Grand Teton National Park is located adjacent to Jackson Hole in northwestern Wyoming. It is named after Grand Teton, the tallest mountain in the Teton Range. The park has extraordinary wildlife, pristine lakes, and alpine terrain. It is a popular destination for mountaineering, hiking, fishing, and other forms of recreation.
How to get there
The nearest airport is Jackson Hole which is situated inside the park. Another option is Salt Lake City which is 300 miles and takes 5-6 hours to get there but has more flight options. You can also fly to Denver Airport, which is 550 miles and takes about 8-10 hours.
With proximity to Yellowstone National Park, it’s a great way to include both parks in a road trip.
Entrance Fee
The entrance fee is $35 for private cars. If you plan to visit other national parks on your trip, you can buy America the Beautiful national park pass, which costs $80 and has access to all national parks, valid for one year.
Top Things to do in Grand Teton
1. Drive the Scenic Drive
The Park’s main Highway 191 runs from the Moron entrance to the Moose entrance and offers numerous scenic overlooks. The Teton Park Road (closed in winter) runs along the base of the Teton Range, connecting Moose and Jackson Lake Junction, and has multiple pull-offs and overlooks. Jenny Lake Scenic Drive and Signal Mountain Summit Road can be accessed from Teton Park Road. Moose Wilson Road connects the towns of Moose and Wilson in the south.
Here are some of the lookout points on this drive.
Teton Glacier Turnout
Jenny Lake Overlook is on the Jenny Lake Scenic Drive, which goes around the east shore of Jenny Lake and provides spectacular views of the peaks.
Mountain View Turnout
Jackson Point Overlook
J.P. Cunningham Cabin
Snake River Overlook
Willow Flats Overlook
Jackson lake Overlook
TIPS: Be prepared for any road closers or weather-related issues. The day we visited was hazy and made it difficult to see the Teton mountains. We could not photograph some of the famous lookouts because of that. But it’s a good reason to come back and visit again the things we missed. Moose-Wilson road was also closed on our visit.
2. Hidden Fall and Inspiration point
It is one of the most popular hikes in the park. It starts from the western side of Jenney lake. To get there, you can either walk around the lake or take the boat shuttle from the Jenney Lake Visitor center parking lot to get across the lake. Shuttle runs every 10-15 minutes and costs $20 for a round trip. If you are visiting in peak season, try to get there before 9:00 am as it is difficult to get parking during the day.
Once you get off the shuttle, hike half a mile to get to the hidden Fall.
You can continue to hike another .5 miles to the Inspiration Point. Here is the view of Jenney lake from the Inspiration point.
It also offers beautiful views from the shuttle boat.
3. Signal Mountain
Signal Mountain is a 7,727ft/2,355m mountain in Jackson Hole. Drive the Signal Mountain Summit Road to the top, and you’ll have panoramic views of Jackson Hole and the Teton Range from the summit.
4. Mormon Row Historic District
The two picturesque barns highlight the Mormon Row district. Mormon homesteaders first arrived in the 1890s, establishing a community known today as “Mormon Row.” They established 27 homesteads in the area because of relatively fertile soil, shelter from winds, and access to the River.
To get there, drive north from Jackson on highway 191 past Moose Junction and turn right onto Antelope Flats Road.
John Moulton Barn
T.A. Moulton Barn
5. Chapel of the Transfiguration
The chapel was built so settlers wouldn’t have to travel to Jackson for church services. Today, the chapel still serves as a house of worship and offers religious services to the public. It is a short drive from Mormon Row.
It offers a beautiful view of the Tetons from the church window.
6. Hiking
Grand Teton Park offers a lot of options for hiking. If you want to add hikes to your trip, here are the top hikes you can pick.
Where to stay
There are a couple of lodges, cabins, and campgrounds inside the park, but they are open from May to October. Additional lodging is available in the closest town of Jackson, WY, which is 20 minutes south of Moose Entrance.
When to Visit
The best time to visit the park is from May to October when all roads and lodgings are open. July and August are the busiest time to visit, and difficult to find parking during midday.
How many days
You can see the park’s highlights in a day or two, including driving the scenic road, lookout points, hiking to the inspiration point, and signal mountain. If you are an avid hiker and want to do more hikes, add more days in the park. We stayed two nights in Jackson, WY, on this trip.