How do I get around Jackson Hole?

Book your rental car 3-4 weeks before your flight. Jackson Hole Airport sits inside Grand Teton National Park, 10 miles north of Jackson's town square, and you'll smell sage and dry grass the moment you step onto the tarmac. Hertz, Avis, Budget, and National all operate counters inside the terminal. Rates run $80-150/day in summer and $60-100 in winter, but July and August inventory sells out weeks ahead. The lot is 50 yards from baggage claim. You walk outside into dry mountain air at 6,200 feet and the car is right there. Fill up in Jackson before heading north. The Maverik station on South Highway 89 tends to run $0.15-0.20 cheaper per gallon than the Loaf 'N Jug closer to the square. There is no gas between Jackson and Yellowstone's south entrance, a 57-mile stretch through the park.

The free START Bus is the one real public transit system in Teton County, and it works better than you'd expect. The Town Shuttle loops through Jackson every 30 minutes from 6 AM to 10:30 PM, connecting the town square to Snow King and the hospital area. The Village Road Transit line runs between Jackson and Teton Village roughly hourly, a 35-minute ride through flat ranchland with the Tetons filling the windshield. No fare on any route. In winter, the Teton Village line runs every 20 minutes during ski season to handle the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort crowd. That said, the system has real gaps. No service to Grand Teton's popular trailheads like Lupine Meadows or Jenny Lake, and no runs after 10:30 PM. If you're planning a full day in the park, START won't get you there.

Jackson's town center is roughly 6 blocks by 4 blocks. You can walk from the elk antler arches on the town square to the Snow King chairlift in 10 minutes. The sidewalks are wide, and on a September afternoon you'll hear live music from the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar while cottonwoods along Cache Street turn gold. A paved community pathway connects Jackson to Wilson, about 6 miles along the Snake River levee. Hoback Sports on West Deloney Avenue rents bikes for $35-50/day. Worth noting, the pathway is flat and separated from Highway 22 traffic, making it a genuinely pleasant ride. Mind you, at this elevation a casual bike ride feels harder than it looks, and afternoon thunderstorms roll through between June and August. Bring a light layer even if mornings feel warm.

Uber and Lyft both operate in Jackson Hole, but expect 15-30 minute waits on a Friday night, longer during events like the Fall Arts Festival in September. Buckrail Taxi and Snake River Taxi are the local cab outfits, and calling 20 minutes ahead is the norm. A taxi from the airport to the town square runs about $35-45. Between November and April, check wyoroad.info before driving anywhere outside Jackson. Highway 22 over Teton Pass to Victor, Idaho drops at a 10% grade with hairpin turns, and WYDOT closes it during heavy storms. Snow tires or all-wheel drive are not optional for that stretch. Most rental agencies equip their winter fleet accordingly, but confirm at the counter. To be fair, summer driving is easy. Two-lane roads, light traffic outside of the park entrance bottleneck at Moose Junction, and the views from Highway 191 through the valley floor are the best windshield scenery in Wyoming.