Top 22 Things to Do in Grand Teton National Park
Get ready to explore towering peaks, pristine lakes, and abundant wildlife in Grand Teton National Park. Hike, bike, boat, raft and much more with our list top things to do in the park!
With its soaring granite peaks that seem to rise out of the earth, its alpine lakes, wildlife viewing, and abundant outdoor activities, exploring Grand Teton in an RV makes enjoying the beauty, activities and grandeur of the park even better.
Grand Teton is smaller than neighboring Yellowstone National Park, but it packs a lot of punch. Those who have explored both seem pretty evenly divided on which park is more beautiful.
Getting to Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton is located just south of Yellowstone National Park and is about a four hour drive from Bozeman, and about two and a half hours from West Yellowstone, the most popular entrance to Yellowstone.
Many visitors can visit both parks in one trip — often spending 2–4 days in Yellowstone and 2–3 days in Grand Teton. Plan your trip with our 7-day itinerary: Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.
The charming town of Jackson, Wyoming, sits near Grand Teton’s South Entrance and has many RV campgrounds for those not camping inside the park.
Grand Teton can also be reached from the north, through Yellowstone’s South Entrance, using the scenic John D. Rockefeller Parkway.
Grand Teton Scenic Drives
Many visitors start their trip with a scenic drive to get oriented in the park:
42-Mile Scenic Loop Drive
This 2-hour scenic drive is a top highlight for most visitors. The loop takes you past major sites like Jenny Lake, Schwabacher Landing and Mormon Row Historic District.
The beauty and wildlife are not to be missed. We highly recommend making the drive on your first day in Grand Teton.
Teton Park Road
Plan to spend an hour driving along the Teton Range on Teton Park Road from Moose, Wyoming to the Jackson Lake junction.
Signal Mountain Summit Road
Enjoy panoramic views of the Teton Mountains as well as the town of Jackson on a Signal Mountain Summit Road tour.
Moose-Wilson Road
This 8-mile drive starts at the Moose, Wyoming entrance and ends at the Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center.
Expect to see wildlife, lakes, great hiking trails and gorgeous mountain vistas. It connects the towns of Moose and Wilson.
John D. Rockefeller MEMORIAL Parkway
The Rockefeller Parkway connects Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. It honors the conservationist who played a big role in protecting these lands.
You’ll love this 27-mile drive with beautiful landscapes showcasing both the Teton Range and Yellowstone features.
Mormon Row
Grand Teton Historic Sites
Grand Teton National Park is brimming with history. Learn about who settled the area before it was designated a National Park in 1929.
Mormon Row Historic Site
Near the Jackson entrance, the farm settlement tells the story of early Mormon farmers who successfully irrigated the land for farming.
Photographers love snapping photos here of the sun rising over the Teton peaks.
Laurence S Rockefeller Preserve Center
Learn about the late conservationist who donated most of the land for Grand Teton National Park which was originally his dude ranch. The 1,100 acre preserve is contained within the boundaries of the GTNP.
Menors Ferry Historic District
In the Moose area, visit the preserved homestead, cabins, general store, transportation shed, and other buildings of an early 19th century Ohio settler who operated a vital ferry across the Snake River. The collection of wagons and coaches enhance the experience.
The Chapel of the Transfiguration was built in 1924 to provide a nearby place of worship for residents of Moose, Wyoming. The 65-seat chapel is still an active house of worship run by the Episcopal Church in Jackson and offers stunning views of the Cathedral Range.
Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime through the Grand Tetons!
Visitor Centers
Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center
This flagship visitor center offers stunning views of the Tetons plus plenty of information and education to round out your experience in the park.
Don’t miss the 24-minute movie “Grand Teton National Park: Life on the Edge,” the Native American artifacts collection and a wonderful bookstore and souvenir shop.
The center offers ranger programs, maps, permits for various activities, campground information, etc. This, along with the 42-mile Scenic Drive, is a fabulous first stop to get fully oriented and to plan your visit.
Colter Bay Visitor Center
Located in the northern portion of the park, the visitor center is in the Colter Bay Village on the shores of Jackson Lake.
It has unique maps, information, ranger programs, as well as exhibits about indigenous people’s art and culture.
RVers will enjoy the Colter Bay campground—be sure to reserve as far in advance as possible.
Laurence S. Rockefeller Preserve Center
The preserve is a “park within a park,” and the Rockefeller visitor center traces the history of the Rockefeller family’s land which was donated to the National Park Service to create Grand Teton National Park.
Gorgeous Sites to Visit
Jenny Lake
Most visitors consider Jenny Lake one of the highlights of their Grand Teton trip. Plan to spend a half day here at least.
Boat, hike, picnic, camp and more at this gorgeous alpine lake. The boat shuttle across the lake is a nice way to see this scenic spot.
Jackson Lake
This 15-mile long lake is the largest in the park and offers tons of activities such as hiking, swimming, boating, fishing, sailing, water skiing, fishing, etc.
The historic Jackson Lake Lodge offers dining, camping, lodging, and shopping options with breathtaking views of the Tetons.
Mormon Row Historic Area
As mentioned earlier, the Mormon Row area has restored homes and farm buildings of the early Mormon settlers to the area.
Some of the best sunrise photos are taken here.
Teton Village
30 minutes from Grand Teton National Park, this bustling ski resort village sits at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort—a ski area in the winter and activity center in the summer.
Horseback riding, hiking, golf, hot air balloon rides, float trips, dining, shopping, and much more are all available here.
Activities in & Around Grand Teton
Hiking
Grand Teton is a hiker’s paradise with trails of all levels (and even serious rock climbing by permit only).
Some of the most popular trails include:
Taggert Lake Trail
Inspiration Point
Hidden Falls
Lake Solitude
Schwabacher Landing
String Lake
Jenny Lake
Jackson Lake
Boating and Boat Tours
Given the stunning vistas over crystal clear water in the park, boating is quite popular.
Non-motorized boating (kayaks, paddle, canoes, etc.) is permitted on Jenny, Jackson, Emma Matilda, Two Ocean, Taggart, Bradley, Bearpaw, Leigh, and String lakes.
Only Jenny and Jackson allow motorized boats, with a permit.
Fishing
Anglers love fishing on the lakes, streams and rivers, with a permit. The National Park Service lists of private guided fishing companies.
Wildlife Tours
While you are very likely to see abundant wildlife on your own, private Grand Teton guided wildlife tours are also a great option.
Expect to see grizzlies, black bears, bison, moose, elk, and pronghorn, to name a few of the most common.
River Rafting
The Snake River is a long and beautiful river on the valley floor with varying levels of rafting activities. The Grand Teton Lodging Company offers guided trips.
Biking
Biking is allowed on all paved roads in the park and is a great way to explore the park. According to the National Park Service, the 16-mile Grand Teton Pathway:
“extends from the town of Jackson, north to Antelope Flats Road. At Moose Junction the pathway follows the Teton Park Road to Jenny Lake. There are six hubs along the route with parking and bike racks at Gros Ventre Roundabout, Blacktail Butte, Dornans, Moose, Taggart Lake, and Jenny Lake.”
Photography
Grand Teton is a photographer’s dream and you will see plenty of professional and amateur photographers throughout the park.
Some of the most popular photogray spots in the park are:
Mormon Row
Schwabacher Landing
Oxbow Bend
Jenny Lake
Jackson Lake
Snake River Overlook
String Lake
Signal Mountain
Laurence S. Rockefeller Preserve
From scenic drives to boating on alpine lakes to hiking to biking to wildlife viewing to historic sites, there is so much natural beauty to see and exciting things do in Grand Teton National Park.
Young and old and folks of all fitness levels can enjoy the jaw-dropping splendor of one of America’s most beautiful national parks. And renting a Blacksford RV in Bozeman is the perfect way to enhance your Grand Teton (and Yellowstone) trip!
