Travel Guides
Travel Guides
An RV Trip Through Grand Teton National Park
Enjoy the beautiful state of Wyoming and all it has to offer, including hiking, whitewater rafting, exploring Grand Teton National Park, and more.
Overview
Grand Teton National Park should be on every RVer's bucket list, and don’t miss everything around the park, too! The breathtaking views of the Wyoming wilderness stretch in every direction. From the rugged peaks of the Teton mountains to the wild beauty and excitement of the world-famous Snake River with endless wildlife viewing opportunities.
Native species include bears, moose, deer, bald eagles and more. Add to that more wildflowers than you can count and some of the best hiking in the world and planning a visit here quickly becomes a priority for any nature lover. So, pack up your RV and let us give you all the details on the best place to stay, activities to do and even a few dining gems not to miss!
RV Resort Recommendation
Alpine Valley RV Resort, located right in Alpine, WY, has postcard-worthy views. This luxury RV resort with full amenities is great to return to after long days hiking or paddling out on the river.
The resort features huge, paved RV sites that are fully landscaped with outdoor dining patio sets. Our site had its own huge lawn and was lined with aspen trees and lupines.
The resort has a great playground for kids, a dog park, family games like cornhole, and it’s situated right on the Snake River only minutes from Palisades reservoir with easy access for fishing, boating, paddleboarding, and whitewater rafting.
Plus, there is a grocery store literally next door to the resort, so it was easy to stock up on groceries for adventure fuel, even with two active kids.
1
White Water Rafting
The first day consisted of whitewater rafting. This was an exciting experience to try for the first time, since the kids were both finally old enough! Dave Hansen Whitewater Rafting & Scenic River Trips provided a fun, wet, wild ride, full of smiles, laughs, and a little bit of intensity.
We were outfitted with wetsuits in the RV park office and the rafting company provided transportation to and from the rafting location. During the visit it was high water from recent snow melt conditions, so wetsuits, helmets, and life vests were provided. The guide, Ben (“Wolf Man”) was exceptional, keeping everyone on their toes with humor and expertise navigating the water.
Our family, and the group we were with, paddled through nine rapids rated Level II and Level III-- including one of the most famous rapids on the Snake River, Lunch Counter. The entire trip was the perfect level of exhilaration, with breaks in between the rapids when the group was able to take in the nature of the Snake River from the unique river perspective.
Our group members were all friends by the end and they had photographers on the banks taking photos so participants didn’t have to worry about taking their own. As soon as the adventure was over, our kids both asked if we could go again the next day! If your speed is a little less adventurous, leisurely paced scenic river float trips are also available.
2
Explore Grand Teton National Park
Seeing the Tetons in person is a memorable experience. Out of all the national parks our family has visited, Grand Teton is definitely near the top of the list. The jagged mountain views make visitors feel as though they’re on another planet.. The drive from the campsite in Alpine, WY, was about an hour and the scenery along the way was gorgeous!
We traveled through Jackson Hole and stopped at the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve Center to get a map and directions; even the view from the parking lot was incredible. (Our family hiked the 6.4-mile Phelps Lake Loop Trail, although both our GPS watches said we’d topped eight miles!)
The mountain peaks reflected off the glass water of the peaceful Phelps lake. The trail was fairly level with a few inclines and wound through the woods and over the rushing river several times. We even saw a bear from a very safe, but close distance. Do not forget your camera on this hike! Make sure to bring bear spray, snacks and be ready for mosquitos too.
After hiking, we drove the 30 minutes back into Jackson Hole and grabbed a late lunch at Big Hole BBQ,. It did not disappoint! The BBQ was delicious with generous portions, the service was friendly, and the atmosphere was down to earth. It was perfect after a long day hiking.
Visit Alpine, WY
With the Snake River winding its way through the middle of town and unreal mountain views, Alpine, WY (population 1400) is a personal favorite travel destination. Plus, this quaint town is only an hour from Grand Teton National Park and much more affordable than Jackson. For such a small town it has a lot to offer, a great selection of local restaurants, a surprisingly large and well-stocked grocery store and the outdoor activities are almost unlimited!
3
Paddle & Fish the Snake River & Palisades Reservoir
Apline Valley RV Resort rents paddle boards with pumps and is located right on the Snake River. After loading up the paddle boards, it was a quick drive across the street to obtain a Wyoming Fishing License from the gas station, and a 3 minute drive to launch the paddle boards. We paddled and fished where the Greys River joins the Snake River into Palisades reservoir.
The water was perfectly glassy in the morning just right for paddling, watching wildlife and there were so many wildflowers nearby. Relaxing out on the slow flowing area of the river was the perfect getaway and our kids caught several fish from the river banks too. The best part: it was only a five minute drive back to the RV park.
Make sure to keep an eye on winds that pick up in the afternoon and make it more difficult to navigate the water, and keep in mind that Palisades Reservoir is in both Wyoming and Idaho, so you need to make sure you have the correct state fishing license.
Quick Tips
Here are some quick tips to keep in mind:
1) Check the weather when traveling to western Wyoming. With elevations over 5000 ft, it’s common to have snow into June.
2) Plan plenty of time for travel. It’s so beautiful that you may want to stop along the way to take in the sights at scenic overlooks
3) Book your RV sites early as this area is very popular in the summer. We found it to be less busy in early June.
4) Come prepared, the wildlife is abundant, including bears. Always carry bear spray on hikes and don’t keep food in your car.
Final Thoughts
Our family would do this trip again in a heartbeat. This area of Wyoming still feels so wild and open. The night sky is dotted with bright stars and the rivers run full with jumping fish. We stayed for two weeks and feel like there was still so much to see and do. We are definitely adding another trip to the Tetons to our list of summer destinations in the future.
