Grand Teton National Park with Kids: A Guide
Exploring Grand Teton National Park with kids makes for the PERFECT outdoor family vacation!
With miles of trails, sparkling glacier-fed lakes, and huge mountains, this Wyoming national park will have your kids running, jumping, hiking, and exploring every moment.
In our comprehensive guide below, you’ll find everything you need to create a wonderful family vacation at Grand Teton National Park.
We’ve got important arrival tips, great things to do in in Grand Teton National Park with kids, accommodations suggestions, and more.
The Camping Kiddos on Signal Mountain in Grand Teton National Park
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Is Grand Teton National Park Good for Kids?
Yes, Grand Teton National Park is great for kids thanks to its wide variety of trails, river based activities, and kid-friendly ranger programs.
While nearby Yellowstone National Park gets all of the glory, you don’t want to miss out on Grand Teton National Park.
In fact, Grand Teton gets a little less than half of Yellowstone National Park’s 5 million annual visitors.
Given the grandeur of the mountain range, the variety of wildlife, and the park’s compact size, we’re baffled as to why more families don’t visit Grand Teton National Park!
It’s hard to take a bad picture in Grand Teton National Park!
NOTE: Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park share a border. If you drive to Yellowstone from Jackson, Wyoming, you’ll have to pass through Grand Teton to get to Yellowstone.
It’s the perfect excuse to do BOTH national parks!
>> If you’re planning to visit Yellowstone, too, you’ll want to check out my HUGE Yellowstone family vacation guide, covering everything from where to stay to what to do to where to get groceries. <<
What You Need to Know about Visiting Grand Teton National Park with Kids
Traveling with kids is very different than traveling without them. When I was in my early 20s, I’d figure things out as I went.
Now that I have kids, I want to know ALL of the things: where can I get snacks? What’s the best place to buy groceries? Where should I take my kids if they get sick?
To help you plan the best family vacation yet, I’ve included the answers to all of that and more in this section.
All you need to do is read it—and you’ll be prepared to head out on your trip.
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.
The park is close-ish to Jackson, Wyoming.
The entrance to the Grand Teton National Park is about 25 miles from Jackson, but that will take you 40-45 minutes to drive.
You will absolutely want to make a stop in Jackson for lunch, groceries, and outdoor supplies before you head into the park. (See below for more details on that process.)
Making a quiet stop at the elk antler arch in Jackson, Wyoming!
While the park is relatively close to Jackson, I wouldn’t recommend staying in Jackson for the duration of your trip.
You’ll get much more out of your experience in the national park by staying in our recommended kid-friendly accommodations below.
Plus, you’ll save so much time driving since you’ll be concentrating your time to within the borders of the park.
Jackson Hole airport has some of the most amazing views of the Grand Tetons!
You should fly into Jackson Hole Airport.
When you arrive in at the Jackson Hole airport, you’ll actually already be inside of the park!
Fun fact: Grand Teton National Park is the only national park in the U.S. that contains a commercial airport.
Your introduction to the Grand Teton range is incredible as you fly right by the 13,000 foot peaks as you make your descent to the airport.
The landing is also a bit rougher than most due to the way that the pilots must navigate through the mountains as they approach the airport.
(So, warn your kids, but assure them that they’ll be fine!)
You will need a rental car.
Unless you plan on going the private tour route with shuttle, you’ll need a rental car.
Not only are the private tours really expensive, you’ll have more flexibility to do what you and your kids want with a rental car.
All parents know that kids don’t stick to a schedule, and you often have to be ready to change plans depending on the overall mood that day.
You can rent a car right from the airport, but we suggest booking ahead as the airport inventory is quite small.
>> Book your rental car here. <<
Grand Teton National Park is made up of a big loop.
Teton Park Road curves closer to the foot of the mountains, passing by Jackson Lake, Signal Mountain, Jenny Lake, and through Moose.
Highway 191/89/27 takes a more direct route from Jackson towards Yellowstone, passing by Mormon Row, the Snake River Overlook, and Elk Ranch Flats before turning at Moran and joining up with the other end of Teton Park Road.
Stock up before you leave Jackson.
I’m warning you now: Jackson, Wyoming is expensive.
PIN ME!
But you know what’s even more expensive: buying supplies inside of the park.
Jackson has everything you’d need to get started on your family vacation, so head here right after the airport.
We recommend the Albertson’s on Buffalo Way for groceries, snacks, and baby supplies.
NOTE: There are ZERO baby supplies in the national park. Out of curiosity, we looked for diapers and baby formula at all of the stores inside Grand Teton National Park so that I could share my findings in this post.
I’ll save you the trouble of panicking when your baby goes through that last diaper unexpectedly, and tell you that you should bring diapers, wipes, formula, baby food, etc. from Jackson.
There’s also a Whole Foods if you prefer that store.
On Buffalo Way, you’ll also find a TJ Maxx and REI Co-op if your kids need another coat or sweater before heading into the park.
Grand Teton National Park has a medical center.
That being said, it tiny with 1 exam room and a reception area the size of a closet.
Still, the doctor was there when we needed him, and I’m thankful that the national park has a medical center.
My daughter had been playing with sticks outside of our cabin when she got a big splinter in her palm.
I tried to get it out, but didn’t have much to do so with.
By the next morning, her palm was inflamed and very puffy, so I took her into the medical center where the doctor popped it out.
You can find the medical center at the turn to Jackson Lake Lodge in a small building near the corral.
It’s basically like a walk-up doctor’s clinic and they accept most insurance.
10 Best Things to Do in Grand Teton National Park with Kids
We tried to find the pot of gold near Jackson Lake!
Don’t make the mistake of simply driving John D. Rockerfeller Highway and thinking you’ve seen all that there is to see in Grand Teton National Park.
You and your family need to get out into the park to truly appreciate it!
I’d recommend at least a 2 day Grand Tetons itinerary to truly get a feel for the park’s layout and scope.
Below are the activities that my kids and I experienced while exploring the park. At the time of travel, they were 6- and 9-years-old.
I’ve indicated the age appropriateness of each activity so that you can best determine which ones suit your family’s needs.
Hiking in Grand Teton National Park
Hiking in the park is the BEST way to get a feel for the scope and beauty of the mountains, river, and valley here.
That being said, it might be intimidating to take kids out in a place that you know moose and bears are roaming around.
We are from coastal South Carolina, which doesn’t have any large land mammals, so this type of hiking was vastly different than what we do closer to home.
Adding to the confusion is that there are many, many trails within the national park—and not all of them are appropriate for kids.
We’re sharing the best easy hikes in Grand Teton National Park here, so you can safely and quickly get your kids out onto the trail.
Taking the boat ride across Jenny Lake
And they’re off!
Best for: all ages
The boat ride begins behind the Jenny Lake Visitors Center, and crosses the lake.
The ride itself takes about 10 minutes and it provides incredible views of the Grand Tetons and the opening to Cascade Canyon.
If you’d like to do a round trip, adults are $20 and kids are $12.
However, you could also take the boat across the lake, and then hike back along the shore.
Doing so knocks the pricing down to $12 per adult and $8 per child.
If you’re planning on hiking to Hidden Falls and/or Inspiration Point, this boat ride will also get you to the trailhead for both of those.
Learn more about the Inspiration point and Hidden Falls hike here.
Wildlife viewing on Moose Wilson Road
Best for: all ages
This (barely) 2 lane road takes you through some of the most places for wildlife to appear in Grand Teton National Park.
You might see any combination of black bears, grizzly bears, moose, elk, coyotes, ravens, and more.
Go slowly for a better chance to spotting animals feeding in the woods.
Access the start of this road off of Teton Park Road near Moose.
You’ll see the turn off from Teton Park Road marked with a wooden sign saying “Moose-Wilson Road, LSR Preserve.”
From here, you can meander about 5 miles through the woods to Teton Village, where you can get lunch or walk around the ski village.
Moose-Wilson Road ultimately takes you to Wilson, where you can find the southern entrance to the park and Rendezvous Park (noted below.)
Mom tip: Buy your children a set of inexpensive binoculars to get them involved with wildlife spotting!
Their little faces are too small for standard binoculars (and you probably don’t want them dropping the good binos, anyway).
The small souvenir binoculars at the gift shops were a HUGE hit with both of my kids, and they used them constantly to help us spot animals.
These kids binoculars on Amazon are the exact same ones you’ll find for sale in the park—minus the national park branding—at almost half the price.
Kayaking in the Park
Best for: 7 and up
If you’d like to do a DIY kayak trip in the park, you have several options.
The section of the Snake River from Jackson Lake Dam to Pilgrim Creek is idyllic.
It moves slowly, but carries kayaks past some beautiful parts of the park.
You could also put in at Jenny Lake, Jackson Lake, or Colter Bay.
If you’re taking smaller children or children who’ve never kayaked before, I’d recommend sticking to the nearly flat lakes.
If you didn’t bring your own kayak, you can get a reasonably priced rental from Dornan’s in Moose.
The pricing includes a temporary roof rack, which the employees will help you install on your car.
You’ll also be provided paddles and life jackets, making it a one stop shopping experience.
Dornan’s also rents paddleboards and canoes if you’d prefer to go that route.
Snake River boat tour
Best for: 6 and up
Incredible views await on the Snake River!
What better way to spend 3 hours than slowly making your way down the Snake River?!
The river tours take a few different paths, but the one we went on begin a few miles below Jackson Lake Lodge and take out near the Menor Ferry Historic District.
You can take similar river floats that start at the Menor Ferry Historic District and let off just above Jackson, Wyoming.
My daughter got to try out her river rafting guide skills!
While there are a few Class 2 rapids, the majority of the river is flat and calm.
If you’ve been white water rafting before, you’ll also know that Class 2 rapids are fun and a bit bumpy, but nothing that will knock anyone out of the boat.
The guides are good about reading the groups to see if they should aim for a gentler run or a bumpier run.
When we took my children on the Snake River rafting trip, the guide was great about giving the kids a few thrills without scaring my 6-year-old.
Along the way, you’ll do some wildlife spotting, where you might find everything from a moose eating willows on the river bank to a bald eagle in its nest.
Read my complete review of our Grand Teton river float tour.
Then, book here for your preferred tour dates:
Scenic loop tour
Best for: all ages
One of the best ways to introduce your family to the national park is by doing the scenic loop tour.
To do this, you’ll drive the roughly 40-mile loop from Moose up Teton Park Road, then return to Moose via the John D. Rockerfeller Highway.
Doing so allows your family to see the highlights of the park and to better determine which areas you’d like to explore more.
I cannot recommend the GuideAlong app enough for this tour.
We used it while driving this loop, and it was as good as having a live guide in the car.
It was actually better since we could stop and get out whenever something appealed to us, and we could repeat a particular section of the tour if the kids were asking questions.
The app uses GPS to determine where you are, and then provides in-real-time recommendations on what to see and do.
The guide, Dave, also shares fun tidbits about the geology, history, and animals you’ll see in the park.
For less than the price of a burger and fries back in Jackson, you’ll be able to learn so much about the park via this easy to use app.
>> Download the GuideAlong tour for Grand Teton National Park here. <<
NOTE: If you’re doing to Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park together, there is a dual tour for those. You’ll save about 30% by buying the bundle over each park separately.
Junior Ranger program
Best for: 4 and up
My son helping Ranger Dustin out at Colter Bay
We love the NPS Junior Ranger programs, and my kids have gotten badges from Virginia to Arizona!
These programs are usually free—or very low cost—and they’re an amazing way to get your kids beyond the surface of the parks.
The Junior Ranger booklet at Grand Teton National Park was super colorful, and my 6-year-old started working on it before we even left the visitors center.
Once kids complete the number of pages for their age group, they should attend a free ranger walk.
We did the short and interesting ranger talk about water in the West. My kids learned so much about water usage in Wyoming, Colter Bay, the effects of water on local wildlife, and the Snake River.
NOTE: Even if you’re not doing the Junior Ranger program, I encourage you to take your family to one or more of the ranger talks and hikes.
These programs are completely free for visitors and are led by rangers with a particular passion, educational background, and/or professional experience for that topic.
After that, they can bring the booklet back to one of the visitors centers to get sworn in by a ranger.
For their work, they’ll get a wooden badge custom to that particular park.
They can attach their pin to a Junior Ranger pin banner (sold in the Colter Bay gift shop), a sun hat, a Junior Ranger vest, or a backpack.
Biking along Teton Park Road
Best for: all ages
For an area so close to the Grand Teton mountain range, Teton Park Road is incredibly flat.
It also has a wide, paved bike path for over 15 miles, making this area perfect for a family bike ride or two.
Bring your own bikes to start this adventure, or you can rent one from Dornan’s in Moose.
Dornan’s does have kids’ bikes for children roughly 7 and up.
If you’ve got a younger child along for the ride, you can also rent pull behind bike trailer or get a Tagalong bike accessory attached to the parent’s bike.
From Moose, head north on the bike path towards Jenny Lake to see Menor’s Ferry, Glacier Overlook and more.
We love this adventure for its flexibility. You can bike as far as your kids want to before turning around, whether that’s 1 mile or all 15!
Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve
Best for: all ages
Donated by one of John D. Rockerfeller III’s sons, the LSR Preserve is a tranquil space hidden within the incredible Grand Teton National Park.
The preserve began as a local ranch, but it was purchased by the Rockerfellers and expanded to become a family compound.
In the early 2000’s, Laurance S. Rockerfeller worked with NPS to create an isolated property where visitors could reflect and explore just as he and his brothers did as children.
To accomplish this feeling, the parking lot was purposefully made to be tiny.
This means that only about 100 visitors can access the property at any given time.
(Go early to ensure you grab a park. Going on an overcast, foggy day will give you an extra hour or two before the parking lot fills up.)
NOTE: The entire property doesn’t have trash cans. You’ll need to pack out everything. There aren’t even any hand towels in the bathrooms.
Begin your adventures at the visitors center, where your kids can learn through colorful, interactive exhibits that explore their senses.
In one room, you’ll listen to sounds of the preserve from a thunderstorm to an elk bugling.
In another, you’ll touch bronze castings of different parts of the forest floor.
And, in the library, you’ll be able to read one of the many nature-themed books by a roaring fire.
There’s even 3 entire shelves of children’s books!
Outside the visitors center is even more to discover. Hop on one of the excellent ranger talks to learn more about the history of this property, the Rockerfellers, and the animals who call it home.
If you’d prefer to explore solo, take advantage of the free backpack program.
With this program, kids 6-12 can check out a backpack from the rangers, and then use the included guides and activities to make their way around one of the easy trails in the preserve.
Honorable Mention: Mama Mimi the Troll
The author and her kids with Mama Mimi the Troll
Best for: 3 and up
This area of Wyoming is so magical that a troll calls it home!
Just below the Moose entrance to Grand Teton is Rendezvous Park, where Mama Mimi lives her best life on the banks of a picturesque pond.
This large sculpture was created by Thomas Dambo, who has installed more than 150 of these unique creatures across the world.
For a complete trail guide to finding Mama Mimi the troll, check out my detailed post!
Wilson, Wyoming, received theirs in 2021, and it is well worth the small detour from the park to see.
To get to Mama Mimi, leave Grand Teton National Park via the Moose Wilson Road.
After you pass the Granite Canyon exit booths, continue to travel on Moose Wilson Road for another 7 miles.
Just before you get to the intersection with Highway 22, the entrance to Rendezvous Park will be on your left. Entrance to the park is free.
In the park, the easiest path to Mama Mimi is via the worn dirt path that heads slightly to the left past the large map near the restrooms.
You’ll have the pond on your left, and Mama Mimi is in the grove of trees directly ahead.
You can climb across Mama Mimi’s extended leg, which is meant to be a bridge to the small island in front of her.
To get a better view of Mama Mimi, turn right at her back, then cross the small wooden footpath.
Cut back across the large stones dotting the pond to get up on the Snake River pedestrian levee.
If you walk down the levee to the left, you’ll have a great overlook of her and her reflection in the pond.
Explore even more in this part of Wyoming with these outdoor family activities:
Where to Eat in Grand Teton National Park with Kids
Even if you choose to pick up groceries in Jackson before your Teton adventures begin, you’ll want to try at least one or two local restaurants while you’re in the national park.
And if you have the world’s pickiest eater like I do, you don’t want to spend your time and money buying meals only to watch your kids stare at it.
Below, are 3 places that come highly recommended from my kids.
They are all inside the park, but in different areas so you’ll always have somewhere nearby to eat.
Dornan’s Pizza and Pasta
Located: in Moose
The delicious chicken gorganzola pasta dish at Dornan’s pizza and pasta
I know that I’ve talked about Dornan’s in Moose a lot in this post, but it really is a great spot!
After you’ve done the kayak and bike rentals recommended elsewhere in this post, come back to this area to eat at the Pizza and Pasta restaurant.
Located all the way at the back of this small group of businesses, Dornan’s Pizza and Pasta is laid back and effortlessly cool.
Order food at the back counter and drinks at the bar, and pick a table near one of the huge windows overlooking the Grand Tetons.
On nice nights, opt for the large back patio.
The menu has fresh salads, huge bowls of pasta, creative pizzas, and yummy appetizers.
My kids went for the plain buttered noodles, but the kids menu also has a spaghetti and meatballs option for the slightly more adventurous palate.
The adults opted for the incredible Chicken Gorganzola pasta and the pasta Margherita, which was equally tasty.
This place gets crowded at night, so eat on the earlier side if you don’t want to wait for a table.
Leek’s Pizzeria
Located: just north of Colter Bay
The older Camping Kiddo with our pizza at Colter Bay
Freshly baked thin crust pizza with a lake view: what more could you ask for?
This local staple serves up a wide variety of pizzas and calzones along with salads, grilled cheese, and more.
While my younger child started with a grilled cheese, he ended up digging into his sister’s cheese pizza—while she exclaimed that his grilled cheese was the best one she’d ever had.
Get to the pizzeria right at the noon opening time to snag one of the tables of the porch overlooking Pelican Bay on Jackson Lake.
The Fountain at Jackson Lake Lodge
Located: the second floor of Jackson Lake Lodge
Return to yesteryear with this 1950’s inspired soda fountain, where waiters and waitresses serve up huge burgers, mounds of fries, chicken sandwiches, and dishes of ice cream.
This restaurant was one of our favorites on this trip as the portions were generous and everything was hot and made to order.
My daughter’s burger from the kids menu was just as big as an adult plate—for $10 less!
We also had the buffalo chicken fries with cheese, green onions, and blue cheese dressing, which was a delicious appetizer.
Other stand-outs included the fried chicken sandwich and the massive chocolate chip brownie for dessert.
You don’t need to be a guest at the Jackson Lake Lodge to eat here, and this stop also gives you a reason to see the spectacular views from the picture window at the back of the 2nd floor.
Recommended Place to Stay with Kids in Grand Teton National Park
Our Colter Bay cabin
Like at Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park has many options on where to stay.
Instead of booking a traditional hotel room at the Jackson Lake Lodge, opt for one of the cabins at Colter Bay Village.
These cabins are about twice the size of the hotel rooms in the park, and they have 2-3 beds depending on the layout you choose.
You’ll also get a bit of history during your stay as these cabins were built in the 1930s and refurbished in the 1990s.
They’re rustic enough to make you feel like you’re on a mountain getaway, but roomy enough for the modern family.
Plus, you can walk just down the road to get to the Colter Bay activities booth, grocery store, laundry mat, and grocery store.
For the best wifi, opt for a cabin on the first row next to the entrance (cabins 201-230).
Elsewhere in the cabin area, you’ll have extremely poor wifi unless you park yourself at the check-in building.
>> Check out my full review of the Colter Bay cabins, our pick for the best place to stay in Grand Teton National Park. <<
Grand Teton National Park with Kids FAQs
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For the best chance of blue skies and warm weather, visit Grand Teton National Park in late August and early September.
After Labor Day, many vendors and shops close up for the winter, so going late in the summer allows you to get the most out of the park without the peak crowds.
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Jackson, Wyoming, is the town to the south of Grand Teton National Park.
Jackson Hole is the valley at the base of the Grand Tetons.
Confusingly, some people use these terms interchangeably, but they technically refer to to separate things.
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While I’m a huge believer of taking your kids on adventures from their baby years, your kids will likely get more out of the park if they’re 5 and up.
As your kids grow, you’ll be able to do more: more intense sections of the Snake River open up to older kids, and you can take longer (and even overnight!) hikes with teens.
That being said, there’s really something here for families at any age and stage.
