One Day in Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park stunned us with its beauty — it has incredible hikes and gorgeous lakes. Many come to Grand Teton National Park en route to Yellowstone National Park, as the two parks share a border. If you have limited time, like we did, then one day in Grand Teton National Park will be a perfect amount of time to see the highlights.

Table of Contents Show

About Grand Teton National Park

A long history: Grand Teton National Park has been enjoyed and visited for hundreds of years — first by Native Americans and then by European explorers, homesteaders, and eventually vacationers.

A beautiful place: Grand Teton is famous for its mountains, lakes, elk migration, and historic Mormon Row buildings, all of which make it definitely worth a visit.

A small park with a lot to do: It’s not as big as Yellowstone (only 485 square miles versus Yellowstone’s 3,472 square miles), but Grand Teton National Park has a lot to offer.

small cabin with sign that says "Grand Teton National Park"

Must-Do Activities for One Day in Grand Teton National Park

If you only have one day to spend in Grand Teton National Park, prioritize the best things to do.

There are plenty of things to do for several days (especially if you like hiking), but if you only have one day, here’s how to spend it.

Rent a Can of Bear Spray

Before setting out on your Grand Teton adventure, consider renting a can of bear spray from one of the shops in town, such as Teton Backcountry Adventures. We got a can even though we didn’t end up needing it, but it gave my mom peace of mind during our hikes.

Teton Backcountry Adventures gave us a brief orientation on using bear spray before renting it to us, so it was good knowledge to have stored away for the future.

We were able to rent it for our time at Grand Teton and then keep it as we went to Yellowstone, returning it at a drop-off point once we were done with those two national parks.

Learn more about bear safety and bear encounters on the NPS website.

Hike to Taggart Lake

Length: 3 miles
Elevation gain: 360 feet
Difficulty: Easy

Taggart Lake is a must-do hike in Grand Teton National Park. It’s a 3-mile, gorgeous trail that ends at a beautiful, mirrored lake. It’s a fairly flat trail with only 360 feet of elevation gain.

It’s also a great introductory hike to Grand Teton National Park, allowing you to see the beauty of this national park.

On the trail, you’ll pass through beautiful woods, see mountain views, hop over rivers/streams, and of course end at the lake.

It is one of my favorite hikes ever, one my mom and I both said we wished we could do every morning.

I’d recommend hiking to Taggart Lake first thing in the morning so there aren’t as many crowds and you get your pick of the parking spaces.

author at the start of the Taggart Lake trail — Taggart Lake

author on the trail to Taggart Lake — Taggart Lake

Take a Boat Ride across Jenny Lake

The Jenny Lake area is the most crowded area of the park. By the time we finished our hike to Taggart Lake and made it here, all parking lots were full and we had to park on the street. It wasn’t a long walk from the street, so it wasn’t much of a problem. But just prepare yourself for the crowds.

There is a ferry that goes across Jenny Lake and costs $20 for an adult round trip ticket.

Why take the ferry? On the other side of the lake, there are a few trails. Without the ferry you would need to walk an additional two miles each way to reach these trails, so you save time and energy on the ferry.

The ferry departs every 15 minutes, and the line went pretty fast. Before we knew it, we were on the boat, enjoying the views of Jenny Lake.

You can also rent a canoe and do some canoeing on Jenny Lake!

on the boat across Jenny Lake — Jenny Lake

the boat dock at Jenny Lake — Jenny Lake

the crowded boat dock at Jenny Lake — Jenny Lake

Hike to Hidden Falls

Length: 1 mile
Elevation gain: 300 feet
Difficulty: Easy (though a bit steep in some parts)

Once you’ve made it to the other side of Jenny Lake, you’ll head out to the trails. The most popular trail is the hike to Hidden Falls. This is the hike we did. It’s an easy, 1-mile round trip hike with 300 feet of elevation gain. It can be a little steep at some parts, but it’s still rated as easy.

Your efforts will be rewarded at the end with views of an incredible, cascading waterfall. It was a surprisingly large waterfall, too, not a little trickle like I expected.

After you’ve finished hiking, you can head back to the dock at any time for your return boat ride.

Hidden Falls, a waterfall with cascading water — Hidden Falls

Visit the Mormon Row Historic District

Mormon Row is a set of historic residences and barns that were built by Mormon homesteaders back in the 1890s. Mormons sent people out from Salt Lake City as pioneers to help expand and support their growing population. They settled here in what’s now known as Mormon Row.

The buildings still stand, and you can get very close to them, peek inside their windows, walk around their farms. No one lives here anymore, of course. By the 1950s, most of the homesteaders had sold their land to the national park.

It’s a beautiful, interesting area. The houses and farms are spread apart, and we enjoyed driving to a few of them and walking around.

an old building on Mormon Row — Mormon Row

Visit the Famous Four Sights in Grand Teton

The famous four sights in Grand Teton are:

Schwabacher Landing
Moulton Barns (Mormon Row)
Snake River Overlook
Oxbow Bend

Three of the sights don’t require much walking to reach the viewpoint, but the Schwabacher Landing viewpoint does require about a mile’s walk.

More Things to Do

If you have more time to spend at Grand Teton National Park, check out the NPS’s list of hikes in the park and their other suggested activities for more ideas of what to do.

When to Visit Grand Teton National Park

Summer: Summer is the ideal time as the roads will be clear of snow and the weather sunny. The only downside is that there are a lot of crowds in summer. We went in July, and even though there were A LOT of people, we still enjoyed our time.

Shoulder Season: Going in shoulder season — May or September/October — may have less crowds. There also may be inclement weather (snow) in the shoulder season, so be prepared.

Before You Go: Check Current Conditions

Always check the official NPS website for current conditions before setting out. Make sure the park and its roads are open for your travel dates.

Entry Fees

It costs $35 per vehicle to enter Grand Teton National Park, and your entry is valid for one week.

If you plan to visit more than three national parks in a year, definitely get an America the Beautiful pass to save money.

Where to Stay Near Grand Teton National Park

There is lodging in the national park, but don’t worry if you can’t find any availability (we didn’t either).

There are also plenty of hotels in Jackson Hole, which is an easy driving distance to/from the park.

Hotels book up fast in Jackson Hole, especially in the summer, so try to book your lodgings as soon as you know your travel dates.

Recommended Hotels in Jackson Hole, WY:

49er Inn (where we stayed)
Rustic Inn Creekside Resort and Spa at Jackson Hole
The Rockwell Inn
Hotel Jackson
Huff House Inn and Cabins
Antler Inn
Homewood Suites by Hilton Jackson

Where we stayed: We ended up staying at the 49er Inn, a motel that was one of the cheapest accommodations I found. It was perfectly fine — there was a pool and free buffet breakfast, so I really can’t complain.

49er Inn motel sign with mountain in back — 49er Inn

Getting to Jackson Hole, WY

If you’re not from the area, like us, and need to fly in, there are a few options.

Fly into Jackson Hole, WY

The closest airport is the Jackson Hole Airport, which sits right in between the town of Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park (10-15 minutes either way).

Fly into Salt Lake City, UT

Flying straight into Jackson Hole, WY seems like the most logical option, but we ended up flying into the Salt Lake City International Airport, which is nearly 300 miles and a 5-hour drive away.

Why? Well, we had never been to Salt Lake City, so we liked the idea of staying a few days there, too. Also, we couldn’t find rental cars to reserve in Jackson Hole, which was probably due to the rental car shortage at the time (this was in 2021).

Driving from Salt Lake City through Idaho and parts of Wyoming was a beautiful drive, so I definitely don’t regret it.

Drive from Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole, WY

If you end up following our route, starting/ending in Salt Lake City and driving through Idaho, here are three must-stop places along the way:

Idaho Falls River Walk in Idaho Falls, ID — This was a really pretty walk along man-made waterfalls (in the middle of the city) and a great way to stretch your legs during the long drive.
Japanese Friendship Garden in Idaho Falls, ID — This was such a cool hidden gem right across from the falls.
Idaho Potato Museum in Blackfoot, ID — It honestly inspired me to learn how a small, simple thing like the potato could change the world. A fun, little museum and you can even try an Idaho baked potato and/or potato ice cream (surprisingly good!) at the on-site cafe.

sideview mirror on a car on a road with view of mountains

Explore Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Jackson Hole is a charming town with a lot of history.

Best of all — it’s very walkable. It’s very easy to walk to the Jackson Town Square and the nearby shops and restaurants (depending on where you’re lodging). You’ll see loads of people out, walking the streets, as well.

Once we parked our car at our motel we only needed it to drive into Grand Teton and back (Well, we also drove to the National Elk Refuge as it was on the outskirts of town).

Here are a few things to check out in Jackson Hole:

Jackson Town Square
Jackson Hole’s Elk Antler Arch
National Elk Refuge & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center
Restaurant recommendations: The Bunnery, Cutty’s

How to Combine Yellowstone National Park with Grand Teton National Park

Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park are so close together — I mean, they share a border — so it makes perfect sense to see both of these parks during the same trip. This is what we did, and I highly recommend it.

See my post “3 Days in Both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks” for a more detailed itinerary on combining these parks in one trip.

Map of Activities in Grand Teton National Park

Frequently Asked Questions about Visiting Grand Teton

Which is better, Grand Teton or Yellowstone?

Both national parks are incredibly beautiful. I honestly can’t choose between them!

What is the best month to visit Grand Teton National Park?

The best months to visit, weather wise, are the summer months — June, July, and August. These months are the most crowded months, however.

What is so special about Grand Teton?

Grand Teton is famous for its mountains, lakes, elk migration, and historic Mormon Row buildings, all of which make it definitely worth a visit.

Is Grand Teton in Montana or Wyoming?

Grand Teton is in Wyoming.

Does Grand Teton National Park require reservations?

No, you don’t need to make a reservation to enter Grand Teton National Park. You do need to pay a fee upon entrance, though.

Does Grand Teton National Park close?

No, Grand Teton is open 24 hours, every day of the year.

When was Grand Teton National Park established?

Grand Teton was established in 1929.

Is Grand Teton National Park worth seeing?

YES, Grand Teton is 100% worth seeing. I would return in a heartbeat.

Is Grand Teton National Park part of Yellowstone?

No, Grand Teton is its own, separate national park.

What city is Grand Teton National Park in?

The nearest city to Grand Teton National Park is Jackson Hole, WY.

How big is Grand Teton National Park?

Grand Teton is 485 square miles.

What to pack when visiting Wyoming?

Favorite travel essentials

I really recommend these compression packing cubes. They’re very thick and durable and allow you to pack more than you expect.
I also love this travel backpack that opens like a suitcase, fits almost as much as a carry-on, and has tons of pockets as well as a strap to attach to your luggage handle. It makes traveling so much easier and more organized. It also fits nicely under the airplane seats.
I bring this AirFly receiver for AirPods with me on long-haul flights, so I can connect to the plane’s video screen with my own AirPods.
I no longer hop on a flight without wearing my Sockwell compression socks because they really do help relieve/prevent leg cramps from sitting so long in one place. I have the lotus pattern, but there are other patterns to choose from, such as this cat pattern or this flower pattern. See all sock patterns in the Sockwell storefront.
For Americans, I recommend getting the Capital One Venture X credit card to relax and eat free food in select airport lounges. I’ve had my Capital One Venture X credit card for a few years now, and accessing airport lounges is my absolute favorite perk of the card. Every lounge is different, but most have a buffet available where you can eat and drink to your heart’s content. The annual fee of this card is high, but it evens out with the $300 annual travel credit and 10,000 anniversary miles you get (on top of lounge access and free TSA PreCheck or Global Entry)!