Driving from Jackson to Yellowstone National Park’s South Entrance takes you through Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. This grand teton national park day trip involves a substantial drive, so check seasonal access and road conditions before setting out.
- The route follows US Highway 26/89/191 north, then continues toward the entrance on US Highway 89/191/287.
- Grand Teton and Yellowstone charge separate entrance fees; a combined pass is available.
How far is Yellowstone’s South Entrance from Jackson?
Yellowstone’s South Entrance is a substantial drive from Jackson, and stops or delays can add time along the way.
From Jackson, the route heads north through Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. The South Entrance Station sits where Yellowstone meets the parkway. Grand Teton National Park lies immediately south of Yellowstone, so the drive passes through both areas before reaching the entrance.
Wildlife, weather and roadwork can make drives between Yellowstone destinations significantly longer than average, and the park advises allowing extra time.
What route goes through Grand Teton National Park?
From Jackson, drive north on US Highway 89/191/26 to the Moran area, then continue toward Yellowstone’s South Entrance on US Highway 89/191/287.
Grand Teton’s outer highway, US 26/89/191, stays open year-round from Jackson north to Flagg Ranch, just south of Yellowstone. The National Park Service puts the drive from Grand Teton’s southern boundary to Yellowstone via this outer highway at a little more than one hour, not including stops. Taking the Teton Park Road route takes slightly longer.
The Teton Park Road offers a different way through the park, but it is not a year-round driving alternative. It is closed to vehicles from November 1 through April 30 between Taggart Lake Trailhead and Signal Mountain Lodge. From mid-December to mid-March, that stretch is groomed for skiing, snowshoeing and hiking.
If you are planning a separate Grand Teton National Park day trip from Jackson, account for its park roads and stops as well as the drive north to Yellowstone.
When is the South Entrance road open, and how do you check conditions?
Yellowstone’s South Entrance road is subject to seasonal closures, even though the park itself is open all year. The park says it closes the South, West and East entrances and nearly all roads to regular vehicles for winter. When roads are seasonally open, entrances are not gated at night.
Road access and conditions can change with weather. Yellowstone’s road status map shows current conditions and construction, but short-term closures or delays may not appear on the map, and conditions can change quickly. GPS and internet mapping services may not show current road status either.
Before you leave, check the official site before you go: Yellowstone National Park’s roads page is the place to review park-road status. For the drive outside Yellowstone, the National Park Service advises checking traveler-information sources for Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.
Yellowstone also provides recorded road and entrance information by phone at (307) 344-2117, with road alerts available by text by sending 82190 to 888-777.
How should you plan a Yellowstone visit from Jackson?
Plan your day around the distance between destinations inside Yellowstone, not just the drive from Jackson to the entrance. Yellowstone says popular places such as Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone are about 50 miles apart by road. A vehicle is generally needed to visit the park because public transportation is not available.
Use the park map to identify roads, entrances, visitor centers, lodges, campgrounds and hydrothermal areas, then consult Yellowstone’s published average drive times between destinations. Those times are a guide: wildlife, weather and roadwork may add delays, so leave room in your schedule rather than treating each leg as a fixed appointment.
Budget for entry to both parks. Separate entrance fees apply to Grand Teton and Yellowstone, and a combined pass is available.
Grand Teton lists a $35 entrance fee for a private, non-commercial vehicle, valid for seven days; check Yellowstone’s official information for current fees and pass terms. Grand Teton does not require an entry reservation, though its entrance fee still applies.
When might an overnight stay make more sense?
An overnight stay can make sense if your plans include several distant Yellowstone destinations or you want more time in the park than the drive from Jackson allows.
The South Entrance is only the start of the park visit: destinations such as Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone are about 50 miles apart by road. If you return to Jackson, Alpine Motel is a motel in Jackson.
Yellowstone has lodges and campgrounds, and its official map identifies those facilities alongside roads and visitor centers. If you are weighing a longer visit against returning to Jackson, factor in the park’s internal driving distances and the possibility of weather, wildlife or roadwork delays.
You can also plan how to get from Jackson Hole Airport to Jackson as a separate part of your trip.
For a Jackson stay, Yellowstone’s South Entrance is a substantial drive from Alpine Motel.
FAQs
Is Yellowstone’s South Entrance open all year?
No. Yellowstone closes the South Entrance and nearly all park roads to regular vehicles for winter, although the park itself remains open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Do you need a reservation to enter Grand Teton?
No reservation is required to enter Grand Teton National Park, but an entrance fee applies.
Can you visit Yellowstone without a car?
Yellowstone says a vehicle is generally needed to visit the park because public transportation is not available.
Are the Teton Park Road and the outer highway the same route?
No. Grand Teton’s outer highway is open year-round from Jackson to Flagg Ranch. The Teton Park Road is a separate route and has a seasonal vehicle closure between Taggart Lake Trailhead and Signal Mountain Lodge.