Camping near Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming provides a range of camping experiences from developed campgrounds to primitive dispersed sites. Signal Mountain Campground sits near Jackson Lake with stunning mountain views, while Shadow Mountain and Upper Teton View offer free dispersed camping options on surrounding public lands. The park and adjacent forest areas support tent camping, RV sites with hookups at locations like Colter Bay RV Park, cabin accommodations, and yurt options scattered throughout the region.
Camping is highly seasonal in the Tetons, with many sites only operating from May through September due to winter conditions. "We arrived at 6:15am on a Sunday and felt so lucky to find an open spot," notes one camper about Signal Mountain Campground, highlighting the competition for prime locations during peak season. Most developed sites within the national park require advance reservations through recreation.gov, while dispersed camping options on forest service land typically have 14-day stay limits. Several campgrounds like Jenny Lake and Lizard Creek Campground provide drinking water and toilets but lack shower facilities, requiring visitors to plan accordingly. Higher elevation sites may experience significantly cooler temperatures even during summer months.
Waterfront camping locations receive particular praise from visitors to the area. Sites along Jackson Lake offer direct access to paddling opportunities and unobstructed views of the Teton Range. According to a review, "Campsite 12 might be the best campsite in the U.S. with unobstructed views of Jackson Lake." Wildlife sightings are common throughout the area, with many campers reporting encounters with deer, moose, and occasionally bears. Campers seeking more solitude often prefer the dispersed sites on Shadow Mountain or Spread Creek areas, while those wanting more amenities gravitate toward Signal Mountain or Colter Bay with their nearby stores, restaurants, and marina facilities. Sites with electrical hookups are limited and tend to fill quickly, especially during July and August when visitor numbers peak throughout the park.
