Not far from Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton is known for its impressive views, with the park taking its name from the iconic craggy mountains inside it. But, mountain views aren’t all the park has to offer. Scenic drives, hiking, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, boating, fishing, and the town of Jackson, Wyoming are all worth checking out!
Like many parks that reach into the high elevations or up north, what season you choose makes a big difference. In the winter, the park’s mountains are frozen up, and this extends into the spring. The main road into the park often doesn’t open until May and closes in October. There are no winter activities like skiing available in the park. But, the outer road is often open to catch some of the views, and there are winter play activities outside of the park.
But, if you go in the summer or early fall, you can get into those areas safely. For this reason, the park’s the most popular during the summer, with less predictable “shoulder seasons” in the late spring and early fall where it may or may not snow and the park will probably be open.
The park can be split into the mountain section and the valley. If you’re not ready for some physically challenging hikes, choose hikes that stay in the valley area. If you’re looking for some more work that pays off with views, the mountains are calling. In other words, the park has hiking for all fitness, skill, and ability levels.
Because it’s busy and the time people can visit is limited, it’s a great idea to make any reservations in the park as far in advance as possible. It opens up a year in advance, so reserve early to make sure you get a lodge space if that’s what you’re looking for. But, all hope is not lost if it’s filled up, as the town outside the park (Jackson) has more options.
Once you’re there, it’s a good idea to get out early and stay around a little later if you want to avoid standing in line, struggling for parking, etc. Planning to visit some of the less busy spots and visiting busy areas at odd times can help you beat the crowds. There’s a video at the bottom with more information about how to do this.
Sadly, this is NOT a pet-friendly park. They’re allowed in campgrounds and on roads, but basically nowhere else.
Finally, it makes sense to kill two birds with one stone on a Grand Teton trip. The park is just a few miles from Yellowstone National Park, so any EV that can get to one can likely get to the other.
Getting There In An EV
Quick Facts and Tips:
- The best way to get to the park is from the south and west. Charging in Utah and Idaho is a lot better than Wyoming right now.
- Another great way to get to the park is via Yellowstone National Park (check out the travel guide for that one here). The reverse is also true, so planning both trips at the same time makes a lot of sense.
- There are both Level 3 (DC fast charging) and Level 2 (overnight charging) stations in Jackson, Wyoming just outside the park. A hotel with Level 2 charging might make a perfect home base for Grand Teton and other nearby activities during your stay.
- Teton Village has several lodging options with Level 2 charging (for overnight charging).
- There are some campgrounds in the park with hookups, and they allow charging of EVs. But, double check that before going as rules can change, and avoid drawing more than 30-40 amps to not damage the equipment.
- The in-park Signal Mountain Lodge has one J-1772 plug. It outputs 6 kW, so it’s good for overnight charging. But, be sure to not lock the plug to your car so that others can plug in when your car is done charging.
Charging is fairly good in the area, but be sure to check ahead of time on Plugshare and do some basic trip planning with software in case anything changes.
Links For Further Park and Nearby Information
- Official Park Website
- EV Travel Guide For Yellowstone NP
- Jackson Hole Tourism
- Teton Valley Tourism (Driggs, ID)
Here are a couple great videos with information about things to do and how to plan a great trip to the park:
Featured image by the National Park Service (Public Domain).