🏔️ How to Visit Grand Teton National Park

Q: Where should I stay when visiting Grand Teton National Park?

The best options are to stay inside the park or in Jackson , which offers more amenities and serves as a good base for exploring the area.

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Wyoming

Visiting Grand Teton National Park is one of the most breathtaking experiences you can have in the western United States. This national park, located south of Yellowstone, is known for its rugged mountains, alpine lakes, and spectacular, postcard-perfect scenery. It’s also one of the best places in the country to enjoy nature and see wildlife in the wild.

Although many people visit it in conjunction with Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton deserves its own time to explore its viewpoints, go hiking, and enjoy some of the most beautiful scenic drives in the United States. In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about How to Visit Grand Teton National Park, with practical tips, useful information, and the must-see spots you can’t miss.

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Where is Grand Teton

Grand Teton National Park is located in the northwestern part of the state of Wyoming and is part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. It borders Yellowstone National Park to the north; the Bridger-Teton National Forest to the east; the Bridger-Teton National Forest, the National Elk Refuge, and the town of Jackson to the south; and the Caribou-Targhee National Forest to the west.

Here are the distances to a few cities to give you an idea:

Salt Lake City (Utah): 281 miles or 449 km (4:45 hours)
Denver (Colorado): 521 miles or 834 km (8 hours 20 minutes)
Bozeman (Montana): 159 miles or 255 km (4 hours)
Boise (Idaho): 376 miles or 601 km (6h)
Seattle (Washington): 869 miles or 1,391 km (13:10h)
Portland (Oregon): 805 miles or 1,288 km (12 hours 10 minutes)
San Francisco (California): 928 miles or 1,485 km (14 hours 15 minutes)
Las Vegas (Nevada): 694 miles or 1,110 km (10:20h)
Jackson (Wyoming): 4 miles or 7 km (7 min)

What are the closest airports to Grand Teton

The closest airport to Grand Teton National Park is Jackson Airport, as it is located within the park itself and is the only commercial airport inside a national park in the United States. 😅 Bozeman Airport in Montana has more flights and destinations than Jackson Airport, but it’s a 4-hour drive from the park. It’s a good option if you’re planning a trip between Yellowstone and Grand Teton (coming soon), since it’s just a 1-hour drive from the north exit of Yellowstone.

Finally, the nearest major airport is Salt Lake City, but it's nearly a 5-hour drive from Grand Teton.

Chapel of the Transfiguration, Grand Teton National Park

What are the entrances to Grand Teton

Grand Teton National Park has three entrances: Moran, Moose, and Granite Canyon. Although you can drive along the park’s outer road, U.S. Highway 191, without an admission ticket or annual pass, to access the northern area or Teton Park Road, you must pass through toll booths and show your annual pass or admission ticket.

Granite Canyon Entrance

This is a secondary entrance to the park via Moose-Wilson Road; in fact, vehicles longer than 23 feet (7 m) and those towing trailers are not permitted to use it. This entrance is very close to Teton Village and connects directly to Teton Park Road. Wildlife sightings are common in this area, and it provides direct access to Granite Canyon, Phelps Lake, and Death Canyon. It is usually closed from November 1 through early summer.

Moose Entrance

This is the main entrance to the national park and the one that provides access to Grand Teton Road from Jackson, as it is located just a few yards from the intersection of that road and the main highway.

Moran Entrance

Located at the intersection of Highways 191 and 26, this entrance provides access to the northern part of the park, including Grand Teton Road, and to the southern part of Yellowstone.

How to Get Around in Grand Teton

The best way to get around Grand Teton National Park is by private car, whether it’s your own or a rental. The distances are long, and there is no public transportation within the park. Another option is to take a tour to Grand Teton from Jackson or a wildlife-viewing tour in Grand Teton.

There are two main roads and one secondary road in Grand Teton National Park:

U.S. Highway 191: runs north to south through the park and connects the town of Jackson with Yellowstone; it provides access to the Mormon Row Historic District, Grand Teton Road, and U.S. Highway 26, which comes from the town of Dubois.
Grand Teton Road: runs through the innermost part of the park, skirts Jackson Lake and Jenny Lake, and provides access to the park’s main attractions. Many sections are closed from early November through late April.
Moose-Wilson Road: This is a secondary road that connects Grand Teton Road with the Granite Canyon Entrance, passing through an area rich in wildlife and some of the park’s most famous trails. It is usually closed from November 1 through early summer.

How to Get to Grand Teton

The best way to get to Grand Teton National Park is to combine a flight with a rental car or an RV. We recommend flying into Jackson or Bozeman airports, which are the closest to the park, and picking up your vehicle there so you can get around with complete freedom. You also have the option of picking up the car at one airport and dropping it off at the other, though this will be more expensive. We’re sharing our 10-day Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Glacier itinerary in case you need some inspiration!

Another option worth considering is flying into Salt Lake City, which has a much larger airport than the ones mentioned above, and then driving to Grand Teton (5 hours). A great idea is to combine Grand Teton and Yellowstone with a 10-day West Coast tour or a 15-day West Coast tour, flying to or from Los Angeles or San Francisco.

How much is admission to Grand Teton

The standard admission price for Grand Teton National Park varies depending on your mode of transportation:

Cars, motorhomes , and vans with up to 15 seats: $35 per vehicle. This rate covers all passengers traveling in the vehicle. If you are a non-resident, an additional $100 per person is required.
Motorcycle: $30; covers 2 motorcycles and up to 4 passengers.
On foot or by bike for those 16 and older: $20 per person.

💡Recommended: Tips for Traveling Along the U.S. West Coast

This ticket grants you access to the park for 7 consecutive days, and you can purchase it at any of the park entrances. 💸 Both credit cards and cash are accepted, so we recommend reading our article on the best credit cards for traveling to the United States to avoid fees.

There are also a number of passes that already include admission to Grand Teton National Park; if you have any of these, you won't have to pay anything extra:

Annual Entrance Pass: $70, granting you unlimited admission to the park for 12 months. Available only to U.S. citizens and residents.
America the Beautiful Pass: $80, granting you access to all U.S. national parks and other natural areas for 12 months. Available only to U.S. citizens and residents.
America the Beautiful (Non-Residents): $250, granting you access to all U.S. national parks and other natural areas for 12 months. For non-residents only.

⚠️ Grand Teton is one of the national parks where visitors must pay an additional $100 per person on top of the entrance fee if they do not have the America the Beautiful Non-Resident Pass.

When to visit Grand Teton

Although the park is open year-round, the best time to visit Grand Teton is undoubtedly from early May to late October, as all the roads are open and you can explore the entire park. Keep in mind that tourist traffic is heaviest in July and August, and prices tend to rise during those months.

❄️Visiting Grand Teton in winter

The park remains open during the winter, although Moose-Wilson Road and Grand Teton Road are partially closed, and U.S. Highway 191 remains open to the northern part of the park. All other facilities, such as visitor centers and shops, are closed and do not reopen until spring, with the exception of some restrooms and the National Elk Refuge and Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center in Jackson.

This is the perfect time to enjoy winter sports like snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, though we recommend visiting the park’s website for information on park conditions and avalanche risks. It’s also a great time to spot wildlife such as elk, bison, and pronghorns that spend the winter between the southern part of Grand Teton and the National Elk Refuge. Keep in mind that there are special restrictions in place to avoid disturbing their behavior during the harshest time of the year.

Accommodation in Grand Teton

There are several lodging options in Grand Teton National Park, ranging from lodges within the park to camping in designated areas or staying in the towns of Jackson, Dubois or V ictor.

🏨 Since this is a very long topic, we have a separate post dedicated to accommodation in Grand Teton National Park, where we’ll walk you through all your options.

Inside the park, there are up to five different lodging options, such as the Headwaters Lodge & Cabins at Flagg Ranch, located very close to Yellowstone’s south entrance, or the Colter Bay Village, on the shores of Jackson Lake. If you prefer to stay outside the park, you can find lodging in Jackson, Dubois or Victor, in Idaho.

How many days should you spend in Grand Teton

If you enjoy hiking, this is the perfect place to do it, as there are plenty of trails—which will largely determine how many days you want to spend here. But since we know your time is limited, we recommend setting aside 2 to 3 days to explore Grand Teton.

Two days is enough time to visit all areas of the park, spot wildlife (if you're lucky), and hike a short trail. If you have three days, you can go on one or two hikes around the park's lakes or explore lesser-known areas.

Things to Do in Grand Teton

There are so many things to see and do in Grand Teton, so we've written a comprehensive post about things to do in Grand Teton National Park.

Hiking in Grand Teton

Grand Teton National Park is well known for its hiking trails that lead you to alpine lakes and overlooks, taking you away from the crowds and allowing you to observe wildlife in peace. This happened to us when we came across two deer 🦌 grazing peacefully at Phelps Lake and a mother bear with her cubs 🐻 walking around Jenny Lake.

Since this is a fairly broad topic, we've written a post about the best hikes in Grand Teton National Park to give you as much information as possible.

Tips for First-Time Visitors to Grand Teton

⛽ Fill up your car in Jackson, Dubois, or before entering Yellowstone —even though there are gas stations inside the park, prices are higher than in town. We always use the GasBuddy app or Google Maps to find the cheapest gas stations.
🌄 Try to get there early—there may be lines at the entrances and crowds at the most popular spots starting around mid-morning.
🐻 Black bears and grizzlies live here. You must follow the established rules to avoid unfortunate encounters, such as maintaining a safe distance, carrying and knowing how to use bear spray, following the park rangers’ instructions, and making sure to close trash cans securely—all of which are equipped with safety latches.
🦬 Keep a safe distance from animals, especially bison, as they can be very dangerous.
🏨 Book your accommodations well in advance if you're visiting during peak season. Check out our post about accommodation in Grand Teton to choose your hotel.
🚗 Observe the posted speed limit of 45 mph or less, follow access restrictions on certain secondary roads such as Moose-Wilson Road, and try to stop and park in designated areas or on the side of the road if possible.
🐿️ Do not touch or feed the animals, including squirrels, or take any plant species with you. This is strictly prohibited, and fines can be as high as $5,000.
🚶🏻Please stay on the marked paths and/or wooden walkways.
ℹ️ Check the park’s official website for information on road and access openings, wildfires, trails, maps, and more.
🥪 Bring some sandwiches or snacks and a reusable water bottle to make the most of your time at the park; there are water fountains at the visitor centers where you can refill them.
⛺ If you want to camp outdoors because you’re going on a hike that requires it, you must obtain a wilderness permit. You can get one on the recreation.gov website or app, and there is a fee.

Grand Teton Map

On this Grand Teton Map, you'll find the various entrances, visitor centers, restaurants, gas stations, and supermarkets within the park, as well as lodging options. I hope you find it useful!

Frequently Asked Questions About Grand Teton National Park

How many days do you need to visit Grand Teton National Park?

Ideally, you should set aside 2 to 3 days to explore the park’s main viewpoints, lakes, and trails at a leisurely pace. If you have less time, a day trip is also an option.

Is it possible to visit Grand Teton National Park in a day?

Yes, you can visit the park’s main overlooks and some of its lakes in a single day, although ideally you should set aside at least 2 or 3 days to enjoy it at a more leisurely pace.

What are the must-see attractions in Grand Teton National Park?

Jenny Lake, Jackson Lake, the Mormon Row Historic District, the Snake River, and the overlooks along Highway 191 and Grand Teton Road.

Where should I stay when visiting Grand Teton National Park?

The best options are to stay inside the park or in Jackson, which offers more amenities and serves as a good base for exploring the area.

Is it better to visit Grand Teton National Park or Yellowstone National Park first?

It doesn't really matter, since the two parks are right next to each other. However, if you have a choice, we think it's best to start with Grand Teton, since Yellowstone is more impressive and we prefer to save the best for last.

Can you see animals in Grand Teton National Park?

Yes, the park is famous for its wildlife, and it's common to see bison, moose, deer, and even bears, especially at sunrise and sunset.

Is Grand Teton National Park worth visiting?

Yes, it's one of the most spectacular parks in the American West, with breathtaking mountains, alpine lakes, and some of the most photogenic landscapes in the United States.

We hope this guide on How to Visit Grand Teton National Park helps you enjoy this wonderful place!

Update date: 29 May 2026

Roger Domènech

Co-founder and writer

I’m software engineer and the one who keeps all the tech side of this travel blog running (or, as I like to call myself: the fixer of stuff). As you can imagine, one of my biggest passions is traveling: I backpacked for 6 months through Southeast Asia and Australia, and drove my own campervan from Ushuaia to Alaska. It took me more than 2 years and has been the most challenging (and amazing) travel experience of my life.

One of my strengths is navigation, and I’m the kind of person who plan trips using Excel, though I have to admit that once I accidentally added “September 31st” to an itinerary. I promise it won’t happen again!

I also love soccer, snowboarding, hiking, and Friday nights with pizza and beer.

I love traveling to the United States—there are few places in the world with such a variety of landscapes! I hope to share my passion for this country with you and you find my tips to travel to the USA useful.