Enjoy some of our photos below from our last trip on the Moose-Wilson Road. Before too long, the road levels out along the North Fork Big Lost River, where a few camper vans and RVs have staked out their spots for stargazing: Sun Valley sits in the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, one of only 13 in the world. Stay there, at one of two great options: the swank Four Seasons Jackson Hole, or the Hotel Terra, which is every bit as refined and a little closer to the villages heartbeat and its fun bars, like the Mangy Moose. 260 West Broadway The Top 8 Photo Opportunities and Selfie Spots in Jackson Hole. The Teton Scenic Byway runs along the western slopes of the spectacular Teton Range. Great food and very good service. Plan your trip to hit some or all of these beautiful summer drives. Idaho Falls: This is the closest airport to Jackson, other than the Jackson Hole Airport. Perfect place to stay out of the way in Jackson, WY. Jackson Hole is home to a diverse range of Read More. This scenic route travels along the Snake River and showcases, beautiful foliage, miles of buttes and mountains with many boat ramps and scenic pull-outs. Highlights along the drive include access to Granite Canyon, Phelps Lakes, and Death Canyon trailheads, the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve Center and a moose habitat overlook. For now, the city retains considerable dollops of charm and is especially alluring to outdoors enthusiasts and music-lovers, who convene here each spring for the Treefort Music Festival, which hosts more than 400 bands scattered from one iconic venue to the next. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Book one of our newly added residential style suites in Jackson Hole and receive a $50.00 per night dining credit to be used at the Triple M. Snow is on the ground and many of the roads in the National Parks and in the mountains around Jackson are closed for the winter. You could save your lunch picnic for a Palisades Reservoir and then take a dip in the water to cool off on a hot summer day. Youll be greeted by amazing views of the Tetons peaks plus the open valley where moose, deer and elk may be seen. 1hr 50min Take HWY 26 East towards Swan Valley, ID 31 over a small mountain pass into Victor then HWY 22 over Teton Pass into Jackson. 5 Reasons Jackson Hole Should Be Your Yellowstone BaseCamp, Jackson, WY is the ideal base camp for a trip to Yellowstone. If you did the Kelly Loop above, the Gros Ventre Road to Slide Lake will be familiar. If youve got the time, throw on a pack and charge into the wild for a few days, for the Eagle Cap is a breathtaking place to hike. Find out about this and other top scenic drives near Jackson Hole. We bet youre excited to start your drive to Wyoming! About seven miles north of downtown Jackson take a right onto Gros Ventre Road towards the small town of Kelly. But 84 is just not a fun road, despite winding through similar scenery. Cross back into Oregon on the I-205 bridge and head straight to the airport, or spend a night in northeast Portland, where some of the best restaurants in the city Bollywood Theatre, Podnahs BBQ, Hat Yai and Santo Domingo Taqueria, to name a few can be found. But to make this journey an unforgettable one is to saunter from place to place, driving no more than a few hours in each day, and lingering in many of the charming towns scattered along state highways in Oregon, Idaho and Wyoming. Moose-Wilson Road & The Top 5 Scenic Drives in Jackson Hole, Staying in Jackson vs. Teton Village in Jackson Hole. Drive from Jackson to Granite Hot Springs and Pinedale through Hoback Canyon Whether coming or going, the spectacular Wind River Range is your companion much of the way on this less traveled scenic drive along US 191/189. Idaho is known for its 'taters, but you'll see so much more than just potato fields. Perfect place to stay out of the way in Jackson, WY. One or all of these drives should be in your summer vacation plans. This dirt track offers up plenty of opportunities for fall wildlife viewing. Driving south from Moran in the evening is the perfect time to see the Tetons in a more majestic light. The road from Driggs northwest to Salmon cuts across cow and hay fields along windy plains, before slicing between two arid, forested mountain ranges on the Sacajawea Historic Byway. Complimentary WiFi. Into Joseph and Wallowa County the Eagle Cap wilderness rises into view, calling hikers and backpackers to a chain of pristine alpine lakes. 5.2K views 2 years ago Yes, you can drive over the Tetons, and here's how. Sun Valley to Jackson, Wyoming. This road is subject to closures due to grizzly bear activity and weather, so be sure to check its status before planning your trip. Once you reach the top, park and take a short hike to the overlook for the view youve been waiting for. Stop for lunch at Signal Mountain Lodge or camp overnight for sweeping views of Jackson Lake with the mountains in the distance and a chance to go fishing, kayaking, swimming, and boating. Moose-Wilson Road & The Top 5 Scenic Drives in Jackson Hole - Jackson Hole Central Reservations Skip to content (888) 838-6606 Email Newsletter Newsletter Sign-Up This website uses cookies to optimize your visitor experience. The Teton Scenic Byway runs along the western slopes of the spectacular Teton Range. The best way to cut through the chaff (and avoid parking nightmares) is to book a tour with Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris, whose guides are fonts of information and who know all of the places that are worth stopping or better off skipped. There is a park entrance at the east end of the Moose-Wilson Road, for which you will need a park pass. The drive from Idaho Falls is very scenic, with the highlight the crossing of Teton Pass between Victor, ID and Jackson, WY at 8,431 feet. Nearby Attractions: plenty of amazing fall hikes, the Morman Row historic ranches, Schwabacher Landing scenic view, Jenny Lake, and the Elk Refuge. Very relaxing atmosphere Great getaway in an awesome location. Theres nightlife: weekly Shakespeare performances (seasonally) in Driggs put on by the Montana Shakespeare in the Parks; Music on Main each Thursday from June to August in Victor, which is often capped by a stealth performance by well-known artists at the Knotty Pine; fine breweries in both towns for a post-hike pint; or the nostalgia pick, at The Spud drive-inn movie theater, which plays the newest titles on a screen attached to an old rodeo grandstand as soon as the sun goes down. Get out and take the ferry for a fun-filled pit stop along the way. Spend the afternoon fishing off the shores of the river, soaking in the natural hot springs at Astoria Bridge or having a picnic along the river or at the reservoir. Ring in the New Year, Jackson Hole style! Along the 1,398 mile road trip, find ancient history and the best Americana. In the morning, you can often hear male elk bugling in the distance, looking for their mate. Stop at the. At the top, the wide and rushing Imnaha River barrels through a landscape that has suddenly transformed from golden and bone dry to green and piney. One of the best aspects of the Inner Loop Road for fall is that elk love to grace along the side of the road. It's a 70-mile trip that includes breathtaking vistas, rivers, historic sites and access to the Grand Targhee Resort. NOTE: Moose Wilson Road is closed to motor vehicles from November 1 until road and weather conditions permit, usually sometime around mid-May. The sleepy town of Wilson is a perfect spot to gear up for the day. Stay at the Blue Lakes Inn, helping yourself to the cookies and earplugs youll need both at the front desk, before a morning at Shoshone Falls, a massive waterfall that some call the Niagara of the West, as its 45 feet higher than its Canadian border counterpart and nearly 1,000 feet wide. You are bound to the wheel and your eyes to the car ahead and to the rear-view mirror for the car behind and the side mirror for the car or truck about to pass, and at the same time you must read all the signs for fear you may miss some instructions or orders. Make sure to stop at the turnoff for a beautiful view of the Grand Tetons. Then, its off to Idaho Falls over the Perrine Bridge, another impressive viewpoint above the Snake, which youll revisit a dozen more times before getting back to Oregon. All Rights Reserved. Fall Creek Road is 18 miles of breathtaking views of the Snake River and surrounding mountains. Step out of your Idaho cabin rentals an take a scenic drive. The minimum speed on this road was greater than any I had previously driven. If you plan on hiking, you may want to give yourself a few hours. Spent three days in a cabin room. That means there's a lot to see - with at least 32 designated scenic byways or backcountry drives to explore. Or give us a call at (888) 838-6606 for more local expertise. Old Faithful, just before erupting. This incredibly scenic byway brings you right into the heart of the action with an array of fall colors around every bend. The likelihood of seeing wildlife along this road isnt always a sure thing as with other scenic drives, but its still a possibility. Advertisement. The cheapest way to get from Sun Valley to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort costs only $99, and the quickest way takes just 5 hours. Moose among the wildflowers in the Tetons Gregg Ohanian. The Teton Pass route is about 100 miles long and takes you through Swan Valley, Pine Creek, Victor, and, of course, the scenic Teton Pass. The view, the view, the view. John Steinbeck described interstates as great high speed slashes of concrete and tar best avoided, and he was right. Explore our Explorer Magazine Travel Planner, which you can also explore electronically HERE. The view, the view, the view. For more budget-friendly options inside the park, check out the Roosevelt Lodge Cabins, which start at $78 a night and go up to $130. Youll pass family farms, not mega-ranches, and weave in and out of slot canyons that gobble up the sky. Jackson, Wyoming 83001, MAILING ADDRESS: 3:57 pm Teton Pass. Be located in a scenic Idaho community surrounded by mountains and with proximity to Idaho Falls, Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park Enjoy a laid-back and adventurous community with endless mountain trails, world-class skiing and snowboarding, beautiful fly-fishing rivers, fantastic wildlife viewing, and more Hard as it will be to abandon this gorgeous region, there are more treasures to be found on the road back to Portland. Nearby Attractions: Grand Targhee Resort, West Entrance to Yellowstone (about an additional 2 hours away, but much less crowded), the Brakeman American Grill, Big Hole BBQ. , which is the historic Harrison Crandall photography studio. Stop 2: Pocatello, Idaho Pocatello, the fourth-largest city in Idaho, sits 1 hour 45 minutes east of Twin Falls via I-84 E and I-86 E. The city was originally nicknamed the " Gate City ". Head back to the Gros Ventre Junction along the River, past Kelly, WY to the Gros Ventre Road. Connecting Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, the Rockefeller Parkway winds through the Caribou-Targhee and Bridger-Teton National for some spectacular scenery and wildlife viewing. Getting to Jackson Hole from Idaho Falls . Rigby The changing grasses and nearby trees combined with the awe-inspiring geothermal activity create an idyllic scene that will take your breath away. VISITOR CENTER Spent three days in a cabin room. Very relaxing stay. In less than a two-hour drive from Idaho Falls, visitors can experience the mountain majesty found at Grand Teton National Park. Follow the narrow road eight miles to the Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center in Moose, WY. Above all, theres one stop on this route that should be considered mandatory, either for an overnight or a few leisurely hours: the Society Hotel in Bingen, Wash. Its a brand-new concept, and its spa is both centerpiece and highlight. The road often has a snow floor in winter. For a soak of road-weary muscles, head to the Kennedy School. From Alpine, you will be driving in the scenic canyon next to the Snake River to Hoback Junction. drive for about 19 minutes. If you curtailed your Ketchum adventures to the trails and riverbanks closest to town, this will be your first glimpse of a series of spectacular mountain ranges that ring the city and that stretch well beyond the Sun Valley. The drive from McCall to the Wallowa Mountains makes no sense. 10:00 am start in Jackson Hole drive for about 19 minutes 10:19 am Teton Pass stay for about 1 hour and leave at 11:19 am drive for about 18 minutes 11:37 am Teton Springs Lodge & Spa stay for about 1 hour and leave at 12:37 pm drive for about 24 minutes 1:02 pm Swan Valley (Idaho) stay for about 1 hour and leave at 2:02 pm This is a pleasant and less traveled highway so you can relax and enjoy the beauty of the mountains around you. This is another place that youll find hard to leave. Sign up for the Visit Idaho Newsletter for year-round Idaho adventures. By springcreekran on September 16, 2020 | Or, without paying so much as a parking fee, visitors may lace up hiking boots, trek to the Marys Nipple, have lunch against a backdrop of jagged peaks and then (for free!) It is the perfect way to spend a day. Another great option is the pet-friendly Barking Mad Bed & Breakfast. The Snake River Canyon runs from the south of Jackson, through Hoback Junction, and into the small town of Alpine, that sits on the banks of the Palisades Reservoir. Your browser is not supported for this experience.We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari. Jackson Hole celebrates the fall colors with epic mountain scenery. Located 35 miles southwest of Lander on WYO 28, the drive to this historic mining town gives travelers a glimpse of the old west. Route: Drive along the volcanic moonscape of Craters of the Moon National Monument and westward through southern Idaho until . During winter, the drive will likely take a little longer. Idaho Falls proximity to the Tetons and Jackson, Wyoming, (an hour and a half drive) makes it feel inevitable that the area will soon beckon outdoorsy millennials who cant afford to live in a place where the median housing price tops $1 million. Mid-September will be a great time to be traveling! Getting to Jackson Hole from Idaho Falls is quick and easy. There are about five ways to get to Jackson Hole from Salt Lake City. Yellowstone Falls, a set of two massive waterfalls that drop from the 590,000-year-old Canyon Rheolyte, are 308 feet high twice that of their more well-known cousin, Niagara. We highly recommend stopping at the top of the pass to soak in the view. Get up early and drive the 20-mile Inner Loop Road for incredible lighting under the perfect mountain backdrop. Route #1: Over Teton Pass Take US 26 East to Swan Valley Bus from Idaho Falls, ID to Jackson, WY Ave. Idaho looks upon the Tetons quiet side, as it were, but only because the eastern face of this mountain range rises straight out of the ground, meaning its peaks are viewable all along the road, no foothills to block them. The Limelights owners promised the community theyd create an inclusive space and that theyd be good residents of Ketchum, and judging by the mostly locals crowd mingling on the open patio on a summer night, theyve succeeded. But this road trip ranks among Americas finest, as long as travelers follow a single, vital rule: treat the interstates like magma. Drive in the mornings or evenings for your best chance at spotting wildlife. Just before entering the town of Ashton, turn right onto ID-47/Mesa Falls Scenic Byway. The Scenic Park Loop Road is 42 miles long and takes around one to two hours to complete. Need to rent a car? The bad: weekends here can be slammed. *You can make a pitstop at the famous Mormon Row that was home to the homesteaders of the late 1800s. More information here. A popular route for local commuters, it runs along the Snake River boasting photo worthy bridges, beautiful foliage, and miles of buttes and mountains. Turn right at the Lower Slide Lake sign and find parking. That's an easy freeway drive---little or no traffic, and quite scenic. The first and most used goes over Teton Pass. The steep canyon walls meet rushing water along this 37-mile canyon. white water rafting (seasonal), fly fishing, Astoria Bridge Hot Springs, Palisade Reservoir, and boat ramps for water access. Salmon, Idaho, is a sleepy town bordering on desolate, but its access to world-class whitewater rafting is hard to match, and the old architecture throughout a downtown with ample boarded up windows is surprisingly cool. For lodging, there is a cant-miss option in the Dreamcatcher Bed & Breakfast, nestled on 20 acres between the two towns in a spacious lodge in the countryside with high peaked ceilings, perfectly appointed rooms, a firepit in the yard and private porches from whence to watch the sun drop. Victor and Jackson Hole make a complementary pair for a weekend getaway. This trail leads to a lovely alpine lake about 4 miles round trip and boasts an easy and fun family outing. Check out nearby Idaho with an unbelievable mountain pass. In the Tetons, sleuth out the hidden trail to Delta Lake, a punishing but worthwhile climb to a pristine alpine lake tucked in the middle of the range. Take the time to read the informational signs on how the Lower Slide Lake was formed back in 1925. Route 66, Californias Highway 1 or the Oregon Coast are better known and more widely traveled, with legendary and Instagrammed-to-death scenery around every bend. Hoback Canyon Just 30 miles south of Jackson is Granite Hot Springs just off of highway 191/189. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Grand Teton National Parks Inner Loop Road. The route from Salt Lake City to West Yellowstone traverses northern Utah and eastern Idaho, only to eventually enter Montana, the state where our destination town is located. We are committed to making our website accessible. Half-way up the pass you will see a small parking lot on your left and a dirt road on your right with a sign for Phillips Canyon. We know there may be other 'easier' routes, but these look pretty scenic. Check out our weekly travel tips and start planning your next adventure. The route offers peaceful and astounding views of the Hoback River with scenery that is everchanging along the way. On the interstate, youre now a six-hour drive from where the trip began, and while home (or the airport) may be enticing, theres one more worthwhile stop to make, for a luxurious capstone to a long road trip. Note: We highly suggest making your road trip one big loop! It is crushed with tourists, especially in the summer, which means getting in and out of town is a two-lane traffic-snarled logjam. Rocinante bucketed along. Stop at the Jenny Lake Visitor Center, which is the historic Harrison Crandall photography studio. Its time to get in the car and start driving! This beautiful detour on the way from Idaho Falls to Yellowstone is a special treat. Many pull-offs are available for photographs and if youre lucky, you may just see a bear wandering through the sagebrush. SLC to Garden City, Afton, Jackson, Grand Teton, and Yellowstone South Entrance (distance 355 miles) SLC to Pocatello, Idaho Falls, Mesa Falls scenic byway, West Yellowstone (distance 323 miles) Adding another 15-20 miles to your route improves the experience of the journey considerably. Further north along this route the Upper Snake River Valley is full of fields of potatoes and other crops. In fact, the Moose Wilson Road is popular with moose, elk, and even bears! Location: Begins on Idaho 31 at Swan Valley; travel northeast to Idaho 33 at Victor, then north on Idaho 33 to Idaho 32, and then north on Idaho 32 to Idaho 47 at Ashton. Receive early notification of packages, last minute deals and upcoming events. For entertainment, go see a flick at the charming River Cinemas or some live music at The Owl Club, wandering between retro storefronts that cry out for new occupants. These great roads are wonderful for moving goods but not for inspection of a countryside. Getting to Jackson Hole from Idaho Falls . It's a beautiful scenic highway, with lots of picture-worthy stops and wildlife viewing opportunities along the way. TOLL FREE (888)838-6606(307) 733-4005140 E. Broadway, Suite 24Jackson, WY 83001, This website uses cookies to optimize your visitor experience. driving 2.5 hours. Stop at one of the many pullouts to fish or kayak (check water levels before heading out) or check out at the dramatic canyon walls. and leave at 4:57 pm. This drive gives you a real flavor for the Jackson area and many locals commute over this pass daily. Montana along the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway for a . Hilary September 2, 2021. Begin this DIY wildlife safari at Grand Teton National Park, where frequently spotted wildlife include black and grizzly bears, moose, elk, and bison. The likelihood of seeing wildlife along this road isnt always a sure thing as with other scenic drives, but its still a possibility. stay at Amangani Resort. Drive 6.5 miles north of town to the Gros Ventre Junction, turn right and follow along the Gros Ventre River. Did you know that there are ways to make your road trip to Jackson Hole eco-friendly? Sometimes its good to just take a driveand the Tetons are one of the few mountain ranges you could encircle in one day, enjoying stops along the way for vistas, swimming and picnics. If you plan on making the drive from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone, you first need to determine which route you want to take. $80/week Meal Plan covers 3 meals/day in the employee cafeteria. Driving to Jackson Hole from the east is the most straightforward. Make sure to fill up your gas tank and pick up some snacks for the drive ahead at one of our many grocery stores. The Aspen-lined road that winds back into the Gros Ventre is very peaceful and boasts wildflowers galore. Why not take a breathtaking scenic drive to discover a new favorite hike, vista, or swimming spot. The drive is about two hours without traffic but can take longer depending on which way you go and how many stops you make. Although the road is short, it still takes a minute to drive, so plan on at least a half-hour round trip. Be sure to eat at Rickshaw, which features Southeast Asian flavors in a laid-back setting. The route awaiting you crosses the north side of the Salt Lake Valley, where the Wasatch Mountains rise up, and as you continue northward, the landscape becomes increasingly green. Overview All Rights Reserved. . Stayed in a 1 bdrm condo complete w full kitchen and fireplace! The 16-mile Kelly Loop starts and ends at the Gros Ventre Junction. Travel from Pinedale on Highway 191 past the Wind River Mountains and many historical sites. Snow is on the ground and many of the roads in the National Parks and in the mountains around Jackson are closed for the winter. Head back to the Gros Ventre Junction along the River, past Kelly, WY to the, . Salt Lake City UT. Read on to discover the benefits of each of them. There are ample places to spend the night here, but if you happen to be packing camping gear, the smart play is to grab an early dinner at El Sancho Taco Shop and push on towards the Crooked River Valley, where ample campsites line a placid stream that beckons fly fishermen and inner tubers alike. Keyword Length Under 30 miles 30 to 75 miles Over 75 miles Time to Allow 1 hour or less 1 - 3 hours Over 3 hours Reset Show on Map Add Your Listing! Jackson Hole is located in one of the most beautiful regions in the country, and theres no better way to explore this area than by driving through it. The west side of the range is every bit as beautiful but shrouded by a few miles of foothills that make for anticipatory drives inching closer and closer to a commanding view. Boise is the next stop, and it is best reached by finishing the Journey Through Time Byway and then breaking south towards Vale. Read on to discover the benefits of each of them. Take a lazy scenic drive around town, stopping at whatever lighthouse or beach catches your eye. From Moose, WY, start the loop to the left. After an hour or so to Council and Cambridge, a right turn hits the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, which lines looming cliffs of black and green basalt.