Is Jackson Hole the same as the town of Jackson?

Jackson is the town. Jackson Hole is the entire valley, roughly 48 miles long and 8 miles wide, running from Yellowstone's south boundary down through the town of Jackson. Locals use both names loosely, but technically you fly into Jackson Hole Airport, ski at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and eat dinner in the town of Jackson.

How far is Yellowstone from Jackson?

Yellowstone's south entrance is about 57 miles north of Jackson, roughly a 90-minute drive via Highway 89 through Grand Teton National Park. During summer, the road is straightforward. In winter, the south entrance to Yellowstone closes to regular vehicles from early November through mid-May, and access requires a guided snowcoach or snowmobile tour from Flagg Ranch.

Do I need a car to visit Jackson Hole?

For most trips, yes. The free START Bus connects Jackson and Teton Village, and the town square area is walkable. But reaching Grand Teton trailheads, the Snake River launch points, and many lodging options outside of town requires a vehicle. Taxis and rideshares exist but are limited. Rental cars sell out early in peak seasons, so book ahead.

When does Jackson Hole ski season start and end?

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort typically opens in early December and closes in early April, though exact dates shift based on snowfall. The resort's base at Teton Village sits at 6,311 feet, and the summit of Rendezvous Mountain reaches 10,450 feet. Grand Targhee, on the Tetons' west slope about 45 minutes from Jackson via Teton Pass, often opens a week or two earlier and stays open into mid-April.

Is the altitude a problem for visitors?

The town of Jackson sits at 6,237 feet, and most activities take you higher. Many visitors feel mild effects for the first day or two, including shortness of breath, headaches, and disrupted sleep. Drinking water, limiting alcohol on arrival, and easing into strenuous hikes helps. Serious altitude sickness is uncommon at this elevation but not unheard of during heavy exertion at the ski resort's upper elevations above 10,000 feet.

Can I see wildlife without hiking into the backcountry?

Moose, elk, bison, and pronghorn are regularly visible from paved roads in Grand Teton National Park, particularly along the Moose-Wilson Road and Highway 89 north of Jackson. The National Elk Refuge borders town and hosts thousands of elk in winter. Early morning and the hour before sunset are the most productive times. Bring binoculars, and pull fully off the road when you stop.

How expensive is Jackson Hole compared to other ski towns?

Jackson Hole consistently ranks among the most expensive resort destinations in the US. Summer hotel rates near the town square start around $250 per night and climb steeply. Ski-season lodging at Teton Village can exceed $500 per night. Groceries, fuel, and dining all carry a premium over national averages due to the valley's geographic isolation and limited housing stock for service workers.

What is the Manges Cabin and is it worth visiting?

The Manges Cabin dates to 1911 and is one of the older surviving homestead structures in the valley, listed on the National Register. It sits within Grand Teton National Park and represents the ranching era that preceded the park's establishment. It is a small log structure, not a museum, so set expectations accordingly. Nearby, the Murie Residence, a former home of conservationists Olaus and Margaret Murie, offers more interpretive context about the valley's preservation history.

a wooden structure sitting on the side of a road

Things to Do in Jackson Hole: A Complete Guide

Jackson Hole, United States

Jump to a guide

Local 01:05

Weather 15° clear

Feels 10° · 23% · 11 km/h

Air 52 moderate

PM2.5 4.4 · PM10 7.8

Jackson Hole sits in a valley forty miles long and ten miles wide, walled on the west by the Teton Range, whose Grand Teton reaches 13,775 feet and rises so abruptly from the valley floor that no foothills soften the view. That verticality defines everything about the place. The town of Jackson, the only incorporated municipality in Teton County, occupies the southern end of this valley with its roughly 10,760 residents, a number that swells several times over each summer and winter. The name itself is a point of confusion worth settling early: Jackson Hole is the valley, Jackson is the town, and locals will notice if you mix them up. The town square, anchored by its four elk-antler arches, sits at 6,237 feet of elevation, and the air is noticeably thinner if you are arriving from sea level: worth a day of adjustment before any serious hiking. Grand Teton National Park begins minutes north of town, and Yellowstone's south entrance is about an hour beyond that, making Jackson the rare gateway community serving two major national parks. The economy here once ran on ranching and fur trapping (the "hole" in the name is trapper slang for a high mountain valley) and the shift toward tourism accelerated after the Second World War when the ski area on Rendezvous Mountain opened. Today the town splits between the tourist-facing square with its western-wear shops and restaurants and the residential stretches along Snow King Avenue and toward the Aspens, a cluster of condominiums near Teton Village where the ski resort operates. Winter visitors come for the steep, expert-leaning terrain at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and the backcountry access in the Tetons. Summer brings hikers, float trips on the Snake River, and wildlife watchers scanning the sage flats for moose and pronghorn at dawn.