Grand Teton National Park

sinuous american road with scenic mountain range behind
The Teton Range. Picture from @davidmrule

Grand Teton National Park Facts

Founded in 1929, it is one of the jewels of the Rocky Mountain range. The Grand Teton National Park is dominated by the Teton Range, a superb mountain range that rises sharply and gives the park its characteristic silhouette. Its three main peaks are South Teton (3,814 m), Middle Teton (3,903 m), and Grand Teton (4,197 m).

sun setting behind scenic mountain range
A view of the Teton Range with the sun behind. Picture from @dereksturmanphotography

Glued to the southern flank of Yellowstone Park, but much less known than its neighbor, it has nothing to envy on the landscape side. An endless, open and completely flat glacial valley, the Jackson Hole Valley, extends at the bottom of this natural wall, where many wild animals roam and where the spirit of the old West still breathes. And to give an even more primitive aspect to these spectacular landscapes, crystal clear streams, the impetuous Snake River and numerous fish-filled lakes, admirable mirrors with clear waters and strangely cut banks, complete the picture.

path between rocks in high atitude mountain
Hiking is a great choice in Grand Teton National Park. Picture from @dereksturmanphotography

Meet wildlife at Grand Teton National Park

American elks are not the easiest animals to observe. Lovers of swamps and riversides, where they will find willows whose leaves are their favorite food, moose (their other name) are distinguished by the size of their flattened woods and by their not very graceful nose. The size of a horse, but skillful swimmers, these fine gourmets are able to dive to a depth of 6 m for almost 1 minute to browse the aquatic plants!

black moose lying on field during daytime
An American Moose, easy to recognize thanks to his nose. Picture from Shivam Kumar

Where to land to get to Grand Teton National Park

Choosing where to land is always a difficult question. Depending on what you want to visit, where you can stay, whether you want to include this destination inside a road trip, the choice will be different.

Here, the choice is especially difficult because there is no international airport nearby. You will have to choose between landing in a regional airport or landing a bit further and renting a car.

If you choose the first option, the easiest is to land at Jackson Hole Airport. Jackson is a small town near the Teton Range where you can sleep (read the next paragraph for that point).

However, if you come from abroad, or if you want to pay for cheaper flights, the best is to land at an international airport. The closest one is in Salt Lake City, five hours south of Grand Teton National Park.

The itinerary from Salt Lake City International Airport to Grand Teton National Park
The itinerary from Salt Lake City International Airport

Where to sleep

If you choose to hike in this park, you will need to find somewhere to rest. Whether you choose to camp or to book a lodge, there are several things you need to know.

First, the climate. Indeed, the temperature during winter falls too low for camping. The only period of the year where you can really camp is during summer.

Temperature averages through the year in Grand Teton National Park
Temperature averages through the year in Grand Teton National Park

If you are brave enough, you can still check the campsites prices on this specialized camping website in Grand Teton National Park.

Lodging in the area

There are tons of lodges in the area. So, you will not have trouble finding them. Simply check a specialized website for lodges in Grand Teton National Park.

If you hesitate between camping and lodging, ask yourself what you value. If you love freedom, camping is king. However, if you prefer comfort, lodging is for you.

Travel Responsibly

I enjoy finishing my articles with eco-tourism advice. I did it for Arches National Park, Sequoia National Park, Yosemite, Adirondacks, Antelope Canyon, and Death Valley. Indeed, we should preserve such places. Please travel responsibly and make sure you keep this place as beautiful as it currently is.

mountain covered with snow under pink light
Picture from @dereksturmanphotography

See you somewhere in the world.

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