Wyoming’s Jackson Hole Valley is one of the most popular summer vacation destinations in the U.S. Tens of thousands of travelers from around the world descend on this comparatively small region of the Northern Rockies every summer (and to a slightly lesser extent the Winter ski season…but only slightly).
They come to visit Grand Teton National Park and view the single most stunning range of mountains in the lower 48. Because the Tetons have no foothills, their jagged granite peaks seem to rise straight up out of Jackson Lake; the effect is breathtaking. They also come to visit the cowboy town of Jackson, or America’s first national park, Yellowstone, at the north end of the valley.
Make Your Reservations Early For Summer in Jackson Hole
Despite a wide range of lodging options –everything from resort hotels to basic motels, campgrounds, cabins and condos—it can be next to impossible to find a place to sleep in Jackson Hole during the high season, especially for the tourist who’s waited until May or June to start planning.
An Overview of Various Lodging Options, From Most Expensive to Least.
Resort hotels/lodges are perhaps the most popular type of lodging in Jackson Hole. Most offer the comfort of a hotel experience combined with outdoor activities such as horseback riding or snake river float trips. They also have at least one restaurant on site, along with stores and other services.
Recommended in or near Grand Teton National Park are Jackson Lake Lodge, Signal Mountain Lodge, Jenny Lake Lodge and Togwotee Mountain Lodge. Prices vary between these and other lodge/resorts, but generally start at around $200 per night, increasing substantially with room types, views and amenities.
Motels, the great American standby, number in the dozens in the town of Jackson. Because of the competition, most are a bit nicer than average. Several of the motels have pools, and the majority of them are within walking distance of the town square, main shops and businesses. Two excellent choices are the Sundance Inn and the Antler Inn. Expect rooms to start at about $89, running up to double that.
Jackson's Historic Wort Hotel & Silver Dollar Bar
One standout hotel in Jackson is the historic Wort Hotel. Opened in 1941, the Wort and its Silver Dollar Bar (with 2,032 silver dollars imbedded in the bar) are not to be missed, whether you’re an overnight guest or not.
Cabins are another Jackson Hole sleeping option, and many of them are available right alongside the aforementioned resort/lodges. For a unique cabin experience, visit Colter Bay Village, at the northern end of the park and valley. Colter Bay offers not only historic cabins, moved in from all over the valley, but tent cabins, which a cross between a cabin and a tent.
National Park Campgrounds in Grand Teton National Park Offer the Outdoors
Finally, the least expensive, most budget-friendly place to sleep in this area is also the one that will get the traveler closest to the mountains, lakes and rivers he or she came for: campsites. National park campgrounds at Jenny Lake and Colter Bay offer the basics, including that most basic outdoor experience ...with campfire!
For more information on all lodging options in Jackson Hole/Grand Teton National Park, including those listed here and many more, visit Jackson Hole Lodging Guide.
Dale Van Every - Dale Van Every is a freelance and fiction writer living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He earned his Masters Degree in English Literature from ...
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