Visiting Grand Teton National Park With Kids

Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Grand Teton National Park with kids. Use this Grand Teton National Park guide to plan an amazing itinerary full of family-friendly activities! We also share tips for things to pack, where to stay and more!

Grand Teton National Park is located in the northwest corner of Wyoming, just south of Yellowstone National Park. It’s a stunning area featuring mountain peaks, pristine lakes, and lush forests.

If you are looking for a fun and educational outdoor experience with your kids, check out Grand Teton! You can explore the park on foot or horseback, go fishing in its many alpine lakes and streams, or take advantage of the excellent wildlife viewing opportunities found there.

Use our Grand Teton National Park packing list to make sure you have the right clothing and gear for visiting any time of year! Grab your free printable packing checklist by clicking the image below!

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A Photo Tour of Grand Teton National Park

Take a visual tour through Grand Teton National Park to see the stunning landscape and wildlife you’ll find in the park!

What To Expect At Grand Teton National Park

Each season will have different activities and services available when visiting Grand Teton National Park.

The summer and early fall months are the most popular times to visit because the weather is so nice! But that means you’ll need to navigate the crowds. The spring and winter months are pretty quiet at Grand Teton. It’s a terrific time to enjoy the park if you like doing winter activities!

Pay attention to winter closing dates in late fall and spring opening dates for all Grand Teton road, services, and lodging. Check the website for Grand Teton updated road status.

You won’t need a US National Park pass to drive along Highway 191, but you will need one to access the Scenic Drive and the inner loop road.

Grand Teton Seasons and Weather

Do your research to know what the Capitol Reef National Park weather will be at various times of year so you can decide which season and month is best for you to plan your vacation to this stunning park!

• Grand Teton in the Spring 
• Grand Teton in the Summer  
• Grand Teton in the Fall
• Grand Teton in the Winter

Things To Do At Grand Teton National Park With Kids

There are fun way to get the kids excited before, during and after the trip with National Park activities:

• Grand Teton National Park Facts
• Grand Teton Coloring Page
• National Park Activity Pack (FREE PRINTABLE)
• National Park Activity Books for Kids

Check out this list of fun things to do at Grand Teton National Park with kids:

Grand Teton Visitor Centers and Ranger Programs With Kids

Grand Teton has four visitor centers each with exhibits, publications, and films. We recommend you talk to the on-duty rangers about the activities you are interested in doing at the park. They can give you tips for the best things to do with kids.

Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center: Make this your first stop if it’s your first time visiting Grand Teton. You’ll see interactive exhibits that highlight the parks history, maps of all the trails, and displays of early settlers and mountaineers. There’s a 15-minute movie about the park and rangers have a scavenger hunt for young kids.

Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve Center: This is a small, off the beaten path visitor center to get acquainted with the legacy of Mr. Rockefeller through video, photography, and audio recordings.  

Jenny Lake Visitor Center: This cabin turned visitor center now serves as an art gallery and museum. You’ll also find books, maps, and camping information here. Be sure to take the short walk to see Jenny Lake. The visitor center offers a shuttle service across Lake Jenny and a scenic cruise. 

Colter Bay Visitor Center: This visitor center has amazing views of Jackson Lake, and the easy walking trails take you to the boat dock. You can view a fantastic collection of Native American art and artifacts.  

A great way to learn about the park is participating in Grand Teton Ranger-led programs offered during the time you visit.

Grand Teton Passport Stamps with Kids

Kids, and adults, will enjoy collecting stamps in their National Park Passport book! Passport booklets and stamp sets are “usually” available at the park visitor centers, but we recommend you get the passport book before the trip, just in case!!

We’ve seen sad kiddos when a visitor center is out of passport books. Rangers can stamp a piece of paper, but it’s not just the same experience!

Grand Teton Junior Ranger Program

The Junior Ranger Program at Grand Teton National Park is a fun kid activity! There are activities to complete in order to earn the Junior Ranger Badge and signed certificate. Grab the free Junior Ranger booklet at the Visitor Center.

Celebrate National Junior Ranger Day in Grand Teton National Park in the spring at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose!

Grand Teton Scenic Drive With Kids

One of the best ways to get acquainted with the Teton Mountain Range is with a scenic drive through Grand Teton National Park.

The Grand Teton National Park scenic drive loop is 42-miles of stunning views. Here you can see an abundance of wildlife, exhibits, and majestic views of the Grand Teton Mountain Range.

There are three access points to the loop: Moose junction, Jackson Lake junction, and Moran junction. It will take 2 hours or most of the day to finish this 42-mile drive depending on how many stops you make along the way.

A fun way to entertain the kids while exploring the scenic drive is using the Grand Teton GuideAlong App! You’ll hear fascinating behind-the scenes stories, local tips, and directions that play automatically as you drive, based on your GPS location. It’s like having a park ranger in the car with you!

Grand Teton Hiking With Kids

With over 100 hiking trails, Grand Teton has something for all ages and every skill level. The Grand Teton trails offer incredible views whether you’re seeking a short, easy hike for the whole family or something more difficult to challenge yourself.

Here are a few easy hikes in Grand Teton National Park that are perfect for kids:

• Inspiration Point via Jenny Lake Boat Shuttle 
• Hidden Falls Trail 
• Colter Bay Lakeshore Trail 
• Oxbow Bend and Overlook 
• Cunningham Historic Cabin 

An important tip for hiking with kids is to make sure you select a hike that fits the kids’ abilities. Before you set out on any hiking trail, make sure you have the right hiking gear for kids.

Grand Teton Wildlife With Kids

You never know when you’ll see wildlife at Grand Teton. Here’s a list of great wildlife viewing areas:

• Oxbow Bend
• Mormon Row
• Gros Ventre
• Willow Flat
• Coulter Bay
• Pilgrim Road
• Moose-Wilson Road

Please be a responsible wildlife observer by maintaining a safe distance of at least 100 yards from wolves and bear, and 25 yards from all other wildlife.

There are a variety of Grand Teton wildlife tours kids will enjoy! Guides will talk about the local wildlife and travel to places where moose, elk, bears, deer, and eagles are usually spotted depending on the time of year.

Grand Teton Water Activities With Kids

Grand Teton National Park has more lakes than you can count but Jenny Lake is one of the main attractions. You can sit on the bank and take in the views, but Jenny Lake is a great place to get wet, cool off, and have some fun.

Paddleboarding, kayaking, and canoeing at Grand Teton are all great ways to explore Jenny Lake and stay cool in the summer, they are available for rent.

It’s also fun taking the shuttle boat for easy access to the beautiful Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point hikes.   

About 50 miles of Snake River winds through Grand Teton National Park and the river offers incredible views. One of the best Grand Teton National Park summer tours with kids is booking a Snake River scenic float trip! You’ll get an expert guide and all the gear you need, making sure you don’t miss a thing.

Grand Teton Winter Activities With Kids

You’ll find a variety of Grand Teton National Park winter tours that are perfect for kids!

• Grand Teton and National Elk Refuge Winter Tour
• Jackson Hole Dog Sledding Tour
• Jackson Hole Snowmobiling Tour

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are the most popular winter activities to do at the park. The Teton Park Road from Taggart Lake Trailhead to Signal Mountain Lodge is intermittently groomed for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. You can also explore areas around Colter Bay, Antelope Flats Road, Taggart Lake and Flagg Ranch.

AMAZON: Yellowstone and Grand Teton Guides and Maps

Where to Stay in Jackson Near Grand Teton

• Where to Stay Near Grand Teton National Park
• Grand Teton National Park Lodging
• Grand Teton National Park Camping
• RV Parks near Grand Teton National Park
• Glamping Near Grand Teton National Park

Here’s a list of our favorite places to stay:

• Elk Refuge Inn – this is right across from the refuge and the closes hotel to the park entrance – our favorite place to stay!
• Elk Country Inn – awesome property if you want to be in town.
• Vacation Rentals near Grand Teton – we LOVE having a kitchen to prepare our meals!
• Hotels in Jackson Hole