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Grand Teton National Park is located in northwest Wyoming — right between Yellowstone National Park and the town of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It is arguably even more picturesque than Yellowstone, with the grandiose Teton mountain range and lots of buffalo of its own (although it doesn’t have the famous Yellowstone geysers). If you fly to Jackson and rent a car, it’s actually very easy to see both national parks in one trip — which is my personal recommendation.
To be completely honest, I only recommend 1-2 nights in Yellowstone — or even staying in Grand Teton and driving into Yellowstone — as the accommodations here are much better. The lodging is nicer (and more affordable), there are much better bars and restaurants all around, and there’s actual WiFi on all the premises (unlike in Yellowstone). That’s because all the lodging in Grand Teton is owned by Grand Teton Lodge Company and operated by Vail Resorts, a company much more focused on hospitality.
WHEN TO GO
A majority of tourists come in the summer, of course — when kids are out of school, there’s lots of wildlife, and the weather is nice. You’ll want to book your accommodations at the popular lodges inside the park (like Jackson Lake Lodge) almost a year in advance for these high-demand months. However, unlike with Yellowstone, this is a great park to visit year-round, too. While there are more road closures in the winter — there are also animals like bighorn sheep, elk, wolves, and foxes — as well as lots of activities like snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.
WHERE TO STAY
You could easily stay in Jackson itself and drive up, but don’t think you’ll be saving money by doing so. It’s a very posh town where many affluent people live and visit (and the famous Jackson Hole ski resort nearby) — so it’s not any cheaper than staying right inside the park at a place like Jackson Lake Lodge (which is where we stayed). You can, of course, still stay in Jackson if you’re looking to have more of a dining scene and nightlife after your daytime hikes, of course. We spent a night here before heading up into Yellowstone and the Tetons and quite enjoyed it.
Jackson Lake Lodge has super friendly staff and puts you up in comfortable, simple cabins — but the lodge bar and restaurant make this place what it is. They have incredible floor-to-ceiling windows facing the Teton Range, which you won’t want to leave. The food and wine at the restaurant is actually fantastic, too. Speaking of food, a short drive north of here, right on the water at the marina, is Leeks Pizzeria — where even the gluten-free pizza was phenomenal. After eating mediocre food at Yellowstone all week — we were pleasantly taken aback by the quality of food at Grand Teton.
Jenny Lake Lodge is somewhat well-known — as it’s an all-inclusive, historical lodge right near the beautiful Jenny Lake, with horseback rides and other activities included, as well as a well-reputed restaurant for all your meals. However, I didn’t love the staff here (on the phone or in person), it can be difficult to get popular activities booked even though they’re “included,” and they don’t even guarantee a dinner reservation since the restaurant is popular with non-guests, too. For something like $1k a night, you get to stay in sparse cabins that aren’t actually on the lake either. Do I think it’s worth the cost, when it costs at least 1/2 that to stay at Jackson Lake Lodge? Hah!
WHAT TO SEE
It’s definitely worth coming to Jenny Lake first thing in the morning (sunrise) to walk around the lake or take the first ferry across the lake to hike Cascade Canyon. It’s just an absolutely beautiful lake, and the reflection of the mountain range in the morning is incredible. This is also a great time to see moose and/or bears around here — so be vigilant (and careful)! On the weekends, the trails, ferries, and even parking lot get absolutely packed by as early as 11am.
Some other great spots for quintessential, picturesque views within Grand Teton include:
- Oxbow Bend
- Schwabacher Landing
- Snake River Overlook
- String Lake and Leigh Lake
I know that’s a lot of (potentially overwhelming) information — so please reach out to me for help planning your next trip, and I can help put together the perfect personalized itinerary for you!
