Travel Guide: Jackson Hole and Yellowstone
Today Stephanie shares her favorite Yellowstone itinerary along with the best places to eat, see and stay in Jackson Hole. Plan a trip out West with our Greater Yellowstone travel guide below!
JACKSON HOLE & GRAND TETON
The Snake River from a Barker Ewing float.
DO
SEE
Workshop in Jackson Hole
SHOP
EAT
Enjoy breakfast On the Square at Cowboy Coffee. We recommend the Cowboy Croissant or Breakfast Biscuit. Their coffee also makes for a great souvenir!
Persephone and Picnic
Owned and operated by husband and wife duo, Kevin and Ali Cohan, Persephone and Picnic serve up delicious pastries and sandwiches. Picnic is more off the beaten path and tends to be quieter than Peresphone’s bustling location On the Square.
Enjoy a pizza and a pint on the roof at Dornan’s looking out on the Grand Tetons after a long afternoon hike.
A great place to pick up lunch on the road to Yellowstone.
Located in the historic, beautifully renovated Coe Cabin, Coelette features mountain-inspired cuisine.
Good Mexican food in the mountains. We love Pica’s for their outdoor seating, margaritas and chile rellenos.
Although they are temporarily closed for Summer 2022, we can’t wait to have a long leisurely dinner at the Caldera House restaurant featuring cocktails and pizzas when they reopen in the fall.
Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and The Silver Dollar Bar
After dinner head to Cowboy Bar and The Silver Dollar at the Wort Hotel for live music and a good time!
The Cloudveil in Jackson Hole, Wyoming
STAY
YELLOWSTONE
The South entrance to Yellowstone is only 31 miles north of Grand Teton National Park. Head into Yellowstone and begin your exploration of dazzling thermal features like Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring! The opportunity to see wildlife is unparalleled in the lower 48. Here are a few of our recommendations!
Yellowstone is large and expansive. What you are able to see in a single day entirely depends on what type of traveler you are, how much you want to stop along the way to soak it in, if you’d like to stop to fish or hike, if there is a wildlife-spotting opportunity, or, if there is a herd of bison crossing in and out of the road for a long stretch!
Grand Prismatic Spring
A newly opened short hike that goes up behind Grand Prismatic Spring offers spectacular views.
Take this road off the main loop to see a cluster of geysers from the road. Great Fountain Geyser erupts every 10 to 14 hours, if you can get there it is truly awesome! Eruptions last 45 to 60 minutes in a series of bursts.
Hayden Valley is incredible in general, and it’s the first place to really watch for wildlife. Go here before hitting the Canyon Junction.
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
Yellowstone truly has it all: wildlife, geysers and its very own grand canyon. There are many ways to experience the amazing canyon via trails and walkways, from different viewpoints and at different times of day.
The oldest and most dynamic thermal area in the park. Walk on boardwalks among the thermal features.
Stephanie’s favorite part of Yellowstone and where she most enjoys viewing wildlife.
There are also two north entrances: Gardiner which takes you first through Mammoth which has amazing thermal features and also goes by Boiling River, one of only two places you can swim in Yellowstone. Swimming in the Boiling River is one of the most incredible experiences, but it has been closed for the last two years and there isn’t a clear reopening date as of this posting.
Under the Canvas Yellowstone
STAY
All the lodging with the national park varies from location to location and is run by the same hospitality group. Some lodges have been recently renovated and you may want to choose lodging based on location or proximity to different sights.
Go glamping at Under the Canvas, located near West Yellowstone, another beautiful area of the park.
Located between the Lamar Valley and Beartooth Mountains, this is a great place to spend the night and then wake up early to watch for wildlife at dawn. If you are looking for a less rustic option the Lamar Valley Cabins are beautiful.