Perfect 2 Day Grand Teton Itinerary For First Timers

I am a participant in affiliate programs, so basically I earn a small commission if you use any of the affiliate links on this post - at no extra cost to you! Dope right?

When I was planning my first Grand Teton itinerary back in 2021, I was so overwhelmed. It’s a big park, coupled with the mammoth that is Yellowstone, and it’s NOT cheap. My visit was part of a larger 2.5 week Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana from my home in Oregon. I only had about 2 days in Grand Teton and 3 days in Yellowstone, and I was stressed that I would make a mistake in the planning and not have enough time to see the biggest highlights.

If you’re like me, or even if you’re not but still like to be as prepared as possible for trips, then I GOTCHU.

To take the burden off of you, I’ve compiled what I would consider my perfect 2 day Grand Teton itinerary that is catered to a first time visit. Because, let’s be real. You’re not going to see everything on your first visit, especially since most of those first time travelers are visiting on a weekend trip.

If you happen to be staying longer, feel free to add onto this Grand Teton itinerary or shift things around to suit your personal interests and preferences. I’ll also (eventually) write up a Yellowstone National Park guide, since most visitors usually bundle the two in one visit. But until then, I hope you enjoy this 2 day Grand Teton itinerary!

Table of Contents

2 Days in Grand Teton Itinerary

Okay first on the agenda, know where you’ll be sleeping. I have a full separate post on all the best hotels to book for your Grand Teton itinerary, as well as a few camping options. The closer you are to the park, the easier it is for you to see everything with the least amount of effort.

To get the most out of your 2 days in Grand Teton itinerary, you should have your own vehicle. Whether you fly in and rent a car at the airport, or bring your car from home on a road trip, having a car will make your experience a lot more convenient. Remember to download an offline map of the park and the surrounding areas as cell phone service can be super spotty in Grand Teton (and Yellowstone).

If you don’t want to (or can’t for whatever reason) rent a car, there is a complimentary shuttle between Jackson Lake Lodge, Colter Bay Village, the South Jenny Lake Visitor Center, and the town of Jackson, but it’s not a great option for sightseeing for a Grand Teton itinerary. But it’s there.

There are several Grand Teton tour options available that will allow you to see the park if you really don’t want to do a Grand Teton itinerary on your own and want someone else to take the wheel. They’re more expensive, but again it’s there.

Now let’s get into this 2 day Grand Teton itinerary!

DAY 1 – See the sites

Spend the first day of your Grand Teton itinerary driving around and taking in the scenery, hitting the most photogenic and popular spots.

NOTE: This itinerary starts in the south part of the park, beginning at the Moose entrance and making a loop, ending near where you started. If you are not staying in Jackson or any of the towns in Jackson Hole, you can start at the portion of the route closest to your accommodations and continue the loop around until you end up back where you started.

Mormon Row Historic District at sunrise

Get an early start on your Grand Teton itinerary and plan to arrive at Mormon Row Historic District right around sunrise. You will likely be joined by dozens of other people, preparing to get the perfect shot of one of the famous barns with the Grand Teton mountain range in the background. It’s also when animals are the most active and you might get lucky and spot the elusive elk!

If getting the sunrise shot is not important to you, you can start your day a little later to avoid the crowd. Make sure you wander around and explore some of the other buildings, too. And don’t forget to head down Gros Ventre Road to see the T. A. Moulton Barn as well.

Schwabacher Landing

On this Grand Teton itinerary, there are plenty of places to pull over and enjoy the impressive view of the Tetons, and Schwabacher Landing is a great choice. You get the classic view with the Snake River and the trees in the foreground.

Snake River Overlook

Continuing north, you can take a few minutes to admire the Snake River overlook. It’s a quick pit stop, but if you started a little later in the day, feel free to skip this on your Grand Teton itinerary.

J.P. Cunningham Cabin

Wander down to see one of the last remaining structures from the homesteading era, when over 400 claims were filed by settlers for land in the area in the late 1800s.

Oxbow Bend

This is another famous photography spot with a view of Mount Moran.

Jackson Lake Overlook

Head to the northernmost part of this itinerary to the Jackson Lake Overlook. Put your feet in the water and take some time to relax on your Grand Teton itinerary. This would also be a great location to eat a packed lunch if you brought one (you should).

Leeks Marina

Turn around and head back the way you came and stop at Leeks Marina.

This is a nice area to walk around and watch the boats on Jackson Lake. If you didn’t pack a lunch, Leeks Pizzaria offers pizza, sandwiches, and ice cream. Honestly, it’s aiight. But it gets the job done.

Colter Bay Village

This is a great place to take a hike and stretch your legs. There are several options depending on how far you want to go for your Grand Teton itinerary.

The Lakeshore Trail is an easy, 2-mile loop that takes you along Jackson Lake. Some other options include Swan Lake & Heron Pond and the Hermitage Point Trail. There is also a visitor center here where you can speak to a ranger and learn more about the history of the area, which I always recommend!

Signal Mountain

Once you’ve taken a nice hike, drive up Signal Mountain Road to enjoy the view from the top.

For the best view, take a short hike from the parking lot to the Jackson Lake Overlook, where you can see the Tetons and the lake.

Chapel of the Transfiguration

Continue south down Teton Park Road, stopping for photos wherever you’d like, until you get to Chapel of the Transfiguration. Go inside and take a photo of the cross with the mountains in the background.

Dinner in Jackson

I’d recommend spending the rest of the evening in Jackson for your Grand Teton itinerary, checking out the shops and finding a nice place to get dinner.

Some recommended places include Bin22, Liberty Burger, Miazga’s, and The Blue Lion.

Stargazing

If you aren’t too tired from your long Grand Teton itinerary, I’d highly recommend going stargazing. We didn’t get to do this on our trip and I really wish we had! The views of the night sky with the mountains in the background would be amazing to see!

Some good places to view the night sky would be Mormon Row, Schwabacher Landing, Oxbow Bend, or any of the scenic pull-offs in the park.

DAY 2 – Take a hike

On the second day of your 2 day Grand Teton itinerary, you should take a hike! There are so many amazing hikes in this national park no matter your fitness level or ambition. I will recommend what I think are the best options and you can choose what’s right for you!

We only did one hike during our Grand Teton itinerary, so we picked a popular but good one – Jenny Lake Trail to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point.

We started at the String Lake trailhead off of String Lake Road and took the Jenny Lake Loop trail along the western side of the lake. You then branch off to Hidden Falls and then Inspiration Point.

If you want to see the falls and Inspiration Point but don’t want to do as much hiking, you can take a shuttle boat from the Jenny Lake Visitor Center on the east side of the lake. You can get more information about Jenny Lake Boating and the shuttle here.

If you take the shuttle, it’s about 2 miles round trip to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. If you want to hike from String Lake, it’s about 6 miles round trip.

I will say the hardest part of the hike is once you start the climb to the falls and the overlook, so in my opinion, unless you are looking to save time, the hike around the lake is worth it.

Here are some other hikes you can do on this day. These are all ones I want to do next time I’m visiting the Grand Tetons!

Cascade Canyon Trail – 9.1 miles out and back, rated as moderate. This hike is an extension of the Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point hike.
Leigh Lake Trail – 7.0 miles out and back, rated as easy
Taggart & Bradley Lakes – 6.0 mile loop, rated as moderate
Death Canyon Trail – 9.1 miles out and back, rated as moderate
Phelps Lake – 7.6 mile loop, rated as moderate

After hiking, you can either spend the rest of the day at one of the lakes (swimming, paddle boarding, or relaxing) or you can explore more of Jackson. Either one is a good choice for your Grand Tetons vacation.

1 Day in Grand Teton Itinerary

A one day in Grand Teton itinerary is totally doable, especially if it’s your first visit. I’d recommend that you do Day 1 from this itinerary and skip the hiking day. You can still do some of the smaller hikes around Colter Bay and also get a great overview of the park.

Extra Days in Grand Teton Itinerary

More than a 2 day Grand Teton itinerary? Lucky you! There are so many other options with your additional days.

Take more hikes

You can easily do several days of hiking in Grand Teton because there are so many great choices. You can choose from the hikes I listed above or search AllTrails to find something else that suits you better.

Whitewater rafting

Rafting down the Snake River is a popular and exciting option for those looking for something adventurous. Make sure to bring a waterproof pouch for your phone and electronics!

Jackson Hole Rodeo

On Wednesdays and Saturdays from Memorial Day to Labor Day, enjoy an evening at the Jackson Hole Rodeo.

Horseback riding

See a unique side of the Grand Teton area from horseback. There are multiple tours, so look around for the trail that looks appealing to you!

Yellowstone National Park

I highly recommend combining your Grand Teton trip with a stop over to Yellowstone. The two parks are practically touching and are connected by the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway.

You can easily explore the southern part of Yellowstone on a day trip from Grand Teton, but ideally, you will have several days to explore this park as well. When you visit, make sure you see the major highlights, like West Thumb Geyser Basin, Grand Prismatic Spring, Norris Geyser Basin, Upper & Lower Falls, and Old Faithful.

Facts about Grand Teton National Park

The original Grand Teton National Park was established in 1929 and consisted of the Teton Range and six glacial lakes. In 1950, the national park was merged with the Jackson Hole National Monument and a 35,000-acre donation from John D. Rockefeller to create the current 310,000-acre Grand Teton National Park.

There are 8 peaks in the park over 12,000 feet. Grand Teton is the tallest at 13,770 feet.

3.5 million visitors came to Grand Teton National Park in 2023, which was a 17% increase from 2022. It seems the park sees more visitors every year and was the 7th most visited national park in 2022.

When is Grand Teton National Park open?

Grand Teton National Park is open 24 hours a day, all year long. However, from November to April, many of the visitor centers are closed or have limited hours and some roads are closed for the winter season.

You can check operating hours and closures on the National Park Service website.

Costs and Fees

A 7-day park permit costs $35 per vehicle.

If you have an America the Beautiful pass, entry is free. I highly recommend getting this pass if you plan to visit more than one national park in a year – it will save you money. A one-year pass costs $80.

A Grand Teton National Park annual pass is $70, but this would only be worth it if you are going to be visiting the park for longer than a week and you aren’t planning to go to any other national parks within the year.

There are also several days throughout the year when entering any national park is free (dependent on who is the president). Also if you are in the military or retired, disabled, or a fourth-grader, you are eligible to receive free entrance.

Best Time to Visit Grand Teton National Park

While Grand Teton National Park is open all year round, many of the main roads are only open from mid-May to October due to snow. If you want to explore all the main attractions of the park on your Grand Teton vacation, you’ll want to visit during this window.

Mid-June to early October is a great time for hiking since there is less chance of snow being on the trails and the weather will be nicer.

The best weather in the park is from mid-June to August, which also means it’s the most crowded during this time.

September to mid-October is the best time to visit for beautiful foliage and fewer crowds, although you may have the possibility of some snow.

Don’t count winter out, either! Winter is great for skiing and snowboarding, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. You can get more details about winter in Grand Teton here.

How to Get to Grand Teton National Park

If you are flying into Grand Teton, you have a couple of options. Jackson Hole is the closest airport, which is actually right inside Grand Teton, the only airport in the US inside a national park.

However, flights into Jackson Hole can be pretty expensive. It will probably be cheaper to fly to Bozeman, Montana, and combine your trip to Grand Teton with Yellowstone. You could also fly into Salt Lake City and drive up to Grand Teton National Park from there, which is about 4 hours 45 minutes.

If you are driving, here are the approximate driving times to Jackson from some of the closest larger cities:

Idaho Falls, Idaho: 2 hours
West Yellowstone, Montana: 2.5 hours
Salt Lake City, Utah: 4.75 hours
Boseman, Montana: 4 hours
Cody, Wyoming: 5 hours
Billings, Montana: 6.25 hours

Are 2 days enough for Grand Teton National Park?

We spent two full days in Grand Teton National Park and I feel this is a good amount of time for your first visit. It gives you one full day to explore all the popular sites and another full day for hiking or another activity.

If you want to do a lot of hiking or activity-specific tours, I would suggest adding an extra day or two.

Where to Eat in Grand Teton National Park

Located in the town of Jackson. Million Dollar Cowboy Bar is touristy but looks like fun. Snake River Grill is a fine dining experience with great reviews.

Some other recommended places include Bin22, Liberty Burger, Miazga’s, and The Blue Lion.

If you’d like to eat in the park, Signal Mountain Lodge is a popular choice. You can also eat at Leeks Pizzaria up above Colter Bay Village at the marina.

Just remember that a lot of restaurants are seasonal, so if you are coming in the off-season, your choices will be limited.

Best Hotels in Grand Teton National Park

If you want to stay in the park while visiting Grand Teton, there are a few places to choose from, including Signal Mountain Lodge, Jenny Lake Lodge, and Colter Bay Cabins.

We stayed at Fireside Buffalo Valley RV Park for our trip and had a nice stay. It’s located on the east side of the park, several miles from Moran. Location-wise it suited us fine since we had everything we needed in the RV.

However, if we weren’t in the RV, it would have been easier to stay in Jackson because that is where all the restaurants and grocery stores are located.

pro tip:No matter where you stay, make sure you plan ahead and book as soon as you can. Places can book up very quickly, especially in the summer.

There are lots of hotels, RV, and camping options in Jackson and the surrounding area. If you’d like to stay outside of the park or would like to camp, here are the websites I use to find accommodations:

Recreation.gov – the site to book all camping, tours, passes, and more at federal recreation sites in the United States.

Hipcamp – the Airbnb of camping. They have everything from tent sites to glamping, RV parks, cabins, and more.

Hotels.com – my preferred website for finding and booking hotels.

pro tip:You will probably see places saying they are located in Jackson or Jackson Hole. So what’s the difference? Jackson is the town itself. Jackson Hole is the valley region that includes Jackson and other small towns like Teton Village and Wilson.

Are There Bears in Grand Teton National Park?

Yes, there are grizzly and black bears in Grand Teton, but don’t stress about it! If you plan to do some hiking, just make sure you hike with at least one other person and carry bear spray (and have it easily accessible and know how to use it). Pay attention to your surroundings, make plenty of noise, and you’ll be fine!

NOTE: You can’t fly with bear spray so I’d recommend purchasing it once you arrive if you are traveling by plane.

You should also give any other animals that you encounter plenty of space too. Any wildlife can be unpredictable, and you want to keep yourself and the critters safe!

Is Grand Teton Better than Yellowstone?

I think this is really hard to answer because both parks are so different! It also depends on what you like to do and see when you visit national parks.

Grand Teton has gorgeous mountains and incredible hiking. It’s smaller than Yellowstone and therefore doesn’t feel as overwhelming.

Yellowstone has the geothermal wonders and variety that make it so popular. There is a lot more wildlife to view and your chances to see animals are high.

You should definitely visit them both and decide for yourself which you like better. However, if you can only visit one, Grand Teton is best if you want to do a lot of hiking and have less time. Yellowstone is a better choice if you want to see lots of different things without much hiking and you have more time.

Conclusion: 2-Day Grand Teton Itinerary

And that’s a wrap! I know this was a lot of information, but I hope this was helpful for you in planning your trip to Grand Teton National Park. Grand Teton is a perfect jumping-off point to so many other great locations. If you want to extend your Grand Teton National Park itinerary to include a few other places, here are some suggestions:

If you have more than three days in the area, I’d highly recommend combining Grand Teton with Yellowstone and Glacier. Both of these parks are very beginner-outdoors friendly, so it’s a nice foray into doing more nature activities without the intimidation. .

Have you ever been to Grand Teton National Park? What would you recommend for a 2 day itinerary?