Many people stop in Jackson (Wyoming) just to visit the 2 big national parks nearby, Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park, ignoring the fact that the town itself is immersed in a beautiful natural valley full of things to do, Jackson Hole. Of course, the tight schedule of a road trip in the USA often does not permit you to find time to explore the so-called “secondary attractions“, however, you might be interested to know that, should you have any time left, there is no risk of getting bored in Jackson and its surroundings… Let’s see what are the best things to do in Jackson Hole.
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What is Jackson Hole?
Located on the western side of Wyoming and surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of the Grand Teton Range and the Gros Ventre Range, Jackson Hole Valley is a fascinating wilderness that is arguably the state’s premier tourist area, where there is no shortage of recreational opportunities, from skiing in the winter to hiking and scenic tours in the summer.
Grand Teton Park itself is part of the valley (northwest area), together with other nature reserves such as the National Elk Refuge (south), or the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski resort, which is located in the small town of Teton Village (west). The town of Jackson, in the south, is the main town for the whole area, extraordinarily convenient for travel (although expensive, unfortunately), with a considerable amount of accommodation, as well as many tourist activities and all the necessary amenities.
How to get to Jackson Hole?
Just a few miles away from the Idaho border, Jackson Hole Valley is quite easy to reach either by car or by internal flight. Let’s see the directions:
By Car
Jackson is about 4 and a half hours away from Salt Lake City, the nearest big city in the area; if you are coming from the capital of Utah please refer to my itinerary from Jackson to Salt Lake City, which is also valid in the opposite direction.
West Yellowstone is 125 miles away (about 2 and a half hours), but it is likely that you will decide to take the road through Yellowstone Park, and considering all the wonders that you will encounter along the way, it can take you a whole day. If you opt for the shorter route (which lies outside the park) you can still console yourself with Mesa Falls.
Cody is instead more than 175 miles away, and in this case too you can reach Jackson through the park (following the route that you can find in my Yellowstone one-day itinerary), or from outside (this route is much longer, more than 295 miles).
By internal flight
The airport is located right in the center of the valley, and from here you can travel to the nearby towns by cab and shuttle services (here are the prices), or by renting a car at one of the agencies at the airport (Jackson is just over 10 minutes by car from the airport). If you opt for this solution, check out our guide on how to rent a car.
How to visit Grand Teton and Yellowstone from Jackson
DIY Driving Itinerary
The southern boundary of Grand Teton National Park is only a few minutes from Jackson, and to reach the Moose Entrance (the entrance to the parkway) or Mormon Row, it will take you just over 20 minutes. For more information on areas and spots to prioritize during your visit, take a look at our guide on how to visit Grand Teton.
You can reach Yellowstone directly from the South Entrance that lies about 1 hour and a quarter (not including any stops you may want to make along the way) from Jackson. From here you will be in the Old Faithful area in about one hour (depending on traffic, however). Again, check out my article on the best things to do in Yellowstone and my recommended itinerary for Yellowstone National Park.
Organized tours
If you prefer to rely on a guide to pick you up in town to visit the 2 parks (or 1 of the 2) without having to do the planning and organization yourself, there are several organized tours in Jackson:
- Grand Teton National Park Tour from Jackson Hole An 8-hour coach tour of Grand Teton’s most beautiful views and wildlife.
- Grand Teton Safari A 4-hour wildlife safari, spotting bears, wolves, bison, elk, deer, and many other animals in the park.
- Yellowstone Tour from Jackson A full-day tour that will take you to the geyser area, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and Hayden Valley.
Best things to do in Jackson Hole besides the national parks
What to do in Jackson Hole besides Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks? Let’s take a closer look at the region’s so-called “minor attractions.”
The town of Jackson
Jackson presents itself as an exclusive and rather upscale place to be in the Old West, filled with art galleries, chic stores, and elegant accommodations. Nevertheless, the western atmosphere is not lacking, especially in the style of the buildings and in the inevitable wooden arcades, as well as in the arches made of intertwined elk horns in the central square (Jackson Town Square).
You can stroll through the pretty streets of the town, go in search of some live country music performances, visit the many art galleries or, why not, even a museum: if you want to learn more about the history of the city and the valley, visit the Jackson Hole Historical Society & Museum, while if you are more interested in art, just outside the city you will find the National Museum of Wildlife Art, a museum dedicated entirely to paintings and sculptures depicting the local fauna.
If you want to enjoy a typical evening, you have 2 options: read the section below or head to the Jackson Hole Playhouse, where you can enjoy a dinner in a western setting with singing waiters who will sing country tunes for you between one course and another. Be careful about the times, because here dinner is early (at 5 and 6:30 pm), then from 7:30 pm the real show starts: a musical that according to some locals (who may be exaggerating a bit) would seem to be just as good as the most popular Broadway shows.
Other places to listen to live music are the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, whose large sign stands on the central square, Pinky G’s, one of the most popular pizzerias in town, and the Virginian Saloon, a very characteristic American diner.
Bar T 5 Covered Wagon Cookout
This is an experience that I recommend you try firsthand: a type of attraction that is very popular in these parts, allowing you to breathe in the atmosphere of westerns and that, most likely, you will not have the opportunity to experience elsewhere. It is an experience that includes dinner and entertainment, as follows:
- Gather at the meeting point to start getting into the mood
- Climb into a horse-drawn wagon train to cross a canyon (during the trip the cowboy driving the wagon will tell you stories of the Old West)
- Get ready to witness an assault on the stagecoach!
- At the arrival point, a real cowboy meal awaits you, with meat beans, various sauces, dessert, lemonade, and hot chocolate
- Enjoy a country concert by a band of fine musicians
You can book tickets directly on the official website.
Bridger Gondola
If you’re looking for beautiful views and don’t want to spend a penny you can take advantage of the Bridger Gondola, a free cable car that will take you to a nice vantage point from where you can observe the valley and eat at The Deck @ Piste restaurant, which has a lovely panoramic terrace. The gondola is usually operational from mid-June to mid-September, starting from mid-afternoon (around 5 pm if I remember correctly), but in any case, it is always good to contact the manager on 307-739-2654 or check the schedule on the official website, because on some days it may be closed for private events.
As you can see on the official brochure, the Bridger Gondola cannot take you to the highest point available, the Top of the World on Upper Mountain, which is instead reachable by another cable car, the Aerial Tram, that can carry 100 people and reach the top in 9 minutes (at 4100 feet high). However, it is quite expensive.
National Elk Refuge
The National Elk Refuge is a natural area of more than 24000 acres on the border with Jackson, you will cross it to go to Grand Teton and it is an excellent opportunity to see the wildlife in the area. Famous for the large numbers of deer that migrate here in herds of thousands during the cold winter months, this refuge actually serves as a home for bison, Rocky Mountain sheep, coyotes, wolves, antelope and over 175 species of birds including swans, cranes, and eagles.
The nature reserve is particularly famous for its winter sleigh ride, which allows you to see an incredible number of deer up close (see video above). However, it can be an enjoyable experience in the summer as well. If you want to venture out on some trails, you’ll still have a chance to make some encounters with the local wildlife, or you can take the multi-use pathway, the pedestrian/bike path adjacent to the refuge, which runs parallel to US 191. The trail begins just outside of Jackson.
Where to eat
In Jackson you will find many restaurants and they will often be crowded. Don’t worry too much, as even if you arrive without a reservation in many places you can leave your cell phone number to be called back once a table is free, and in the meantime walk around. Prices are not exactly cheap, so if you’re trying to get by on a budget, it’s much better to resort to a good burger (here’s an excellent one), or large chains like Subway or on the various take-out food markets you will find in the city. Here are 3 places to consider:
- Persephone Bakery: I had a really good breakfast here, with scrambled eggs, bacon, French toast, blueberry pie, and cappuccino. The location with its beautiful garden outside is also really nice. Top marks!
- Local Restaurant & Bar: this steak restaurant stands in Jackson’s central square. The modern decor is far from the western atmosphere of many local restaurants, but the meat served is local and for those looking for more, the menu also offers fish dishes and a selection of cheeses. If you’re not too hungry and want to save a little money you can also go for the side dishes, real “mini plates” at a more affordable price (they will bring your 3 for 15 dollars, like the ones pictured above).
- Liberty Burger: near Jackson Town Square you will find one of the best places to eat burgers in town. The burgers, with homemade bread, are reinvented in a creative way and for an extra 5 dollars, you can turn them into “bison burgers”, which you can enjoy on the patio terrace overlooking Cache Street.
Where to stay
Sleeping in Jackson Hole Valley is expensive and there’s not much you can do to bring the costs down much. The first place to look is obviously Jackson, so I suggest you have a look at our tips (our recommended accommodations in Jackson). You can also give it a try in Teton Village, where the ski resort is located (about twenty minutes from Jackson). Another alternative is to opt for the accommodations available inside the Grand Teton park, probably the most fascinating experience. If you want to know more about it, take a look at my tips on where to stay in Grand Teton.
