As locals, we’re here to help you, and the times they are a-changing, with surging visitation to Jackson Hole due to the popularity of our Western ways. You used to be able to saddle up to any old saloon or hotel you wanted, but now, we’re here to tell you that your trip will flow much more smoothly if you book certain things in advance for your trip to Jackson Hole.
Traveler Tidbit: Two specific times of year see a huge influx of visitors to Jackson Hole — Fourth of July and Christmas. If you plan to visit either of those weeks, be sure to book your lodging and guided experiences three to six months in advance, as hotel rooms and activities like wildlife tours, river rafting trips, sleigh rides, and lift tickets will certainly sell out. If possible, it doesn’t hurt to make your restaurant reservations in advance, too. Here’s what we recommend you book at least three to six months in advance.
FIRST THINGS FIRST: RESERVE YOUR LODGING
We joke around here that visitors should book any lodging before their plane ticket, but it’s true, especially if your heart is set on staying in Grand Teton National Park. Park-centered hotels and campsites get gobbled up fast. And those extra-special places to hang your hat — such as historic guest ranches — must be booked at least six months in advance. Where you’ll hang your hat is one of the most important decisions you’ll make, as it optimizes breathtaking views, Western culture and comfort that keeps you exploring day after day.
Curious to explore lodging options in Grand Teton National Park? Check out our lodging guide for Grand Teton National Park.
If you’re looking to camp, check the park’s website as the park service rolls out permitting at different dates, depending on the campground.
Traveler Tip: Get your National Park Pass in advance and quicken your time at the booth by pre-paying your fee. Special note: As of January 1, 2026, the National Park Service will now be charging non-residents of the United States $100 on top of the standard and annual pass/entry fees; $35 and $70, respectively. Visit nps.gov for more information.
Guest Ranches
If you can stay at a guest ranch in Jackson Hole, there’s no better way to experience our majestic valley. For a longer and more immersive experience, “dudeing” at one of our authentic and historic guest ranches like Goosewing Guest Ranch, Darwin Ranch, Flat Creek Ranch or Triangle X Ranch will make you feel like a very pampered cowboy or cowgirl.
Due to space (97% of the land in our county is actually owned by the state or federal government) and other constraints, only a handful of dude ranches are still welcoming guests. So if your heart is set on living, breathing and sleeping wrapped up in the manner of the Old West, book this unique lodging far in advance and rest easy.
RELATED STORY: Where To Stay in Jackson Hole
BOOK YOUR ADVENTURES: MULTI-DAY EXCURSIONS, PACK TRIPS, CLIMBING AND MORE
Imagine traveling on horseback, camping in style in safari-style tents, eating delicious meals prepared by your camp cook, fishing, hiking, and photographing wildlife in their most natural habitat. Jackson Hole Pack Trips offers two- to five-day excursions camping and fishing far from civilization in Wyoming’s vast wilderness.
Teton Wagon Train is an unforgettable four-day and three-night trip. Their 2025 year filled up before January even rolled around! However, it never hurts to reach out and see if there’s a cancellation or put yourself on a waitlist.
Traveler Tidbit: If you’ve got a multi-day excursion in mind — whether it's a pack trip on horseback, or in a covered wagon with Teton Wagon Train — reserve your spot at least six to eight months in advance.
Jackson Hole offers some incredibly unique and signature experiences like multi-day wagon rides, wildlife tours, private dining evenings, paragliding, and even a world-renowned planetarium (more on that below), so again, we suggest getting reservations for these activities so that you can maximize your adventure without the stress.
Several companies also offer multi-day wildlife tours in Yellowstone National Park or park photography tours spanning several days. As visitation to the Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone balloons, we’re seeing these once-in-a-lifetime experiences book up long before summer rolls around. You can likely get a photo tour on the fly in the summer months because most die-hard photographers visit in the spring and winter, which are the best times to snap breathtaking shots since wildlife is more active!
Time to climb
Speaking of high-octane adventures, rock climbing in the Tetons isn't just for the experts or die-hard athletes. Consider spending a morning or an afternoon rock climbing around Jenny Lake with friends or family alongside the expert locals at Exum Mountain Guides.
Exum offers rock climbing instruction for kids, teens and adults of all abilities. Programs range from fun family days on the rocks to serious alpine adventures that typically require advance notice. The experts at Exum can walk you through what will work best for you and your skill level if you call ahead. Call today — climb tomorrow!
PRIVATE DINING? ANOTHER RESERVE EARLY SUGGESTION
Celebrating a birthday, an anniversary or any other milestone in Jackson Hole? Consider private dining, and book at least three months ahead of your visit. For any special event where you’re expecting 15 to 30 guests, we suggest calling before your planned arrival in Jackson Hole to reserve intimate dining, as restaurants are inundated in the busy summer and winter months. Showing up with a large party and expecting to be seated may not work out.
Venues like Dusk at Ringholz Studios, The Bistro, Gather, Glorietta, The Kitchen, Million Dollar Cowboy Bar Steakhouse, Palate, and the new Aurora restaurant (pictured above) at the summit of Snow King (with amazing views of the Tetons), offer you and your guests your own private room (along with some other perks). Want to learn more? Check out our definitive guide to the best private dining options in Jackson Hole.
OTHER ACTIVITIES TO CONSIDER
Here are just a few more of the unique adventures to be had here.
• Jackson Hole Shooting Experience. For a fun, safe and educational gun shooting experience for the whole family, book a day at the Shooting Experience in advance.
• The Snow King Observatory and Planetarium. Those who love marveling at the heavenly skies should visit the new Snow King Observatory and Planetarium — the only observatory on a North American ski area! — accessed by a scenic gondola ride. Seats are limited inside the theater and auditorium and during busy months, tickets for clear nights disappear fast.
• Vintage sleigh ride. Nothing quite brings home the winter magic in Jackson Hole like a vintage sleigh ride with Jackson Hole Vintage Adventures or Spring Creek Ranch. Last year, these rides sold out, so call to book a space at least a few weeks before you hope to go on this special adventure. Sleigh rides through the National Elk Refuge can be easier to book, with more sleigh rides per day, plus you'll be surrounded by thousands of elk!
THE LAST WORD
We hope we lit a fire underneath you purely to optimize the unforgettable memories that can await you in our truly magical home, where adventure lurks around every corner for those who seek it. If you’re interested in more unique things to do in Jackson Hole, we rounded up 14 unique things to experience here that you can’t experience anywhere else.