3 Days at Grand Teton National Park Itinerary

Last updated on March 3rd, 2026

In this guide we’re sharing the perfect 3 days at Grand Teton National Park itinerary for first time visitors to the park!

Grand Teton National Park is a paradise for hikers, wildlife lovers, and photographers. Named after the French phrase “Les Trois Tetons” (which fun fact, means “the three breasts”), here you’ll find the park’s iconic towering Tetons, plus neighboring mountains, gorgeous lakes, accessible viewpoints, and many chances to see wildlife.

We have been lucky enough to visit Grand Teton National Park multiple times, including as the first major stop in our Sprinter van and with family years later. During both visits it took our breath away and quickly became one of our favorite National Parks in the US!

And in this guide we’re sharing an itinerary for 3 days at Grand Teton National Park, including our top hikes and activities from both visits, plus delicious local eats, helpful planning tips, and more!

Want to Learn More as you explore?

We highly suggest downloading the Guide Along – Grand Teton (totally worth the cost!!) audio tours to navigate you on the road. Even when you don’t have service it knows where you are and provides commentary and history about the area. As well as alerts you when to stop for specific sights. These guides are fun to listen to and the narrator feels like a fun friend in the car with you!

Before embarking on your adventure, please review the Leave No Trace principles to ensure you leave every place better than you found it, so that others can enjoy these beautiful places for many years to come!

These seven principles include planning ahead and preparing, hiking and camping on durable surfaces, disposing of waste properly (pack out what you pack in!), understanding campfire rules and always fully extinguishing your fires, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors. 

3 Days at Grand Teton National Park Itinerary

Go for a Hike

If you still have energy after your hiking, check out either Taggart Lake (3.8 miles) or String Lake (3.7 miles). These would be great spots to relax at for the rest of the day. If it’s warm enough out, bring a floaty to go float on the lake! You’ll have a great chance of spotting moose on these trails, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled as you walk!

Get Dinner in town

Finish your first day of 3 days at Grand Teton with dinner in Jackson! Our go-to spot is Hand Fire Pizza, which is located in an old movie theater.  But some other good spots include The Merry Piglets Mexican Grill and Liberty Burger.

Day 2

Have Breakfast in town

Sleep in a tiny bit and grab breakfast and coffee at Picnic or Persephone Bakery! These two spots have the same owner and both have super cute interiors, delicious and healthy food, amazing coffee, and some incredible looking pastries! We went to Picnic during our trip, which was away from the main part of town and full of locals. We loved it so much!

Persephone Bakery is located in the main town square area and is definitely a popular spot with both locals and tourists! Either one is a great option for starting day 2 of your 3 days at Grand Teton.

Visit Oxbow Bend

Make the 45 minute drive to Oxbow Bend, which is a popular photo spot overlooking the Snake River and Mount Moran. There’s no trail here, but the views are incredible!

Visit Jackson Lake

From there, head to the Jackson Lake Overlook to soak up the views of this large and beautiful lake.

After seeing the lake from the overlook, go spend some time on the water! Whether kayaking or actual boating is your thing, Signal Mountain Lodge rents a variety of options to get on the water! You can also just lay out on the beach (warning, it’s a bit rocky) near Colter Bay!

Spend time in downtown Jackson

Spend the rest of your day wandering around Jackson. There are lots of shops to check out–we love MADE andMountain Dandy! And then end the day with dinner, checking out one of the spots we listed earlier. If you want a drink after dinner, check out the famous Million Dollar Cowboy Bar!

Day 3

Have more than 3 days at Grand Teton National Park?

There are tons of things to do in Grand Teton National Park, beyond what we listed in this 3 day Grand Teton National Park itinerary. To get more ideas, check out our guide with even more ideas of things to do!

Tips for visiting Grand Teton National Park

Start early

Grand Teton National Park is the 8th most visited National Park in the United States. So starting your day early is KEY to avoiding massive crowds and getting a parking spot. And as an extra perk, sunrise is the most beautiful time in the park, with alpenglow on the peaks. 

Buy or rent bear spray

Grand Teton National Park is home to both black and grizzly bears! Sadly we didn’t see any bears during our multiple trips, but no matter what, always carry bear spray. And know what to do if you see a bear! 

For those getting there by car, we recommend you buy bear spray in advance and bring it with you. But for those flying in, you have to either buy the spray there or rent it, since you can’t fly with it. You can rent from Bear Aware at Teton Village or the Jackson Hole Airport.

Get the America the Beautiful Pass

There is a fee to visit Grand Teton National Park, which is $35 per car for a 7 day visit. However, we highly recommend buying the America the Beautiful Pass instead! Priced at just $80 for an annual pass, it unlocks access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites, including National Parks for an entire year. If you plan to visit both Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park in one trip, it will almost pay for itself.

Wear sunscreen and drink lots of water!

While the temperature isn’t brutal in the summer, we got very hot hiking some of the trails and since we were at a higher elevation than normal, sunscreen and water were a must!

Trails are NOT dog-friendly

If you bring your furry friend with you on adventures, it’s important to note that dogs are not allowed on the trails in Grand Teton National Park. They are allowed in some parts of the park, but only where cars are allowed, including roads and road shoulders, campgrounds, picnic areas, and parking lots.

Curious what we do with Kona when she cannot join us? Check out our tips for traveling with a dog!

Planning your trip to Grand Teton National Park

How to get to Grand Teton National Park

There are a handful of ways to get to Grand Teton National Park. But with the park being a bit far from any major city, it’s definitely not the easiest park to get to. The closest option is the Jackson Hole Airport, which American Airlines, Delta, United, and SkyWest fly in and out of.

However, it is a smaller airport with limited flights and could be pricey. But if convenience is worth the extra cost, this airport is just minutes from the park and also the town of Jackson. 

As for larger airports, the two best options are Salt Lake City, which is a little under 300 miles away, and Denver, which is 505 miles away. So if you’re down for a road trip, these two airports are a good option for your 3 days at Grand Teton trip!

Getting around Grand Teton National Park

If you want to fully enjoy the park, you will need to rent a car. While there are some tours that can take you to specific areas near the park, there are no inter park shuttles like some other National Parks have. Having a car for your 3 days at Grand Teton will allow you to see all of the sights and enjoy them at your own pace! 

When to visit Grand Teton National Park

While you can visit the park year-round, many hikes will be inaccessible in the winter and spring due to snow. To tackle as many of the best things to do in Grand Teton National Park as possible, visit in the summertime or early fall! We personally have visited the park both in late August and in early October. Late September would also be a great time to not risk early snow!

Where to stay at Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park Lodges

The park has several lodges to choose from that allow you to be close to the action, while having the comforts of a hotel.

Jenny Lake Lodge
The Jenny Lake lodge has the best location near many of the things to do in Grand Teton National park and is also a AAA 4-Diamond resort! Each cabin has its own bathroom and is the opposite of roughing it. This would be our top pick due to its proximity to many hikes on this guide, as well as the town of Jackson!

Triangle X
This option is located on a dude ranch and is such a fun and unique experience! Enjoy your own private cabin (with a private bathroom), horseback riding, cookouts, and more!

Jackson Lake Lodge
For a more classic hotel-type stay, the Jackson Lake Lodge is a good choice. But they want you to enjoy the outdoors while you’re here, so TVs are not included in the rooms. They also have cottages available on the property.

Signal Mountain Lodge
Signal Mountain Lodge offers a variety of options from cabins, bungalows, and lakefront retreats. It’s located on Jackson Lake!

Colter Bay Cabins
If you want more of the camping vibe but with an actual bed and some amenities, consider staying at Colter Bay Cabins!

Headwaters Lodge at Flagg Ranch
Located between Grand Teton and Yellowstone, this is a great option if you plan to visit both! However, it may be a bit far from some activities in Jackson that are on this Grand Teton National Park guide.

Grand Teton National Park Campgrounds

With 8 campgrounds located at Grand Teton National Park, there is something for everyone. Among these campgrounds you can find tent sites, RV sites with hookups, and even some tent cabins. All campgrounds can be reserved in advance and do fill up, so make sure to book early!  

Alternatively there are also backcountry camping areas, which require advance planning to get permits. Permits go live on Monday, February 11 at 8 am MST and advance permits close on May 15. All backcountry campers must carry a bear canister, but they provide these for you!

What to bring to visit Grand Teton National Park

You can see all of the products we use and love on our gear page, but some items we would especially recommend are hiking shoes (Lowa Renegade GTX boots or ALTRA Lone Peak 8 trail runners), layers, rain jacket, offline AllTrails map, sun protection, bear spray, water storage and filter and plenty of snacks. Additionally, if you have a kayak or SUP you want to bring, that’s a great item to have, but you can certainly rent them there instead. 

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