Is Grand Teton Open Year-Round? Weather, Hours, and Closures

Visiting the iconic mountains of Grand Teton National Park is an unforgettable experience, but it’s important to plan your trip with the weather in mind. You may be wondering if Grand Teton is open year-round, what the weather conditions will be like, or what will be open while you’re there.

Grand Teton is open 365 days per year, 24 hours per day. However, when you’re in the mountains, the weather plays a huge role! Road, trail, and facility closures are common at this elevation, especially during the fall, winter, and spring.

If the roads are open, you can enter and exit the park as you please, even if the entrance stations aren’t open and collecting fees.

---

My name is Ash, and I’m a former park ranger. I worked as a park ranger for the National Park Service in Wyoming and have been to Grand Teton dozens of times! I can’t wait to help you plan your trip to Grand Teton National Park.

I’ve got a ton of information for you about visiting Grand Teton year-round, including the hours, closures, and weather you can expect while you vacation in this majestic national park. Let’s get started!

Is Grand Teton National Park Open Year-Round?

Grand Teton is open 365 days per year, 24 hours per day. This means that if you want to hit a hiking trail at sunrise, you will be able to get in, and if you want to stargaze at 2 a.m., you’ll be able to get out. Open roads are not gated.

But it doesn’t mean that all of the activities and points of interest will be open for you at all times.

For example:

• The park’s visitor centers are closed during the off-season (October-April).
• The entrance stations are not always staffed.
• Campgrounds and lodges are not open year-round.
• Several roads close to vehicles during the winter. It’s also common for the roads through the park to temporarily close due to snow or ice.
• Trails may be closed due to construction or unsafe conditions.

Closures of this nature are common year-round, so let’s discuss what may be closed even if the park itself is open.

Operating Hours for Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton Visitor Center Hours

You’ll find five visitor centers in Grand Teton National Park, but none of them are open year-round.

If you’re in one of the park’s most popular areas, chances are there are park rangers nearby to answer your questions. Click here to see the current schedule for each of the five visitor facilities.

• Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center — this is a large visitor center located near the Moose Entrance. It is typically open from April – October.
• Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve — this is a small center located along the southern portion of the Moose-Wilson Road. It is typically open from June – September.
• Jenny Lake Visitor Center and Ranger Station — both of these buildings are located at South Jenny Lake. The Jenny Lake Visitor Center area is open from mid-May to mid-September. The ranger station is primarily for backcountry adventurers and is open from June – August.
• Colter Bay Visitor Center — this visitor center is located along the shores of Jackson Lake. It is usually open from mid-May to mid-October.
• Flagg Ranch Information Station — this small cabin is located along the John D. Rockefeller Parkway (the stretch of road between Grand Teton and the south entrance of Yellowstone National Park). It is typically open from June – August.

Typically, these visitor centers are open with extended hours during the busy summer season and shorter hours in the spring and fall.

Ranger program offerings usually coincide with the dates that the visitor centers and campgrounds are open (usually mid-May through September).

Grand Teton Entrance Station Hours

Grand Teton has three entrance stations — the Moose Entrance, the Moran Entrance, and Granite Canyon Entrance (Teton Pass/Teton Village).

Entrance station hours vary and are not published. These stations will almost always be staffed early in the morning until late at night during the summer, with shorter hours during the spring, fall, and winter months.

If an entrance station is staffed, you will be required to pay the park entrance fee before exploring Grand Teton’s main trails and viewpoints.

If an entrance station is not staffed, you can drive on through (as long as the roads are open).

Common Closures in Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton Lodging Closures

Grand Teton has seven in-park campgrounds. To choose which campground will best serve your needs, read all about camping in Grand Teton. All campgrounds in the park are typically only open from May or June through September. These are the most popular months (and the months with the best camping weather) in the park.

Reservations for the in-park campgrounds open up on a 6-month rolling basis. If you are planning on starting your trip on July 7, then you’ll want to make your campground reservation on January 7.

You’ll find seven lodges in the park, including the Jenny Lake Lodge and the Signal Mountain Lodge. They are typically open from May or June through September. If you’re hoping to visit the park during the winter, I suggest staying in the town of Jackson, where there are many year-round lodging options.

Reservations for the in-park lodges generally open up one year in advance of your travel dates.

Common Road Closures in Grand Teton

Most of the popular activities in Grand Teton are only accessible from about mid-May through September. If you’re hoping to see all of the can’t-miss spots, be sure to plan your trip during those months.

The Teton Park Road (the inner park road that connects Moose to Jenny Lake and Signal Mountain) is closed to vehicles from November 1 to April 30 every year. When the road is closed, you can bike, walk, ski, or snowshoe here, depending on the winter conditions.

The Moose-Wilson Road is a lesser-known alternate route that connects Teton Village and the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort to Moose. It closes to vehicles each year from November 1st to mid-May but stays open for skiing and snowshoeing.

Other small roads, such as the Signal Mountain Summit Road, Antelope Flats Road, the one-way Jenny Lake Scenic Drive, and the Grassy Lake Road, typically close down during the winter based on the road conditions.

Be aware that the park roads will also often temporarily close after large snowstorms, which can happen as early as September. These temporary closures typically last a day or two, weather permitting. Check the status of park roads here.

Highway 191 stays open year-round, weather permitting. This highway (also known as the outer park road) connects the town of Jackson to Moran, the south entrance of Yellowstone, or Dubois.

Common Trail Closures in Grand Teton

Most trails in the park open and close on the same schedule as the roads, so if the road is open, the trail should be open as well.

Snowy or muddy trails are common in the spring and early summer months. If you’re hoping to hike some of the valley trails (Taggart Lake, Phelps Lake, the Lakeshore Trail), be aware that these trails can still be snowy until Memorial Day weekend or so.

If you plan on hiking in the canyons (Cascade Canyon, Death Canyon, Paintbrush Canyon, etc.), expect to encounter snow well into the summer. Most of these trails will thaw out by the beginning of July, but some of the higher elevation areas, like the Paintbrush Divide or Hurricane Pass, can be treacherous until the end of July.

Bear-related trail closures can occur in this park. Most popular trails are not affected by these closures, but you can check the current status here.

Temporary trail closures may occur due to construction projects or unsafe conditions, so check the current conditions in Grand Teton before you go.

What is the Weather Like in Grand Teton?

Even though Grand Teton is open year-round, you’ll find some pretty dramatic temperature swings in this park! You can find amazing things to see and do here at any time, but because the valley floor of this park sits at about 6,500 feet above sea level, the weather varies drastically between seasons.

Take a look at the average highs and lows (in degrees Fahrenheit) and snow levels (in inches) at Grand Teton National Park:

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg High (F)	26	31	39	49	61	71	81	79	69	56	38	27
Avg Low (F)	1	3	12	22	31	37	42	40	32	23	14	2
Avg Snow (“)	43	29	20	10	2.4	0.1	0	0	0.4	5	23	40
Avg Rain (“)	2.6	2	1.6	1.5	2	1.7	1.2	1.3	1.4	1.4	2	2.6

Winter Weather in Grand Teton

The mountains of Grand Teton will start accumulating snow as early as September, but the valley floor typically sees the most snow from November – April. This is when you’re most likely to hit those common closures listed above. There usually isn’t enough snow accumulation for snow activities until mid-November or so, with most of the snow falling in December, January, and February.

Daytime temperatures will often be well below freezing, and with the wind chill, it will often feel even colder. Nighttime temperatures can easily be in the single digits or below zero. Winter temperatures in this park can be extremely unforgiving.

Big snowstorms are common, and it’s normal to have a storm come through and dump a bunch of new snow in a small amount of time.

Pack your warm winter boots, coats, and gloves. You can snowshoe or cross-country ski some of the park trails and roads, and the towns of Jackson and Teton Village have numerous winter activity options as well!

Spring Weather in Grand Teton

Grand Teton doesn’t have much of a traditional spring, with snow often still falling in April and May. Trails can be icy, snowy, or muddy this time of year.

April is cold and isn’t the greatest time to be in Grand Teton. You can’t ski or snowshoe on the Teton Park Road because it’s being plowed, several roads are still not open to vehicles, campgrounds and lodges aren’t open yet, the weather is unpredictable, and you’ll be limited in the activities you can complete.

May can be a much better time to visit as the park typically has warmer, more spring-like temperatures. The park roads are usually open by May 1; however, although there is often more dry weather, the valley trails might still be covered in snow. Lodges, campgrounds, and visitor centers begin to open this month.

Summer Weather in Grand Teton

Summer is the high season in the park, which means that everything is typically open. It’s extremely crowded and busy at this time, but you’ll get the warmest weather for exploring!

Even summer in Wyoming can be a little unpredictable, though most days you’ll have comfortable temperatures in the 70s or low 80s and lots of sunshine. Big thunderstorms like to roll in during the afternoon hours, so try to get your longest/highest elevation trails done in the morning if you can.

Summer is wildfire season in Grand Teton.  You may find air to be smoky from nearby fires, areas may be closed, or fire restrictions may be in place.

Autumn Weather in Grand Teton

Autumn in Grand Teton is short but lovely. A visit during September or early October brings cooler temperatures, bluebird skies, perfect hiking weather, and crisp mountain air. Weather-related closures can happen anytime during these months, but typically only last a few hours or days.

Grand Teton has some gorgeous fall color displays! The colors typically peak around the third week of September, and you can expect to see lots of golden quaking aspens and red hawthorn in many areas of the park.

By mid-October, most of the lodging, dining, and camping options have closed down. The Teton Park Road and the Moose-Wilson Road close to vehicles starting November 1. For this reason, I suggest a visit in September or early October if you’re hoping to experience Grand Teton in the fall.

So now you may be asking yourself, when is the best time to visit Grand Teton? Now that you know you can visit Grand Teton year-round, click next to see my specific recommendations for the best times to visit Grand Teton.

This post may contain affiliate links. Dirt In My Shoes gets paid a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you purchase from these links. Thanks for your support!