My love of traveling to US national parks was sparked by our first big trip as a married couple . We visited Grand Teton, Jackson, and Yellowstone National Park. We covered a lot of ground in just 8 days and this is the perfect trip to see some of the major US national parks. Traveling to Jackson Hole can be expensive and time consuming whether you choose to fly into an airport further away or right into Jackson Hole airport. Because of this, it’s best to pair visiting Grand Teton National Park, Jackson, and Yellowstone National Park all into the same trip! But what is the best way to get from Jackson Hole to Yellowstone? Let’s talk about it.
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Why travel to Jackson and Yellowstone?
Jackson Hole is one of the most popular mountain towns out west, and for good reason. Whether you just want to experience the Old West vibes, do some world-class skiing, go hiking, or visit Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole is a town you’ll want to visit over and over again. As I’m sure you know, Yellowstone is one of the most famous national parks in our country–and the world. With over 2 million visitors a year, this park is an item on many people’s bucket list!
Pairing Jackson Hole, Grand Teton, and Yellowstone National Park together is a no brainer! The distance between the two is negligible and you can easily see both on a one week vacation. I recommend visiting Jackson Hole and Grand Teton for 3 days and Yellowstone National Park for four days. Grab your hiking boots and get ready for one of the best adventures of a lifetime!
Should you use a travel agent for Yellowstone?
Should you use a travel advisor for your Jackson Hole to Yellowstone vacation? Obviously, I am a little biased seeing as I am a travel advisor but… the answer is a resounding YES. Planning a trip to a national park, especially one this large, can be a daunting task. The travel components are tricky, lodging is hard to find, and there’s often weather events that can affect travel.
Using a travel advisor that has connections to suppliers and an idea of the park can be a gamechanger when it comes to planning your Yellowstone vacation. Whether you just need a little guidance, or want it planned from start to finish, I got your back.
In many cases (but not all), you’ll also unlock perks you can’t get when you book yourself or through a site like Expedia. Our partners offer us exclusive benefits like daily breakfast for two, resort credits for on-site dining or spa, early check in, late check out, and more.
Fill out the form below to get started on your next vacation! Learn more about working with AR Travel here.
How to get from Jackson Hole to Yellowstone
Drive
In my humble opinion, driving is the absolute best way to get from Jackson Hole to Yellowstone. You’ll want to rent a car no matter how you get from point A to point B because quite frankly, it’s the only way to get around the parks. Pick up your car from the airport and you’ve got a simple way to explore everything you want to see.
When heading from Jackson Hole to Yellowstone, there are a few different routes you can take. There’s a more scenic route and a highway route. When I visited, we chose to drive through the park and couldn’t be happier with our choice!
Through the park
Driving through Grand Teton National Park and onto Bridger-Teton highway will take you on a ** mile stretch of protected land between Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. This route is very scenic but also takes longer. The speeds are slower, you’re constantly on the lookout for wildlife, and you can easily run into traffic jams. If you’re driving to West Yellowstone, you’ll enter through the South entrance of Yellowstone and have to drive all the way through the park to get to your lodging. Again, this way is much more scenic but driving through that much of the park exposes you to many more opportunities for traffic.
We almost didn’t drive this route because it was already close to sunset and many people urged us not to drive through the park at night. There’s a much higher risk of being impacted by wildlife as it can be unsafe to drive through the park in the dark. While I was hyper vigilant about looking for glowing eyes, we didn’t feel unsafe. We even got in our first bison traffic jam and got to see a whole herd of bison cross right in front of our car!
Interstate
The alternate route with a car would be to drive out to Highway 33 from Jackson and cut to Highway 20 to head to West Yellowstone. When we visited, there was a lot of construction going on so this route wasn’t going to be much quicker than driving the Wyoming Centennial Scenic highway, but under normal circumstances this route will save you about 20-30 minutes. The benefits of driving this route are saving time, avoiding potential wildlife and traffic jams, and having a more direct route to West Yellowstone.
Bus/tour group
Taking a bus is the best option if you are only planning to leave Jackson Hole to visit Yellowstone National Park for one day. First off, I must discourage this route. Yellowstone is HUGE and there’s too much amazing stuff to see in one day. I highly recommend staying at least four days to see all the corners of the park. However, if you REALLY only have one day to see it and don’t have a rental car, the best way would be to go with a tour group. A tour bus will allow you to see all the major stops and save you money from having to pay for a rental car for the day (and save on gas money!)
Train
If you live in America, you know that our rail system is absolutely abysmal. But when doing research for this post, I came across a really neat opportunity with Amtrak. For people that are totally against driving, or just want a really unique experience, you can take a train journey from Salt Lake City that travels to Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park over 7 days.
If you’re interested in an Amtrak trip, reach out so we can start planning!
Where to stay in Jackson Hole
Despite being a small town, Jackson has plenty of accommodations to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a rustic lodge or world-class luxury hotels, check out these amazing hotels in Jackson Hole.
Four Seasons Jackson Hole Resort & Residences
The Four Seasons brand is known for 5-star, luxury service and you’ll get nothing less at the Four Seasons Jackson Hole resort. Located right on the bottom of Jackson Hole mountain in Teton Village, you’ll get ski-in and ski-out access in the winter. In the warmer months you can golf, fish, or hike in one of the surrounding trails. You’ll enjoy cozy, rustic decor with pops of wood and warm blankets while you relax overlooking the Teton Mountain Range.
AR Travel Perks:
- Room upgrade (if available)
- Free breakfast for 2
- Early check in, late check out (if available)
- Resort credit to be used at resort restaurants or spa
Hotel Jackson
Hotel Jackson is a distinct luxury boutique hotel that prides itself on service and inspiring surroundings. With a contemporary style with touches of nature and its western location, you’ll feel right at home in Jackson. The famous antler arch, restaurants, and bars are just steps away at this perfectly located hotel. Hotel Jackson has just 55 rooms, so book early!
AR Travel Perks:
- Room upgrade (if available)
- Free breakfast for 2
- Early check in, late check out (if available)
- Resort credit to be used at resort restaurants or spa
Amangani
Another top notch luxury property, Amangani is perched on a butte near Jackson Hole. Decorated in modern rustic decor in the midst of mountain beauty, you can enjoy all of the outdoor activities and the amazing spa at Amangani. Amangani also has its own private ski lodge for skiing, snowbiling, and more or you can hop over to Jackson Hole mountain to shred those slopes.
AR Travel Perks:
- Room upgrade (if available)
- Free breakfast for 2
- Early check in, late check out (if available)
- Resort credit to be used at resort restaurants or spa
Hotels MUST be booked through me to have perks applied! Add your email and a message below.
Where to stay in Yellowstone
The Yellowstone Lodge
A rustic lodge located in West Yellowstone, this hotel is perfect for small families. There’s a pool, decent sized rooms, and it’s only a few miles from the park entrance!
The Ridgeline Hotel
Located in Gardiner, The Ridgeline is a contemporary style hotel that offers amazing views of the mountains and nearby river.
Under Canvas West Yellowstone
Under Canvas Yellowstone is probably my favorite accommodation on this list! This brand is known for “glamping” and it truly is luxury brought to the woods. You won’t be without any modern conveniences but still get sleep right under the stars every night.
Final thoughts/recommendations on traveling from Jackson Hole to Yellowstone
Making the trek out to Jackson or Yellowstone National Park can be a daunting text. Planes, trains, and automobiles, oh my! But if you’re willing to drive the extra distance, a trip from Jackson to Yellowstone is very rewarding. There are a myriad of ways to get from Jackson to Yellowstone National Park and it will only take you a couple hours! There’s no better way to spend a week’s vacation than a few days in Jackson and Grand Teton and rounding it out with four days in Yellowstone. Pick the route that works the best for you (I recommend going straight between the parks on Wyoming Centennial scenic highway!) and happy traveling!
Plan your trip
Need a little guidance or just want to take planning completely off your to do list? Reach out with your email below and I’ll be in touch within 48 hours.
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