we have seen elsewhere in the park.

Free daily tours of the Old Faithful Inn are available. They are 45 minutes long and teach about the history of this classic hotel. Matt did this and really enjoyed it. The schedule is usually posted in the lobby, and no reservations are needed. Just meet at the fireplace at the posted time.

Old Faithful Visitor Center. This is right next to the Old Faithful Inn and has great displays on how the geothermal features work in the park. Plus, they have a great kids’ area. No fee is required to visit. It’s just a quick 15-30 minute stop.

Ambiance

The lobby of the Old Faithful Inn is our very favorite of all the national park lodges. The lights are modeled to look like candlelight. There is a huge stone fireplace that is made from rock that came from the volcanic eruption that formed Yellowstone National Park, and there is a cool clock on the fireplace that has been there since the lodge was built in 1904.

I love the knotty wood that spans across all floors and that you can see all the way up to the ceiling. There are viewing areas with comfortable chairs on each floor that offer views of the lobby below.

During the day, the lobby is a hub of activity with park visitors shopping, checking geyser times, and stopping in for a meal, but at night, it becomes quiet and cozy.

Most summer evenings from the hours of 6-10 pm, a musician performs. There’s often a violinist or pianist. Sometimes you luck out, and they perform together. Comfortable seating to observe the music is available on all floors of the lobby. It’s a really wonderful experience

There are also several large tables throughout the hotel where you can see guests playing cards or enjoying a picnic together.

Outdoor viewing decks are also available. The largest overlooks Old Faithful Geyser and there are several seats and tables for travelers to observe. There is also ground-level seating.

PRO TIP: You don’t need to be a guest of the Old Faithful to enjoy the lobby, balcony, or restaurants, though hotel guests get priority for dinner reservations at the dining room.

Know Before You Go

The Old Faithful Inn is usually open from early May to mid-October. The Old Faithful Snow Lodge is the only lodge in the area open year-round.

Also, don’t confuse the Old Faithful Inn with the Old Faithful Lodge. The Old Faithful Lodge is also in the area, but it is not quite as fancy and only has cabins to sleep in.

There are over 300 rooms available at the Old Faithful Inn, but they are always in high demand

Because of the short travel season and the growing number of tourists (almost 5 million in 2025!), accommodations can be hard to come by. Guests are able to book lodging 13 months in advance, and it’s highly recommended that you book as soon as you know your travel dates.

That being said, we have had pretty good luck getting accommodations at national park lodges at the last minute.

In most cases, reservations are fully refundable if cancellations are made within the contracted time. It isn’t uncommon for rooms to become available on short notice. However, it does require vigilance in checking availability every morning and throughout the day for openings.

Should You Stay Here?

If cost and availability aren’t an issue… absolutely YES!!! The Old Faithful Inn is one of the most stunning hotels I’ve stayed in and its proximity to top attractions in Yellowstone makes it especially awesome.

I’ve never regretted staying at a national park lodge. The proximity to the parks and sometimes charming architecture are usually worth trying at least once. I don’t mind going without A/C, TV, or even having spotty Wi-Fi if it enables me more time to take in the beauty of the surrounding area.

There are 9 lodges in Yellowstone, but the Old Faithful Inn is the best one. Here are the distances of the Old Faithful Inn to popular locations within and near Yellowstone.

Grand Prismatic Spring	15 min drive
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone	1-hour and 30-minute drive
Mammoth	1 hour and 30-minute drive
Grand Teton National Park	1-hour and 10-minute drive

Alternative Lodging In and Around Yellowstone

Yellowstone has so many places to stay! In addition to the 9 in-the-park lodges, there are also 12 campgrounds plus tons of options outside the park.

• Most central place to stay: Canyon Village
• Budget options: Roosevelt Cabins, Mammoth Cabins
• Historic: Mammoth, Lake Hotel, Old Faithful Inn

If you are staying outside the park, the most convenient gateway towns are West Yellowstone and Gardiner.

To learn more, check out our article, Should I Stay Inside or Outside Yellowstone National Park? or Your Yellowstone Camping Guide: What You Need to Know

CHECK OUT: Lake Yellowstone Hotel: Should You Stay Here? An Honest Review

The 9 Best Areas & Places to Stay in Yellowstone

Is There Anything Else I Should Know?

Yes! Planning a trip to Yellowstone should be exciting, joyful, and easy!

Our itinerary guide provides you with a daily (yet flexible) plan to help you efficiently see the park. It will get you to the top sites at the right time to avoid the crowds, save you hours of time planning, and help you have incredible experiences most people don’t even know about.