Grand Teton National Park, located in northwestern Wyoming, is one of the most stunning national parks in the United States. With its soaring mountain peaks, pristine lakes, and abundant wildlife, it’s the perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. So pack your bags, grab your hiking boots, and get ready trek our 3 day Grand Teton National Park Itinerary. Welcome to Jackson Hole!
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Where to stay near Grand Teton National Park
Accommodation options inside of the park:
- Jackson Lake Lodge
- Jenny Lake Lodge
- Colter Bay Village
- Signal Mountain Lodge
Accommodation options outside of the park:
Jackson: Jackson is one of the larger towns near the park and has a plethora of accommodation options as well as bars, restaurants, and shops. Jackson is located 12 miles from the Moose entrance, 30 miles from the Moran entrance, and 60 miles from the South entrance.
Teton Village: located 4 miles from the Moose entrance of Grand Teton National Park at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Teton Village is an excellent and less crowded resort village. In Teton Village, you’ll find hotels and vacation rentals, as well as restaurants and shops. We stayed at the Continuum in Teton Village and loved our stay.
How long should I spend in Grand Teton National Park?
Grand Teton is home to several amazing, but lengthy day hikes, so we would recommend having 2 full days at the minimum, especially if you’re a hiker. There are also several shorter hikes and other activities such as boating that can easily fill days of adventures.
Responsible Recreation in Grand Teton National Park
A trip to Grand Teton National Park requires a lot of preparation. It’s very important to understand wildlife safety and always carry bear spray. If you are traveling in the winter you should research trail conditions and wear appropriate gear. Finally, the cell service is spotty, download offline trail maps with the AllTrails app.
In order to recreate responsibly in these remote areas, follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles:
- plan ahead and prepare: research current weather and trail conditions, bring enough food and water, bring/download an offline map, prepare for crowds in certain areas
- travel and camp on durable surfaces: be sure not to hike off trail or use social trails! Camp at designated areas only
- dispose of waste properly: even an orange peel or cherry pit can disturb the ecosystem and take years to decompose. Be sure to pack out absolutely everything!
- leave what you find: do not take rocks or build cairns of rocks, do not carve into trees, rocks, or other natural objects
- minimize campfire impacts: know current fire restrictions, keep fires small and only use established fire rings
- respect wildlife: be sure to stay at least 100 yards away from bears and 25 yards away from all other animals
- be considerate of other visitors: do not play music on the trail, give the right of way to uphill hikers
Day 1
Dinner at Dornan’s Pizza Company
We arrived at Grand Teton in the evening, just in time for dinner. We ate at the popular Dornan’s Pizza Company which typically has a wait. The rooftop dining is worth the wait as you’ll enjoy your meal with beautiful views of the Tetons! It was the best start to our time in the park.
If you’re waiting for your spot at Dornan’s, you can head over to Mormon Row, one of the most photographed places in Grand Teton National Park! Specifically, photographers flock to capture the T.A. Moulton Barn with the backdrop of the Tetons. At Mormon Row, you’ll find homesteads and barns that were established by Mormon settlers in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This is an interesting and beautiful stop!
Sunset at Schwabacher’s Landing
This is a popular spot for good reason. It’s very accessible and a short trail will bring you to views of the Tetons reflected in the Snake River. We experienced one of the best sunsets we’ve ever seen here! Bug spray is essential on this trail.
This wraps up day 1 of our 3 Day Grand Teton National Park Itinerary!
Day 2
Hike Delta Lake
Get an early start on this strenuous hike. You’ll begin your hike from the Lupine Meadows trailhead. The trail is 8.2 miles with 2,349 feet of elevation gain with many switchbacks. The last part of the trail is unmaintained and involves some scrambling, so be sure to wear hiking boots with good traction and be prepared with downloaded offline maps as route-finding is required. When you reach Delta Lake, you’ll be treated to an absolutely stunning alpine lake with gatorade colored ice blue water. Since a lot of this hike is above tree line, sunscreen is essential.
Jenny Lake Trail
You’ll probably be tired from hiking Delta Lake, so we would recommend taking it easy for the rest of the day and doing short trails and scenic drives. A great option for this is the Jenny Lake Trail. The full lakeshore trail is 7.5 miles, but you can go as far as you’d like. Parking can be difficult here as it’s very popular. You can also take a boat ride across Jenny Lake as an alternative to hiking.
Dine at Jenny Lake Lodge
If you want to treat yourself after a day of hiking, you can make reservations to dine at the Jenny Lake Lodge. The lodge serves gourmet cuisine dishes made from fresh, locally-sourced ingredients and has a full service bar.
Sunset at Jenny Lake or String Lake
Nothing beats a lake sunset. Here are two options for two nearby lakes near where you will already be to minimize driving time. You can’t go wrong with either!
This wraps up day 2 of our 3 Day Grand Teton National Park Itinerary!
Day 3
Sunrise
Grand Teton National Park is a place that shines at sunrise. If you don’t mind driving, you could catch sunrise at Snake River Overlook. If you still want to catch sunrise, but don’t want to drive, we recommend heading to Mormon Row again for a magical sunrise where you’ll see the Teton’s alpenglow.
Hike Taggart Lake Trail
Today’s first hike is the 3.4 mile Taggart Lake Trail. This trail only has 498 feet of elevation gain, so it is relatively easy and ideal for families and causal hikers. Start early to avoid crowds and be treated to the most serene wildflower meadows and a beautiful reflection at the lake. To this day this is one of our favorite hikes we’ve ever done! You have the option to continue for a longer hike to Bradley Lake through an offshoot on the Taggart Lake Trail if you’d like.
Hike String and Leigh Lake
The String Lake Trail is a relatively easy 3.7-mile round-trip hike that is mostly flat and starts at the String Lake parking area. You have the option to connect to the Leigh Lake Trail, which is a 2.4-mile round-trip hike that follows the shore of Leigh Lake. We did both and thought String Lake was prettier, but both are absolutely stunning.
Colter Bay Village
Now it’s time to drive North to check out more of the park! It’s amazing to see the Tetons from multiple views. Colter Bay Village is your next stop. There’s a marina, campground, visitor center, lodging, hiking trails, and boat tours. We ate lunch here while we enjoyed the beautiful views.
Signal Mountain Summit
You can choose to drive or hike to the summit of Signal Mountain where you’ll be treated with panoramic views of the Teton range. The hike is 6.8-mile round-trip hike with an elevation gain of 1,100 feet. This is a great place to end your day with a beautiful sunset.
We hope that our 3 Day Grand Teton National Park Itinerary was helpful in planning your trip! Check out some of our other itinerary posts.
