Grand Teton National Park Guide

Use our realistic Grand Teton Guide to plan your next adventure in this national park.

Grand Teton National Park is a park in Wyoming, best known for its mountain range and high peaks.

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Sights & Places of Interest

Our Grand Teton exploration started in Utah. First, we traveled to Salt Lake City and rented a car. From there the route brought us via Northern Utah and Southeastern Idaho to Western Wyoming. Our Grand Teton Guide follows our exploration path.

Caribou-Targhee National Forest

Southeastern Idaho is a very scenic area of the country. Highway ID-34 proceeded via the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. You can stop at any unnamed viewpoint to enjoy its pristine beauty.

Bridger-Teton National Forest

Once we entered Wyoming, we continued on Highway US-89 to Alpine Junction. Little did we know that we were about to enter the breathtaking Snake River Canyon. The canyon is not a National Park, Monument, or a Recreation area. Instead it is part of the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

Snake River Canyon

The Snake River Canyon is very picturesque. You could stop at any of the pullouts and admire its beauty. This mountain river also has a powerful current. You are likely to see whitewater rafting enthusiasts on the river. If this activity is your thing, there are several tour companies in and around Jackson, WY.

Grand Teton National Park

It took us about an hour to cover 39 miles (63 km) between the Snake River Canyon and Grand Teton National Park.

Grand, Middle, and South Teton Peaks

As we entered the park we stopped to admire the Teton Mountain Range. The Teton Range consists of three major and several smaller peaks:

• Grand Teton: 13,770 ft or 4,197 m
• Middle Teton: 12,804 ft or 3,902 m
• South Teton: 12,514 ft or 3,814 m

The Teton Range and its peaks gave the national park its name.

Teton Park Road

There are two major roads that go through Grand Teton: Highway US-191 and Teton Park Road.

• Highway US-191 is the main route that will bring you through the park faster. However, its turnouts are further away from the range. As a result, there are no hiking trails nearby.
• The Teton Park Road has a slower speed limit. But it provides access to more scenic views and hiking trails of varying difficulty.

While Highway US-191 is open year round, the Teton Park Road is only accessible from June to October. Make sure to check the Road Conditions page before planning your journey.

Taggart Lake

The Teton Park road has several turnouts and trails between Craig Thomas and Jenny Lake Visitor Centers. The Taggart Lake Trailhead and Teton Glacier Turnout make it easy to explore the Grand Teton scenery. You can stop to take pictures or embark on a 2-3 hour moderate Taggart Lake – Bradley Lake Loop hike.

String & Leigh Lakes

We went for a few quick photo stops at the turnouts and a longer hike at the Jenny, String, and Leigh Lakes. The Jenny Lake Road is a one-way drive that starts at the Jenny Lake North Junction. As the name suggests, this area is a gateway to the Jenny, String, and Leigh Lakes.

It was somewhat surprising to see a lot of people canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and wading in the String Lake. This area of Grand Teton resembled a national recreation area more than a typical national park. We had similar experiences at Lassen Volcanic and New River Gorge National Parks. To get more pristine Grand Teton views, consider visiting the park early or late in the season.

Jenny Lake Overlook

The Jenny Lake Overlook provides fantastic views of the Grand Teton and Middle Teton peaks. The Jenny Lake is also home to most of the park’s moderate and strenuous trails. Budget at least 4 hours to complete any easy or moderate trail due to the elevation gain. And be bear aware since Grand Teton is in the bear country.

Jackson Lake

Following a quick hike along the String Lake, we hopped back in the car and continued north to the Jackson Lake. The Grand Teton Road merges with Highway US-191 at the Jackson Lake Junction. This stretch of the road has almost no overlooks. The Mount Moran Turnout, Jackson Lake Dam, and Willow Flats Overlook are the only exceptions.

John D Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway

Highway US-191 continues along the Jackson Lake for some time. It provides nice lake and meadows views at infrequent turnouts. Eventually, the scenic drive turns into the John D Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway.

Continue with our Grand Teton Guide to learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.

Getting to Grand Teton

Grand Teton National Park is located in Wyoming close to the Idaho state line. The John D Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway separates Grand Teton from Yellowstone National Park.

Grand Teton is far from major cities. Unless you fly into Jackson Hole Airport, visiting Grand Teton involves a long drive. It takes about 5 hours to reach Grand Teton’s first overlook from Salt Lake City, UT. A one-way drive from Boise, ID is almost 6 hours.

This remote location requires a longer exploration of Grand Teton and nearby Yellowstone. It is best to budget about 3-5 days to get to Grand Teton and Yellowstone, explore their overlooks and hikes, and get back.

Where to Stay

Grand Teton’s remote location makes selecting places to stay very challenging. Jackson, WY is home to most hotels and vacation rentals in the area. These properties are well aware of Grand Teton’s beauty and limited competition. Not surprisingly, they do not come cheap. Nevertheless, most of these properties sell out in summer. You need to plan well ahead to secure a place close to your budget.

Bargain hunters have to accept staying further away from the park. Dubois, WY is the next town closest to Grand Teton with places to stay. It is about 60 miles southeast of the national park. Staying there comes at a discount. But you would lose over an hour each way to get to any property.

Entrance Requirements & Passes

Grand Teton National Park is open 24/7 365 days a year. But some of the park’s areas, including visitor centers and Teton Park Drive, are only open during summer. We visited Grand Teton National Park during our summer trip to the Rocky Mountains region.

Grand Teton National Park charges admission fees per vehicle. A 7-day pass costs $35 but prices are subject to change. Grand Teton honors America the Beautiful Annual Passes. Make sure to get a pass for a free admission for you and fellow passengers. At $80 for an annual pass, you will almost ($70) break even after a combined visit to Grand Teton and Yellowstone.

Day hikes do not require advance reservations. But you need a backcountry permit to stay in the park overnight.

Takeaways: Grand Teton

Grand Teton National Park is a scenic mountainous park. There is no doubt that the park is well worth a lengthy drive. Thanks to Grand Teton’s close proximity to Yellowstone National Park, a visit to both parks is a sensible decision.

If you have time, take one of the hiking trails to enjoy the Teton Range in its full beauty. But be prepared for a disappointment if you visit during summer on a tight schedule. The park’s lakes attract large crowds. Parking will be sparse. And it will be difficult to get a good view from the overlooks.

Take a look at our Grand Teton Video Guide and visit our YouTube channel for the latest videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Safe realist travels!