Jackson, WY Road Trips

The terms "Jackson" and "Jackson Hole" are often mistakenly interchanged. "Jackson" is the name of the town. "Jackson Hole" refers to either the greater valley area (including, for example, the towns of Wilson and Kelly) or the Jackson Hole ski resort. Jackson transforms from a popular ski town during the winter into a mecca for travelers here to admire and participate in boundless summer beauty and activities. Meanwhile, in the spring and fall seasons, the town slows down as only the 6,000 or so year-round residents remain (and many of them may leave during this time as well) and many of the hotels and restaurants close for the season. Each of the seasons have their pluses and minuses depending on the visitor's expectations and desires, but it pays to know what time of year is best for what activity, especially in Jackson's unique high-altitude environment. 1 Jackson Hole Visitor Center, 532 North Cache St (on your right on the way out of town on Hwy 89 north), ☏ +1 307 739-3606. Mostly a gift shop, but also very friendly staff with good maps and local knowledge, and some wildlife exhibits on the upper floor and outside. (updated Dec 2016)

1 Town Square (George Washington Memorial Park). On U.S. 26/89/191 (which become Cache Drive), with Deloney Avenue to its north and Broadway Avenue to its south. Jackson's town square has unique arches at each of its four corners. These arches were constructed from hundreds of elk antlers. In the center of the square is a memorial to area soldiers. Surrounding the square are many shops and art galleries. During the summer months, actors stage a shoot-out skit at one corner of the square, complete with bank robbers, showgirls, a stage coach, and a lovable drunk doc. (updated Oct 2020) 2 Jackson Hole Museum, 225 N Cache St, ☏ +1 307-733-2414. W-Sa: 10AM-5PM. Over 50 years old, this museum houses almost 12,000 antiquities that range from Native American artifacts, to objects and tools from the area's first settlers and traders. Also features exhibits on the history of Jackson, Jackson Hole, and the surrounding National Parks. Walking tours available. $5 adults, $4 seniors & students. 3 National Elk Refuge, ☏ +1 307 733-9212, [email protected]. Every day, 8AM-7PM summer, 9AM-5PM winter. The National Elk Refuge preserves land for the more than 5000 elk that migrate to the area each winter. Though wildlife is easily viewable from the main Refuge Road, a highlight of a visit to the refuge is a ride on a horse-drawn sleigh, offered daily every year from December to April, depending on snow conditions. Hiking is limited in the refuge. 4 National Museum of Wildlife Art, 2820 Rungius Rd, toll-free: +1-800-313-9553. Open M-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su 1-5PM.

Skiing is a popular activity during the winter in Jackson, with a handful of top-notch resorts nearby. 1 Snow King Resort, 400 East Snow King Ave, toll-free: +1-800-522-5464. The base of this smaller mountain is incredibly convenient to the town, located a mere 6 blocks from the town square. (updated Oct 2020) 2 Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, 3395 Cody Ln, Teton Village, ☏ +1 307 733-2292 (general info), +1 307 733-2291 (snow conditions), [email protected]. Featuring a vertical rise of over 4,000 feet, this resort offers world-class skiing, and is in Teton Village, about a 15 minute drive from Jackson. Accessible by bus. (updated Oct 2020) 3 Grand Targhee Resort, 3300 East Ski Hill Rd, Alta (over Teton Pass, about an hour and a half from Jackson), ☏ +1 307 353-2300. This mountain that receives of 500 inches of snow every winter might be worth the trip for a taste of fresh powder. (updated Mar 2021) An extensive network of trails runs through the mountains just outside of town, most easily accessible from the Cache Creek trailhead. Superb hiking opportunities abound in the nearby National Parks. 4 Alpine Slide. - in Jackson Hole 5 Horse Creek Ranch, 9600 South US Highway 89, ☏ +1 307 733-6556. Offers morning and afternoon rides up to the top of a mesa for a spectacular view of a section of Lewis and Clark's trail, followed by a pretty good cowboy meal. Guides are helpful and friendly. Great family activity. Around $225 per rider for a 2-hour ride plus meal. 6 Barker-Ewing River Trips, 945 West Broadway, toll-free: +1-800-448-4202.

1 The Blue Lion, 160 North Millward St, ☏ +1 307 733-3912. Somewhat pricey but well worth it. The stuffed mushrooms and mud pie are incredible. 2 Dornan's Chuckwagon. 7 miles north of town on Route 89 in Moose. Offers hearty chuckwagon fare for lunch and dinner (beef stew, ribs, beans, corn bread). But the real attraction is the view: picnic table dining at the foot of the Grand Tetons. Great for kids. 3 Pica's, 1160 Alpine Ln, ☏ +1 307 734-4457. Every day 11AM-10PM. Inexpensive burritos made with fresh, healthy ingredients. Excellent guacamole. 4 Snake River Grill, 84 East Broadway, ☏ +1 307 733-0557. Every day, from 5:30PM in summer, 6PM in winter. Offers excellent dinners, with local touches found in not only the atmosphere, but the menu and ingredients, too. Nationally recognized chef. Most sought after reservations in town. Rather expensive, about $40-$50 a person. 5 Sweetwater, ☏ +1 307 733-3553. Corner of Pearl and King St. Great homemade soups and sandwiches for lunch, slightly expensive but awesome dinner (the macaroni and cheese side dish is a must). 6 Pearl Street Bagels, 145 West Pearl Ave, ☏ +1 307-739-1218. Breakfast & lunch. Great service, good vibes, free wi-fi, totally yummy menu (including bagels, sandwiches, coffee), long but reasonably fast moving line. Also has an outlet in the town of Wilson. 7 Jedediah's (at the Jackson-Hole Airport), ☏ +1 307 733-6063, [email protected]. 6AM-7PM. 8 The Kitchen, 155 N. Glenwood, ☏ +1 307 734-1633. From 5:30PM. 9 Rendezvous Bistro, 380 S. Broadway, ☏ +1 307 739-1100. Dinner only.

1 Silver Dollar Bar & Grill, ☏ +1 307 773-2190. Corner of Glenwood and Broadway, inside the Wort Hotel. Offers great drinks and food in an Old West saloon-style setting. 2 Snake River Brew Pub, 265 South Millward St, ☏ +1 307 739-2337. Every day 11:30AM-1AM. A good place to go for an excellent microbrew at the end of a long hike or ski. Award winning beer and a boisterous atmosphere. 3 Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, 25 N Cache, on the Square, ☏ +1 307 733-2207, [email protected]. The landmark Jackson Hole bar--not to be missed; dancing nightly, saddle bar stools, good restaurant in basement. (updated Oct 2020)

Generally speaking, hotel prices and availability in Jackson can fluctuate wildly by the season. During the summer months (and especially summer weekends) hotel rooms can be very difficult to obtain without a reservation or without a lot of money. During the wintertime, there are typically always rooms available, however prime rooms near the ski resorts may require advance planning and additional funds. On the other hand, during the off-season, many hotels in town close due to lack of demand. 1 The Hostel, 3315 McCollister Dr, ☏ +1 307 733-3415. Teton Village. Perhaps the best deal in the best location in Jackson Hole. Hostel X is right in Teton Village at the base of the mountain. Sweeping views, cheap rooms and a big rec room make this a nice choice for folks who want a good location at a good price. You can also have dogs in your room, though you should ask about this first. 2 4 Winds Motel, 150 North Millward, ☏ +1 307 733-2474. 3 Super 8 Motel, 750 South US Hwy 89, ☏ +1 307 733-6833. 4 Motel 6, 600 South Highway 89, ☏ +1 307 733-1620, fax: +1 307 734-9175. 5 Angler's Inn, 265 North Millward, toll-free: +1-800-867-4667. 6 Antler Inn, 43 West Pearl St, ☏ +1 307 733-2535. 7 Best Western Lodge at Jackson Hole, 80 Scott Ln, toll-free: +1-800-458-3866. Offers deluxe hotel lodging accommodations with unsurpassed service and amenities. 8 Cowboy Village Resort, 120 South Flat Creek Dr, ☏ +1 307 733-3121. Individual log cabins with kitchenettes, porches, BBQs with utensils -- all for about the same price as an ordinary motel room.

1 Jackson Hole Airport (JAC IATA) (7 miles north of the CBD, within the boundaries of Grand Teton National Park), ☏ +1 307-733-7682. Year-round flights are provided from Salt Lake City by Delta, and from Denver Airport by United. Seasonal services are provided by American, Frontier, United, and Delta from those cities and eleven others across the US. Alltrans runs a seasonal shuttle from the airport to Jackson and many hotels and motels offer free shuttle service. Rental cars are available at the airport from Avis, Hertz, and Enterprise. (updated Mar 2021) Jackson is a few miles south of Grand Teton National Park on U.S. Route 191. Wyoming State Highway 22 intersects US-191 in Jackson, connecting to Victor, Idaho. The nearest city of size, Salt Lake City, Utah, served by several major airlines, is 307 miles or about a five-hour drive away. Mountain States Express has 1-2 round-trips per day to/from Salt Lake City via the U.S.89/U.S.30/U.S189 corridor Salt Lake Express has 2 round-trips per day to Idaho Falls, where connections can be made to the Rexburg - Salt Lake City and Idaho Falls - Grand Falls route. Bundu Bus bundubus.com has 2 round-trips per day to Idaho Falls, with service also available to West Thumb and West Yellowstone

START Bus (Southern Teton Area Rapid Transit) serves Jackson, Teton Village, Star Valley to the south as far as Etna, and Teton Valley as far as Driggs, Idaho. Travel is free within the town limits and north to the National Museum of Wildlife Art. In addition to the rental car companies at the airport, Dollar and Thrifty both have depots downtown. The town of Jackson is small enough to be explored by walking, or bicycle.