Grand Teton in November.

Crowd snapshot.

November averages about 50,000 recreation visits, roughly 7% of the July high and the second quietest month after December. The park empties out with the closing of the inner roads. All in-park lodging, campgrounds, restaurants and stores are closed for winter apart from the gas and restroom stops at Dornans, Signal Mountain, Jackson Lake Lodge and Headwaters Lodge at Flagg Ranch. The Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center closes at the end of October, so the park has no open visitor center in November; the National Elk Refuge and Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center in Jackson stays open all winter.

Weather snapshot.

The Moran 5WNW station records a November normal high of 34.7°F and a normal low of 13.9°F, with 2.61 inches of precipitation and 23.5 inches of snow. Snowfall more than triples from October, which is why the bike window on the Teton Park Road is short and unpredictable. Days shorten quickly. Park roads turn snow-covered and icy, so winter or all-season tires, chains for the passes and a winter safety kit all apply again. Hypothermia is the hazard NPS names first for this season, worsened by wind, exhaustion and wet clothing, with shivering and incoherent speech as warning signs.

Access snapshot.

The Teton Park Road closes to cars on November 1 from the Taggart Lake Trailhead to Signal Mountain Lodge and stays closed through April 30 (NPS Grand Teton roads page). It is open to biking from November 1 until it is snow covered; once snow covers it, bikes, fat tire bikes and roller blades are not allowed. Grooming for skiing and snowshoeing does not start until mid-December. The Moose-Wilson Road closes to cars on November 1 until mid-May, and road work at its north end has closed it earlier in some years; read the NPS road construction page and the current conditions page. US 89/191 and US 26/287 stay plowed from Jackson to Flagg Ranch. November 11 is on the 2026 fee-free list, and the park takes card payment only (NPS fees page).

Seasonal events.

November has no scheduled programming, since Snowshoe with a Ranger does not start until January and its phone bookings open December 1. The one thing November offers that no other month does is a bike ride on a closed Teton Park Road before the snow settles in. It is weather dependent and can end any week. Wildlife shifts with the snow: elk continue south toward the National Elk Refuge near Jackson, and bison drop to lower ground. Seasonal wildlife closures protect wintering moose, elk, bighorn sheep and waterfowl, and harassment is prohibited. Watch from the plowed highway with binoculars or a long lens rather than moving in closer.

Audience verdict.

November is the value month, with one unusual feature: a paved park road closed to cars but open to bikes until the snow lands. It suits cyclists willing to gamble on the weather, photographers who want an empty valley, and Jackson-based visitors happy with a short day. It is not a month for programs or services, because there are none inside the park. Families will find no visitor center open and no ranger walks until January. RV travelers should stay in Jackson, since every in-park campground is closed. Drive it like winter, because by the second half of the month it usually is.

Common questions.

Is November a good time to visit Grand Teton?

November runs very quiet at Grand Teton, about 7% of the July peak, with harsh winter cold (average highs near 35°F). If thinner crowds are the goal, it is one of the easier months to pick.

How crowded is Grand Teton in November?

November averages about 50,017 recreation visits, roughly 7% of Grand Teton's busiest month (July). That puts it among Grand Teton's quietest months.

How much of Grand Teton is open in November?

In a typical November, about 55% of Grand Teton's road network (weighted by how important each route is) is open to wheeled vehicles. Road-opening dates shift year to year, so check the official NPS page for current conditions before you go.

Methodology

Monthly recreation visits come from the official NPS Visitor Use Statistics Data Package, 2025 on NPS IRMA Stats; the statistic shown is Recreation Visits, the 5-year mean for 2021-2025. Climate normals come from NOAA NCEI's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at Moran 5WNW HCN, WY (station USC00486440, 6,805 ft elevation). The access score weights named park roads by route importance for typical wheeled-vehicle openings that month. Road dates, the Jenny Lake Boating season and lodge and campground windows move year to year. This page carries typical seasons and the year's published schedule, not today's status: for closures, construction and restrictions in force, read the NPS Grand Teton current conditions page and the road construction page, and confirm dates on the official NPS Grand Teton page before booking. Independent site, not affiliated with the National Park Service.