Camping

Grand Teton National Park [1] has five campgrounds; all are $20 (half-price if you have an Interagency Senior Pass or Interagency Access Pass). These are available on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations (except group sites). By mid-afternoon in the peak summer season most park campgrounds may be full, so get there early; Gros Ventre Campground almost never fills.

The maximum stay is seven days at Jenny Lake or 14 days at other campgrounds. Camping and overnight parking are not allowed along roadsides, overlooks, or parking areas within the park. Off-the-road camping is restricted to specific sites and requires a special permit.

Grand Teton rangers lead popular evening campfire programs at all five campgrounds throughout the summer. All campgrounds have running water but no utility hookups. Showers and a coin laundry are available at Colter Bay Village. Several special hiker/biker campsites are at Jenny Lake and Colter Bay. Group sites can be found at Colter Bay and Gros Ventre campgrounds, but reservations are required.

All Grand Teton National Park campgrounds are closed in winter, but limited tent camping and RV parking ($5; restrooms and water but no hookups) are available at the Colter Bay Visitor Center parking lot. Get recorded park campground and lodging information at 307/739-3603, or find additional details online (www.nps.gov/grte [2]).

Jenny Lake Campground

First to fill is always Jenny Lake Campground, with 49 tent sites (no RVs) near this wonderfully scenic lake in the heart of the park. The campground is open mid-May-September and usually fills by 9 a.m. in midsummer. Not far away is a little general store, plus Jenny Lake Lodge with gourmet meals. The campground has 10 walk-in sites ($8) for hikers and bikers.

Signal Mountain Campground

On the south shore of Jackson Lake [3], Signal Mountain Campground has 86 sites, a trailer dumping station, and room for RVs up to 30 feet long. It frequently fills by noon in midsummer and is open early May-mid-October. The campground is near Signal Mountain Lodge, which has a restaurant and general store. It’s 32 miles from Jackson.

Colter Bay Campground

On the east side of Jackson Lake, Colter Bay Campground is one of the largest in the park, with 350 tent/RV, group, and walk-in sites, a dump station, and nearby coin-operated showers and laundry facilities. Also close by are the Colter Bay Visitor Center, a general store, a pair of eateries, and rustic cabins for rent. Leeks Marina, with a popular pizzeria, and Jackson Lake Lodge are just a few miles down the road. Colter Bay Campground is open late May-late September and typically fills by mid-afternoon in summer. The campground has nine walk-in sites ($5) for hikers and bikers, and group sites can be reserved by calling 800/628-9988.

Lizard Creek Campground

This campground has 60 quiet campsites on the north end of Jackson Lake and is open early June-early September. These sites rarely fill, and RVs must be less than 30 feet. The nearest food and supplies are in Flagg Ranch [4] or Colter Bay [5], both approximately eight miles away.

Gros Ventre Campground

With over 350 sites, Gros Ventre Campground is both the largest campground in the park and the last to fill (if at all). The campground is on the southern edge of the park along the Gros Ventre River near Kelly and is 10 miles from Jackson. It’s open early May-early October and has a dump station and five group sites. There’s a great little espresso shop in nearby Kelly, but the nearest stores or restaurants are in Jackson [6] or Moose [7]. Group sites can be reserved by calling 800/628-9988.

Camping Options

In addition to the five NPS campgrounds, park concessioners maintain two seasonal RV parks with full hookups, showers, washers, and driers. Flagg Ranch Resort (307/543-2861 or 800/443-2311, www.flaggranch.com [8], late May-late Sept.) in Rockefeller Parkway has 100 pull-through RV sites with full hookups for $60, and 75 tent sites for $35. Reservations are highly recommended.

On the south shore of Jackson Lake [3] is Colter Bay RV Park (307/543-3100 or 800/628-9988, www.gtlc.com [9], $55 RVs, late May-late Sept.). No tent spaces here, but evening nature programs are offered in the summer.

Grand Teton Park RV Resort (307/733-1980 or 800/563-6469, www.yellowstonerv.com [10], open year-round) is six miles east of the park along Highway 26/287. There are fine views of the Tetons, and facilities include a heated seasonal pool and hot tub, recreation room, and grocery store. The cost is $57 d for RVs with hookups, $40 d for tents. Simple camping cabins go for $72-79 d.