Last updated on March 3rd, 2026
We’re sharing the best things to do in Grand Teton National park, including the top hikes and places to eat. As well as trip planning logistics and important things to know before visiting.
Grand Teton National Park holds a special place in our hearts. Back in the summer of 2019, it was the first park we visited in our newly built home on wheels. We loved it so much that we came back in 2022 (and even brought Kathryn’s parents)! And we hope to revisit many more times in the future.
The park is famous for the Tetons, a set of three towering peaks that got its name from French-Canadian trappers. But beyond these iconic peaks, you can also find pristine lakes, tons of wildlife, interesting history, and a nearby western town with delicious local eats. In our opinion, it’s easily one of the best National Parks in the United States!
And in this guide we’re sharing our favorite things to do in Grand Teton National Park, based on our multiple visits. Plus important things to know for your visit, like trip planning logistics, our top 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!
The 15 best things to do in Grand Teton National Park
1. Watch the sunrise at Mormon Row
There’s no better way to start a day at Grand Teton National Park than at Mormon Row. This iconic photo spot is the home to what used to be a Mormon settlement and is famous for two barns that have an epic Tetons backdrop.
While it’s beautiful any time of the day, we highly recommend coming for sunrise. Since this spot faces west, the Tetons illuminate with shades of pink as the sun begins to rise onto its peaks. It is absolutely magical and easily one of our favorite things to do in Grand Teton National Park!
However, it is very popular with photographers, so do not expect solitude here. If getting the picture perfect shot is your top priority, make sure to arrive pretty early to find a spot amongst the tripods.
2. Visit Jenny Lake
Jenny Lake is one of the most popular areas to visit in Grand Teton National Park. And for good reason! Here you can find various trails to hike (more on that next!), plus partake in various water activities.
For those who want to explore the lake on their own, you can kayak, canoe, or SUP easily from Jenny Lake. And if you don’t have your own watercraft, you can rent them at the lake.
But for those who want to see the lake without exerting much effort, there is a scenic cruise you can go on, where you’ll learn the history of the area as you admire its beautiful views.
3. See Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point
One of the best hikes in Grand Teton National Park is Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. While they can both be done on their own, we suggest combining them for a great mix of scenery. The Hidden Falls Trail takes you to a raging waterfall, while the hike up to Inspiration Point will give you high up views of Jenny Lake and the scenery east of the park.
You can either start this hike from Jenny Lake and complete it all by foot or you can take the Jenny Lake shuttle boat. This will shave off quite a bit of mileage, but does make the hike a bit expensive!
4. Hike to Cascade Canyon
Want an even bigger challenge? Hike to Cascade Canyon! This 9.1 mile hike takes you to both Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point, before going into Cascade Canyon. Once in the canyon you’ll stroll through the forest and alongside a creek, with towering peaks around you.
5. Tackle the hike to Delta Lake
Our personal favorite hike in Grand Teton National Park is Delta Lake. At 7.4 miles round trip, plus 2,329 ft elevation gain, it is a bit of a doozy.
The hike to Delta Lake begins on a maintained trail (Amphitheater Lakes Trail), but then turns off onto an unmaintained trail. Having the AllTrails map downloaded is important to ensure you don’t miss it! From here the “trail” consists of boulders and steep dirt sections. Because of this, we’d only recommend this hike to more experienced hikers.
But for those willing to take on the challenge, you’ll be treated to a bright blue lake with a gorgeous mountain backdrop. Unsure if it’s right for you? We recorded our experience, so watch our video about this hike to get a better idea of what it’s like.
Want to get 30% off an AllTrails Plus membership? Use our code aplusk30 (you must redeem this code on the website, not the app)!
We use AllTrails Plus on every single hike and it is the most helpful hiking tool out there! Some of the features we love are offline maps (so we can navigate even without cell service), wrong-turn alerts, and its 3D maps feature, so we can get a feel for trails before we hike.
6. Hike to Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes
If the Delta Lake hike seems a bit too intense for you, check out Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes (9.9 miles, 2,952 ft elevation gain). This trail is longer and has more elevation gain, but it is on a fully maintained trail the entire time. So this might be more doable for some hikers to accomplish. Plus the lake at the end is also beautiful!
7. Relax at one of the park’s easier to reach lakes
If you want to visit a lake, but without hiking too many miles, check out Taggart Lake (3.8 miles) or String Lake (3.7 miles). Both lakes are beautiful and if you visit on a warm day, they make for the perfect swimming spot! Bring a floaty, a chair or hammock, and a good book and plan to enjoy a relaxing afternoon by the water. It’s one of the most relaxing things to do in Grand Teton National Park!
Both of these trails also offer an opportunity to spot moose, so be on the lookout while you’re there.
8. See the views from Oxbow Bend
For stunning views of the park swing by Oxbow Bend. This spot overlooks the Snake River and Mount Moran and makes for the perfect, quick photo stop!
9. Snap photos at Schwabacher Landing
Another must-visit photo stop in Grand Teton National Park is Schwabacher Landing. Follow the easy half mile trail along the water for different angles of the mountains and creek. It’s especially beautiful at sunrise! And as a bonus, it’s very popular with wildlife, including moose.
Be sure to go slow up the gravel road to the parking lot. It can be a little rough, but any car should have no trouble handling it.
10. Visit Jackson Lake
If you haven’t had your fill of lakes yet, head to Jackson Lake! This is the largest lake in Grand Teton National Park and offers quite a few things to do.
To get a nice view of the lake, head to the Jackson Lake Overlook. And to explore the lake itself, head down to Signal Mountain Lodge. The lodge rents a variety of options to get on the water from kayaks to pontoon boats! They also offer guided fishing tours if that’s something that you might be interested in trying.
And be sure to spend some time laying out or swimming at the rocky beach near Colter Bay!
11. Drive up Signal Mountain Summit Road
One of the best scenic drives in the park is Signal Mountain Summit Road. Along this drive you’ll come across various viewpoints of the Tetons, plus the valley that makes up the area east of the park. And as a bonus, bears are sometimes spotted along the way! Make sure to drive slow, just in case any wildlife pops out into the road. And If you see a bear, DO NOT get out of your vehicle.
12. Go on a wildlife tour
If seeing wildlife is at the top of your Grand Teton bucket list, go on a wildlife tour! There is a chance you can see wildlife on your own while in the park, but going with a local expert will heavily increase your chances. On this 4 hour sunset tour you will have ample chances to come across wildlife. Plus you’ll get to learn a lot about the area from your guide!
Prefer to do the tour in the morning? They offer a sunrise tour instead!
Want to save some money on this tour or experience? Join Tripadvisor Rewards to earn 5% Trip Cash on any hotel or experience booking made in their app, which can be applied to future in-app bookings!
13. Explore downtown Jackson
Grand Teton National Park is located just 13 miles from the town of Jackson, Wyoming. This cute, western town is a lot of fun to walk around, with plenty of restaurants, coffee shops, and stores to visit. Having a town like this so close to a national park is a HUGE perk and is a big reason why we love the park so much!
While here, make sure to grab coffee and brunch at Picnic or Persephone Bakery! These sister restaurants are both designed with super cute decor, plus have delicious food, amazing coffee (we love the caramel latte!), and homemade pastries.
For lunch or dinner, Hand Fire Pizza, which is located in an old movie theater, is our go-to. But some other good spots include The Merry Piglets Mexican Grill and Liberty Burger. For dessert, head to Moo’s Gourmet Ice Cream for huckleberry ice cream.
And while you’re exploring town, check out some of the cute shops. We love MADE and Mountain Dandy!
14. Bike through the park
For most visitors, a trip to the Tetons is all about hiking. But one of the most underrated things to do in Grand Teton National Park is explore by bike! The Grand Teton Multi-Use Pathway runs from Jackson into the park. And this section from Moose to Jenny Lake is perfect to experience Teton views!
If you do not have a bike, there are a bunch of rental spots, including Wheel Wranglers in Jackson and Teton Village Sports closer to the park. Plus Door 2 Door, which will deliver eBikes to you!
15. Hike on the backside of the Tetons
If you want to experience the views of Grand Teton National Park, but with less crowds, head over to the other side of the Tetons! To get here, you will take the scenic Teton Pass Highway over into Idaho. Once there, hike out to Table Mountain! This is a very difficult hike, at 10.1 miles round trip and 4,143 feet of elevation gain. But the views are unreal!
After your hike we highly recommend grabbing a huckleberry shake from Victor Emporium. They mix in actual huckleberries into their shakes and were our favorite from our time in the area!
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.
Visiting multiple National Parks? We highly recommend getting the America the Beautiful pass, which costs about $80 per year and gives you free access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites, including ALL National Parks.
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
Since Grand Teton National Park is not located close to any major city, it’s definitely not the easiest park to get to. The closest option is the small Jackson Hole Airport (JAC), which American Airlines, Delta, United, and SkyWest fly in and out of.
While this is super convenient, the prices will be higher. But for those who don’t mind driving, you can also fly into Salt Lake City (SLC), about 300 miles away, or Denver (DEN) about 500 miles away.
Getting around Grand Teton National Park
In order to experience the best things to do in Grand Teton National Park, you’ll have to rent a car. Unfortunately there are no inter park shuttles like some other National Parks have, like Zion, Glacier or Acadia.
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!
How much time do you need in Grand Teton National Park?
In order to fully experience these things to do in Grand Teton National Park, you’ll need at least 3 days. We have a 3 day Grand Teton itinerary to help you plan out your trip!
And for the ultimate Wyoming experience, we highly recommend combining your time in Grand Teton with Yellowstone National Park. The parks are only 2 hours apart!
Where to stay in Grand Teton National Park
From lodging within the park itself, to hotels and vacation rentals in Jackson, there are tons of options of places to stay in 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!
Vacation Rentals in Jackson
- Option #1: A 1 bathroom studio that’s one block from the town square
- Option #2: A super cute 1 bathroom cabin
- Option #3: A 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment that’s beautifully decorated
- Option #4: A 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment near Snow King Mountain
- Option #5: A 3 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom townhouse that’s perfect for 6-8 people
Hotels in Jackson
- Rustic Inn Creekside
- Wyoming Inn of Jackson Hole
- The Lexington
- Inn on the Creek
- Mountain Modern Motel
- Anvil Hotel
Want to get FREE flights and hotel stays?
Check out our favorite travel cards, which have saved us thousands of dollars and enabled us to travel so much over the years!
Boondocking
If you will be visiting Grand Teton National Park in your RV or van like we did, then we highly recommend staying at some free camping spots while you’re here. It’s a great way to save money on your trip.
Since our first visit, the area has cracked down a lot on free camping and requires you to camp in a designated site. While this helps keep the area from being too overrun with people, it does make free camping more competitive. Some popular areas to camp include Shadow Mountain, Upper Teton View, and Spread Creek Road.
Curious how we find free camping? We have a guide for how to find the best free camping throughout the country!
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!
These are all important to have when enjoying the best things to do in Grand Teton National Park! 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.
Looking for more things to do in Wyoming?
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About the Author
This article was written by Tori, one of our Adventures of A+K team members. Learn a bit about her below!
Hi, I’m Tori! I live in Nashville, TN with my husband and two daughters. We travel as much as possible throughout the year, around a 9-5 schedule and with babies in tow! My travel blog, Tori Pines Travels, aims to help people plan action-packed and culture-rich vacations around their busy jobs, fitting in as much exploring as possible. When I’m not working for Adam and Kathryn or entertaining my little ones, I’m writing, cooking, crafting or exploring Music City!