7 Cool Things to do in Grand Teton National Park

AugustFebruaryTraveling with Babies, WYOMING Lauren

My husband, Will, and I took our 9 month old son on a 5 day road trip through Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park in July. We split our time down the middle. Half in Yellowstone and the other half in Jackson Hole and the Grand Teton region. Let me just say, 2.5 days of exploring Grand Teton National Park was NOT enough. I could have spent a week here, easy. I do think, however, I did a pretty good job planning our itinerary. The Grand Teton Mountain Range sits right next to several lakes and the Snake River. In addition to my list below, there is biking, horseback riding, swimming (cold swimming, but still swimming), kayaking, whitewater rafting, skiing and so much more.

Here’s what we were able to squeeze into our few short days:

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National Museum of Wildlife Art

We got there before it opened so I didn’t get to go inside. But just the location alone is a reason to stop by this museum. It is just off the highway, between Jackson Hole and Grand Teton, on top of a hillside overlooking a panorama of classic Wyoming. Gorgeous bronze animal sculptures are scattered around the museum. We will definitely hit this up again next time we are in Jackson Hole.

Hike Jenny Lake Trail in Grand Teton National Park

I would put this at the top of your Grand Teton National Park itinerary!! It was my favorite day- hiking the 7 mile trail around Jenny lake. It took about 5 hours to reach the Hiddon Falls and Inspiration Point turnoff. By then, we were quite tired so we checked out Hidden falls and then took the ferry ride back across the lake to the parking lot. Be sure to bring water and snacks for your hike. Once you reach Hiddon Falls turnoff, the 2 mile, round trip, hike up to Inspiration point (I am told) is well worth the view. But after 6 miles on foot, with a baby strapped on, we decided to just see it next time. Jenny Lake is stunning and the hike around the lake is the best way to take it all in. When we return, I plan on doing the Taggart Lake and Phelps Lake trails as well. Both were at the top of my list, but sadly we ran out of time.

Hike or Drive up Signal Mountain

You can either hike 6 miles up the mountain to this viewpoint, or, if you’re feeling lazy like me, just drive 15 minutes to the top. Then spend the rest of the time it would have taken you to hike to have a picnic with a view instead! Definitely worth the stop either way…this was one of my favorite views of the whole trip!

Highway 89 Overlooks & Turnouts around Grand Teton National Park

We spent a good 2 hours just driving and stopping down highway 89. Pull over at the many overlooks and vantage points made easily accessible from the road. Snake River overlook was one of my favorite turnoffs. The river flows over 1,000 miles from Yellowstone National Park through Grand Teton National Park and ultimately to the Pacific Ocean. Take the time to build in a few of the stops. The views are much more spectacular outside, versus from the inside window of your car!

Swim in Spring Lake in Grand Teton National Park

Or dip your toe in at least. Pack a picnic, find a spot on one of the many little cove/beaches, and take the polar-plung on Spring Lake. We hiked about 10 minutes down the trail along the lake and found a spot to sit for a little while. The locals were swimming, and acting like the water was bathwater. But coming from Arkansas, I like my lake temperatures a bit warmer. You can also kayak and paddle-board. (Parking is limited! We spent about 25 minutes circling. Get there early.)

Our hope is to travel as a family as often as we can (at least as often as our work schedules allow us).

Click HERE to learn how we use points and miles to expand our travel budget. A step by step guide is included for you.

Mormon Row Historic District

Take a self-guided tour around the remaining buildings of the once vibrant Mormon Community. Just past Moose Junction, take a right onto Antelope Flats Road to explore the row of homestead complexes and farms.

Explore Jackson Hole

If you aren’t staying in Grand Teton National Park (which can be very pricey if not booked way ahead of time), a more budget friendly area close by is Jackson Hole. This quaint little town in Wyoming features arches made of shed antlers from the nearby National Elk Refuge in the town square as well as 3 ski areas: Snow King Mountain, Grand Targhee, and Jackson Hole Mountain. We stayed here a couple of nights on our trip to save on cost. The drive to both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park is still super close.

Unfortunately, this was all we were able to squeeze into our few short days in the Grand Teton area. We definitely hope to come back one day, and this time bring our newest tiny traveler (baby #2) too!

Quick packing tip: Bring good walking sandals. Tennis shoes are fine, but when it’s hot, I often wore sandals to go in and out of the lakes. These were super comfortable! Click here for the sandals (pictured below) that I found on Amazon for a reasonable price.