Best time to visit Grand Teton.
Photo · NPS Photo / D. Lehle · NPS sourceCheck before you go
- Closures, fire restrictions, construction and water: NPS Grand Teton current conditions
- We are independent of the National Park Service. The official pages above are the source of record for anything that changes.
Compare Grand Teton by month.
Three signals for each month: how busy it is against July, the average weather, and how much of the road system is normally open. Tap a month for its full Grand Teton guide. We don't roll these into one "best month" score, because a photographer and a family on school break want different months.
Weather · NOAA normals, Moran 5WNW HCN (6,805 ft)
| Month | Crowds | Weather | Roads & lodging | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January |
Lowest
8% of July · 57K avg
|
Harsh
24°F / 1°F (-4°C / -17°C)
|
Partly open
Typical windows · score 55/100
|
Quiet month. The main highways stay plowed; the Teton Park Road is closed to cars. Deep snow, frigid nights, short days; cross-country skiing on the snow-covered road.Read the January guide |
| February |
Lowest
8% of July · 56K avg
|
Harsh
30°F / 4°F (-1°C / -16°C)
|
Partly open
Typical windows · score 55/100
|
Still quiet. Main highways open; the Teton Park Road stays a ski and snowshoe route. Cold, with lengthening days.Read the February guide |
| March |
Lowest
9% of July · 65K avg
|
Harsh
39°F / 12°F (4°C / -11°C)
|
Partly open
Typical windows · score 55/100
|
Crowds remain low. Main highways plowed. Snow lingers on trails; valley nights well below freezing. Confirm winter-trail conditions on the NPS Grand Teton page.Read the March guide |
| April |
Lowest
10% of July · 75K avg
|
Harsh
46°F / 21°F (8°C / -6°C)
|
Partly open
Typical windows · score 55/100
|
Still quiet. Main highways open; the Teton Park Road stays closed to cars through April 30. Snow lingers on trails.Read the April guide |
| May |
Moderate
42% of July · 306K avg
|
Good
56°F / 31°F (14°C / -1°C)
|
Usually all open
Typical windows · score 85/100
|
Spring ramp. The Teton Park Road opens to cars May 1, and the Moose-Wilson Road usually reopens in mid-May. Snow on higher trails; bears active.Read the May guide |
| June |
Peak
86% of July · 633K avg
|
Ideal
67°F / 37°F (19°C / 3°C)
|
Usually all open
Typical windows · score 100/100
|
Busy ramp into summer. NPS says valley trails are usually snow-free by mid-June. Long daylight, warm days, cool nights.Read the June guide |
| July |
Peak
100% of July · 732K avg
|
Ideal
77°F / 42°F (25°C / 6°C)
|
Usually all open
Typical windows · score 100/100
|
Peak month. Full operations. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer (NPS).Read the July guide |
| August |
Peak
92% of July · 672K avg
|
Ideal
76°F / 40°F (24°C / 5°C)
|
Usually all open
Typical windows · score 100/100
|
Still very busy. Afternoon thundershowers common. Smoke from fires in the region is possible (NPS).Read the August guide |
| September |
Busy
77% of July · 564K avg
|
Ideal
66°F / 34°F (19°C / 1°C)
|
Usually all open
Typical windows · score 100/100
|
Strong shoulder. Visits fall from August. Park visitor centers begin to close, and NPS describes fall elk bugling and aspen color without peak dates.Read the September guide |
| October |
Quiet
34% of July · 248K avg
|
Rough
51°F / 25°F (11°C / -4°C)
|
Usually all open
Typical windows · score 90/100
|
Quieter but variable. The Teton Park Road and Moose-Wilson Road close to cars November 1. Sunny days and cold nights alternate with rain and occasional snow.Read the October guide |
| November |
Lowest
7% of July · 50K avg
|
Harsh
35°F / 14°F (2°C / -10°C)
|
Partly open
Typical windows · score 55/100
|
Crowds collapse. The Teton Park Road is closed to cars from November 1; main highways plowed. Snow and cold settle in.Read the November guide |
| December |
Lowest
7% of July · 49K avg
|
Harsh
24°F / 4°F (-4°C / -16°C)
|
Partly open
Typical windows · score 55/100
|
Quietest month. Deep winter. The Teton Park Road is closed to cars and groomed for skiing and snowshoeing from mid-December.Read the December guide |
Open the full Grand Teton crowd calendar
Rain, snow, latest-year counts, and the weather station
Moran 5WNW HCN sits inside the park at ~6,805 ft, on the valley floor near Jackson Lake. Its numbers fit the valley, where most visitors spend their time. Higher in the Teton Range it is colder and snowier. NPS notes snow and frost are possible any month.
| Month | Visits in 2025 | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50,745 | 2.90″ | 39.5″ |
| Feb | 53,580 | 2.31″ | 28.2″ |
| Mar | 64,716 | 2.34″ | 22.0″ |
| Apr | 77,629 | 2.16″ | 11.7″ |
| May | 341,521 | 2.36″ | 2.9″ |
| Jun | 680,406 | 1.75″ | 0.3″ |
| Jul | 787,186 | 1.02″ | 0.0″ |
| Aug | 735,593 | 1.28″ | 0.0″ |
| Sep | 617,970 | 1.64″ | 0.4″ |
| Oct | 281,020 | 1.92″ | 6.5″ |
| Nov | 56,377 | 2.61″ | 23.5″ |
| Dec | 53,905 | 3.10″ | 39.9″ |
Grand Teton's September figure (~77% of July's peak) is a monthly mean. We don't publish weekly NPS counts, so this page can't show how visits change from the start of the month to the end. Park visitor centers begin to close during September, per NPS. Treat the headline 'best month' pick as a monthly-mean call.
How these scores are computed (and why there's no combined "best month")
Crowd score
Formula: 100 − (this month's visits ÷ park's peak month visits) × 100. Each park scored against its own peak, not against other parks.
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics Data Package 2025, Recreation Visits (TRV), 5-year monthly mean (2021-2025). Reproduce these numbers on the NPS IRMA Stats portal.
Reading it: July at Grand Teton reads 0 (peak). December reads 93 (quietest). A 50 means about half the park's peak crowd.
Weather score
Formula: weatherScore = round(max(0, min(100, dayComfort − precipPenalty − snowPenalty − freezePenalty))). The piecewise day-comfort function is continuous at every boundary.
- Day comfort:
tmax < 50°F →
max(10, (tmax − 20) × 2)(cold tail); 50–60°F →60 + (tmax − 50) × 4(ramp to 100); 60–78°F → 100 (plateau); 78–85°F →100 − (tmax − 78) × 5(ramp to 65); > 85°F →max(30, 65 − (tmax − 85) × 5)(hot tail). - Precip penalty:
max(0, prcpIn − 1.5) × 8; kicks in above 1.5 in / month. - Snow penalty:
snowIn × 2.5. If the selected station does not publish a snowfall normal, the score applies no snow penalty and labels snowfall as unavailable. - Night-freeze penalty:
max(0, 32 − tmin) × 1.5when tmin < 32°F.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, station Moran 5WNW HCN, WY (USC00486440, 6,805 ft).
Caveat: Moran 5WNW HCN sits inside the park at ~6,805 ft, on the valley floor near Jackson Lake. Its numbers fit the valley, where most visitors spend their time. Higher in the Teton Range it is colder and snowier. NPS notes snow and frost are possible any month.
Access score
Formula: For each named park road, count it open if its typical operating window covers that month. Score = round((sum of weights of open roads / sum of all weights) x 100). Where a park has a partial winter access mode, the profile documents that assumption in its access notes.
Route weights at Grand Teton:
- US-89 / US-191 / US-26 (the through-highway corridor): Open year-round
- Teton Park Road (the inner scenic drive): Open to cars May 1 → October 31
- Moose-Wilson Road: Cars mid-May → October 31
- Jenny Lake shuttle (across-lake boat): 2026 season · May 15 → September 30
- Wildlife safety. Bears, moose, bison: Year-round · bear spray recommended everywhere
- Entry, fees, and timed entry: Year-round entry · no timed entry
- Lodging, in-park concessioner windows: In-park lodges · early May → mid-October
- Yellowstone proximity: No winter drive into Yellowstone
Editorial methodology: the route weights are chosen by our editors from NPS road and lodge operating dates and the park's own access caveats below the score table.
Caveat: The score reflects wheeled-vehicle road access only. Backcountry, hiking, lodging, shuttle, and other service availability are not directly included unless the park profile states otherwise.
Why no combined score?
A combined "best month" number forces a weighting: how much do you care about crowds vs. weather vs. access? Those weights are personal. A photographer optimizing for golden light weights differently than a parent locked to school break weights differently than a winter visitor with a 4WD. We show the inputs and let you decide. Use the per-month grid above to navigate to a deeper page.
When are roads and lodges open?
Roads, entrances, and lodges by season. Road closures and lodge seasons decide what a month can actually offer. Verify with NPS before you travel; these change.
Last updated · Sep 13, 2026
Every road's opening and closing dates: Grand Teton road closures.
US-89 / US-191 / US-26 (the through-highway corridor)
Open year-round. This is the spine of Grand Teton access. NPS says US 89/191 and US 26/287 are plowed and open for winter travel from the town of Jackson to Flagg Ranch, just south of Yellowstone. Park roads are often snow-covered and icy in winter, so carry tire chains for mountain passes. Confirm current conditions and any temporary closures on the NPS Grand Teton conditions page before driving in winter storms.
Teton Park Road (the inner scenic drive)
The inner road past Jenny Lake. NPS closes it to cars November 1 to April 30 from Taggart Lake Trailhead to Signal Mountain Lodge, and grooms it for skiing, snowshoeing, and hiking from mid-December to mid-March. You can bike it from November 1 until it is snow covered, and again in spring once the snow melts, until April 30. Confirm current status on the NPS Grand Teton conditions page before planning a trip around it.
Moose-Wilson Road
The south-end road between Moose and the Granite Canyon Entrance. NPS closes it November 1 until mid-May, based on conditions, and bars vehicles longer than 23 feet or wider than 8 feet, and vehicles with trailers. The park has also been rebuilding its north end near Moose in stages. Confirm current status on the NPS Grand Teton conditions page.
Jenny Lake shuttle (across-lake boat)
The Jenny Lake Boating shuttle boat crosses Jenny Lake to the west boat dock, for easier access to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. It's a concessioner service, and a fee is charged. The season starts when the ice goes out, so it varies: the park's hours page listed May 15 (ice dependent) to September 30 for 2026. Confirm the schedule before counting on it.
Wildlife safety. Bears, moose, bison
Grand Teton has both grizzly and black bears across the park. NPS recommends carrying bear spray in all areas of the park, where you can reach it right away. NPS distance rules: in a vehicle or on foot, stay at least 100 yards (300 ft) from bears and wolves, and at least 25 yards (75 ft) from all other wildlife (NPS safety). Never get between an adult animal and its young.
Entry, fees, and timed entry
Grand Teton requires no park-entry reservation. It is one of 11 parks where non-U.S. residents age 16+ pay a $100 nonresident fee in addition to standard admission unless covered by an eligible pass. The America the Beautiful Annual Pass is $80 for U.S. residents and $250 for nonresidents. Verify terms on the NPS nonresident fees page.
Lodging, in-park concessioner windows
In-park lodging is concessioner-run and seasonal. The NPS lodging page lists Jackson Lake Lodge as open mid-May to early October, Colter Bay Cabins late May to late September, Jenny Lake Lodge early June to early October, and Signal Mountain Lodge early May to mid-October. NPS says lodge rooms can fill months in advance. Book through Grand Teton Lodge Company and Signal Mountain Lodge. Nearly all park lodging closes for winter, and NPS points winter visitors to lodging in the Jackson Hole area. The park's campgrounds, run by the same two companies, are seasonal too: see Grand Teton camping.
Yellowstone proximity
Flagg Ranch, in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway just south of Yellowstone, is where Grand Teton's plowed highway ends in winter. NPS notes that in winter Yellowstone's roads are closed to motorized vehicles except Mammoth Hot Springs to Cooke City, so there is no winter drive north into Yellowstone. For that park's road dates, see Yellowstone road closures.
Which month fits your trip?
The month table answers most trips. These four decide the date for the rest, and each has its own page with the facts behind it.
Also for Grand Teton: Road closures and dates · Airports · Fees and passes · Accessibility.
Questions about when to go.
What is the best month to visit Grand Teton?
It depends on what you want. For a balance of crowds, weather, and open roads, September usually works well. If empty trails matter most, look at late September to October. For the widest range of open roads and services, aim for late May to September.
When should I avoid Grand Teton?
July is the busiest month, when parking and lodging are tightest. If instead you want the park at its most open, the tougher month is January, when weather and seasonal closures limit how much you can reach.
What are the quietest months at Grand Teton?
The quietest stretch is December, November, and February. December is the low point, averaging about 49,334 recreation visits, roughly 7% of the July peak.
Which month has the best weather at Grand Teton?
July usually brings Grand Teton's most comfortable conditions, with average highs near 77°F. It is not always the quietest month, so use the month grid above to weigh weather against crowds.
How this page
is built.
Not affiliated with or endorsed
by the National Park Service.
Crowd numbers on this page are the Recreation Visits column from the NPS Visitor Use Statistics Data Package, 2025. Monthly figures are five-year arithmetic means (2021-2025) against each park's own peak month. We do not compare parks against each other for the crowd score: only against themselves.
Weather numbers are NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, drawn from the Moran 5WNW HCN, WY station (USC00486440). The station sits at 6,805 ft; the elevation caveat above the weather table explains where this misreads the higher districts.
Access notes are an independent summary of NPS operating posture. We do not republish NPS pages; we link them. Conditions change; confirm road status, reservation requirements, and lodging windows on https://www.nps.gov/grte/index.htm before travel.
Full year-by-year history, records, and the events behind each year: Grand Teton visitation by year.
- Air quality: AirNow.gov; real-time air quality and smoke conditions.
- Park conditions: NPS Grand Teton current conditions, verify before you drive.
The next Grand Teton
window, in your inbox.
One email a month. The park to point at, the week to book, the trail that's about to fill up. Unsubscribe in a click.