2 Days in Grand Teton National Park Itinerary
See the highlights of Grand Teton National Park with this 2 day itinerary perfect for first-time visitors.
This stunning national park in Wyoming offers up hiking opportunities for all ages and skill levels, crystal clear lakes, incredible wildlife viewing, and a deep history.
With just 2 days in the park, you’ll come away with a basic understanding of the park as well as multiple opportunities to dive into the breathtaking beauty of the mountain range.
Below, you’ll find a detailed itinerary to help you easily plan a quick visit to one of our favorite national parks. I’ve shared my favorite hikes, accommodations, wildlife viewing areas, restaurants, and more!
As with all of my itineraries, the suggestions below are great for kids and beginners, so anyone can enjoy this incredible place.
You seriously can’t take a bad photo in Grand Teton National Park.
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Grand Teton National Park Itinerary for Families
If you’re looking for a family vacation that you’ll remember forever, Grand Teton National Park is an excellent choice.
For a smaller national park, Grand Teton can easily take several days to explore.
Although you can drive the majority of the park in about 45 minutes, you’ll want to allot much more time than that here.
In the span of a long weekend, you can cover the essentials in Jackson Hole for the best first-time visit without feeling too rushed.
If this is your first trip to a national park, you’ll want to read through my comprehensive guide to the U.S. National Parks for beginners, which explains in detail everything from how the Junior Rangers program works to how to nab accommodations in the parks.
Where is Grand Teton National Park?
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Grand Teton National Park is located a few miles north of Jackson, Wyoming, and much of it lies within Jackson Hole.
NOTE: Jackson is the name of the town, while Jackson Hole is the name of the larger valley the encompasses the town, the Snake River, Mormon Row, and nearly all of Grand Teton National Park.
What’s the closest airport to Grand Teton National Park?
You can find the only commercial airport in any national park inside of Grand Teton!
Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) is about 10 miles to Jackson, Wyoming, and less than 15 minutes to the Mormon Row and Moose area of the national park.
Landing at this airport was breathtaking, thanks to the fact that the runway is at the base of the Grand Teton mountains.
The airport itself is also gorgeous and sets the perfect vibe for your time in this area.
Will I need a rental car in Grand Teton National Park?
Yes, you’ll need a rental car to explore Grand Teton National Park.
Unless you plan to purchase a fully guided tour of the park, which can be expensive, you’ll want to pick up a rental car at Jackson Hole Airport, which has 5 companies servicing the area: Avis, Budget, Alamo, Enterprise, and National.
Do I need reservations for Grand Teton National Park?
No, you don’t need reservations for Grand Teton National Park at the time of this writing.
While Grand Teton gets more than 3 million visitors a year, the park’s infrastructure isn’t under as much strain as other national parks that have gone to a reservation system like Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico and Arches National Park in Utah.
Therefore, there isn’t a current need for the park to establish a reservation system.
All visitors do need to pay the entrance fee (or have an Interagency Pass).
Self-guided Tour Suggestion
Since Grand Teton National Park is much smaller than the nearby Yellowstone National Park, you might be tempted to drive around and hope for the best.
However, you will be missing out on SO many of the amazing features of this park.
To maximize your understanding of the park’s history, geology, and wildlife, I highly recommend purchasing the GuideAlong tour for Grand Teton National Park.
This affordable app was one of the highlights of our time in Grand Teton—and we also purchased the self-guided tour for Yellowstone National Park, too.
The GuideAlong tour doesn’t need wifi once the tour is downloaded to your phone, and the narration starts and stops automatically as you get to each point of interest.
It was better (and much cheaper!) than having a real guide in the car since we could replay sections for clarification, or skip over sections if we were bypassing one area of the tour.
Itinerary Day 1
Welcome to Grand Teton National Park!
These 2 days in Grand Teton are going to be action packed, so you’ll want to grab an early breakfast and be ready to head into the park early.
Early Morning Wildlife Viewing
Can you spot the moose near Jackson Lake Lodge?
If you’d like to get some wildlife viewing in, I suggest arriving at the park about 30 minutes prior to sunrise.
Dawn and dusk are the best time to see moose, elk, bear, bison, and more as most are feeding during these short windows each day.
The best place to see bison is the huge field on 191/26/89 just before the turn to the Moran park entrance.
They’re fairly reliable here, and there is ample space to pull off of the road for pictures.
If you’re looking for moose, they like the marshy area between the Willow Flats Overlook and the turn off for Jackson Lake Lodge.
Touring the Park
If you’re not an early riser or you’d rather leave your wildlife encounters to pure chance, you should start off the day with the self-guided driving tour from GuideAlong. (See above for more details.)
While this guide is incredibly comprehensive, you’ll want to come back to certain areas on Day 2, as noted below.
Horses near Climbers Ranch on Teton Park Road
For this first morning in the park, however, we’re getting our bearings on the park layout and points of interest.
Me at the Cathedral Group Overlook
Start at any of the entrances to the park, open your GuideAlong tour, and the tour will automatically start playing.
Doing the entire Grand Loop of the park will take roughly an hour without any stops or much traffic.
Try to resist the urge to stop at too many overlooks as we’ve got plenty more to do on this trip.
However, if you need to stretch your legs while on the driving tour, the Cathedral Group Turnout on the Jenny Lake scenic drive leg of the tour is my favorite.
You’ll be able to get gorgeous photos of the middle Tetons here. The sagebrush in the valley makes the dark rock of the mountains look even more stark!
Plus, it’s usually not too busy, unlike some of the more trafficked overlooks like the Willow Flats Overlook or the Oxbow Bend Turnout.
Lunch Time
For lunch on the first day, head over to Dornan’s Pizza and Pasta in Moose.
If you started your self-guided tour approaching the park from Jackson, Wyoming, you’ll end in Moose, putting you at the perfect place to stop for lunch.
Chicken Gorganzola at Dornan’s Pizza and Pasta Company: yum!
Dornan’s Pizza and Pasta Company is at the end of a cul-de-sac filled with shops. You’ll see the turn off with the large signposts for Dornan’s off of both Teton Park Road and Highway 191/26/89.
Lunch with a view at Dornan’s
This quaint little spot hosts locals, park visitors, and seasonal workers alike for a casual but cool vibe.
Order food at the window in the back of the restaurant, and your drinks at the bar. Filled carafes of water and glasses are available at the end of the bar closest to the food ordering window.
We love this restaurant as it is cozy and kid friendly. The pasta dishes are freshly made and delicious—I still dream about the creamy chicken Gorganzola that I had.
If you want something a little lighter, they also have delicious salads, daily soup selections, and hot sandwiches.
While they have great pizzas here, stick to the pasta or sandwiches for now. We’ll have pizza at another long time Grand Teton restaurant tomorrow! For more information on where to eat in Grand Teton National Park, check out my complete guide to restaurants, snacks, and groceries in the park.
Even my notoriously picky first grader found something that he liked. (It was just buttered pasta, but he devoured it.)
For more family friendly suggestions in this national park, check out my guide to Grand Tetons with Kids!
Note that it can be crowded at peak times, so be patient if you’ve got to stand in line.
For the best views with your meal, grab a table on the back porch!
Mormon Row
To walk off a bit of lunch, head to nearby Mormon Row for some history and some of the best views in the park.
From Moose and Dornan’s turn left onto Highway 191/26/89, and take the first major right onto Antelope Flats Road.
A few of the buildings on Mormon Row
A couple of miles down this road, you’ll see the historic homes on a large flat part of the valley.
As you walk along the barns and homes along Mormon Row, imagine how desolate this area was in the mid-1800s as Mormon pioneers did their best to eek out a living in this beautiful but harsh environment.
The rustic barns in particular make for gorgeous photos against the towering mountains in the background.
There is limited parking along Antelope Flats Road, so be prepared to walk along the road during peak visiting times (typically June-early September).
Jackson Lake Lodge and Colter Bay
From Mormon Road, head north to the Colter Bay area of Grand Teton National Park.
Along the way, you might want to stop at one or more of the scenic overlooks.
The Camping Kiddos at the Snake River Overlook
If you’re a fan of art history, the Snake River Overlook is the perfect place to recreate the famous “Tetons and the Snake River” photo by Ansel Adams.
Keep in mind that he had a crane to lift him up above the trees here, but you’ll still be able to get close!
Another place to stop along the way is the Jackson Lake Lodge, which was Gilbert Stanley Underwood, who also designed multiple other lodges within the National Parks System, including the gorgeous Ahwahnee in Yosemite.
On the second floor of the lobby is a massive picture window that begs for a picture—or twelve.
There are a couple of upscale shops here if you’re looking for a souvenir, as well as a public bathroom.
Continue to head north to Colter Bay, which has dining, hiking, and our suggested Grand Teton accommodations: the Colter Bay cabins.
>> Read my full review for the Colter Bay Cabins here. <<
Spend what’s left of the afternoon exploring Colter Bay!
I’d also recommend checking into the cabins or campground here so you can have a more relaxed evening.
Once you’ve done that, head over to the Colter Bay Visitors Center.
This is a great time to grab Junior Ranger books for your kids, browse the Native American artwork in the gift shop, or take a short hike before dinner.
The Colter Bay Lakeside Trail starts right behind the Visitors Center and is one of the best easy hikes in Grand Teton.
At only 2 miles, you can hop on the trail for some beautiful views of the lake and mountain and still have some time to relax before dinner.
Dinner Options
Another reason why I love the Colter Bay area is how much is available within walking distance of both the cabins and campground.
If you’re looking for a light dinner, you can pick up a sandwich, pasta salad, or soup at the deli inside of the Colter Bay grocery store.
You’ll also find yogurts, chips, fruit, and more here if you’d like to put together a little picnic.
If you’d like something more robust, John Colter’s Ranch House is just across the street from the grocery store. It offers up salads, burgers, chicken sandwiches, baked chicken, barbecue sandwiches, and more.
In the same building, you’ll find the Colter Bay Pizzeria if you’re still craving more Italian food after lunch!
After dinner, relax back at your campsite or cabin. If you are on a longer trip and need to do laundry, there’s a large launderette next door to the grocery store.
There isn’t reliable Wifi in this section of the park, so pack a few books or a pack of cards.
Itinerary Day 2
Day 2 in Grand Teton National Park will be another early morning, but it’s worth the trouble of leaving your warm bed!
After a quick breakfast, we’re driving over to the Jenny Lake Visitors Center off of Teton Park Road.
Hiking at Jenny Lake
Here, we’ll catch a scenic boat ride across Jenny Lake to one of the trail heads for Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point.
Normally, my family and I aren’t the hikers who wake up early to make it to a trailhead, but the situation here requires special planning.
Jenny Lake Visitors Center is home to some of the most popular trailheads in the park, so the parking lot fills up crazy fast in peak months and on weekends.
Unless you want to walk another mile from your car, take my advice and get here early.
Ideally, you’ll be at the boat dock at the back of the visitors area as soon as the Jenny Lake boat ticket booth opens (10 AM May-June and early September, 7 AM mid-June to Labor Day).
Doing so will allow you to be on the trail early so you might get to hike without too many people on the trail with you.
NOTE: You don’t have to take the boat if you’d prefer to hike from the visitors center. Doing so will allow you get on the trail even earlier, but it also means adding another 2 miles each way to your hike.
The Camping Kiddos pause for a moment at Inspiration Point
Hidden Falls is the easier of the two most popular hikes from the boat ramp, but it does have some elevation gain and bumpy areas. Hidden Falls is about 1/2 miles from the boat dock and was easily traversed by my 2 elementary aged hikers.
If you’d like to push onwards, Inspiration Point is another 1/2 mile or so from the turnoff to Hidden Falls, but it’s a tougher section with more than 1500 feet of elevation from the boat dock and several areas with sheer rock faces on one side of the trail.
I did this with both of my young kids, and they did fine, though the drop offs did cause my mama heart to skip a few beats.
The views from Inspiration Point are incredible—you’ll be able to see across Jenny Lake and well into the lodgepole pine forest on the other side.
Plus, it’s a great morning hike to help you appreciate the beauty of this spectacular national park.
>> Explore more on this trail with my complete Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls hike guide. <<
From here, you can push on into Cascade Canyon, but I’d only recommend this if you’ve been to Grand Teton National Park before. There’s still so much left to see for a first-timer, so I’d suggest heading back to the boat dock and crossing Jenny Lake.
Not sure what to pack? Check out my guide to hiking on a budget for beginners!
Snack at Jenny Lake
As a reward for your hard work on the trail, head over to the Jenny Lake Store for a snack.
While you’ll find everything from soft drinks to coffee and chips, my suggestion is the delicious freshly made local cinnamon rolls that are located on the corner next to the microwave.
Baked by a local Jackson Hole family, these pastries are gooey and the perfect mid-morning treat.
Once you pay for the cinnamon rolls, you can microwave them (about 30 seconds is best!) for even more tastiness.
My kids also want me to mention the Tiger’s Blood slushies that they got here, which were a huge hit. You can find the slushie machine around the corner from the microwave near the soft drinks.
Signal Mountain
We’ve got a few miles before our next stop, so you can relax for a bit.
We’re headed to Signal Mountain, where you’ll wind your way up a 2 lane road to some great viewpoints.
The Camping Kiddos and I at the first of the 2 overlooks on Signal Mountain
You’ll have 2 opportunities to get out on this side trip: once at Jackson Hole overlook, and another at the top of the mountain.
Both areas have limited parking, so drive slowly and be patient during peak times.
The first overlook has a short trail leading from the small parking area down to the most picturesque photo spots. Honestly, I found this stop to be the more impressive of the 2 even though fewer people stopped here.
The overlook at the top of the mountain has a short, paved, and steep path to the top, where you’ll get long range views of Jackson Hole and the Snake River.
Lunch at Pioneer Grill
Step back into the 1950s at this vintage diner, complete with turquoise leather spinning seats and chrome accents.
My son waiting on his mac and cheese at the Pioneer Grill
The Pioneer Grill is located at Jackson Lake Lodge, a quick 10 minute drive north from Signal Mountain.
Head to the 2nd floor lobby to find this hidden quick service gem.
We had some massive cheeseburgers here, loaded Buffalo chicken fries, and my son’s favorite mac and cheese of the trip.
For dessert, get one of their chocolate chip brownies to go. It’s huge, so plan to split it with at least one other person.
You can also do a take-out order if it’s a nice day and you’d prefer to picnic outside.
CHEAP MOM TIP: The kid hamburger and the adult hamburger are the same burger—only one costs 6 dollars less than the other.
Snake River rafting ride
For your last big activity in Grand Teton National Park, I recommend going on a Snake River rafting tour.
This tour allows you to see the park from a new perspective as you drift along the mostly calm river.
Read through my full review of the best Grand Teton river float tour here.
My parents, kids, and I on our Snake River rafting adventure!
On the typical tour, the sections that you’ll visit are at most Class 2 rapids, which my 6 year old handed just fine. (I might have been holding onto his life jacket with both hands as he squealed with delight, but that’s just me being paranoid!)
The Snake River is actively changing the landscape of this park, and you’ll see evidence of how the river’s trajectory has dramatically altered sections of the river bank.
Plus, your guide will share fun tidbits about the park’s history and biology as you look for wildlife.
There’s a good chance you’ll see bald eagles, osprey, and heron, but you could get lucky and see moose, trout, or bears.
This tour is the perfect way to spend a few hours of your time in the park.
Book here to ensure you grab your preferred date:
Evening in Grand Teton
If you have some extra time on your second day—and the energy to do something other than relax!—head over to one of the visitors centers to see what ranger programs are being offered in the late afternoon or evening.
These free programs range from talks about natural elements of the park to stargazing parties.
Otherwise, pick out a few souvenirs, turn in your Junior Ranger booklets for your free badge, and relax before you have to head onto your next adventure!
If you’re looking for a suggestion on where to go next, Yellowstone National Park is an excellent choice!
Located about 45 minutes north of Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone is a place that everyone should experience at least once.
Here are a few resources to help you plan the next part of your Wyoming experience:
