How to Spend 24 Hours in Grand Tetons and Jackson Hole
Everyone loves Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It’s become a pretty big hot spot in the past few years. Jackson Hole has the perfect charm of a mountain town with plenty of outdoor activities. It is the place to stay when visiting Grand Teton National Park. It’s hard to pick a favorite national park, but Grand Teton is definitely in my top 3, if not my favorite.
Our road trip from Glacier National Park to Yellowstone to Grand Tetons gave us only about 24 hours here. That’s why I know I have so much to do when I go back.
To read more about our entire trip, click here: Glacier National Park, Yellowstone, and Grand Tetons | 5 Day Road Trip.
Jackson Hole is really Jackson, Wyoming, but everyone calls it Jackson Hole. It’s definitely your quintessential mountain town, and it is the perfect place to stay when visiting Grand Teton National Park. Many people also just go to Jackson Hole as a ski town, as there are tons of resorts or nearby ski areas. Oh, and I can’t forget the diverse wildlife surrounding the area.
So, here are the things we got up to in just 24 hours, and a couple things I would definitely include if we didn’t go to sleep so early:
Stay at Flat Creek Inn
I’m all for saving money when possible. If that’s not an issue for you, there are lots of unique stays closer to Jackson Hole. We knew we would be getting up early for sunrise, so Flat Creek Inn was the perfect combination of price and direction of Grand Teton National Park. It is located north of Jackson Hole, kind of away from everything.
When going to this area, you’ll notice that everything is on one highway. You can get from Jackson Hole to Grand Teton National Park all on this highway. That’s where Flat Creek Inn is located, although definitely closer to Jackson Hole.
It was an easy check-in process, and it even had a convenience store right next to it. The view from the rooms is gorgeous. You look right across the highway directly at the mountains. The rooms definitely have that rustic, cabin feel – exactly what you want when going to a mountain town.
Things to Do in Grand Teton National Park:
Grand Teton National Park is definitely on the smaller side in comparison to other parks. But, that does not mean there isn’t an abundance of hikes and beautiful views. It does mean that it is easy to get around the park quickly. Off of the main highway, Teton Park Road will take you where you need to go for the things to do below.
As you’re driving in the park, make sure to follow the speed limit! This is home to a lot of wildlife, so it’s important to respect their land. Also, as always, LEAVE NO TRACE!!
For more information about anything regarding this park, click here: Grand Teton National Park.
Jenny Lake at Sunrise
Jenny Lake is usually what you will see in a lot of pictures at Grand Teton National Park. It is also one of the best places to watch the sunrise! The sun comes up across from the mountains and paints them a beautiful mixture of orange and pink.
There are a couple of different spots you can watch the sunrise. We stumbled upon a little parking lot on the lake where there were only a couple of other people. I want to say it was the Jenny Lake Overlook. All around Jenny Lake there is a trail that loops around.
This also leads to the Cascade Canyon Trail (mentioned below). You can walk along this lake to try to get a better view, but a lot of it is behind trees. I would definitely suggest just staying put wherever you find a spot and simply enjoying the view.
Near this is the Jenny Lake Visitor Center (another option). Around here is where you will find the most parking for these trails. The visitor center also has bathrooms if you need them!! Here you can find the Jenny Lake Trailhead. It will also show you more information about Cascade Canyon and other spots along the way. In peak season, they also have boat rides across the lake!
Inspiration Point
This is probably one of the most well-known hikes at Grand Teton National Park. To get to it, you have to take the Jenny Lake Trail around the lake. From Teton Park Road, it is directly across the lake. For a shorter hike, head south from Jenny Lake Visitor Center. For a slightly longer hike around the lake, head north.
Like I mentioned, in the peak months, they also have boat rides to get across the lake which will take you to the bottom of Inspiration Point or another starting point for Cascade Canyon. If you are looking for a shorter hike (with a good bit of difficulty!), you can simply hike to Inspiration Point and turn back around.
Inspiration Point is a view from the top of a pretty steep climb that directly overlooks Jenny Lake. From Jenny Lake Visitor Center, this is about a 5.7-mile hike round trip, and you also pass a beautiful waterfall on the way!
Cascade Canyon Trail
For a longer hike, continue going past Inspiration Point and head into Cascade Canyon. This trail goes directly in between 2 massive mountains. As you walk, you pretty much stay alongside a stream that is in the middle of these mountains as well.
Once on the Cascade Canyon Trail, the hike is pretty easy and pretty flat for the most part. You’ll have views of the mountains on either side of you. We hiked until we reached the North Fork and South Fork of Cascade Canyon.
Here you will find a fork in the path with a sign. There are a good number of mountains and lakes to keep hiking too, but these are definitely more backcountry hikes and will be a good bit longer. At a minimum, you will be adding over 5 miles to your trip and up to 20-40 miles if you choose the other hikes.
If you end at the fork, like us, it clocks in at around 13 miles round trip. We really had no intention of continuing the entire way, but since it was an easier hike, we just kept going. This took up pretty much our whole morning, but it made us fall in love with Grand Teton National Park. Definitely recommend doing this hike!!
Chapel of the Transfiguration
Another iconic picture at Grand Teton National Park has the Chapel of the Transfiguration. Now this is a functioning chapel that holds services on Sundays in peak season. It is actually St. John’s Episcopal Church, but it is located in Grand Teton National Park.
This is a unique church that has been around since 1925. You can even have your wedding here! It has majestic views of the Tetons in the background. It is a smaller space, but for a destination wedding, this would be absolutely beautiful. As a somewhat photographer, it was definitely a dream to capture even one picture here.
I love little spaces that hold so much meaning. It is even more special that it is located within the national park. For more information about this little church, click here: Chapel of the Transfiguration. For more information directly from their website, click here: St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Things to Do in Jackson Hole:
Jackson Hole has become such a big hot spot in the last few years. As I mentioned above, it’s the quintessential mountain town. It looks the part in the actual city of Jackson, and it is surrounded by nature and outdoor activities. This being said, it is definitely on the more expensive side.
I won’t say too much more about it, but I will say I don’t have all the perfect pictures to show you. We were so tired from our road trip that we just explored downtown and honestly just forgot to take pictures. While I love finding cute places and fun spots in a downtown area, I usually prefer the things outside of the town. But, if you are visiting Jackson Hole, here are some classic things you could add to your list:
Local Restaurant & Bar
We knew if there was one thing we really wanted to do, it was eat a bison burger. I know, I know, I love bison so much. But, these burgers are seriously good. At Local Restaurant & Bar, they have a buffalo burger though, and that was perfectly fine for us.
Bison and buffalo are different animals. They can look similar, and people often confuse the two, but it’s important to know they are not the same! When eating out in this area, this is a burger that is not often found in the south.
We sat at the bar at Local, and it was really great service. We got cocktails, and our food was so delicious. I mean, we couldn’t even finish our whole meal, but we just took it with us to finish at our hotel. A good burger and fries is just what you need after a day of hiking and exploring in nature.
Local Restaurant & Bar is located right across from the square and right next to Million Dollar Cowboy. This makes it the perfect spot to grab dinner before walking around the town. Just make sure to make reservations! To see the menus, click here: Local Restaurant & Bar.
Million Dollar Cowboy
When you see a picture of Jackson Hole, you likely see the iconic “Million Dollar Cowboy” sign. Also located across from Jackson Town Square, this bar is one of the most famous places to go here. It is your classic western-style bar, with all the decorations and entertainment to match.
They have live music every night and even do dancing. They are open from 11:00am-1:00am, so you can pop in there any time. To see pictures or learn more about it, click here: Million Dollar Cowboy Bar
Jackson Town Square
Jackson Town Square is located right in the middle of town. On each corner of the square, you’ll find the often-pictured arches. These arches are unique because they are made from elk antlers that have been shed from the nearby refuge. This square is also the start of free walking tours to learn more about Jackson!
Jackson Town Square is also home to many events and things to do. In the winter, they have ice skating! This is a great little spot to walk around, attend the many events or activities if they’re happening while you’re there, or just people watch. For more information or to view the calendar of events, click here: Jackson Town Square.
StillWest Brewery & Grill
We actually landed at StillWest by accident, but I wouldn’t have changed a thing. We were unable to find parking closer in town, and we just happened upon this place. It is large, airy, and you can sit outside upstairs!
This isn’t your typical brewery. In fact, their website talks about their elevated dining experience on the second floor. The first floor is your classic brewery feel with a taproom, but go upstairs and you’ll have a delicious meal with all kinds of drink options. I mean, I literally had chicken tenders and fries, but still. We had just hiked 13 miles at Grand Teton National Park, so I was just trying to fuel up with some comfort food and a beer.
StillWest is literally located on the mountainside of Snow King Mountain. If you’re there skiing, this is the perfect place for you. The view while eating lunch outside on the second-floor patio was perfect, and the weather was amazing. I would definitely suggest trying out this place, even though it is a little further out from the main square! For more information, their menu, or just more pictures, click here: StillWest Brewery & Grill.
Visit the Shops
After our dinner on the first night at Local Restaurant & Bar, we loved just exploring all the shops. They have tons of little souvenir stores right around the square, so it’s perfect for finding little gifts, apparel, or just knick-knacks you don’t really need but you want.
When I tell you there are tons of places to shop, I’m not exaggerating. All around the square you could spend a few hours just wandering in and out of shops. Because it is a mountain town, you’ll also find lots of outdoor gear shops. This isn’t necessarily a themed town like Leavenworth, Washington, but you’ll find that a lot of stores, restaurants, and shops really lean in to the western and rustic look.
BONUS: Places I Would Add to My List
- Jackson Drug
- Cowboy Coffee Co
- Snake River Brewing Co
- National Elk Refuge
- Healthy Being Cafe & Juicery
As mentioned above, to read more about our entire trip, click here: Glacier National Park, Yellowstone, and Grand Tetons | 5 Day Road Trip.
To read more about my Pacific Northwest road trip, click here: Washington, Oregon, and Idaho – Adventurous Road Trip.
To read about other amazing destinations around the United States, click here: Domestic Destinations.
