Multi-day Yellowstone winter tours with a snowcoach day
A winter trip to Yellowstone's geysers takes more than a day from most places, because the park's interior is closed to cars and the drive between gateway towns goes around it. Two tours on our partner sites bundle the hotels and the driving around a full snowcoach day. One starts in Jackson, the other in Salt Lake City.
Why winter trips run over several days
From early November most park roads close to cars, and from about mid-December to mid-March the interior is open only to snowcoaches and guided snowmobiles. Old Faithful is easiest to reach from West Yellowstone, Montana.
Getting there is the hard part. From Jackson in winter it means driving around the park through Idaho, and from Salt Lake City it is about 5–6 hours each way in good weather.
A tour that covers the drive and hotels as well as the snowcoach removes the hardest part of planning.
Both tours below spend one full day on a snowcoach to Old Faithful and fill the other days with wildlife and scenery. Worried about the drive? Start with our page on the four base towns, which compares them.
From Jackson, four days with BrushBuck
BrushBuck Wildlife Tours' four days and three nights, from ~$2,089, is our pick, with 5.0 from 30+ reviews on Viator, all five-star. You meet at the Lexington at Jackson Hole Hotel and Suites, 285 N Cache St.
- Day 1. An afternoon wildlife drive by heated Suburban or 10-passenger vehicle in Grand Teton National Park and on the National Elk Refuge
- Day 2. An early horse-drawn sleigh ride among 5,000+ wintering elk, more Teton wildlife, then over the continental divide to West Yellowstone with time in town
- Day 3. The snowcoach day along the Madison River to Fountain Paint Pot and Old Faithful
- Day 4. The Hebgen Lake site of the 1959 earthquake and Island Park in Idaho, back in Jackson about 3–5 pm
The price covers three nights in 2-3 star hotels and breakfast on days two to four. Snacks are on board with binoculars and a spotting scope, and park entry is included for US residents.
Getting to and from Jackson Hole Airport is up to you, and you will want a Jackson hotel on the nights either side of the tour. Children under 6 cannot join, and the trip does not suit wheelchair users or people with mobility problems.
Reviewers praise guides such as Neil and Andrew for spotting animals and explaining what you see.
From Salt Lake City, three days with Horizon
Horizon Travel Team's three days, from ~$2,249, is built for travelers flying into Salt Lake City. It is a small group of up to 10, and it runs only with at least four guests.
- Day 1. Pickup at the Salt Lake City airport or a hotel, an optional city tour if you land before noon, then the drive north to West Yellowstone
- Day 2. A full day in a heated snowcoach via Madison Junction, Fountain Paint Pot and Black Sand Basin to Old Faithful, timed to the predicted eruption. A boxed lunch is included, and a snowshoe walk is optional
- Day 3. A soak at Lava Hot Springs (102–112 °F, 39–44 °C), or Jackson and Grand Teton views, or the Hill Aerospace Museum, back in Salt Lake City late afternoon or evening
Two hotel nights at double occupancy are included along with two breakfasts and the boxed lunch (order it 48 hours ahead). Snacks and water come with hand warmers.
Solo travelers pay a single supplement and contact the operator to join a group. Book a flight home after 8:30 pm, or better the next day.
The trip is new on GetYourGuide with no reviews yet, and much of days one and three is spent on the highway.
Three days from the Salt Lake City airport
Horizon Travel Team picks you up in Salt Lake City and covers two hotel nights and a heated snowcoach day to Old Faithful, from ~$2,249, ending with a hot spring soak. Free cancellation runs to 24 hours ahead. The trip is still new and needs four guests to run.
The two side by side
| Tour | From | Nights | Snowcoach days | Rating | Free cancellation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BrushBuck from Jackson | ~$2,089 | 3 | 1 | 5.0 from 30+ (Viator) | 45 days on GetYourGuide, none on Viator |
| Horizon from Salt Lake City | ~$2,249 | 2 | 1 | No reviews yet | 24 h |
BrushBuck gives you more wildlife time thanks to the Teton drive and the Elk Refuge sleigh, and it has a long record of happy guests.
Horizon costs a little more for one day less, and the drive takes a larger share of it. In return it saves you the flight to Jackson and the extra hotel nights there. What a Yellowstone snowcoach tour costs adds up tips and fees for both.
When weather changes the plan
Winter routes depend on roads and snow. Passes can close and the snowcoach day can shift. Horizon says outright that its itinerary depends on road conditions.
In a snowless January one BrushBuck guest rode a windy wagon instead of a sleigh on the Elk Refuge. Animals move with the weather too, and no sighting is ever guaranteed.
Pack for the worst day rather than the average one; what to wear on a Yellowstone winter tour has the list, and when the snowcoach season runs explains how snow and cold change across the winter.
A longer trip and a short extra
Nomad Unlimited Adventure's five-day small-group trip, from ~$2,780, starts in Salt Lake City and takes in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Its catch is weak evidence. Only two reviews back it and the listing says little about the daily route, while the booking is non-refundable.
Starting in Jackson with a free afternoon? Then the National Elk Refuge sleigh ride, from ~$43 is an easy add. Pickup is not included, though. A thin snow cover also turns the sleigh into a wagon.
For what the snowcoach day itself looks like, read Old Faithful in winter by snowcoach, and for the animals on the Teton days, our winter wildlife guide. Neither tour goes to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone in winter.