Best time to travel in Grand Teton and Jackson Hole?
→ The detailed month-by-month page, with 2015-2024 averages
Best time: June to September
Best avoided if possible: November to April (less pleasant weather or big crowds).
Temperatures and rainfall: 1991-2020 normals from the Moose (Grand Teton) station, NOAA data (public domain).
Continental mountain climate at 2,000 metres: short, sunny summers around 26°C with afternoon thunderstorms and nights close to 5°C, snow from November to April, winters at -15°C in the valley, and the park's central road closed to cars from November to April. The best time to visit Grand Teton is June, July, August and September, with temperatures reaching 26-28°C (July). By contrast, January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December are generally less favourable (less pleasant weather or big crowds, depending on the destination), though a trip is still possible with a bit of planning. In high season, book early: prices and visitor numbers climb fast.
Go against the flow. To avoid the crowds without sacrificing too much on the weather, aim for May and October: the crowds thin out, prices drop too, and the climate stays pleasant.
Do these months appeal to you? See what's best elsewhere too: where to go in June · where to go in July · where to go in August · where to go in September.
At a glance
Why go to Grand Teton and Jackson Hole?
Grand Teton is one of the sharpest mountain landscapes in the world. The range, 65 km long, was uplifted along a fault that is still active, with no foothills: the peaks leap straight from the plain, at 2,000 metres, to the 4,199 metres of the Grand Teton, with glaciers clinging to their walls. At their foot, a line of glacier-carved lakes, Jackson, Jenny, Leigh, Taggart, and the Snake River winding through the sagebrush make up a setting you recognise from westerns and from Ansel Adams's photographs.
The park is smaller than Yellowstone, its neighbour an hour to the north, and easier to get to grips with: one main road, trails that start at the lakeshores, viewpoints where the animals come to you. Moose in the willows at Oxbow Bend, bison at Mormon Row, elk in rut in September, black bears and grizzlies on the slopes, beavers at Schwabacher Landing: the wildlife can be seen at dawn, with binoculars and a little patience.
Jackson, at the southern end of the valley, brings what the park lacks. The small cowboy town turned chic resort keeps its central square with four elk antler arches, its saloons and its wooden boardwalks, with good restaurants, galleries and the Teton Village ski resort. It works for a week of hiking, rafting on the Snake and evenings in town, or for a road trip linking Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
Tourist map of Grand Teton and Jackson Hole: what's where?
The map below pinpoints the 6 places covered in this guide: a handy way to picture the distances between each stop and plan your route in Grand Teton and Jackson Hole.
- Jenny Lake
- Mormon Row
- Oxbow Bend
- Snake River Overlook
- Jackson Lake Lodge
- Jackson
How much does a trip to Grand Teton and Jackson Hole cost in 2026? Budget calculator
Estimate your budget for Grand Teton and Jackson Hole based on your travel style: accommodation, meals, activities and local transport included (flights excluded). Adjust the length and the number of travellers, and the totals update.
Totals for all travellers over the chosen length; the daily amount is per person. Flights extra, indicative amounts to adjust depending on the season.
Cards are accepted everywhere, including in the park. Prices are shown before tax, so add about 6% in Teton County and a little more on rooms. Tips of 18 to 20% are expected in restaurants and for raft guides. The America the Beautiful pass, $250 for a foreign visitor, covers entry fees and the non-resident surcharge for all occupants of a private car: it pays off as soon as you combine Grand Teton and Yellowstone.
Safety in Grand Teton and Jackson Hole: should you be worried?
Grand Teton is safe, and its risks are those of the mountains. Grizzlies and black bears live throughout the park: carry bear spray when hiking, talk loudly in areas with poor visibility, and store food in bear-proof lockers. Stay 25 metres from moose, bison and elk, and 100 metres from bears and wolves; cow moose with calves are quick to charge. Storms break almost every afternoon in summer, so get off the ridges and summits before noon. The lakes stay icy all year round and the Snake's current is strong, so do not swim in it without a life jacket. The altitude, 2,000 metres in the valley, is tiring for the first few days. At night, animals cross the roads, so drive slowly. Phone signal is weak across much of the park, and the nearest hospital is in Jackson. Insurance covering medical care in the United States is essential.
Things to see and do in Grand Teton and Jackson Hole
Our first-hand favourites, and the great classics:
- Jenny Lake and Hidden Falls
- Mormon Row
- Oxbow Bend
- Schwabacher Landing
- Signal Mountain
- Taggart Lake
- Jackson Hole Aerial Tram
- National Elk Refuge
What to book before you go to Grand Teton and Jackson Hole →
🧭 Discover the Grand Teton and Jackson Hole itinerary, day by dayMap, timings, budget and where to stay: free to access, to fit your dates. Create my tailor-made itinerary →Jenny Lake and Cascade Canyon
The heart of the park, at the foot of the Grand Teton. The boat crosses Jenny Lake to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point, from where you carry on into Cascade Canyon, a 7 km glacial valley where moose graze beside the torrent. Further north, String Lake, shallow and warmer, is good for canoeing and swimming, and Leigh Lake is reached by canoe via a short portage. The one-way Jenny Lake Scenic Drive follows the east shore. The campgrounds and the visitor centre fill up early, so come before 8am.
Antelope Flats and the Snake River
The sagebrush plain east of Highway 191, with Mormon Row and its barns, bison and pronghorn, and the river viewpoints: Snake River Overlook, where Ansel Adams took his famous 1942 photograph of the bend in front of the range, and Schwabacher Landing with its beaver ponds. Rafting down the calm waters of the Snake within the park, 16 km between Deadman's Bar and Moose, lets you see bald eagles, moose and beavers from the water.
Jackson Lake and the north of the park
The park's largest lake, held back by a dam since 1911, borders the northern section. Jackson Lake Lodge, with its 18-metre picture window facing Mount Moran, serves as a viewpoint even if you are not staying there. Colter Bay has a cabin village, a marina, a visitor centre and a pebble beach. Oxbow Bend, to the east, and Willow Flats, in front of the lodge, are the best places for moose and for bears in spring. Signal Mountain overlooks it all at sunset.
Moose and the Moose-Wilson Road
The south entrance of the park, with the large Craig Thomas visitor centre and the Chapel of the Transfiguration, a log church of 1925 whose window frames the peaks. The Moose-Wilson Road, narrow and partly unpaved, links Moose to Teton Village through forest and marshes where moose and bears show up; it is driven slowly, often with temporary closures for bears. The Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve centre, on this road, opens trails towards Phelps Lake.
Jackson
The town of 10,000 people at the southern end of the valley, 20 minutes from the park. Its central square, surrounded by four arches made of thousands of elk antlers, is the starting point for strolls through streets of western façades, with the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and its saddle bar stools. The National Museum of Wildlife Art, set into the hillside facing the elk refuge, presents American wildlife painting. Snow King, the small ski area that overlooks the town, has a gondola up to a viewpoint.
Teton Village
The Jackson Hole ski resort, 20 km north-west of town, is renowned for some of the steepest slopes in the United States, including Corbet's Couloir. In summer, the aerial tram climbs to the summit of Rendezvous Mountain, hiking trails and mountain bike trails start from the lifts, and the resort's hotels offer a quiet base, at the south-west entrance to the park via the Moose-Wilson Road.
How many days, and which itinerary in Grand Teton and Jackson Hole?
Two full days cover Jenny Lake, Mormon Row, Oxbow Bend and a hike. Three or four days add Cascade Canyon, a float down the Snake and an evening in Jackson. A week lets you combine Grand Teton with Yellowstone, changing base once.
🗺️ Day-by-day Grand Teton and Jackson Hole itinerary · 📓 Printable Grand Teton and Jackson Hole travel guide (PDF) · 🌍 Discover all of the American West
The essentials (2 days)
Day 1: Mormon Row at sunrise, Schwabacher Landing, Taggart Lake in the late morning, then Jenny Lake, the boat to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point, back on foot along the south shore. Day 2: Oxbow Bend at dawn for the moose, Jackson Lake Lodge and Colter Bay, Signal Mountain at sunset, dinner in Jackson.
Teton and Jackson (4 days)
The two days of the essentials, plus a full day in Cascade Canyon from the Jenny Lake boat, and a day on the Jackson side: the Teton Village aerial tram in the morning, the Moose-Wilson Road and Phelps Lake, a raft trip down the Snake in the afternoon, an evening on the square with the arches. In September, add a dawn outing for the elk rut.
Grand Teton and Yellowstone (1 week)
Three nights in Jackson or in a park lodge for Grand Teton, then the road north via the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway to Yellowstone: two nights near Old Faithful for the geyser basins, two nights in Canyon for the canyon, Hayden Valley and Lamar Valley. Entry to the two parks is paid separately, or with the America the Beautiful pass, which also covers the non-resident surcharge.
How to get to Grand Teton and Jackson Hole and get around?
Jackson Hole airport, the only commercial airport located inside a US national park, receives flights from Denver, Salt Lake City, Dallas or Chicago: from Europe, expect one connection and 15 to 18 hours of travel. Salt Lake City, a 4.5-hour drive away, or Idaho Falls, 2 hours away, offer cheaper tickets and cars.
A car is essential, as no public transport serves the park. START buses link Jackson to Teton Village all year round, handy for the aerial tram or skiing. Car hire costs €70-130 a day in summer at Jackson airport, considerably less in Salt Lake City.
The park road, Teton Park Road, is closed to cars between the Taggart Lake car park and Signal Mountain Lodge from 1 November to 30 April, and is then open to skiers and walkers. Highway 191, to the east, stays open all year round as far as Moran. The central section of the Moose-Wilson Road is closed in winter.
A paved cycle path links Jackson to the park and runs alongside the road as far as Jenny Lake, ideal for a one-way ride by bike. Bikes can be hired in Jackson and Moose. Fuel is available at Moose, Jackson Lake Lodge, Colter Bay and Signal Mountain, at higher prices than in Jackson.
Where to stay in Grand Teton and Jackson Hole?
In the park, the concessionaire's lodges, Jackson Lake Lodge, Signal Mountain Lodge and Colter Bay Village, cost €200-500 a night, from May to early October. Jenny Lake Lodge, with its log cabins and half board, costs over €900 a night. Reservations open a year ahead.
Jackson has the widest choice: motels and inns in the centre at €180-280 a night in summer, boutique hotels at €350-600, and a few luxury hotels on the hillsides at over €1,000. Prices drop considerably in May and October.
Teton Village, at the foot of the slopes, offers resort hotels and apartments, quieter than Jackson and 20 minutes from the park's south-west entrance via the Moose-Wilson Road. The valley's dude ranches are booked by the week, full board with horses.
To cut the budget, Driggs and Victor, on the other side of Teton Pass in Idaho, 45 minutes from Jackson, cost half as much. The park campgrounds, about $40-80 a night, are booked on recreation.gov and are full all summer.
Our picks stop by stop, in three price ranges →
What to eat in Grand Teton and Jackson Hole?
Jackson has the cuisine of a well-heeled mountain resort: bison and elk steakhouses, trout, reinvented Western cooking, at $40-70 a dish in the good places. Hearty breakfasts of pancakes and huevos rancheros are served in the diners in the centre.
In the park, the lodge restaurants serve trout and bison burgers for $20-45, with a panoramic dining room at Jackson Lake Lodge. Dornan's, in Moose, serves pizzas on a terrace facing the peaks, and in summer runs chuck wagon dinners around a fire.
Huckleberry pie, bison chilli and beer from local breweries, such as Snake River Brewing, appear on every menu. The waffles at Corbet's Cabin, at the top of the aerial tram, are part of the Teton Village ritual.
Do your shopping in Jackson before entering the park, as the lodge stores are expensive and limited. A cool box and a picnic beside String Lake are often worth more than a lodge lunch, as long as you never leave food unattended, because of the bears.
Which kind of traveller is it for?
Grand Teton and Jackson Hole lend themselves to a nature-focused, active and romantic trip. Whether you travel as a couple, with family or even solo, everyone finds their own pace. For accommodation, you will mostly find lodges, classic hotels and boutique hotels.
Entry requirements & practical info
UK, Australian and most EU passports need an ESTA, applied for online before departure, for stays of up to 90 days; a few EU countries sit outside the Visa Waiver Program and need a full visa. Canadians need neither, only a passport. Anyone who has been to Cuba since January 2021 cannot use an ESTA and must apply for a visa.
Rules change: before you leave, check your country's official travel advice.
Once there, to stay online without paying roaming charges, an Grand Teton and Jackson Hole eSIM activates in a few minutes and works as soon as you land (plans from €3.99). Remember suitable travel insurance too.
Frequently asked questions about Grand Teton and Jackson Hole
When is the best time to visit Grand Teton?
From June to September, when the park road and trails are clear. July and August bring the wildflowers and accessible lakes, with heavy crowds. September combines aspen colours, the elk rut and thinner crowds, with nights close to 0°C. In winter, the valley is given over to skiing and the elk refuge.
How much does Grand Teton National Park entry cost?
$35 per vehicle, about €30, valid for seven days. Since January 2026, each non-resident visitor aged 16 and over pays an extra $100, about €86. Yellowstone is paid separately, at the same rates. The America the Beautiful annual pass for non-residents, $250, covers this surcharge for its holder and all the passengers in their car, and pays for itself from two of the parks concerned.
How many days should I plan for Grand Teton?
Two full days for the major viewpoints, Jenny Lake and a hike, three or four to add Cascade Canyon, the Snake by raft and Jackson. A week lets you do Yellowstone as well, an hour to the north.
Where can you see wildlife in Grand Teton?
Moose at Oxbow Bend, Willow Flats and on the Moose-Wilson Road, bison and pronghorn at Mormon Row and Antelope Flats, beavers at Schwabacher Landing, bears in spring around Jackson Lake Lodge. Dawn and dusk are the best times. In winter, the elk refuge gathers several thousand animals on the edge of Jackson.
Do you need to book Grand Teton in advance?
The park lodges open reservations a year ahead and the campgrounds six months ahead on recreation.gov, and everything fills up for summer. Hotels in Jackson stay available later, at prices that rise as the date approaches. The Jenny Lake boat cannot be booked; you just need to arrive early.
Can you visit Grand Teton in winter?
Yes, for skiing at Teton Village, sleigh rides in the elk refuge and cross-country skiing on the park road, closed to cars. Highway 191 stays open, and bison, moose and elk are easy to see against the snow. The park lodges are closed, so you stay in Jackson.
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