Jackson Hole, home of world re-known ski resort Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and gateway to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, is paradise. But you do not have to break the bank to enjoy this paradise. Consider these tips for enjoying your stay while limiting your costs.
Winter Months: Lodging and Activities
Countless people flock to Jackson Hole for it’s light, fluffy powder and excellent amenities. To make the most of your cash, consider staying in a town hotel. Several our hotels in town are of good quality, allow easy access to shopping and dining, and are conveniently located to public transportation out to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. To save the most on dining, consider hotels with small kitchens and shop for breakfast and snacks at Smith’s Grocery Store (usually the least expensive grocery store in town).
For skiing and such, JHMR is expensive but you can get packaged deals for slightly cheaper rates. Consider riding the START bus from Stilson Lot to save on parking costs at the resort. Finally, bring snacks with you out to the resort to save on food costs. Alternatively, you can ski at Snow King Resort in town for a much-discounted price while getting short lift lines and fresh powder stashes.
If you have your own equipment, there is ice skating at Owen Bircher Park in Wilson, sledding at Rendezvous Park on Moose-Wilson Road, and cross country and skate ski tracks on several of our bike paths. Moose Hockey provides hours of entertainment for minimal cost and we also have two movie theaters in town. You can also drive out on the Elk Refuge Road from the end of Broadway to view our resident elk.
For dining, our best, least expensive restaurants in town include Cutty’s, Pinky G’s, Sidewinders, Merry Piglets, Bubba’s BBQ, and Abuelitos.
Summer Months: Lodging and Stuff
Summer in Jackson Hole consists of 80 degree, perfectly sunny, dry warm days. While it can drop to 40’s and 50’s in the evening, the best way to save money in Jackson Hole during the summer is to camp. There are plenty of campgrounds both in the town of Jackson and nearby in Grand Teton National Park. If you are not comfortable with “roughing” it, check out our search engine of available hotels around the area to find the cheapest rates.
Regarding activities during the summer, there are several that you can do on a budget. We would recommend spending money taking a whitewater or scenic float trip down the Snake…it’s a great way to see wildlife.
In the town of Jackson, walking around Jackson’s town square for shopping is fun. The shootout on the square is a free, long-standing tradition and takes place Mondays through Saturdays at 6 pm on the corner of Center and Deloney. If of age, consider ducking into the Cowboy Bar for a photo on the saddle bar seats or into the Silver Dollar Bar in the Wort Hotel for a view of the bar top.
In the park, consider backpacking and hiking any of the trails in Grand Teton National Park (just the cost of the park entrance and a small reservation fee for overnight camping). If you want to see Inspiration Point on Jenny Lake, walk around the lake as opposed to taking the boat across…the hike is several miles but relatively flat. You have a better chance of seeing wildlife by walking around this way. If you have access to tubes, kayaks or a canoe, a nice leisurely afternoon floating on String Lake is always a fabulous way to spend your time.
Other random activities: You can also play frisbee golf at Teton Village for free granted you have the frisbees. You can ride bikes on our bike paths that go all the way to Jenny Lake and as far south as the South Park Bridge. You can enjoy the ropes courses in Teton Village and on Snow King Mountain, although there are fees to use them. If you have access to fishing gear, you can fish on the Snake River at any of the bridges as well as on Slide Lake, Jackson Lake, and any other lake you can find (just the WY Fishing license fee).
It is possible to enjoy Jackson Hole on a budget. Just pick and choose what is most important to you and be frugal on all else.