Three days is the right amount of time in Jackson Hole. Not rushed, not dragging. Here's how to use them.
Before You Arrive: Book These Now
Some Jackson Hole experiences sell out weeks in advance. Don't wait until you're there.
- Wildlife tours (BrushBuck, EcoTour Adventures, Wildlife Expeditions)
- Jackson Hole Iditarod Sled Dog Tours if you're coming in winter
- Jackson Hole Playhouse dinner shows
- Tram and gondola tickets online (cheaper + no line)
Day 1: Grand Teton National Park
Start here. Every time.
Morning: Head into Grand Teton National Park by 7:30am. The $35 vehicle pass covers your family for all 7 days. Stop at Oxbow Bend first — moose are there most mornings in the willows. Drive to Jenny Lake and let the kids run the lakeshore trail (2.4 miles flat, easy). If they've got energy, take the shuttle boat across and hike to Hidden Falls.
Wildlife viewing is best early. The light is better too.
Midday: Pack a picnic. Concessionaire food inside the park is expensive and mediocre. Eat at Colter Bay Visitor Center's lakeside picnic area — you're looking at the Tetons while you eat.
Afternoon: Drive the Teton Park Road south. Stop at every wildlife pullout. Signal Mountain summit drive if anyone has energy. Back to Jackson by 5pm.
Evening: Jackson Town Square — free. Elk antler arches, boardwalk shops, ice cream. Budget $30–50 for snacks. Let it be casual.
Day 1 cost estimate: ~$35 (park pass) + $20 picnic + $40 Town Square snacks = $95 for a family of 4
Day 2: Wildlife Tour + Snow King Mountain
Morning: Your pre-booked wildlife tour. BrushBuck Wildlife Tours (4.9 stars, 537 reviews) or Jackson Hole EcoTour Adventures (perfect 5.0, 490 reviews) are both excellent. Budget $300–600 for a family of 4 depending on tour type. Shared tours are significantly cheaper than private — book shared if cost matters.
Morning tours consistently produce better wildlife sightings. You'll be back by noon.
Midday: Lunch in Jackson. The Town Square area has plenty of options.
Afternoon: Snow King Mountain — right in town, 3–5 hours of activities. Gondola ride to the summit for the view. Then choose: Treetop Adventure Park ($45–65/person) for the rope courses, or Alpine Slide at Snow King Mountain ($15–20/ride) for repeat laps. Buy an activity bundle online before going — it's cheaper than buying individually.
For winter visits, swap the treetop adventure for King Tubes Snow Tubing at Snow King Mountain ($25–35/person per session).
Evening: Teton Boulder Park is free and right at the base of Snow King — 30–60 minutes of bouldering while the adults decompress.
Day 2 cost estimate: Wildlife tour ($300–600) + Snow King activities ($150–200) + lunch ($50) = $500–850 for a family of 4
This is the expensive day. It's worth it.
Day 3: Aerial Tram + Teton Raptor Center + Playhouse
Morning: The Jackson Hole Aerial Tram and Gondola Rides. Go early — before 9am if possible. Crowds build through the morning. The tram soars 4,139 vertical feet to 10,450 feet in 12 minutes. Kids look down and can't believe the town below is as small as it is. Tram tickets: $35–40/adult, $20–25/child (6–13), under 6 free. Budget $160–220 for a family of 4 including summit food.
Late morning: Teton Raptor Center — 1–1.5 hours, $40–70 for a family of 4. A nonprofit raptor rescue where kids get within feet of resident hawks, owls, and falcons. The contrast with the sweeping tram views is striking — this is intimate, close, quiet.
Afternoon: Stop at the National Elk Refuge & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center — free, 30–60 minutes. Then drive through the National Elk Refuge — free drive-through viewing. In winter, consider booking a sleigh ride ($25/adult, $15/child) into the herd. It's one of the most unexpectedly powerful wildlife experiences in the American West.
A stop at R Park in Wilson rounds out the afternoon — free, Snake River trails, wildlife watching.
Evening: Jackson Hole Playhouse for dinner. Cowboy dinner theater — the cast brings kids up to participate. Family-style food included. Budget $180–280 for a family of 4 (kids $20–30, adults $35–50). Book this before you arrive.
Day 3 cost estimate: Tram ($160–220) + Raptor Center ($55) + Elk Refuge sleigh ride ($80, optional) + Playhouse ($180–280) = $395–635 for a family of 4
Optional Day 4 (If You Have Time)
Jackson Hole Whitewater — Snake River float, $240–340 for a family of 4 ($60–85/person). The scenic float is right for most ages. Bald eagles are the headline. Book directly with the outfitter, not through a hotel concierge.
In winter, replace with Jackson Hole Iditarod Sled Dog Tours ($300–500+ for a family of 4). If you booked this, you already know it's the best thing you'll do.
Three-Day Cost Summary
| Day | Key Activities | Est. Cost (Family of 4) | |---|---|---| | Day 1 | Grand Teton + Town Square | $95 | | Day 2 | Wildlife Tour + Snow King | $500–850 | | Day 3 | Tram + Raptor Center + Playhouse | $395–635 | | 3-day total | | $990–1,580 |
This doesn't include lodging or meals beyond what's noted. Jackson Hole lodging is expensive — budget accordingly.
Practical Tips
- Book the tram early. Lines get long by 10am in peak season. Online tickets = cheaper + skip the line.
- Pack a picnic for Grand Teton. Park food is overpriced. A cooler in the car changes the economics of the whole trip.
- Morning wildlife, afternoon activities. Wildlife is almost always more active in the first 2–3 hours after sunrise. Plan your passive wildlife viewing for early, your activity-based stuff for afternoon.
- The $35 park pass is active all 3 days. Go back to Grand Teton on Day 3 if the kids want. There's no marginal cost.
- Kids under 6 ride the tram free. Factor this in — it significantly reduces the tram cost for families with young kids.
Bottom line: Day 1 sets the emotional tone — Grand Teton delivers the "we're not in a suburb anymore" moment that every other activity builds on. Day 2 delivers the action. Day 3 brings it home with altitude, raptors, and a dinner show that's genuinely fun for everyone at the table. Three days. Do it.