Denver to Grand Teton National Park: The Best Weekend Getaway
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If you’re up for a road trip, consider taking the western roads from Denver to Grand Teton National Park.
After living in Denver for a few years, we finally took a road trip up to Jackson Hole… in the middle of a snowstorm. It was well worth it, though, and it’s now one of our favorite parks we’ve been to.
In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know to make the trip, from why you should even consider it, how many hours you’ll need, and the best way to travel.
Plus, keep reading and find a short and to-the-point 3-day itinerary in Grand Teton that will make the road trip more than worth it.
Why You Should Road Trip from Denver to Grand Teton
Grand Teton National Park is undoubtedly one of the most incredible places we have been in my life, and we’ve been to a lot of places.
The soaring mountains, the lakes with colors that reflect the time of year and day, and the deep green trees that sing with life are an unforgettable view. It’s a landscape the best painters could only hope to capture.
Making the road trip from Denver to Grand Teton allows you to ease into this Northwestern world, witnessing the changes in scenery as you go along. For nature lovers of any kind, you will not regret visiting Grand Teton National Park.
How to Travel from Denver to Grand Teton National Park
Now, if you’re not up for driving eight hours through the nearly empty section of Southern Wyoming, there are a few other options you can take to travel from Denver to Grand Teton National Park.
You can fly from the Denver International Airport to the Jackson Hole Airport. From there, you’re only about 30 minutes from Jackson Hole and can start exploring the area.
Flights range around $300 roundtrip, but you might end up spending the same amount of time, or even longer, traveling than if you went on the road. There are rarely direct flights from Denver to Grand Teton.
If you don’t mind the travel time, you can also take a bus from Denver. This trip takes about a day as the route goes to Salt Lake City, then up to Grand Teton. The cost of these tickets range from $100-200.
Hopping in your car with a console full of snacks and listening to some good music, or your favorite podcast, is the ideal way to make the trip. Then, you won’t have to worry about checking bags, renting a car, or being delayed at bus stops.
Where to Stay Between Denver and Grand Tetons
Just over two hours into the drive from Denver to Grand Teton (depending on the route you take), you’ll reach Laramie, Wyoming.
This route will take you right up the middle of the state and is the quickest, however the longest stretch of the drive comes after Laramie. There aren’t a ton of places to stay after you pass this town.
If you’d like to do a little sightseeing in and around Denver first, then hit the road, you’d land in Laramie with enough time to comfortably set into your hotel and have a nice relaxing night, ready to finish out the rest of your drive in the morning.
Stay in the tried and true classics of the hotel world like the Days Inn by Wyndham Laramie, Fairfield Inn by Marriot, or Hilton Garden Inn Laramie, or try out one of the best local spots with that Northwestern charm like Vee Bar Guest Ranch or bed and breakfast Mad Carpenter Inn.
Now, some of you may like to drive more out of the way before stopping. If this is you, I would suggest taking the route that goes through Casper, WY, which is just a few minutes longer, but more options for accommodations on the way.
Despite its reminiscence of a certain friendly specter, Casper is anything but a ghost town.
There are beautiful campgrounds and RV hookups you can stop at or enjoy their unique inns and hotels. Their newly renovated Best Western would be my top pick for a national hotel chain.
C’mon Inn Hotel & Suites is a Northwestern hotel chain with locations in Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota. You won’t be disappointed by the warm atmosphere that speaks of the wilderness and beauty of the plains in every room.
Tips for Visiting Grand Teton National Park from Denver
There are a lot of things to remember when taking any kind of road trip, especially when you’re traveling the distance from Denver to Grand Tetons. Here are four things you’ll want to do as you prepare for your trip.
Check the weather
Most of the 8-hour road trip is surrounded by wilderness and countryside. It is a beautiful trip, but if there’s a weather emergency, there are not a lot of places to stop along the way.
Check the weather beforehand to make sure you’re prepared for whatever’s coming, especially in the rainy seasons or the winter.
Book your hotels in advance
Because there aren’t a lot of places to stay along the way, it is crucial to book your hotels and accommodations in advance.
This way, there will be no unwelcome surprises that greet you when you roll into Casper after 4 hours of driving, and there is nowhere for you to stay.
Be aware of upcoming gas stations
How many times have you forgotten to check your fuel level and are left coasting into a gas station with no more to spare?
Hopefully, not many, but it’s happened to me a time too many, and in rural Wyoming, it’s a pretty unfortunate mistake.
Always be checking your fuel gauge, and be sure to gas up when you can.
Know opening and closing hours
If you plan to make any stops along the way, it’s important to know when those attractions open and close. That way, you can plan your trip and not be stranded in the parking lot of a museum that doesn’t open for another two hours.
Normally, parks, museums, and stores are really good about keeping their websites updated with this kind of information.
This includes knowing your check-in and check-out times for hotels.
Best Time of Year to do a Denver to Grand Tetons Road Trip
The best time of year to make the Denver to Grand Tetons road trip is definitely between the months of May and October. Take my word for it.
I might’ve made the mistake of doing the drive in the middle of winter, which was, of course, beautiful but did not make for the easiest route.
Traveling between May and October allows you to avoid the bad weather you might encounter other times of the year, and you’re most likely to see wildlife out and about at this time.
Perfect 3-Day Denver to Grand Teton Itinerary
Since you’re making the 8-hour trip anyway, you might as well make it enjoyable. Here is a three-day itinerary you can follow to split up the drive and see some of the sights along the way.
Day 1: Head to Wyoming
Leave Denver early and stop in the beautiful Fort Collins for breakfast. You could easily spend a day here exploring the historic town and its museums and natural attractions, but maybe just pick one or two before heading on your way.
Just 30 minutes past Fort Collins, you’ll pass through Cheyenne. This is a good place for lunch and a bit more exploration, like browsing through the city’s labyrinth botanic gardens.
Continue your drive to where you’d like to stay the night, whether that be in Cheyenne or Laramie.
Day 2: Drive to Casper
Get up and explore the Curt Gowdy State Park just outside of Cheyenne. Full of hiking trails, waterfalls, and rivers and lakes for fishing, swimming, and water sports, it’s a great place for nature lovers and their families to spend some time.
For those who love rock climbing, check out Vedauwoo Climbing Area. It has sites for both beginners and experts to enjoy.
In Laramie, you can check out the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site and tour through the jail and its grounds. See where the notorious Butch Cassidy was once held.
Before the day is over, try to get a few more hours into your drive, landing in Casper, WY.
Day 3: Make it to Jackson Hole
Spend the morning in and around Casper, enjoying the local museums that tell the history of Wyoming or reveling in the beauty of Casper Mountain.
Then, take the afternoon to finish up the remaining 4 hours of your drive, landing in Jackson Hole before it gets dark.
Get to sleep so you can enjoy the beauty of Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park in the morning.
The drive from Denver to Grand Teton may seem a daunting 8 eight hours of lonely Northwestern road, but I think you’ll find it quite an unforgettable experience.
You’ll see landscapes like no other, maybe even the inhabitants of those landscapes, and become acquainted with the land in a way you never have before.
Now, you have a pretty good idea of what you need to know before making the trip, so what are you waiting for?
