Perfect 2 Day Grand Teton Itinerary For First-Timers (2024)

If you are looking for the perfect 2 day Grand Teton itinerary for your first visit, you are in for a treat! I was blown away by this beautiful park and all it has to offer.

On our two-week itinerary to Glacier, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and the Sawtooth Mountains, we only had two days to spend in this park. While there is a lot to see, I think that two days is a great amount of time for a first visit.

So what should you do during your 2-day adventure? Let’s jump right in!

2 Day Grand Teton Itinerary

DAY 1 – See the sites

Spend the first day of your 2 day 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 at the beginning.

Mormon Row Historic District at sunrise

Get an early start 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.

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

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.

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.

This would also be a great location to eat a packed lunch if you brought one.

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.

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.

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.

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, 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 day, 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 National Park 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.

If you only have 1 day in Grand Teton National Park…

A one day Grand Teton National Park itinerary is totally doable. 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.

If you have more than 2 days in Grand Teton National Park…

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.

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.

Day trip to Yellowstone

I highly recommend combining your Grand Teton National Park itinerary with a trip 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.

Here’s a great 4-day itinerary for Yellowstone National Park.

Alternatively, if you’d rather take a tour to Yellowstone from Jackson, here’s a fantastic option.

Quick 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.

How much does it cost to enter Grand Teton National Park?

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! Check out the list of free National Park days here.

The 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:

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

How to get around Grand Teton National Park

To get the most out of your 2-day itinerary, you should have your own vehicle.

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.

I highly recommend using Discover Cars to book your car rental. They search all the rental companies for the best price, and if your plans change, you always get free cancellation.

However, if you won’t have a car when you’re visiting Grand Teton, there are several tour options available that will allow you to see the park. I recommend Get Your Guide or Viator to find a great option.

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, I would suggest adding an extra day or two.

What to pack for your 2 Day Grand Teton Itinerary

In order to make the most of your Grand Teton National Park itinerary, here are some things you should not forget:

National Park Pass

If you have the National Park Pass, make sure you don’t forget it! They come with a rearview mirror holder so you can hang it up and not have to dig around for it when you enter the park.

Camera

This is a given, but you are going to be so amazed by all the beauty around you, you’ll be kicking yourself if you don’t have a good camera to capture it all.

A good phone camera would work well for most landscapes, but if you want to get some awesome wildlife pictures, you might want something with a zoom lens.

Binoculars

If you want to look for wildlife, this is a great item to have so you don’t have to guess if what you saw was an elk or just some brush.

Hiking shoes & good socks

If you plan on doing any kind of hiking, I’d recommend hiking shoes or boots rather than sneakers. The socks you wear with your boots will also make a huge difference in how your feet feel. I like Cloudline wool socks, but there are lots of great brands out there.

Layers

While Grand Teton can get warm in the summer, especially at the lower elevations, you should make sure you pack along a variety of clothing, including clothes you can layer. The mornings and evenings can get chilly, and if you hike up into the mountains, it will be much cooler up there than down in the valley.

Pack along a variety of laying options and you’ll be comfortable no matter the temperature.

Water

More than likely, you’ll be out and about in the park all day and may not have quick access to a store. Plus it can get hot in the summer and you will want to stay hydrated.

While the visitor centers do sell water, it will be much easier to just bring lots of water with you so you don’t have to worry about running out or changing your plan in order to go find some.

Water filter

If you are doing some hiking in Grand Teton National Park, this is a great option to carry with you in case you run out of water.

We use this water filter when we go backpacking and love it. It’s lightweight and filters water directly from the source into your water bottle or bladder very quickly.

Hiking pack + the 10 essentials

While a lot of the trails in Grand Teton National Park are well-traveled and you’ll see people frequently, you still want to be prepared. Bring along a hiking backpack or something with good back support and keep it stocked with the 10 essentials for hiking and you’ll be set.

Sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat

Nothing can ruin a trip faster than sunburn, am I right? Grand Teton can be hot and very sunny in the summer, so you’ll want to make sure you protect your skin and your eyes from the sun. A hat would be a good idea as well.

Bug spray

Certain parts of the park can get buggy, especially near water, so just be prepared and carry some with you.

Bear Spray

If you plan to do any hiking, you should carry bear spray with you, keep it easily accessible, and know how to use it.

Swimsuit & Towel

If you plan to spend some time at any of the lakes, you’ll want to make sure you have a swimsuit and towel along.

Walkie Talkies

If you are traveling in a group and some members want to hike faster than others, or maybe some just want to stay at the trailhead and relax, walkie-talkies can be a great way to keep in touch with each other.

Cell service is spotty at best in Grand Teton National Park, but these radios work everywhere. Check out the best walkie-talkie options here.

Optional: Hiking poles

While not a necessity, I thought I’d include this one since a lot of people find them useful. I tend to use hiking poles more when I’m backpacking than just day hiking, but some of the hikes in Grand Teton can be long and challenging with a lot of elevation gain, and hiking poles might come in handy.

For a complete road trip packing list, check out this post.

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 makes it so popular. There is a lot more wildlife to view and your chances to see animals is 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.

How to avoid crowds in Grand Teton National Park

When we visited Grand Teton in late August, the park was busy but it wasn’t as crowded as Yellowstone, where we had just come from before heading to Grand Teton.

That being said, some of the popular hiking trails can get crowded, like the one we did to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point, and the famous sites like Mormon Row and Oxbow Bend can attract a lot of people too.

If you want to avoid the masses as much as possible, here are a few ideas:

Visit during the shoulder seasons

Grand Teton is at its busiest between June and August. If you have the flexibility, try to come during another time of the year.

If you come in May, the interior roads should be open and there will be fewer visitors. Most of the visitor centers and restaurants should be open by this time too.

September to early October is also a great time of year to visit. Some things do start to close in September and you will have the chance of snow, but you’ll have gorgeous fall colors! Many of the animals, like bison and pronghorn, migrate south during the fall, so you may have the chance to see more animals this time of year.

Arrive early and stay late

As with most national parks, the earlier you get in, the smaller the crowd will be. The park is open 24 hours a day, so if you can swing it, get in as early as you can to enjoy the first hour of daylight with fewer people around. You can catch the sunrise and have a better chance of seeing wildlife too.

The only exception to this might be Mormon Row, where photographers will line up before sunrise to get the morning sun shining on the Tetons with the famous barns in the foreground. So if you don’t care about getting a photo of this, avoid this area until later in the day.

You can also choose to stay in the park late. A lot of tourists leave the park around dinnertime, but if you pack your dinner and stay out until sunset, you’ll not only get a gorgeous view, but this is also a great time to see animals.

Consider exploring less popular areas

You should definitely visit the popular spots on any Grand Teton National Park itinerary, but there are some lesser-known areas of the park that will get fewer visitors but still give you a great experience.

The Lawrance S. Rockefeller Preserve & Visitor Center is a great place to visit and get away from the masses. The parking lot is deliberately small so fewer people can visit at one time.

There are multiple hiking trails here, such as Phelps Lake and Death Canyon, which are difficult to hike to from other parts of the park, meaning you won’t have to share the trail with too many people.

Because of the limited parking spaces, you should plan to arrive as early as possible as the parking lot is usually full by 9:00 a.m. to around 4:00 p.m.

Places to visit around 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:

• Glacier National Park
• Yellowstone National Park
• Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho
• Bighorn National Forest
• Black Hills & Badlands National Park

If you have a full week, I’d highly recommend combing Grand Teton with Yellowstone and Glacier for this epic 7-day national parks road trip itinerary.

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.

If you want to see a more inside scoop of what our Grand Teton trip was like, check out the video below from Happily Ever Hanks. They are good friends of ours and traveled with us on our 2-week trip to Glacier, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, and the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho.

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