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Three days is the right length for Grand Teton National Park. Spend Day 1 on Jenny Lake and Signal Mountain, Day 2 on sunrise at Schwabacher Landing, Mormon Row and a Snake River float, and Day 3 at Oxbow Bend and the wildlife roads. One seven-day vehicle pass covers all of it, and the one real planning problem is the road construction that runs into 2027.
We have done big national park days with nieces and nephews along, and the Tetons follow the same rule as every one of them. Be moving before the parking lots fill. I would start the loop before sunrise, because the peaks catch the first light and the lakeside lots are still empty.
Grand Teton 3 day itinerary
Each day below stacks the stops that sit close together, so you are not crossing the park twice. Dates and prices come from park and operator pages checked in early October 2026, and the summer season details are for 2026 until next year’s pages post. The Jenny Lake boat, the floats and the Schwabacher road all run roughly mid-May to late September or mid-October, so this is a summer plan.
| Day | Stops | Time on the ground | Cost beyond entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jenny Lake shuttle boat, Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point, then Signal Mountain Summit Road | Boats run every 10 to 15 minutes; the summit road takes 30 to 60 minutes | $20 round-trip boat fare for adults |
| 2 | Schwabacher Landing at sunrise, Mormon Row, an afternoon Snake River float | The float is about 10 miles on Solitude’s trip | $110 for an adult on Solitude’s public float |
| 3 | Oxbow Bend at sunrise, wildlife pullouts, then Moose-Wilson Road when it is open or the drive north | Flexible; the north drive is the long part | No extra fee; Yellowstone charges its own |
If you only have two days, drop Signal Mountain and the float. Everything else keeps its place in the order.
Grand Teton entrance fee
The park charges $35 for a private vehicle, $30 for a motorcycle and $20 per person on foot, bicycle or skis, and each pass is good for 7 days, according to the park’s fee page. It does not accept cash, so bring a card. A park-only annual pass is $70, and the America the Beautiful annual pass is $80 for residents and $250 for non-residents.
Non-US residents aged 16 and older pay a $100 nonresident fee on top of the entrance fee unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass. Children under 16 entering on foot or by bicycle need no pass. For the full trip budget, see our national park road trip cost breakdown.
Grand Teton road closures
Start with the park’s construction page, updated September 30, 2026, because several projects touch the loop. The Moose entrance roundabout adds about a 20-minute delay on top of the entrance station wait, and that work runs from May 2026 to June 2027. Highway 26/89/191 south of Moran Junction runs on a temporary stoplight from October to December 2026, with 20-minute delays in both directions.
The seasonal closures are simpler. Teton Park Road is closed from November 1 to April 30 between the Taggart Lake Trailhead and Signal Mountain Lodge, and the Signal Mountain Summit Road closes for winter too. Death Canyon Road and Trailhead are closed from May 2026 to June 2027, and the park lists the northern segment of the Taggart Lake trail as closed through November 15, 2026.
Jenny Lake
Take the boat, and take an early one. The Jenny Lake Boating shuttle crosses every 10 to 15 minutes, takes no reservations, and sells tickets at the East Boat Dock. The 2026 round-trip fare was $20 for adults 13 to 61, $15 for children 2 to 12 and $18 for seniors, with one-way at $15 for an adult.
From the west dock, Hidden Falls is a 1-mile round trip and Inspiration Point is 2 miles round trip. Skip the boat and the same stops from the visitor center are 5 and 6 miles round trip. The shuttle ran May 15 to September 30 in 2026, from 7 am to 7 pm between June 6 and September 7 and 9 am to 5 pm on either side of that.
Parking is limited, and the lot fills in summer, which puts cars along the road. The Jenny Lake Visitor Center was open May 15 to October 12 in 2026.
Snake River float trip
The park authorizes seven concession operators for scenic floats on the Snake River, among them Barker-Ewing, Grand Teton Lodge Company, Solitude Float Trips and Triangle X. Solitude’s public float is $110 for an adult and $90 for a child aged 5 to 15, a 10-mile trip with taxes and franchise fees included. Grand Teton Lodge Company lists $76 to $130 plus tax, with trips of 3 to 5 hours including transportation from Jackson Lake Lodge.
Grand Teton Lodge Company says its season runs late May to late September depending on water levels, and its guests must be at least 6 years old. Solitude asks for 48 hours’ notice to cancel. I would book the earliest departure that fits your day, and leave a buffer before any evening plans.
Schwabacher Landing
Schwabacher Landing is the sunrise stop. Turn left onto the gravel Schwabachers Landing Road about 4 miles north of Moose Junction, and the beaver ponds reflect the Teton Range when the water is still. The lot holds roughly 20 cars, so arrive well before first light.
The road is closed to vehicles outside a mid-May to mid-October window because of weather. On a mid-October trip, confirm it is open before you drive out in the dark.
Mormon Row
Mormon Row is a short drive from Schwabacher and the easiest second stop. Turn right onto Antelope Flats Road off Highway 191 and drive about 1½ miles to a pink stucco house with a small parking area. Two barns remain from a community of 27 homesteads built between 1896 and 1937.
John Moulton’s two-story gambrel barn sits next to T.A. Moulton’s gable-and-shed barn, and the second one is the photograph everyone is after. The district was open in 2026 with some building access restrictions because of construction. Antelope Flats Road itself closes seasonally based on conditions.
Oxbow Bend
Oxbow Bend is a roadside turnout, and it is the best low-effort stop in the park. A channel of the Snake River bends toward the turnout, and the water often reflects Mount Moran. Trumpeter swans, otters, beavers and bears all turn up here, and the turnout is wheelchair accessible.
It sits on the north side near Moran Junction, which makes it the natural last stop before Yellowstone. If a bear is working the far bank, keep the 100-yard rule below in mind.
Signal Mountain Summit Road
The Signal Mountain Summit Road is 5 miles long and climbs 800 feet, and it is narrow and winding. Trailers and RVs are prohibited. Plan 30 to 60 minutes, and expect two overlooks with views of the Teton Range, Jackson Hole and Jackson Lake.
There is no extra fee beyond the park entrance. It is the stop to cut first if the day runs long.
Moose Wilson Road
The Moose-Wilson Road is narrow, and part of it is unpaved. Vehicles over 280 inches (23.3 feet) are not allowed, which rules out most RVs and trailers. It has no permit system, only the general entrance fee.
Use the pulloffs to watch wildlife and obey the posted signs. In a normal year the road closes from November 1 until mid-May, and 2026 added a full construction closure from September 8 to November 15.
Grand Teton wildlife
Stay at least 100 yards (300 feet) from bears and wolves and 25 yards (75 feet) from all other wildlife, the park’s safety page says. That is the length of a football field for a bear, and a moose in the road still counts. Stay in your car, pull off fully, and let the animal move on.
I would carry bear spray on any trail here. Glacial water often stays below 60°F, so the lake is not a swimming day, and afternoon storms mean you should stay off ridges, open ground and lone trees.
Grand Teton best time to visit
July is the easy month. The park’s weather page puts the July average high at 80.6°F, with warm days, cool nights and afternoon thundershowers, and the snow clears from the mountains by mid-July. Valley trails are usually snow-covered until late May.
October is quieter and colder, with an average high of 55.7°F, and the first heavy snows come by November 1. Most services wind down well before that. In 2026 the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center ran April 10 to October 31, and the Jenny Lake campground ran May 2 to September 27.
From November to April, most roads, all campgrounds and the visitor facilities are closed. Pack layers for cold mornings and warm afternoons, and see our national park road trip packing list. If you camp, run our national park camping checklist first.
Grand Teton to Yellowstone
Yellowstone’s south entrance sits north of Grand Teton along the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway. That makes a Yellowstone day an extra drive north, with its own entrance fee. Do not squeeze it into Day 3 unless you want a very long day.
Flying in is easy, because Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) is inside Grand Teton National Park. Rent a car there, since the stops in this plan are spread out. For the Yellowstone half of a combined trip, our Yellowstone itinerary covers three days without repeating this one.
Grand Teton National Park facts
How many days do you need in Grand Teton?
Three days covers the park well. Two days works if you drop the Snake River float and Signal Mountain, and one day is a Jenny Lake morning plus a drive north.
Is Moose Wilson Road open?
Not in fall 2026. The park’s construction page lists the road as completely closed from September 8 to November 15, 2026, its normal winter closure runs from November 1 to mid-May, and the work continues into 2027, so check the page before your dates.
Do you need a reservation for the Jenny Lake boat?
No. The shuttle takes no reservations and you buy tickets at the East Boat Dock. Float trips are different, and Solitude Float Trips asks for full payment when you book.
Is Jackson Hole airport in Grand Teton National Park?
Yes. Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) describes itself as located within the park.
Can you do Grand Teton and Yellowstone in one trip?
Yes, the two parks sit side by side. Each charges its own entrance fee, and our Yellowstone plan covers the northern half: Yellowstone in 3 days.
Prices are approximate, current as of publication, and change frequently — confirm the latest price with the retailer before buying.
Published October 19, 2026.
Photo credits: (1) featured, The Teton Range rising above Jackson Hole… — NPS / /Tobiason, U.S. Government work, public domain, via National Park Service; (2) Jenny Lake and the mouth of Cascade Canyon… — Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; (3) Schwabachers Landing in Grand Teton… — National Park Service, U.S. Government work, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; (4) Moulton Barn on Mormon Row with the Teton… — NPS / /Tobiason, U.S. Government work, public domain, via National Park Service; (5) Oxbow Bend of the Snake River in Grand… — NPS Photo, U.S. Government work, public domain, via National Park Service.