I LOVE this town. Great for both family vacations or a weekend with friends. Animal safaris. Whitewater rafting in the summer. Snow sports in the winter. Many buildings have an old-western charm. Natural beauty all around. Bison burgers. A rodeo. It’s wild, yet, also somehow so tame. Tucked away at the edge of the Jackson Hole valley just south of two major US national parks, its location makes Jackson the perfect city to base your mountain getaway adventure. It is surrounded by mountains and forests that offer a variety of side-quests, and the city itself has all kinds of attractions that make it worthy of stopping by during any time of the year.
This place is a popular tourist destination for a reason: it’s awesome. Generally heavily trafficked year-round, Jackson is loaded with opportunities to have a good time for anyone who loves the mountain wilderness, but it does require a bit of planning ahead.
When to go and how long
You will get to experience all four seasons here. Weather in the mountains can be unpredictable, and summer is definitely the most popular time to visit this region. While it can get very warm here in the summer, it’s not nearly as hot as a desert might be. There are lots of mosquitos and other pesky bugs in the warmer times of year. I would argue that spring and fall are more enjoyable because you get to avoid the crazy summer crowds, and for the most part much of the city of Jackson remains open, but it depends what you would like to do during your visit. Late spring and summer will have loads of wildflowers, and there are some spots with fall foliage (although lots of the forests are evergreen), and much of the area will be white with snow during the winter. The benefit of going during the summer is that everything is open, including activities like the rodeo and carnival. Winter brings snow sports, a very popular draw to the area (more on all this later). It does get a decent amount of snow in the winter which also may cause issues such as road closures.
A few days would make a perfect starter trip to Jackson, and this city could be the perfect place to call home base for your adventures in the nearby national parks. There is at least a week’s worth of stuff to do for a lover of nature and outdoor activities (but perhaps not inside the city itself). Weekends are likely to be very crowded during the warmer times of year.
Where to stay
Jackson has a wide array of lodging options, from big fancy resorts and cute little inns to modern hotels and your average motel. Regardless of which one you choose, you will be paying a pretty penny. It is not cheap to have your average vacation in Jackson, but this place is popular for a reason–it has a lot to offer. There’s a lot of options for food and shopping on the eastern side of town around the Jackson Town Square, and the closer you are to this, the more expensive it will likely be.
A variety of camping options can also be found all over the place in the surrounding national forests, as well as at the two nearby national parks if you are road tripping here and prefer to vacation that way. Check the availability of specific locations on their individual websites.
How to get around
The regional Jackson Hole Airport is super cute, and you can rent a vehicle just outside the terminal (as well as in the city). To make the most of your adventure in this area, you will want a car, and I would absolutely recommend reserving one in advance. Availability is limited in the busiest seasons. You can also take the airport public shuttle pilot program or call to reserve a private taxi into the city from the airport if you don’t want to rent a car. There are no ride-shares in the city.
The downtown area is super walkable for shopping and restaurants, but the city is otherwise a bit too expansive to be walking from the east side to the west (unless you want to get all your steps in). There is a free shuttle within the city that can get you anywhere in Jackson.
Some private tour companies may pick you up directly from your hotel lobby for tours booked in advance, but each individual company will have its own policy on this. Inquire ahead of your trip when you make your reservations. If you are planning to book all your vacation activities this way, renting a car would not be necessary.
The Bundu Bus is a larger tour bus service that offers rides to Jackson and some other spots in the American West, and the Bundu Bus schedule is linked here.
Jackson is pretty remote. Unless you plan on booking private tours, you will need a car to do get anywhere outside the city limits. Major cities nearest to Jackson include Idaho Falls, Idaho (just under 2 hours drive to the west); Rock Springs, Wyoming (3.5 hours south); and Bozeman, Montana (about 4 hours to the north). Bozeman is just north of Yellowstone National Park and home to the nearest international airport.
Money
The city is rather expensive because of its remoteness (meaning everything is imported from somewhere else) and proximity to the national parks. Any nice lodging in town is likely going to cost you a couple hundred dollars per night minimum. Food is also on the pricier side, but there are some less expensive options (such as generic fast food restaurants).
Many half- or full-day tours will likely cost hundreds of dollars per person, but there are less expensive options for a lot of these types of activities.
Camping is a great way to save money on a road trip if you already have the equipment you need to survive with the basic facilities offered at campgrounds.
What to do in the city
Jackson Hole Rodeo is probably one of the biggest adrenaline rushes you’ll get in town. It runs a few days a week during the peak of the season between May and September. I would absolutely recommend booking your tickets in advance as they do sell out almost every show.
Snow sports at the Snow King Mountain Resort are popular in the wintertime for skiers, snowboarders, and more. Equipment is available to rent. You can also take the scenic gondola ride to the top to enjoy the scenery. In the summer, Snow King Mountain turns into a different type of destination with all kinds of warm weather activities such as zip lining, mountain biking, and more.
The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is also a popular place for skiing and snowboarding. There is also an Aerial Tram here that can be taken up a mountain for views of the valley below where there is also a restaurant at the top.
Museums. The town of Jackson has a quite a few indoor exploration opportunities. The Jackson Hole Historical Society & Museum (closed in winter) and the National Museum of Wildlife Art are some popular ones, but there are others! In the city you will also find the National Elk Refuge & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center, which is a great place to stop for information about the national parks before you go visit them.
See a show. Concerts take place every so often in Jackson. See if there are any events happening during your stay. Live music (often of the country genre) can often be heard at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. The Jackson Hole Playhouse may also have an old-western themed play going on for people interested in live entertainment. Check the individual websites for tickets ahead of time if you want to include these in your itinerary.
When it comes to food, try a bison or elk burger (if you are not a vegetarian or vegan). There are only a few places in the country you can find a bison burger this close to the source. For the most part, both are similar to beef.
The Teton County Fair and Fairgrounds might have something going on when you’re going to be there, but check the calendar on their website in advance. The annual fair itself takes place in July.
Things you can do outside the city
The National Elk Refuge is just north of the city of Jackson in the valley of Jackson Hole. You can either drive yourself or take a private tour to wander around the land and go searching for some of these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat. Be prepared to see more than just elk! You can book wildlife safaris from private tour companies if you’d like to hand over the reigns to someone else.
Horseback riding tours based out of Jackson are available all around the area. Any path the private companies take you on will likely have some incredible scenery.
Go fishing. You’ll have to find your own spots, but I have seen lots of people doing this during my many visits to this area. Be sure to check if you need to obtain a permit before you go.
Whitewater rafting can be a really refreshing way to get your adrenaline flowing during the heat. This is a summer activity only, and there are a number of private sellers with whom you can book your tour.
Drive forest backroads if you’re here with a high-clearance vehicle. There’s always some places less traveled if you look hard enough, making this a wonderful way to escape the crowds during the busier seasons!
Grand Teton National Park
These majestic mountain peaks will command your attention from miles away. Whether you want to trek one of the breathtaking hiking trails up the mountains, go searching for bears, buffalo, elk or moose, or just want to gaze from a distance at a roadside viewpoint or on a boat in the waters of the lakes below, you will be absolutely awestruck. While it is unclear exactly how these peaks got their name, the translation of “teton” from French is “teat” which is rather amusing, making this place the “large teats.” 😂
Check out my comprehensive blog post about Grand Teton National Park here!
Yellowstone National Park
Sitting atop the caldera of a dormant supervolcano, Yellowstone introduces visitors to some of the inner workings of the Earth at the surface. Get face to face with a buffalo (from the safety of your vehicle!), watch a geyser burst over a hundred feet into the air, inhale the intoxicating scent of sulphur at a massive hot spring, feel humbled by the powerful sounds of waterfalls crashing on rocks, and let nature be your therapist as you soak in the views of the valleys below. Scientists say this entire place is a ticking time bomb that has the potential to decimate the western half of the country if and when it decides to erupt again someday, how fun!
My comprehensive blog post about Yellowstone National Park is linked HERE!
There is no shortage of stuff to do in Jackson, and I highly recommend coming out here at least once because it really is a lot of fun if you plan your trip properly! It is a very popular tourist destination, so it is definitely best to book all your activities and accommodations in advance, especially in the summer.
Have you been to Jackson before? What did you think? Do you have any other recommendations for visitors? Leave them in the comments below!
Happy traveling! 😊
Laura the explora: the blog 
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