A family-friendly guide to Grand Teton National Park, and why it is great for kids!
Grand Teton is our favorite National Park we have visited to date. We’ve gone many times during several seasons, and it is always magnificent. The park was about an 8 hour drive from our house when we lived in Colorado which was the perfect excuse for a road trip!
There is so much to see at Grand Teton National Park and it is a great place to bring your kids. In the Tetons you will find family-friendly hikes, scenic drives, tons of gorgeous overlooks, and even great food. The kids love seeing all the huge wildlife roaming around. From every angle these majestic mountaintops stand out. So without further ado, here is our guide to the best things to do with your family in the Tetons!
How to get to Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park lies in the Teton Range of the Rocky Mountains and sits in the northwestern part of Wyoming. The closest international airports to the park are in Denver (8 hour drive) or Salt Lake City (5 hour drive). A few regional airports are close options as well, in Bozeman, Montana and Idaho Falls.
There is a small airport actually inside the park, which is the only commercial airport in the U.S. located in a national park! Jackson Hole Airport is a small airport that cruises right over the rugged peaks of the Tetons and can cause a slightly turbulent (but safe!) landing.
Note: You will need a vehicle to fully see the Tetons and the surrounding areas, there is no public transportation or shuttle service available.
Wildlife Viewing in the Tetons
While David and I were in awe of the jagged, majestic mountains the second we saw them in person, the kids were not as impressed. The thing they loved most about visiting the Grand Teton was all of the huge and impressive wildlife that live here! We had never seen a moose in the wild, so that was top on our list to spot… and the Tetons did not disappoint. Read on to find out the best places to see wildlife in the park!
Moose
The thing about moose is they are very elusive. In spite of their size (they can grow to 7 feet high at the shoulder and weigh up to 1,500 pounds), they are quiet and solitary so they can be hard to spot. David and I went out driving at sunrise several days in a row, checking out every spot the locals recommended for moose sightings.
One glorious morning we saw this guy munching away right off of Moose-Wilson Road and we were so thrilled! The best advice is to go out early to places where moose have recently been spotted, because they are creatures of habit. And with their large size and thick fur coats, the enjoy bodies of water to help cool off.
Fun fact: Moose can swim very well… they can swim faster than an Olympic medalist actually. They can dive nearly 20 feet deep and hold their breath for one minute. Impressive!
Where we saw the most moose in one place was the appropriately-named Moose Ponds hike, which we talk about here: The best hikes in the Teton National Park. We saw 4 or 5 moose in the middle of the day! It was the fall and apparently mating season, so we knew not to get near a bull moose and especially not when there are females around.
Bison
Another animal we had never seen in the wild yet were bison. There are a TON (a literal ton, they are HUGE!) in the Tetons. So much so that they hold up traffic whenever they please. Drive anywhere in the Tetons around sunset and you will most likely see a herd of bison. Because of all of the animals in the park, the speed limit on most main roads is 45 mph from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.
These photos were taken either with a telephoto lens or from the safety of our vehicle. Bison are arguably one of the deadliest animals in the park, even more so than bears. They can be very aggressive and, despite their size, they can run very fast and will charge when threatened. The rule of thumb is to stay 25 yards away from any large animal such as bison, moose, and elk.
Note: These are not buffalo. Buffalo are native to Africa and Asia, and in my opinion bison are a lot cuter. 🙂
Bears in the Tetons
One thing you should definitely pack when hiking in the Tetons is bear spray! There are black bears and grizzly bears that happily make their home here. At the end of summer when they are gearing up for winter they will eat ANYthing. And don’t leave food in your car, we have had friends that had their car door ripped off by a hungry bear!
We came across a young black bear at the top of Signal Mountain Road, and we spotted one in the trees on Moose Wilson Road.
Elk in Grand Teton
The elk in the Tetons migrate between the national park and the National Elk Refuge right next door, and are called the Jackson elk herd. This is the largest herd of elk in North America so you are bound to see some! Nearly 7,000 elk winter here and in the refuge. And if you visit in the fall, you just might hear an elk bugle as a mating call. Our kids found a device in a local shop that mimics the elk call and bugled their little hearts out!
And that’s not even all the wildlife you can see in Grand Teton. There are mule deer (think of a deer the size of a donkey), coyotes, pronghorn (looks like a tiny antelope), bald eagles, and osprey. We even had a beaver run across the road right in front of us as we were driving past the snake river!
The Best Family-Friendly Hikes in the Tetons
There are so many different places to hike in Grand Teton National Park, it truly is an adventurer’s paradise. The first time we visited the park our kids were 5 and 11 and my parents were traveling with us as well, so we needed hikes that weren’t too dangerous or strenuous. We chose several hikes in the Tetons that were long enough to satisfy our hunger for hiking but that anyone could do, from ages 5 to 75!
How many days do you need in Teton National Park?
Ideally you would want a week to fully explore the Tetons, especially if you are adding in a day or two in Yellowstone National Park. But if your time is more limited, three days is the minimum we recommend spending in Grand Teton. You can do one or two of the hikes we recommend here in one day, spend a day in Jackson, and then you still have an entire day to do some of the scenic drives and overlooks that show just how beautiful and majestic Grand Teton is!
When planning any trip to a National Park we highly recommend the America the Beautiful National Parks Pass. We visited Teton National Park for several days and then went into Yellowstone, so the pass paid for itself on just one trip. If you are planning on visiting more than 2 parks a year, the pass is definitely worth your investment. At some parks it even saves you time entering the park, as you can bypass the normal lines and drive right in!
The Best Scenic Drives and Views in Grand Teton National Park
For those traveling with young family members that are either too small to keep taking in and out of the car, or if there is an accessibility issue, fear not. There is much beauty to be seen in simply driving through the park. In fact, some of the most beautiful sights in the Tetons are just a pull-off right off of the road!
LEARN MORE: Top Scenic Drives in the Tetons
Things to do around Grand Teton National Park with Kids
If you are taking a hiking break and you want to check out other family-friendly things to do in the Tetons, keep reading!
Jackson, Wyoming
The town of Jackson is at the southern end of the Jackson Hole valley. It is a great place to visit, to replenish supplies and groceries, and to grab a meal or a drink. Or both! It is also a great place to stay because it is so close to the park. There are the usual souvenir shops, but also some amazing art galleries, boutique clothing stores, and really good restaurants. Click here for the best hotel deals in Jackson Hole on TripAdvisor.
Don’t miss the iconic elk antler sign in the middle of town, made from antlers elk have shed collected by local boy scout troops. You can check out the famous Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, or grab a bite to eat on the rooftop deck at Roadhouse Brewing Co., great for people watching and a view of the town. Below the Brewing Co. is a toy and candy shop that our kids could spend hours in. There are art galleries, gift shops, quirky local stores, and tons of places to get ice cream downtown.
To get to town from the park, you can take highway 191 (the outer road) or take the inner road and go through Moose and Teton Village on Moose-Wilson Road.
Jackson Hole Gondola
Another fun thing for families to do near Teton National Park is to check out the Bridger Gondola. Take a 12 minute ride on the gondola, rising over 2,700 feet above the valley. Choose from one of 3 restaurants at the top to absorb the views.
Here is where we (adults) tried huckleberry vodka for the first time, after which we promptly brought some home from the liquor store in downtown Jackson. The kids fell in love with huckleberry taffy so we had to bring that home also. I get why the bears love the taste of huckleberries!
You can also walk up to the top of the gondola on a 5 mile trail, and then ride or mountain bike your way back down!
Where to eat in the Teton National Park
Jackson Lake Lodge
The dining options at Jackson Lake Lodge are awesome! There is indoor and outdoor seating, upscale options, a 1950’s style diner, and an outdoor Western barbecue. Or just go and grab a delicious drink while wildlife watching and soaking in the views from the patio!
Dornans Resort
If you are flying into the Jackson Hole Airport, or if you are entering the area from the east side, you should head straight to Dornans. It is a family-owned resort along the Snake River, about 7 minutes from the airport. Dornans is a great place to take in the vast landscape while the adults can share a beer and the kids can get a really good ice cream cone.
It is like a city in itself! For food and drinks they offer the Pizza & Pasta Co., the Chuckwagon Grill, the Spur Bar, and the Wine Shop with wine, alcohol, beer and microbrews. Dornan’s is also a great location to stay in their ranch style cabins. This area also has a Trading Post Grocery Store/Deli, ATM, gas, and the Coffee/Ice Cream Cart. We’ve been there for a chuckwagon breakfast, a quick lunch, and a fabulous dinner. And we’ve never had the same thing twice!
We absolutely adore the Tetons and have spent countless hours exploring the park. While we may not be able to visit as frequently now that we live in Florida, we relish the memories and photos we have collected over the years. We encourage you to experience the breathtaking beauty of Grand Teton National Park with your kids and family and hope you will come to love it as much as we do.
Our guides to other great national parks out west:
Happy travels!
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Great recap and tips!! TVs is
Thanks Jessi!
Beautiful pics and great tips.
Thank you Yvonne!
I so appreciate another parent’s POV on kid-friendly hikes in Grant Teton. We’re hoping to visit next year so I’ve pinned this — can never start researching national parks too early!
Agreed, things are getting so busy that you have to plan far ahead. It’s good that so many families are traveling though! 🙂
Teton National Park looks so incredible. We were going to go there this summer, but the lodging is so expensive, so we’re hoping to change our trip to sometime a little more off season. It looks like we definitely shouldn’t miss it though!
I think fall is a gorgeous time to visit, the Aspen trees are bright yellow and so beautiful!
Isn’t it fun when you spot the wildlife? Always an adventure at national parks. Loved the Tetons and would LOVE to go back.
It is one of our top 2 favorite parks to visit. Tied for number one actually with Yosemite! Such amazing places to spend time!
This is a great guide! I would love to visit one day
What a lovely place to visit, Grand Teton National Park. I would love to be somewhere like here just surrounded by nature and better yet, the opportunity to see the animals. I can see why Inspiration Point is so well named!
This national park looks absolutely stunning to hike around. I love the views from the trail, and the lake is so picturesque.
Grand Teton National Park looks incredible! I looooove the look of all the hikes. Also mooooooose!? We have been hiking here in Canada for a few years now, but I have never seen a single moose! I am so jealous. 🙂
It took a while of early mornings but we finally saw one. And then so many after that! 🙂
Grand Teton National Park is on my travel bucket list! (Was hoping to group it with a trip to Glacier + Yellowstone as well!) Definitely looking forward to checking out the hikes that you mentioned! :]
When we lived in Colorado we did a road trip through Yellowstone up to Glacier, and then back home through the Tetons. It was epic! I’ll gladly chat with you about it if you’d like!