• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Destinations
    • Brazil
    • China
    • Honduras
    • Iceland
    • Ireland
    • Japan
    • New Zealand
    • South Korea
    • USA
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Florida
      • Hawaii
      • Nevada
      • New Mexico
      • Washington
      • Wyoming
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Baking
    • Dinner
    • Desserts
    • Salad
    • Side Dish
    • Low Carb and Keto
    • Freezer meals
    • Party Favorites
    • Pressure Cooker (Instant Pot)
    • Slow Cooker
  • Lifestyle
    • Homeschooling
    • Parenting and Motherhood
    • Health and Fitness
    • Home
    • Seasonal/Holidays
  • Shop
  • About
    • Work with Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
Good Life Xplorers
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • Destinations
  • Lifestyle
  • Work with Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Things to do in Grand Teton National Park

    October 26, 2018 by Jana 16 Comments

    Sharing is caring!

    2.1K shares
    • Share
    • Tweet

    This website contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and participant in other programs, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

    grand teton, grand teton national park, grand tetons, teton national park, tetons, grand teton national park map, grand tetons national park, grand teton national park lodging, grand teton lodge, grand teton national park camping, grand teton mountains, grand teton map, grand tetons map, grand teton lodge company, grand teton mountain, grand teton lodging, grand teton national park things to do, family travel, travel with kids, travelblog, travelblogger, travel, travel with me, travel guide, travel tips, wyoming, what to do, what to see, where to stay, where to eat, restaurants, jackson lake, jenny lake, shuttle boat, inspiration point, hike , hiking, hidden falls, cascade canyon, Schwabacher Landing , moose, signal mountain lodge, colter bay campground, TA molton barn, mormon row, oxbow bend, hiking essentials, rving, camping, travel itinerary, 3 days

    This travel guide and itinerary for Grand Teton National Park is packed with things to do and see during your family vacation with kids to this beautiful Wyoming gem. Tips on what to see and do, where to stay and eat, trails to hike and camping tips.

    Entrance sign of Grand Teton National Park

    After spending 3 days in Yellowstone National Park, we drove south to visit Grand Teton National Park.

    A short drive from its northernly neighbor, its landscape and size are very different. Right away, you can see the majestic Tetons and it is present throughout the whole park. The much smaller area makes it easier to navigate by car and allows you to see the park without spending days driving around.

    I really would spend a whole week in this park to be able to hike to different lakes and take the Tetons in from different perspectives: 3 days just weren’t enough. We managed to hike a couple of short trails, but Grand Teton has a lot more to offer.

    Map of Grand Teton National Park

    Where to stay and eat

    There are several campgrounds and lodges in Grand Teton National Park. Two of the campgrounds can be reserved online and offer full hookups. Just like Yellowstone, Grand Teton has great infrastructure inside the park- restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, laundry, etc…

    We stayed at the Colter Bay Campground without hookups, in a no-generator zone. It was quiet, relaxing and close to the lake. We were able to get a spot without prior reservation during Labor Day week. Full hookups lots were all taken and if you require it, make reservations online a few months in advance.

    There are four campgrounds in Grand Teton National Park with two offering online reservations. Camping and RV lots are also available at Headwaters Lodge at Flagg Ranch, which is technically outside of the National Park, but in between Yellowstone and Grand Teton.

    Jackson Hole makes a great gateway to the park and offers a variety of accommodations from 5-star hotels to Airbnb. And since Grand Teton National Park is much smaller than Yellowstone, you are able to stay in Jackson and drive into the park for sightseeing.

    All the lodges offer restaurants, but our favorite was Signal Mountain for its beautiful views of the lake.

    What to do in Grand Teton

    If hiking and wildlife watching are not enough for you, there are many activities available for visitors in Grand Teton National Park. The Grand Teton Lodge Company offers rafting, bus tours, horseback rides, fishing trips, lake cruises and boat rentals. Grand Teton also has an impressive bike trail from end to end that is protected from road traffic. And of course, there are free ranger led programs available and posted in the visitor centers and campgrounds.

    3-day Itinerary for Grand Teton National Park

    Jackson Lake

    We camped in Colter Bay Campground and it was one of the best decisions we’ve made. Our site was a short walk to the Jackson Lake and we were able to take advantage of that by relaxing by the water and taking the short loop hike around the visitor center a couple times. Go early in the morning and it is so peaceful!

    Jackson Lake at Grand Teton National Park
    Boats in Jackson Lake at Grand Teton National Park
    Jackson Lake at Grand Teton National Park

    Jenny Lake Boat Ride and Inspiration Point Hike

    Jenny Lake is the gateway to some great trails and Hidden Falls is one of the most popular trails for hikers. You can hike around the lake to it or take the boat ferry to the other side ($15 per person roundtrip). The trail around the lake can be 2.5 miles or 4.5 miles long (one-way) depending on which side you take. I would recommend taking the boat both ways or taking the boat in and hiking back out, since the shuttle boat stops operating at 4pm.

    We took the boat in and out. This option was great for us since we have a toddler and he loved being on the boat. In total, we did 3 short hikes in the same area, but would only recommend 2: Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point which was only opened partially during our trip. The third one, Cascade Canyon was difficult, with high elevation and slope and the scenery was nothing special. We only did 1 mile in and came back.

    Mama and baby on Jenny Lake Boat Ride
    Jenny Lake Boat Ride
    Inspiration Point Trail

    Schwabacher Landing

    I consider Schwabacher Landing to be the most beautiful place in Grand Teton. Not only it is naturally spectacular, it’s where we found a moose during our trip. After 2 days of driving around and asking every stranger we could find if they had seen a moose, this was where we hit jackpot! And what a beautiful animal it was!

    Moose at Schwabacher Landing
    River at Schwabacher Landing

    Stop at various lookouts

    My favorite area was just at the Jackson Lake Junction. For some reason, the Tetons just looked amazing to me here. But you can see the Grand Tetons from basically anywhere in the park.

    Grand Teton Mountain range

    Happy hour at Signal Mountain Lodge

    Nachos and beer at Signal Mountain Lodge in Grand Teton national park
    Happy hour guests at Signal Mountain Lodge eating on the patio

    Of all the lodges available at Grand Teton, I really loved Signal Mountain’s restaurants and bars. We stopped in for a snack and drink and were amazed with the views of the lake from the back deck. The nachos were only half portion and yet, the 3 adults in our party couldn’t finish it. They also serve good breakfasts and the prices are super affordable, which was a surprise since it’s inside a National Park.

    Sunrise at T.A. Moulton Barn

    This iconic barn is one of the most photographed places around. If you like photography, you need to get up early and get a sunrise picture of this place. Be prepared to find a group of photographers there for the same reason year-round. Just make sure to dress warmly, bring a tripod and a hot beverage to wait for the sunrise.

    Sunrise at T.A. Moulton Barn

    Sunset at Oxbow Bend

    One of the places to see wildlife at the park, rangers often lead lectures here close to dusk. We were here for sunset and although we didn’t see moose, some people spotted a bear. It was very far away, so if you would like to see wildlife in Grand Teton, bring binoculars.

    Sunset at Oxbow Bend in Grand Teton National Park

    This is just some of the beauty that you can expect to find in Grand Teton National Park. Although we didn’t see as much wildlife as we did in Yellowstone, it was amazing to see the Tetons from every direction and to not have to deal with as many visitors. Grand Teton has definitely carved a place in my heart and has become one of my favorite national parks. We will go back to explore it more for sure.

    Have you been to Grand Teton National Park? What is your favorite part?


    Don’t forget to follow my travel or lifestyle accounts on Instagram and to subscribe to my YouTube channel for videos.

    If you enjoyed this post about Grand Teton National Park, you might also want to check out my other National Park posts:

    • Yellowstone National Park
    • Rocky Mountain National Park
    • Great Sand Dunes National Park
    • Olympic National Park
    • Yosemite National Park

    To shop my Hiking Essentials click on images below:

    Summer wool socks
    Best Hiking Shirt
    Day Hiking Backpack
    Hiking Pants
    Women’s Hiking Boots
    Bear Spray
    Compass
    First aid kit
    Sun Shade for Child Carrier
    Child Carrier
    Hiking Poles
    Pin it button

    YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY:

    This website contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and participant in other programs, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

    Sharing is caring!

    2.1K shares
    • Share
    • Tweet

    Filed Under: Destinations, National Parks, USA, Wyoming

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Karen

      November 2, 2018 at 7:00 pm

      This sounds amazing. We are planning a big trip around US and Canada in 2020 and this has just entered the Top 10 list. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Jana

        November 2, 2018 at 8:22 pm

        I am so glad. Feel free to also check out my Yellowstone post since the parks are right next to each other.

        Reply
    2. Suz

      November 3, 2018 at 2:51 am

      This looks amazing. We are planning a massive US road trip and this has now made it onto the list. It will be a valuable tool for planning. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Jana

        November 3, 2018 at 11:04 am

        I am glad. I also made a guide for Yellowstone and the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta if you are interested.

        Reply
    3. federica

      November 3, 2018 at 10:39 am

      This park sounds amazing and easy to explore. I loved your stunning photos of the barn at drawn (and thanks to the photography tips) and of the sunset on the lake.

      Reply
      • Jana

        November 3, 2018 at 11:03 am

        It is. Thanks for reading!

        Reply
    4. Nicky

      November 3, 2018 at 2:19 pm

      Your photos are beautiful! What a stunning NP this is, another one to add to our ever growing list!

      Reply
      • Jana

        November 3, 2018 at 2:28 pm

        Thank you! It has become one of our favorites! And I know how that happens, nowadays I am adding 1 place a day to my bucket list!

        Reply
    5. Alison

      November 3, 2018 at 11:49 pm

      Just gorgeous, stunning photos!

      Reply
      • Jana

        November 4, 2018 at 7:21 pm

        Grand Teton is pretty spectacular. Thank you!

        Reply
    6. Anita

      November 4, 2018 at 8:58 am

      Grand Teton looks awesome. It’s very likely that I will visit both Teton and Yellowstone next year so it might be very helpful. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Jana

        November 4, 2018 at 7:22 pm

        That is such a worthwhile trip. I have a guide for Yellowstone as well that you might be interested in.

        Reply
    7. sue

      November 4, 2018 at 10:16 am

      Fantastic photos. Grand Tetons is high on my US list. Almost made it there this summer, but certainly next. Love the sunset photo at Oxbend.

      Reply
      • Jana

        November 4, 2018 at 7:23 pm

        Thank you! It was on ours too. So glad we made it this year, but will have to go back again and see more of it.

        Reply
    8. Catherine’s Cultural Wednesdays

      November 7, 2018 at 2:19 pm

      Wow this look beautiful and your photos are stunning

      Reply
      • Jana

        November 9, 2018 at 3:28 pm

        Thank you! It is a beautiful place.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    I’m Jana. I am fueled by travel and everything good about life. If you are infected by wanderlust, love good food and the outdoors, let’s be friends!

    More about me →

    Never Miss a Post

    Products I Recommend

    *affiliate or referral links - which means I might earn a commission from the company on your purchase. This does not mean it changes my recommendation at all. I only promote products I use myself.

    All About Reading

    Latest

    • Best places to visit in Japan, Itsukushima, Shrine, Shinto, Temple, Buddhism, Japan, Miyajima Island, Hiroshima, Japan, torii gate
      Best places to visit in Japan
    • Child Sleeping on Skycouch on Air New Zealand
      What is a Skycouch? And why you should book it with Air New Zealand
    • All About Reading Review
    • Math U See Curriculum Review

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Policies and Disclaimers

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Shop
    • Work with us

    Copyright © 2021 Good Life Xplorers

     

    Loading Comments...