When I was in sixth grade, I did a tourism project on the state of Wyoming. At the ripe old age of ten, I couldn’t fathom traveling to a place with more campsites than hotels. But I also became fascinated by Old Faithful.
When The Husband and I were planning out our trips to finish the fifty states, Yellowstone was the obvious stop in Wyoming (state 40). We quickly learned that we would have to drive through Grand Teton National Park to get to Yellowstone from Utah (state 38). If you’re not trying to see all the states, you can fly into Jackson Hole Airport, located in Grand Teton National Park. I bet the views from a plane are amazing.
To hit Idaho (state 39) we drove from Salt Lake City to Idaho Falls, which was only two hours away from Jackson, WY, and approximately $600/night cheaper to stay. The drive was easy, and we arrived in Jackson (at the southern end of Grand Teton National Park) late morning. We had brunch at the Cafe Genevieve, then walked the quaint ski resort town. The sidewalks are mostly boardwalks, and the main attraction is an elk antler arch, so it has a Wild West, bougie cowboy feel. The locally famous Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, where Clint Eastwood filmed Any Which Way You Can, leaned hard into the aesthetic. My grandma would have loved it there, but a couple hours were enough for us.
Our next stop was Jackson Lake Lodge, an hour from Jackson. We wanted to stop at the hot springs along the way, but time was tight and we didn’t want to waste any daylight. If we go back, that will be at the top of the list.
Grand Teton National Park begins just outside Jackson. The moment we headed north, we were astounded into silence by the size and beauty of the Teton Range. Despite our research, we were not prepared for the vast, arresting vista. Neither pictures nor words can fully capture how magnificent it is.
At 13,775 feet (4,199 meters), Grand Teton is unmistakable as you head north. You have a never-ending view, which is supported by multiple scenic overlooks and turnouts. We even saw bison and pronghorn antelope at one of the overlooks!
We also stopped at Dornan’s Pizza and Pasta, a restaurant halfway between Jackson and our lodge. They had a great beer selection and an even better view from the second-floor patio. We shared a beer and watched people on horseback head into the wilderness.
With all of our stops, the hourlong drive took around three hours, and we arrived at Jackson Lake Lodge right at check-in. The lodging, camping, and dining reservations are made through the National Parks. Grand Teton National Park has four lodging areas: Jenny Lake Lodge, the fanciest of the lodges; Colter Bay Village, located on Jackson Lake; Jackson Lake Lodge, located near Jackson Lake; and Headwaters at Flagg Ranch, located at the north end of Grand Teton, two miles from the entrance to Yellowstone.
We wanted to stay at Jenny Lake Lodge, but since we booked five weeks before our trip, we didn’t have many options. Most of the National Parks lodges sell out a year in advance, so we were lucky to get a room at all. The only booking available was a classic cottage double queen room at Jackson Lake Lodge, at a rate of $516.08/night. The National Parks lodges are not cheap, but they’re worth the experience. We also bought the America the Beautiful National Parks pass for $80 before we left, so we didn’t pay entry fees at the parks.
The room was very basic. No AC, no TV, and the key was an actual metal key. But the room was clean, the air was cool, and there was no reason to be inside except to shower and sleep. There were tons of tours and activities available through the lodge. They also book up quickly, and nothing was available during the short time we were there.
The back of the main lodge faced Grand Teton. The wall was primarily windows, so you could sit inside (away from weather or bugs) and enjoy the view. When it’s cold, they light cozy fires.
There was also a large outdoor patio with a bar and restaurant that overlooked Jackson Lake and the mountains. We immediately went outside, where we stayed most of the evening. We were so lucky with the animals. We saw huge male elk, and it was mating season, so they were bugling for the ladies. It was one of the weirdest sounds. It started with a groaning sound that escalates into a high-pitched whistling sound.
We also saw a moose and its calf. It was incredible to watch them as they wandered around the grounds of the park. It made me so happy that they felt safe, and it was so joyful to watch them with dozens of other excited people. I got some incredible shots from a very safe distance with my 500 mm zoom lens.
After sunset, we headed inside for a quick, casual dinner at the Pioneer Grill. It was diner food; very basic but good enough.
The next morning, we woke up early to catch the sunrise from the Lunchtree Hill Loop Hike. It’s a short hiking path up a small hill, but it provided incredible views. Grand Teton lit up to the west as the sun rose behind Grand View Point to the east.
Before we left, we had breakfast in the Mural Room, an expansive dining room with huge windows overlooking the park. The breakfast was a buffet. They had all the usual things, including made-to-order omelets and a very impressive selection of fruit and pastries. At $30/person, it felt very overpriced, but we had a table by the window so the view made up for it.
Overall, it was a very expensive night in Grand Teton National Park, but it was worth every penny for us. We love nature, but we love convenience and comfort more, and this was the perfect mix. It’s also a once-in-a-lifetime trip. It’s not easy or cheap to get to Wyoming, and despite how much we loved it, I doubt we’ll go back.
The fact that Grand Teton wasn’t on our bucket list still puzzles us. Neither one of us remembers learning much about it in school. None of our friends have been there and told us to go. So I’m telling anyone reading this who suffers the same ignorance as us, please put Grand Teton National Park on your bucket list. It’s not cheap, it’s not easy, but it’s absolutely worth it.