Est. 1929 | Wyoming | 310,044 acres

Grand Teton

Formed by a geological fault, the Teton Range rises 7,000 feet from the floor of the Jackson Hole valley in a stunning display of jagged peaks and icy glaciers–the iconic backdrop to Grand Teton National Park. Search the sagebrush flats for historic homesteads, bison, antelope, and elk then hike up into the lakeside forests for glimpses of moose, bears, and eagles in this iconic snapshot of the great American frontier.

Located just south of Yellowstone in western Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park is defined by the mountains that give it its name. Running north-south, the Teton Range lies on the western boundary of the park. At its feet, the Snake River drains south down the valley from the giant Jackson Lake in the north, feeding tributaries and ecosystems along the way to the resort town of Jackson, Wyoming.

Paralleling the Snake River, Highway 191 traverses the extent of the park from Jackson in the south to Yellowstone in the north. As a scenic alternative, Teton Park Road diverges from US-191 at Moose Junction and hugs the roots of the mountains past Jenny Lake and Jackson Lake before converging again at Jackson Lake Junction in the north. While several trailheads, overlooks and attractions lie along US-191, Teton Park Road provides the best access to hiking trails into the foothills of the Teton Range.

Must-see highlights in Grand Teton National Park

Schwabacher Landing—A quiet riverside viewpoint, Schwabacher Landing is located just 4 miles north of Moose Junction on the west side of US-191. A 1-mile dirt road leads to the trailhead offering incredible views of the Tetons along the Snake River. I highly recommend visiting this spot at sunrise for a chance to capture alpenglow on the peaks. Early morning hours also afford better chances of wildlife sightings. I have seen moose on two separate occasions. And swans among other various waterfowl frequent the landing.

Oxbow Bend—With views of Mount Moran mirrored in the dramatic bend of the Snake River, this spot is highly photogenic, especially in the fall as cottonwoods and aspen trees turn gold. Look for this roadside pullout high up along US-191 roughly 3 miles north of Moran Junction.

Mormon Row—One of the most photographed locations in the entire national park system, Mormon Row features a line of old homesteads from early Mormon settlers. The weathered wooden structures beneath the famous mountain skyline create an iconic scene unmatched in the national parks. Sunrise offers the best lighting conditions, though be prepared to have company as this destination is extremely popular among photographers in the wee hours of the morning.

Jenny Lake—A trip to Grand Teton National Park is not complete without a visit to one of it’s many lakes. Jenny Lake, the most picturesque of them all sits at the foot of the Grand Teton hosting a visitor center, lodge, shuttle boat (providing across the lake), and rentable watercraft. Jenny Lake Loop Trail circumnavigates the lake over 7.1 miles offering access to Cascade Canyon, Inspiration Point, and Hidden Falls, all worthwhile attractions on the western end of the lake.

Cascade Canyon Trail—To venture up close to the Grand Teton itself, Cascade Canyon Trail offers the best route and views into the mountain backcountry. From Jenny Lake Loop Trail trailhead this 13-mile out and back trail, gains 1,700 feet in elevation offering unique views of Grand Teton, Teewinot Mountain and Mount St. John. Plan to spend a full day hiking the extent of this trail.

Best time to visit Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park is open all year round. While summer and fall offer the most accessibility to park attractions, winter and spring have their own benefits.

Spring (April to June): Spring comes late in Grand Teton. Valley trails remain snow-covered through April, melting fully in May, making muddy conditions. Snow and rain alternate throughout April as temperatures fluctuate towards summer, typically, maxing out in the 60sºF during the day and dipping as low as 30ºF at night. Wildflowers peak in late May at low elevations among the sagebrush flats. The park’s growing season is short, lasting only 2 months between spring and summer, making late-May through early-July especially green. Wildlife is fairly active as food becomes more abundant and visitation remains low.
Summer (July to August): Almost daily, summer brings afternoon thunderstorms. By July, daytime temperatures average 70ºF making all trails accessible and all facilities fully operational. This boom of summer activities attracts the largest crowds. As a result, wildlife tends to retreat into the cooler, quieter backcountry. However, Grand Teton remains a wildlife haven even through summer, so it is not uncommon to encounter some animals along the roadways and front country trails. During summer, upper elevation wildflowers begin blooming in July and hold out through August.
Fall (September to October): Crisp air and brilliant foliage define autumn in Grand Teton. Temperatures begin dropping to an average daytime high of 55ºF and nights dip below freezing. Aspens and cottonwoods turn bright yellow and orange in mid-September with early snows shutting down high-elevation trails by the end of the month. Animals are quite active in the fall as crowds taper and winter approaches. The elk rut typically spans late-September to early-October. This annual courtship display is dangerous as males spar with one another so keep ample distance from elk during the autumn months.
Winter (November to March): Winter brings a quiet, snow-covered landscape ideal for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and solitude. Most park roads close, but US-191 remains open when plowed allowing glimpses of wildlife like bison and coyotes in the snowy valleys. The Teton Range looks especially dramatic under a fresh layer of snow. Temperatures usually only warm up to 35ºF during the day and can easily reach sub-zero temperatures at night so pack warm gear for any winter trip. December and January see the coldest temperatures and the most snowfall. The scenic Teton Park Road is seasonally closed November–April.

How long should I visit Grand Teton National Park?

Grand Teton National Park is a mountain playground with plenty of activities to fill the time. To view just the highlights of the park, a standard 2–3 full days in the park is enough. One day exploring the Snake River and sagebrush flats and another day or two venturing into the mountains and surrounding lakes ought to do the park justice. As my favorite park of the entire system, I always come away wishing I had more time in Grand Teton.

Getting to Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton has four road entrances, one in the north, one in the east, and two in the south. Most visitors arrive on US-191, either from Jackson in the south or Yellowstone in the north. From the east, US Highway 26 climbs through Wind River Reservation land and enters the park to converges with US-191 at Moran Junction. Though not the most traveled route, this approach is the most scenic as the Tetons dramatically emerge on the horizon in a final descent into the park. The remaining Granite Canyon Entrance lies as a backdoor option from the town of Wilson, Wyoming, in the south, just west of US-191.

If arriving by air, the Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) will forever be the closest option as it is literally within the park boundaries, near the south entrance on US-191. It is the only commercial airport inside any U.S. national park. However, it is also expensive and operates seasonally with major airports across the country.

Nearby alternatives include Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA) 100 miles away, Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) 250 miles away or Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) 290 miles away. Because Grand Teton National Park is not near many commercial airports, Jackson Hole Airport may be worth the extra expense. Or consider tagging Grand Teton onto a trip to Yellowstone to save the hassle of flying directly to Grand Teton.

Where to stay in Grand Teton National Park

Lodging—Grand Teton National Park holds 6 major lodging options within park boundaries.

Grand Teton Climbers’ Ranch—primitive communal bunkhouses (4–8 bunks in a cabin), open June–September
Colter Bay Cabins—208 cabins and tent cabins, open June–September
Jackson Lake Lodge—348 cottage rooms and 37 lodge rooms, open May–October
Jenny Lake Lodge—37 cabins, open June–October
Signal Mountain Lodge—79 units (apartments, cabins, rooms), open May–October
Triangle X Ranch—20 cabins, open May–October

Campgrounds—

Gros Ventre Campground—279 sites (RV and tent), open April–October
Jenny Lake Campground—61 sites (tent only), open July–September
Signal Mountain Campground—81 sites (RV and tent), open May–October
Colter Bay Campground—324 sites (RV and tent), open May–September
Colter Bay RV Park—112 sites (RV only), open May–October
Colter Bay Tent Village—66 sites (tent cabin only), open May–September
Lizard Creek Campground—60 sites (RV and tent), open June–September

When should I book my trip to Grand Teton National Park?

Because no campgrounds are open year round, the short summer season makes campsites pretty competitive. It is best to book a month or two in advance to secure your stay and remain flexible with dates and locations. There are no first come first served options, meaning all campgrounds are open for reservation through Recreation.gov 6 months in advance.

As for lodging, the wide variety of accommodations allows for a range of vacancy. Lodges and hotel-style rooms book up quickly. Triangle X Ranch requires a reservation inquiry to even entertain pricing and availability. But the bunkhouses and cabins tend to rotate on a slower basis. With 208 cabins, Colter Bay Cabins usually have availability 1 month to several weeks in advance during summer season. As always, weekends and holidays are premium dates and book quickly.

How much should I budget for Grand Teton National Park?

A 3 day trip to Grand Teton booked 4 months in advance can cost roughly $500–$1,000 depending on your required needs. Here is a range of what to expect:

Roundtrip Airfare to Bozeman	$150–$300
Car Rental	$90–$150/day (not including taxes/fees)
Lodges	$300–$600/night (not including taxes/fees)
Bunkhouse	$40/bunk (not including taxes/fees)
Campgrounds	$49–$79/night
RV Park	$112–$117/night (not including taxes/fees)
Meals	$15–$25/meal
Entrance Fee	$35/vehicle

Packing list for Grand Teton National Park

Each park requires different gear for its unique characteristics. For Grand Teton National Park, we wouldn’t want to be caught without hiking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, wide-brimmed hat, rain coat, water shoes or sturdy sandals, and a water bottle.

Want to learn more? Check out our detailed trip report for a peek into our trip to Grand Teton.

For more detailed information on Grand Teton National Park, visit the official park website.