What Can I Do In Jackson Hole In A Day?
By Visit Jackson Hole 
What can you do in Jackson Hole in a day? Turns out... quite a bit!
We asked Jackson Hole Visitor Services agent, Diane Mahin, one of the most frequently asked questions from visitors to Jackson Hole. Here's her local insight.
What To Do In One Day In Jackson Hole
Elk Refuge Visitor’s Center: “It’s worth starting at our Visitor’s Center,” says Diane, “because that will get you thinking about Jackson and the local ecosystem.” Start your day at 532 N. Cache St. to orient and prepare for your next activity.
Tram Ride or Gondola Ride: At Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, the tram takes you from the base to elevated views in less than 15 minutes. At Snow King Mountain Resort, the gondola brings you to a newly-opened Planetarium with day and night experiences in addition to jaw-dropping views.
Wildlife Art Museum: The National Museum of Wildlife Art, overlooking the National Elk Refuge, is one of Jackson Hole’s most iconic experiences. Visit for a few hours before grabbing lunch or a glass of wine at Palate.
Stroll around Downtown: Visit the shops and restaurants around downtown and pass time in Town Square. “A lot of people want to go see the iconic Million Dollar Cowboy Bar,” says Diane, “and I also encourage people to get lunch and visit the Silver Dollar Bar.”
Jackson Hole History Museum: Opening in June 2024, the History Museum offers insight into the history, nature, and culture of Jackson Hole. In addition, the History Museum hosts 1-hour downtown walking tours in the summer.
Old West Photos: Stop at Judge Roy Bean’s where the entire group can dress up in western attire and snap an old-timey photo to take home a custom Jackson Hole souvenier.
Jackson Hole Shootout: The world-famous Jackson Hole Shootout starts at 6pm every evening, except Sundays, in the intersection of Deloney and Center. Grab ice cream from Moo’s and get a spot to watch the free, 20-minute show.
What If I Don’t Have A Car?
“If you don’t have a car, you’re limited to where you can walk or get to using the START bus,” explains Diane, “but most everything I mentioned can be accessed by one or the other.”
“Everything downtown [from the Visitor’s Center to the History Museum] and everything at Snow King can be done on foot.” For the Tram at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, hop on the START bus from a number of stops in town and enjoy the 20-minute ride for only $10.
What Do You Suggest For Families?
There’s so much for kids to do in Jackson Hole, so you don’t have to change much from the earlier suggestions to make this one day in Jackson Hole a family-friendly itinerary. Plus, you can add:
Snow King Activities: The Cowboy Coaster, mini golf, the maze, and more provide a couple hours of fun for everyone in the family.
R Park: “With my family, we always like to go to R Park,” says Diane. The park, near the Wilson junction between Jackson and Teton Village, has tons of open space, ponds, and play areas to spend an hour or two.
Covered Wagon Cookout: A cookout with Bar T5 takes families into Cache Creek for an authentic, Western-style dinner and a show. The best part? Your means of transportation is horse-drawn wagons!
Jackson Hole Playhouse: Opt for either dinner and a show or just the show at this famous playhouse where world-class actors put on a live play every evening.
Adventures In 1-2 Hours
If you want to prioritize an adventure activity, you can most certainly fit it in during your one day in Jackson Hole.
Whitewater Rafting or Scenic Float: “A raft tour can take only two hours if you book a short one and have time,” Daine suggests.
Horseback Riding: A number of local outfitters offer horseback rides at different lengths. From one hour to four hour tours, going on horseback provides views you can’t find anywhere else.
Wednesdays and Saturdays
Jackson Hole Rodeo: A long-time Jackson tradition, rodeo is a must for visitors in Jackson Hole on Wednesday or Saturday nights. Be sure to book a ticket online in advance, directly from the rodeo website.
Farmer’s Markets: The People’s Market fills the Center for the Arts lawn on Wednesday evenings starting at 4pm with produce, local crafts, canned goods, food and drink. On Saturday mornings on Jackson’s famous Town Square, visitors can grab meat and produce, fresh flowers, and craft coffee at the Farmer’s Market before getting lunch at a downtown restaurant.