Grand Teton Visitor Guide: What to See, Costs, and How Long to Stay

By Victoria Boissonade · ~11 min read · Data: National Park Service

Grand Teton is a granite range that rises straight out of the plain, with no foothills to announce it, north of the small town of Jackson, Wyoming. The main peak reaches 13,770 feet and is reflected in a string of glacial lakes at its feet. People come for the viewpoints, wildlife (bison, elk, moose, and bears), and hikes that start right at the water's edge. Plan on 2 to 3 days to see the park without rushing. Yellowstone borders it to the south, and the two parks make a natural road trip combination.

Here's how to plan your visit: where the park is, how to get there, what admission costs, how much time to allow, what to see area by area, and where to stay. Each question has its own detailed guide, so follow the links as you read.

Grand Teton at a Glance: Where the Park Is and How to Get There

Grand Teton lies in northwestern Wyoming, between the town of Jackson to the south and Yellowstone's South Entrance to the north. The two parks are connected by a continuous road, the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway, so you can go from one to the other without a detour.

Driving is still the most common way to arrive. From Salt Lake City, Utah, it's about 300 miles and a 5- to 6-hour drive. From Denver, Colorado, the distance is considerably longer, but it's an easy two-day drive.

The area's unusual feature is Jackson Hole Airport (JAC), which sits inside the park's boundaries. It's the only commercial airport inside an American national park. You'll land with the mountains right in front of you, about 20 minutes from the first viewpoints. Direct flights are limited and often expensive, so many visitors fly to Salt Lake City and rent a car.

The park stays open year-round, but road access and services, including visitor centers, shuttles, and stores, vary sharply by season. For arrival planning, detailed schedules, and transportation options, see our Grand Teton access guide.

Entrance Fees, Passes, and Reservations

Grand Teton admission costs $35 per private vehicle and is valid for 7 days. The fee is $30 for a motorcycle and $20 per person entering on foot or by bicycle. The National Park Service sets these fees, which cover the entire park for the full period of validity.

If you're visiting several parks on the same trip, two pass options are worth doing the math on. The Grand Teton annual pass costs $70. But for a road trip that includes Yellowstone or other parks, the America the Beautiful pass is almost always the better deal. It covers all federal recreation sites for one year.

The good news is that Grand Teton doesn't require a timed entry reservation. You arrive, pay, and enter. Our National Park Fees & Passes guide explains entrance fees and passes. If you're collecting stamps, check the Passport & Stamps page before you leave.

Reservations, Permits, and Rules to Follow

Do You Need a Reservation?

You don't reserve park admission. Pay at the entrance station or online at any time. Several other things do require advance reservations:

• Campgrounds: Most sites in the park (Jenny Lake, Signal Mountain, Gros Ventre, and Colter Bay) are reserved through Recreation.gov, often several months ahead for July and August.
• In-park lodges and lodging: Signal Mountain Lodge, Jenny Lake Lodge, and Colter Bay Village fill up months before the season opens. Don't wait.
• Guided activities: Kayak trips, wildlife excursions, and some NPS-led tours can be booked online.

Backcountry Permits

Any camping outside official campgrounds requires a wilderness permit. Apply through Recreation.gov starting January 15 for the summer season. Some permits are also issued in person at the Moose ranger station each morning on a first-come, first-served basis. If you're planning overnight hikes at higher elevations, reserve your permit as early as January.

Essential Rules

• Wildlife: Keep at least 25 yards from large mammals (bison, elk, and deer) and 100 yards from bears and wolves. Never get out of your car when a bison is on the road. Wait for it to move away.
• Food: Never approach or feed animals. Store food securely, in a bear-resistant container or your vehicle's trunk, anywhere in the park.
• Drones: Drones are prohibited throughout the national park.
• Fires: Only use designated grills and fire rings in campgrounds. Backcountry campfires follow area-specific rules.
• Flowers and rocks: Leave everything where you find it. This applies to rocks, fossils, plants, and downed wood.

Getting Around Grand Teton

The best way to see Grand Teton is by car. Two main roads shape the park, and it's worth knowing the difference.

US-89/191/26 runs along the eastern side of the valley, following the Snake River. It's the faster, free route and stays open year-round, with the main overlooks facing the range.

Teton Park Road hugs the mountains on the west and serves the lakes. It offers the closest views, but its inner section closes to motorized traffic in winter. It becomes a winter recreation area for snowshoes and cross-country skiing.

A shuttle boat crosses Jenny Lake during the season, cutting the hike to the waterfalls and west-shore trails considerably. Speed limits are low and strictly enforced, partly because wildlife crosses the roads. Parking at popular spots such as Jenny Lake and Mormon Row fills by midmorning in summer, so arrive early. Our Grand Teton getting-around guide brings together all these practical details, including shuttle schedules.

How Long Do You Need to Visit Grand Teton?

Plan on 2 to 3 days to see Grand Teton without feeling rushed. In one day, you can drive the road loop and stop at the main overlooks. That's a good introduction, but you'll leave without getting out on a trail.

With two days, add a hike around Jenny Lake or String Lake, a dawn wildlife drive, and sunset at Oxbow Bend. With three days, you can slow down: take a longer hike, spend time on the water, and leave room for changing weather.

Many travelers combine Grand Teton with Yellowstone. If you do, plan time for each park separately rather than squeezing them into the same window. The drive between them takes time. To build a day-by-day plan, our Grand Teton itineraries guide offers outlines based on how much time you have.

What to See and Do in Grand Teton

The park breaks down into clearly defined areas. We've organized them geographically from south to north, so you can picture where your day will take you.

Grand Teton's Best Hikes

Grand Teton has hikes for every level. The Jenny Lake loop, partly shortened by the shuttle boat, leads to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. It's the classic accessible hike. The String Lake loop is flat and family-friendly. For stronger hikers, Cascade Canyon reaches between the walls toward the high country, while Delta Lake, reached by an unmarked and technical trail, rewards you with a turquoise lake below Grand Teton.

Distances, elevation gains, durations, and safety advice, including bear awareness, are covered in our Grand Teton hiking guide. Always carry water, bear spray, and an extra layer. Weather changes quickly at elevation.

Wildlife and Plants to Look For

The valley is one of the best places in the United States to see large mountain wildlife. You may encounter bison, elk, and pronghorn on the plains, moose near wetlands, and, if you're lucky and keep your distance, black bears and grizzlies. Wolves are present but elusive.

Two rules are nonnegotiable. Stay at least 100 yards from bears and wolves and at least 25 yards from every other animal. Never feed wildlife, keep your food secured, and don't get out of your car to approach an animal. Dawn and dusk are the best times for viewing. Our Grand Teton wildlife guide covers the species, areas, and safety rules.

When to Visit Grand Teton

Grand Teton has long, cold winters, and snow and freezing temperatures are possible any month of the year. July and August bring warm days and cool nights, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms. September and October alternate sunny days with cold nights, beautiful light, and fewer visitors. From December through April, snow covers the mountains and valley, and some roads close.

Summer, from June through September, is the easiest window for seeing everything. Roads are open, trails are clear, and services are fully available. It's also the busiest time. Our complete month-by-month information is in the When to Visit Grand Teton guide, with detailed averages in our Weather guide.

Where to Stay in Grand Teton

Inside the park, lodging consists of historic lodges around Jackson Lake and Jenny Lake, along with park-run campgrounds. These spots book up early for summer, so reserve several months ahead. Just south of the park, the town of Jackson has a broad range of hotels. They're more expensive, but open year-round.

Our Where to Stay guide compares the main options. Find more detail in our Hotels & Lodges, Camping, and RVs guides, depending on how you're traveling.

Around Grand Teton: Things to Do Nearby

The surrounding area is as rich as the park itself. Yellowstone is just north, connected by a protected road. It's the classic combination, but plan it as two separate visits. South of the park, the town of Jackson is worth a stop for its town square with elk-antler arches, galleries, and restaurants. The National Elk Refuge, just outside Jackson, draws large elk herds in winter. To extend your trip, our Road Trips and Regions guides place Grand Teton among the nearby stops.

Our Take: Is Grand Teton Worth the Trip?

Absolutely. Grand Teton offers an exceptional landscape-to-effort ratio in the American West. The mountains appear right from the road, with no approach hike, and still reward anyone who hits the trail. Wildlife is abundant and visible, the lakes are unusually peaceful, and Yellowstone's proximity makes Grand Teton an almost essential stop. Our only caveat is that summer parking lots and lodging fill quickly. Start your days early, reserve early in the year, and stay at least two nights. To go further, start with our Itinerary & Length of Stay page and our Things to Do guide.

Frequently Asked Questions