Places to go

Most lodging options are concentrated in the Town of Jackson and Teton Village. If you’re planning to spend most of your time at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, stay in Teton Village to minimize your driving time. If you’re looking to explore more of the valley, including the nearby national parks, stay in the town of Jackson.

The closer you are to the Town Square, the greater the number of restaurants and shops within walking distance. From the Town Square, Teton Village and the southern entrance to Grand Teton National Park are almost equidistant: about a 20-minute drive. Of course, staying in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks is also an option; both have developed campgrounds, historic lodges, and modern hotels.

Places to Stay

The town of Jackson is 57 miles to the south entrance to Yellowstone National Park. To get there, simply take Highway 89 through Grand Teton National Park, offering a scenic drive with the opportunity to spot wildlife. If you plan on visiting Yellowstone in one day, we recommend hitting the road early.

Yes, both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks are open year-round, though access to certain areas and roads changes by season. If you prefer a quieter experience, consider visiting during the spring or fall, when the weather is cooler and the crowds are thinner. During these months, you can enjoy hiking, wildlife watching, and scenic drives while also avoiding the peak tourist season. Winter is a unique and magical time with plenty to do besides downhill skiing.

No matter when you visit, be sure to plan for any kind of weather conditions. As Jackson old-timers will tell you, they’ve seen snow flurries every month of the year! Many of the national parks’ roads and facilities are closed due to snow and ice from late October to sometime in May, so it’s important to check the Wyoming road report, look up Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks’ current conditions, have good tires no matter the time of year, and plan accordingly.

The answer depends on the type of vacation you’ve got planned. If you’ll be skiing at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort every day, Teton Village at the base of the resort will be the most convenient. From here, you won’t have to drive to the slopes, or at all. If you want to check out downtown Jackson, you can take a START Bus the 12 miles from Teton Village to Jackson.

If you plan to ski for several days and do other activities like snowmobiling to Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park, hot springing, fat biking, or sleigh riding in the National Elk Refuge, both downtown Jackson and Teton Village are convenient home bases. If you want maximal amenities — shopping, restaurants, bars, art galleries — or plan to do your skiing at Snow King Mountain Resort, stay in downtown Jackson. Downtown to Teton Village is about a 30-minute drive or START Bus ride, while everything else is usually a short walk. (Snow King is only five blocks from the Town Square.) There’s no lodging or camping open in Yellowstone or Grand Teton National Park in the winter.

Places to Stay

It can be argued that there’s no bad place to stay in Jackson Hole in the summer (or any season). But different areas of the valley have different benefits. If you want to explore Grand Teton National Park, staying in a campground, cabin, or hotel in the park will minimize your driving time. In the summer, Teton Village is a favorite with families because of all of the activities offered at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, from a ropes course to via ferrata, concerts, downhill mountain biking, hiking, scenic lift rides, and a plaza full of pop-jets. Dude ranches offer a unique Western experience that often includes homestyle-cooked meals, planned activities like horseback riding and fly fishing, and a slower form of travel nestled in the woods. If you want to be in the middle of the action in a location central to many activities, stay in downtown Jackson.

Places to Stay