GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK
“A beautiful piece of wild country…
…in which people love to roam, and heart-lifting scenery. And a bit of wild history…something which will never be exhausted.”
— MARGARET MURIE (FULL ACCOUNT HERE)
Welcome to the Ultimate Grand Teton Trip Planning Guide
Trek through Grand Teton National Park, one of the most majestic and magical landscapes in America. With breathtaking views of jagged peaks, serene and sparkling alpine lakes, and vibrant meadows of wildflowers, you can’t help but feel elevated here.
Grand Teton National Park encompasses the spectacular 40-mile Teton Range (the youngest range in the Rockies). The path to becoming a national park wasn’t easy, but this area now delights millions of visitors each year who are seeking peace in these mountains — it’s your turn!
GRAND TETON AT-A-GLANCE
Location: Wyoming
What It’s Famous For: Jagged mountains with beautiful alpine scenery.
Highest Elevation You Can Reach by Road: 7,720 feet above sea level (Signal Mountain Summit)
Established: February 26, 1929 — this is national park #19
Size: 310,000 acres — not too big and not too small.
Crowd Levels: High, with around 3.3 million visitors each year — this is the 5th busiest national park.
COMMON GRAND TETON TRIP PLANNING QUESTIONS
Where is Grand Teton, and how do I get there?
Grand Teton is in Northwestern Wyoming, about 3.5 hours from Bozeman and 2.5 hours from West Yellowstone.
I suggest flying into Jackson or Bozeman. In this article, I share details about the best airports and roads in the area.
Is Grand Teton open year-round?
Grand Teton is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — but that doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to do everything you’re hoping to do.
Learn more about the weather, hours, and common closures that may affect your trip to the park.
How many days should I spend in Grand Teton?
You’ll want at least two full days in Grand Teton, but if you have three, you’ll get to see a lot more!
See my recommendations for the amount of time to spend in the park, as well as how to split your time between multiple parks.
When is the best time to visit Grand Teton?
If you’re just getting started with your Grand Teton trip-planning, but are unsure of the best time to go, I’ve got you covered!
When choosing the best time to visit Grand Teton, you’ll want to consider things like the weather, what’s open, and crowds.
Here are my suggestions if you’re hoping to:
- Beat the crowds: September
- Travel during the summer: June
- See lots of wildlife: mid-late May or September
- Go backpacking: August
- Save money: May, September, or October
- Have a unique adventure: December or January
This article provides a month-by-month breakdown of what to expect in Grand Teton — including information on weather, closures, crowds, and which points of interest will be open.
THINGS TO DO IN GRAND TETON
12 Things You Can’t Miss on Your First Visit
This popular article outlines each can’t-miss spot in Grand Teton in great detail. You’ll learn about the important things you need to know about each stop, and driving directions are included.
The Best Things to Do In Grand Teton:
IF YOU LOVE RANGER PROGRAMS
- Wildlife talks
- Evening campfire programs
- Historic site tours
IN WINTER
- Snowshoeing or cross-country skiing
- Sleigh ride
- Tubing
IF YOU DON’T WANT TO HIKE
- Rafting, canoeing, or paddleboarding
- Horseback riding
- Scenic drives
IN A WHEELCHAIR
- Multi-Use Pathway
- Scenic overlooks
- South Jenny Lake area
This massive list of things to do in Grand Teton will cover the travel needs of your entire group.
In addition to the items mentioned above, this post also includes high adventure activities, things to do with a dog, biking, things to do with kids, best hikes, and more. There’s something for everyone!
The Best Easy Hikes
Looking for good beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, or wheelchair-friendly trail options? This list details the best hikes in Grand Teton.
Dog-friendly Activities
Learn about all the places you can bring your dog in and around Grand Teton.
Teton Crest Trail Guide
The Teton Crest Trail is a 45-mile route that highlights some of the best mountain scenery in the country.
Bear Safety 101
Grand Teton is bear country, so be sure to read up on best practices for avoiding bears, reacting to bears, and using bear spray!
GRAND TETON ITINERARY
Do you LOVE to have a plan while traveling?
You’ve probably been spending a lot of time and money to make your trip possible. But don’t forget about the most important part — the day-to-day details!
When you get to Grand Teton, will you have all the information you need to confidently navigate around the park and avoid the crowds?
This hour-by-hour itinerary will make sure you see the best of the park — no more research needed!
LODGING IN GRAND TETON
Where Should I Stay?
This article provides information on the gateway towns and lodging options in the Grand Teton area.
All About Camping
Learn all about the campgrounds in Grand Teton and how to snag a site.
GETTING AROUND GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK
Cars
You can drive to all viewpoint and trailhead parking areas with your own car, but be advised that traffic jams are common! If you’d like some help planning your day so that you can get parking without having to circle parking lots, take a look at this itinerary.
Oversized Vehicles
Grand Teton is very popular for tour buses and RVs, so if you are in an oversized vehicle, you will often find big enough parking spots at the main points of interest. In the middle of the day, it may be nearly impossible to find parking in these parking lots with a big vehicle, so definitely pack your patience!
As you do your Grand Teton trip planning, take a look at this list of the major parking lots to see how many oversized parking spots are in each lot.
Planning a trip to Grand Teton can be overwhelming.
How do you make a solid plan if you’ve never been to the park before? How do you keep everyone in your group excited and engaged?
You can spend hours on the internet searching for things to do, but you still won’t find the insider tips and first-hand knowledge that I’ve gained from working as a park ranger.
If you’re hoping to see the best sights without getting stuck in traffic, circling parking lots, or being surrounded by people, check out this Grand Teton Itinerary.
You will see all of the can’t-miss spots, plus get lodging and dining guides, driving directions, and insider tips!
Thanks for using the Ultimate Grand Teton Trip Planning Guide
You may also be interested in one of these nearby national parks:
Yellowstone National Park
Glacier National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park
Happy Trails!
Disclosure: This Grand Teton Trip Planning Guide may contain affiliate links, which means that (at no extra cost to you) I receive a small compensation if you make a purchase. I don’t recommend anything that I don’t personally love and use myself! Thanks for your support. — Ash