Grand Teton National Park has one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world! Not only that, but it’s filled with wildlife, glacial lakes, and hikes, and neighbors the cool Western town of Jackson. Plus, there are so many recreational activities that outdoor enthusiasts will never run out of things to do. Unfortunately, most people only have a few days to see this magical national park

Two to three days is the ideal amount of time needed to properly see Grand Teton National Park. This allows time to visit Jenny Lake, hike Inspiration Point and Taggart Lake Trail, do the scenic drive to see famous viewpoints including Oxbow Bend and Schwabacher Landing, visit the historic Mormon Row, look for wildlife, ride the tram at Teton Village, raft the Snake River and enjoy exploring Jackson, WY. If pressed for time, a traveler can spend 1 day visiting Jenny Lake, doing the scenic drive, and spending the evening in Jackson. If you have more time, biking, water sports, Jackson activities, and day trips to the Wind Rivers and Dubois are wonderful ways to enjoy the area.

So how do you decide where to stop and where to skip? I’m Cheryl and my husband, Matt, and I have been writing travel itineraries to help people travel to the West since 2020 (including Grand Teton!) We live just four hours away and visit every single year! Every time we go, we visit our classic favorites and try something new. Read on to learn the exact itinerary we share with friends and neighbors, plus some of our local secrets on where to stay and the best places to eat.

VISITING GRAND TETON AND NEED A GAME PLAN? CHECK OUT OUR ITINERARY.

Understanding Grand Teton

Grand Teton National Park is compact and shaped like a banana. It only takes one hour to drive from one end of the park to the other. There are two main roads that run through the park: Teton Park Road (often called the Inner Road because it runs closer to the Tetons) and Highway 89 (often called the Outer Road).

GOOD TO KNOW: Jackson Hole is the valley that encompasses Grand Teton National Park and the city of Jackson, Wyoming. Hole was a term the early mountain men used to mean valley. You’ll most likely hear this term a lot when visiting.

Grand Teton has three main entrances: the Moose Entrance (South), the Moran Entrance (East), and the Granite Canyon Entrance (Southwest), plus a lesser-known one in the north that connects Yellowstone to Grand Teton via the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway. You can read all about these in our blog post, What is the Best Entry to Grand Teton? Grand Teton’s 4 Entrances.

It is very common for people to visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton together. They are only 2 hours apart, and you can easily see both parks in 5 to 7 days. If you have even more time, Glacier National Park or the Black Hills are great additions to your Grand Teton trip.

About This Itinerary

We kept the “first-time visitor” in mind when we wrote this and included what you must see to say you’ve done Grand Teton properly.

We also believe variety makes for a great vacation, so we included a mix of hikes, historic sites, lakes, drives, viewpoints, wildlife spotting, and outside-the-park activities.

One of the amazing things about visiting Grand Teton is that no two trips are ever the same! The spontaneity of wildlife sightings keeps you on your toes, and recreational activities like river floats or horseback riding offer a new experience every time.

This itinerary will work best from Memorial Day to the end of September. Grand Teton gets wicked cold and covered in snow for almost 8 months of the year! May and October are high-risk/high-reward months. The crowds are light in these months and the park is beautiful, but an early or late snowstorm can cut your trip short. Read our blog post, The Best (and Worst) Times of Year to Visit Grand Teton.

Grand Teton 1-3 Day Itinerary

Day 1: Jenny Lake, Scenic Drive, and Jackson

If you only have one day in Grand Teton, this is what you need to do!

Morning

Start your day by visiting the crown jewel of the park, Jenny Lake. It’s a beautiful glacial lake with views of the Tetons in the background. There are also wonderful outdoor exhibits for you to look at as you walk to the lake.

There is a 7-mile loop around Jenny Lake that you can walk, but most people prefer to take the 12-minute shuttle boat (~$20) across the lake, where you can hike up to Inspiration Point and Hidden Lake (2 miles round trip if you take the boat). Hidden Falls is my favorite waterfall in Grand Teton, and the views of Jackson Valley from Inspiration Point are amazing! Plan on Jenny Lake taking 3-4 hours. You can read more details on our blog post, How To Have a Perfect Day at Jenny Lake.

PRO TIP: The parking lot fills up. Arrive about 30 minutes before the Jenny Lake Boat Company opens to easily find parking and not have to wait in long lines for the shuttle boats.

Afternoon

Now, it’s time to rest your legs and go for a scenic drive. Drive the Inner Road(Teton Park Road) north to Jackson Lake Lodge and Colter Bay, and then head back on the Outer Road (HWY 89) for some great viewpoints. Driving the 40-mile loop without stopping takes about an hour, but you’ll most likely take 3 or 4, making lots of stops along the way.

HUNGRY? There are a few places to eat along this drive. Our favorites are the nachos at the Signal Mountain Lodge or getting a giant pizza at Leeks Pizzeria. If you just want a drink with some great views, the Blue Heron at Jackson Lake Lodge has wonderful outdoor seating

Here are some stops you can make along the drive

• Signal Mountain Summit Road. RVs are prohibited. This is a 15-minute drive to the top of Signal Mountain, which provides panoramic views of the entire valley. It’s a beautiful shot.
• Signal Mountain Lodge. Trapper Grill is located inside and serves a famous mound of nachos – eat it on the deck out back or on a picnic table closer to the boat dock. There’s also a gas station here.  
• Chapel of the Sacred Heart. This is a cute little historic log church with beautiful stained glass, though not as cool as the Chapel of the Transfiguration near Menors Ferry. There is a nice picnic area at this stop. 
• Willow Flats. There are two viewpoints just before you get to Jackson Lake Lodge. These are nice little spots but very similar to the view from Jackson Lake Lodge. This is good habitat for wildlife, but we’ve never seen any animals here. 
• Jackson Lake Lodge Don’t let the ugly boxy exterior fool you; this is a cool place. Walk inside to see the beautiful interior of the lodge and get a great view of the northern Tetons. There are a few restaurants here, but we prefer the Blue Heron Lounge, which has great outdoor seating with firepits and amazing views of the Tetons.
• Oxbow Bend This is a gorgeous viewpoint of Mount Moran with the Snake River in the foreground. Stop to take photos!
• Cunningham Cabin Photographers might like getting a shot of the cabin with the Tetons in the background. There are often horses here, too. It makes you feel like you are in a Western movie!
• Snake River Overlook This is a popular photo op of the Tetons with the Snake River in the foreground. Ansel Adams took a famous black and white photo from here (see display). It’s really cool to compare the photo to what the valley looks like now and see how it has changed over the years.
• Schwabacher Landing This is a popular and beautiful spot to watch a sunrise, but it’s also great in the middle of the day! Walk down the dirt pathway for additional viewpoints where the trees frame the Tetons. It’s only about 250 yards and is usually quieter.

Evening

You’ve seen Jenny Lake, done a hike, and seen the best viewpoints in Grand Teton. Now it’s time to head into the glitzy cowboy town of Jackson, Wyoming! I’ll give you a few of my favorite things to see there, but first, you may want to check out a few of the stops on the drive from Grand Teton to Jackson.

• Park Entrance Turnout. Stop and take the classic photo of your crew in front of the national park sign.
• Jackson National Fish Hatchery. This may not be the #1 priority, but this is actually a great little stop, especially if you have kids. It’s free, and they give tours. We enjoyed it.
• National Museum of Wildlife Art. As you drive, you will see bronze statues of wildlife up on the hill. We highly recommend stopping here. There is a free sculpture walk with incredible statues of bison, moose, eagles, and other wildlife. There is also a museum that has paintings and other art that you have to pay to go into. It’s nice, but we think the free sculpture walk is the star of the show.
• National Elk Refuge Visitor Center. You won’t find elk here in the summer (they come here to eat in the winter), but they have some great displays and it’s a nice stop.

Jackson, WY

You don’t really need to have a plan. Jackson is just fun to walk around, window shop, and grab something yummy to eat. We have a blog post and video of great things to do in Jackson to help you plan your evening, but here is a quick list of our favorites.

• Town Square. This is where you can check out the famous antler arches (photo op) at all four corners of the park. Did you know that the Boy Scouts collect the antlers from the National Elk Refuge to make these arches?
• Jackson Hole Playhouse. Even if you don’t catch a play, check out the building. It’s the oldest building in Jackson and is super cute. Their plays are wonderful and so is the optional dinner they serve before.
• Town Square Shoot Out. It’s cheesy but you kind of have to do it. Every night, from 6 to 7 pm, a shootout happens near the town square. No killing on Sundays, though.
• Moo’s Ice Cream & Mountain Trails Gallery. Moo’s has great ice cream; grab some to eat during the shootout. Mountain Trails Gallery has incredible statues of wildlife and famous people outside.
• Town Art. Murals and statues are all over town, and they are constantly evolving. They take great pride in their art and sometimes have augmented reality murals or a scavenger hunt map.
• Jackson Mercantile. This is our favorite store because of the creative taxidermy (we love the rafting raccoons!) and the treats. 
• Belle Cose. This is a fancy store (not our style), but inside is Burns 1776, a cowboy hat-making shop that made all the hats for the Yellowstone actors. They have memorabilia from the show, and you can order handmade hats…only $500. 

HUNGRY FOR DINNER? We really like Sidewinders. It’s nice because it’s not located downtown so it has its own parking and the decor is really fun. Their signature dish is their soft pretzel. For more ideas, check out our blog post, The Best Places to Eat in Jackson and Grand Teton.

FUN FACTS ABOUT THE ANTLER ARCHES: The arches are maintained by the Rotary Club. They have to be rebuilt about every 40 years. The Boy Scouts gather antlers from the National Elk Refuge for the job. The current arches will need to be replaced around 2040

Day 2: Historic Sites, Taggart Lake, and an Activity of Your Choice

Now it’s time to check out some of Grand Teton’s history, go on the most popular hike in the park, and choose a recreational activity that is most interesting to you. I highly recommend a white water float on the Snake River, but choose what you want.

Morning

Taggart Lake. 3.7-mile roundtrip, easy. This beautiful hike is nearly as awesome as Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls. Once you get past the boring service road beginning, it takes you through cascades, aspens, meadows, glacier boulders, and pines before arriving at a beautiful lake with views of the mountains. It’s mostly uphill but not too steep and has flat sections. This is a great hike for families because you can play in the water once you arrive. We’ve only gone there and back, but you can take some longer side loops if you’d like.

PRO TIP: The parking lot typically fills early and stays full most of the day. If it’s full when you visit, you can usually park on the road. Otherwise,  consider returning around 4:00 pm as it will clear out. This is a very popular hike, and the park will most likely start renovations on the parking lot and trail soon. 

Mormon Row. This is where you will find the highly photographed Moulton Barn, along with a few other cool old historic buildings. The Moulton Barn is where photographers gather for that perfect shot of the sun splashing on the Tetons with the barn in the foreground. It’s located on the north end of the dirt road.  There is parking near the barn, as well as at the intersection just north of the barn, by the other homes and barns. To get here, you can take Antelope Flats Road. It’s great anytime but is especially cool at sunrise.

FUN FACT: Mormon Row gets its name from Mormon homesteaders who came to the Teton Valley and farmed the land. Unlike most homesteaders who would spread out, they built their homes and farms close together, reflecting their religious beliefs.

If you are really into history, you can also check out Menors Ferry Historic District. This is both a historic and a scenic stop. You can see the Chapel of the Transfiguration (great photo op, and I would love to go to church here!) and Menors Ferry, where Bill Menor would transport travelers across the river before bridges were built.

Afternoon

Now it’s time to experience Grand Teton- not just look at it! Spend the afternoon doing something that really appeals to you. Here are a few of our favorites.

Float the Snake River. This should be the priority, in my humble opinion. The great thing about rafting at Grand Teton is that there are scenic floats and whitewater floats. We once did a dinner scenic float right through the Tetons with Triangle X. The views were unbeatable and we even saw eagles and beavers. Read our review.

If you like adventure, there are plenty of rafting companies in Jackson that will take you down the Snake River. I did this almost every summer as a kid, and it’s my all-time favorite river to raft. Learn more about your options.

Bike the Multi-Use Pathway. This is a wonderful trail that connects the town of Jackson to Jenny Lake. It goes along the main road, but there are beautiful views of the Tetons the whole time. A ride with a picnic (you can have a picnic for dinner!) is a great way to spend the afternoon. We like to rent bikes (especially ebikes) at Dornans.

Kayak on String Lake. This is the most beautiful lake I have ever seen to kayak on. It’s crystal clear with the beautiful Tetons in the background. You also get kayaks from Dornans. NOTE: Parking fills up here by 8:30 am

Ride the Tram at Teton Village. Teton Village is a ski resort just outside of Grand Teton. It has restaurants, shopping, activities, biking, and a tram and gondola. We think the best thing to do here is take the tram to the Skywalk and get a waffle at Corbet’s Cabin. Read more about Teton Village.

Explore Phelps Lake. 3 miles round trip. This is a great hike for families because it’s relatively easy and starts at the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve, which has a great visitor center for kids. There is also a waterfall experience, which is just a small waterfall by the visitor center that you can stand in if you wish.

Horseback Riding. Although we haven’t done this yet, we have a few rides already booked for this summer. We have done horseback rides in several national parks and have always loved the experience. For more information about horseback riding at Grand Teton, visit their website.

Look for Wildlife. Grand Teton has so much wildlife! Elk, deer, antelope, coyote, moose and bears! We especially love to look for moose. Check out our blog post, Where to Find Wildlife in Grand Teton for specifics on our best spots. Gros Venture area, Mormon Row, and the Moose-Wilson Road are good places to get started.

Evening

If you still have energy left to burn, you can check out the Bar T 5 Covered Wagon Cookout and Show, catch a play at the Jackson Hole Playhouse, or visit the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar & Silver Dollar Bar & Grill, the most iconic bars in Jackson.

Day 3: Things You Missed and Day Trips to Pinedale or Dubois

If you didn’t notice, Day 1 and Day 2 were packed! If you prefer to go at a more leisurely pace, use a third day to catch the things you didn’t get to or to do another recreational activity you are interested in. They really all are great. That’s why we continue to visit Grand Teton every year.

Dubois and the National Museum for Military Vehicles

Who’s heard of Dubois, WY? Not us, until recently… and we’ve been missing out! From the beautiful drive through the Upper Wind River Valley to the Smithsonian-quality Museum of Military Vehicles to possibly the most delicious chocolate pie we’ve ever had at the Cowboy Cafe, this is the best hidden gem of the area! You’ll feel so cool when this catches on because you’ve already done it!

The National Museum for Military Vehicles is located east of Dubois and is an absolute must-do. This massive, top-notch museum had its grand opening in 2022. Honestly, you could spend a full two days here checking out the many tanks, firearms, jeeps, and helicopters. World War II is the star here, with exhibits from major battles and Japanese, Italian, and German tanks. But there are wonderful exhibits on other wars. This museum does not glorify war, but it is unapologetically patriotic.

Read 4 Great Things to Do in Dubois for more details if this interests you.

Pinedale and the Wind Rivers

Pinedale has a really fun art walk that you can take to look at the town’s murals and sculptures. They also have the Museum of the Mountain Man, which we think is really interesting. It teaches you about what their life was like. In the evening, make sure to get some Pitchfork Fondue. There is no entertainment, but this is the THE BEST TASTING cowboy cookout we’ve ever done (and we’ve done at least 8!) They have steak, trout, chicken, and all sorts of delicious sides (try the kettle chips with dip!)

Our favorite hike is the Sacred Rim Trail (2 hrs, 4.2-mile round-trip). The hike is ok – it’s mostly forest with occasional glimpses of the mountains. The end viewpoint is one of the best we’ve ever seen, looking down into an incredible canyon with multiple lakes. To hike it, stop by the Forest Service building for a map. Even though it’s popular, it’s not an official hike. When we went, the lady working at the front desk drew us a map!

We made a great video about our visit here that you can check out if you are interested.

Where to Stay

There are technically 9 areas to stay when visiting Grand Teton including 7 places you can stay inside Grand Teton National Park. The most important things for you to know are 1) All of these areas are no more than an hour away from the park and 2) lodging in and around Grand Teton is EXPENSIVE. A typical hotel room can cost between $300-$400 a night and a campsite runs around $50. The further away you stay, the less you will pay!

GOOD TO KNOW: Consider in-park lodging more of a rustic experience; TVs, microwaves, and air conditioning are very rare (air conditioning is rarely needed anyway, as it doesn’t get too hot in the summer, but make sure they have a fan).

There are also lots of lodging and camping options at the gateway towns, especially Jackson. We have thoroughly covered this in our blog posts and videos listed below:

Where to Eat

Unlike Yellowstone, Grand Teton has several good places to eat!

Inside the park, we really enjoy:

1. A drink from the Blue Heron at Jackson Lake Lodge. They have great views of the Tetons from their outdoor seating area.
2. Nachos from Signal Mountain Lodge’s Trapper Grill. It’s the biggest pile of nachos you’ll ever see!
3. Dornans Pizza and Pasta from the roof top. Amazing food with amazing views (adults only up here… kids can eat downstairs)

In Jackson, we like:

1. Sidewinders. Their signature dish is their soft pretzel, and it’s so good! A great place for families.
2. Moo’s Gourmet Ice Cream. Give their apricot sorbet a try!
3. Creekside Market. Made-to-order sandwiches and picnic supplies.
4. I’m sure there are plenty more but we aren’t big foodies.

Special food experiences:

1. Teton Village. You can eat waffles from Corbet’s Cabin at the top of the tram or get a fancy meal from the Piste Mountain Bistro at the top of the Bridger gondola. Note: The Off-Piste Market has much cheaper food options and the same views.
2. Bar T 5 Covered Wagon Cookout and Show. You get to ride in a covered wagon, eat a real cowboy cookout with steak, potatoes, biscuits, and lemonade, and watch a cowboy show. The fiddles are great.

GOOD TO KNOW: We’ve done all of the things we recommend and paid for them on our dime so we can give our honest opinion. We do not receive any form of payment from these businesses.

For more ideas for great places to eat in Grand Teton and Jackson, check out our blog post, The Best Places To Eat in Jackson and Grand Teton.

How to Get to Grand Teton

Surrounding mountain ranges make Grand Teton a long drive from just about anywhere.

From the North

Most people will enter Grand Teton from Yellowstone, which is about an hour north of the park. They use the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway. It looks like the parks are only one hour away from each other, but it’s actually more like 2 hours by the time you get to the Grand Loop in Yellowstone, where most of the main attractions are.

From the East

If you’re driving from points east, you’ll almost certainly go through Cody, WY, into Yellowstone (and hopefully visit Yellowstone), and then enter Grand Teton from the north.

If you’re driving from Colorado, you have two GREAT options. You can’t go wrong either way:

• Through Lander & the Wind River mountains (gorgeous).
• Through Pinedale, Wyoming, the home of the Mountain Man Museum.

From the South

If you’re driving from points south, like Salt Lake City, you also have some great options. Strangely, these routes all take about the same amount of time, which is about 5-6 hours from Salt Lake City, UT:

• Turn off in Brigham City, UT, and drive through beautiful Logan Canyon. You’ll pass the deep-turquoise Bear Lake before arriving in Montpelier, where you can visit the Oregon Trail Center and the Butch Cassidy Museum (an actual bank that Butch robbed!)
• Turn off at Lava Hot Springs. Take a soak in the hot springs and see the nearby, incredibly well-preserved historical town of Chesterfield, Idaho. Then head to Soda Springs and see the Soda Springs geyser, which erupts every hour on the hour.
• Continue north to Idaho Falls (although Lava Hot Springs is located right off of I-15, so consider stopping in for a soak!). Idaho Falls is a nice, clean city with a graffiti art gallery, a beautiful temple (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints), the Museum of Clean, and walking and biking paths along the Snake River. And just north of Idaho Falls is Bear World, a place we’ve visited many times with our kids; we just love it! You can either cut over on Route 26 or continue to West Yellowstone and then drop down into Grand Teton.

From the Northwest

If you’re driving from points northwest, like Seattle, you could drop in via Idaho Falls, Bozeman, or West Yellowstone. If you go through Montana, don’t miss the lovely town of Missoula and the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site in Deer Lodge.

Flying

We believe most people who fly will fly into Bozeman, MT, because most people visit Yellowstone on the same trip. You can also fly to Jackson Hole Airport, which sits right next to GTNP. Some people might fly to Salt Lake City, UT, and do the 5-hour drive to Yellowstone/Grand Teton.

Anything Else I Should Know?

Visiting Grand Teton is truly is incredible. We hope that this blog post has been a good resource to help you start planning your trip.

If you want to make planning your trip to Grand Teton a breeze, check out our easy-to-follow, step-by-step itinerary.

Grand Teton 2-3 Day Itinerary Includes

• 34-page printable PDF document
• Over 60 maps, photos, and charts
• Features: Jenny Lake, Oxbow Bend, the Town of Jackson, String Lake, Teton Village, Mormon Row, Taggart Lake, Schwabacher Landing, day trips to Pinedale and Dubois, and many more
• 2 hour audio guide. Interesting stories for the whole crew to make the care ride fun
• Dining recommendations based on where you are at each day
• Drive the most scenic drives in the most efficient way
• Plan your day perfectly with our estimated time frames so that you aren’t stuffing your days too full or not allowing enough time
• How to ride the Jenny Lake boat shuttles to save miles of hiking
• Loads of activities outside the park
• How to connect Grand Teton to Yellowstone National Park
• Optional 4th and 5th day to Dubois & Pinedale