So you’ve planned yourself a trip to Grand Teton National Park (NP) and have either a RV, Campervan, or tent ready. Well, there are plenty of chances to boondock or disperse camp nearby. Read on to hear about our experiences and to learn all you need to know to boondock near the Grand Teton National Park.
First off, depending on where you’ve boondocked before, you may find that getting a site near this area isn’t as easy as other places. That was definitely what we found, anyways. Or if you haven’t, read about our tips & tricks if this is your first time!
What Not To Do:
You are absolutely not allowed to boondock or park anywhere overnight within the NP boundaries without a permit or reservation. If you’re planning to backcountry, or any type of overnight camping within the park, you also will need a permit.
Paid Camping/Glamping Options:
Inside Grand Teton National Park
With that being said, there are options for paid campsites, as well several cabin/lodge options throughout the park. Most reservations can be made ahead of time through recreation.gov. If you’re interested in these, I would suggest Jenny Lake Campground or the Jackson Lake Lodge. These both looked like great options when we drove through. A couple other options are Colter Bay Village and Signal Mountain Lodge. However, we didn’t get a close look at them so we can’t completely vouch for these sites.
We heard that there are a couple of sites within these options that are reserved for “walk-ins” or same-day booking, but can go fast. If you plan to go the same day, I suggest being there before 10am (the earlier the better). These sites vary in facilities, so definitely check out the website prior to going depending on your needs.
Outside Grand Teton National Park
There are also a couple of options outside the NP border that include maintained sites for a small fee. The few that we stopped at were $12-15/night, and were first come first serve with no reservations. These are great options in close proximity to the park, and do not come without the hefty price tags.
On Gros Ventre Road (see map below), there are two sites like these: Atherton and Crystal Creek Campgrounds. The sites are $15 and $12/night for a single site respectively (cash only). Atherton has 22 sites (not including the hosts’ site), and is the more accessible out of the two with paved roads the entire way. After you hit Atherton, it is gravel and dirt roads the rest of the way until you get to Crystal Creek. There are about 7 sites at Crystal Creek, with a few extra spots in what they call an “overflow” campground. This overflow campground were a little more expensive than the regular $12 fee.
We tried to get a site for one of the nights, but also found that they got full pretty early on. Similar to the sites inside the park, the camp host recommended getting there no later than 10am. Again, the earlier the better. This also depends on when you’ll be there as the summer months tend to get quite busy, even on weekdays.
Another one is Gros Ventre Campground, which is about a little pricier at $38/night. This campground takes reservations through recreation.gov and has various RV facilities. These sites are closer to the park, accessible via paved roads, and because of that, may be busier.
Boondocking/Dispersed Camping Options:
Now, you’ve gone through all that and know what your options are, but you’d still rather find a boondocking site? Well if that’s you, keep reading for the places we found and for some helpful tips and tricks.
Shadow Mountain — An absolute boondock paradise with an unforgettable view!
Let’s start off with the most trafficked of the boondock sites – Shadow Mountain. If you read any reviews on Campendium or iOverlander, you will find many reviews from disgruntled people who weren’t able to get a spot here.
There’s definitely a reason why this spot is so highly trafficked. And that’s because the views from here are absolutely beautiful! There is an unobstructed view of the Tetons, with amazing sunrises and sunsets that people would describe as “once in a lifetime.” Now, who wouldn’t want that, right? We tried our luck here twice and arrived at a time we thought was quite early (around 1-2pm), but were still not able to get a spot.
If you have the option to arrive super early, we say go for it. Some say you should aim to get there between 10-11am to secure a spot, but this can also depend on the day and time of year you go. The road leading up to Shadow Mountain is uphill and very rocky. Make sure you have 4WD/AWD and feel comfortable driving these types of roads. The first few spots are more accessible (but naturally the busiest), with the roads getting worse (read: rockier and bumpier) the further up you go.
Gros Ventre Road — Secluded, Large Campsites
We stumbled upon this boondocking site after we realized we weren’t able to get a campsite at Atherton or Clear Creek. When leaving Grand Teton NP, you’ll find that you quite quickly hit the border of Bridger-Teton National Forest. This area is BLM land meaning you can pretty much camp anywhere.
There were several large areas to camp along this road between Atherton Creek and Clear Creek campsites. Most of these being able to fit multiple vehicles. We pulled off to an already “occupied” area, politely asked a couple with an RV staying there whether it was okay for us to park on the other side of the site (mind you, probably about 10 metres apart), to which they obliged. A Park Ranger also advised us that it was completely okay to camp there, even with multiple vehicles.
We’ve been to areas where there are strict policies on only having one vehicle (unless part of a group) to a campsite, but found that wasn’t the case here. So if you find yourself not being able to find a completely unoccupied site, I wouldn’t hesitate to park alongside another vehicle. We think it’s courteous to always ask if you can see people nearby, but I wouldn’t say it’s mandatory by any means.
There are no amenities here and it can get a little noisy as the sites are just off the main road. However, we found that we experienced better privacy (other than the one RV mentioned earlier) because the sites are quite far apart from each other. Not a bad trade-off if you ask me! All things considered, we really liked this site and went back to the same place for a second night.
Buffalo Valley Road Camping
On the northern part of the NP, Buffalo Valley Road is a great option for boondocking. In total, there are 23 marked campsites that are free. It is made clear that camping in any other area that is not marked a designated campsite is strictly prohibited. There are, however, paid campsites at the end of the road: Turpin Meadows Campsite ($12/night for a single site) should you not be able to find a site on Buffalo Valley Road. This is a great overflow option, with 18 total campsites available and some facilities such as restrooms, water, and trash.
The views and clearance needed for each of these sites vary greatly. Buffalo Valley Road is paved all the way through, and there are several sites that are right off this main road. See above map. However, there are roads (including the one we went to) that require a bit of off-roading. There are a variety of views, depending on the site you get. There are some higher up with a mountain view, and also some quiet spots deeply nestled in the trees and lowlands.
Because we had gotten to this site fairly late in the day, we decided to try our luck with the more remote places first. For reference, we arrived around 4-5PM on the 4th of July. We thought we’d have a better chance at these. And boy – were we right! We made it to campsite #10 after a grueling, bumpy ride, and came across a very large open clearing with a great view. Very well deserved, would highly recommend this specific campsite if you get the chance!
Takeaway
Overall, while we didn’t have the easiest time finding spots near Grand Teton NP, we thought the sites we did find were totally worth it. Definitely be prepared to drive further distances than you’re used to. Also allow yourself time to find a place before it gets dark. As with all boondocking, be sure to enjoy the process as a part of your adventure. This has easily become our favourite way to get around and find “accommodations.” We found our best places and hidden gems that we would have never come across had it not been for this process!
If you’re new to boondocking, be sure to read about tips & tricks on what you need to know for your first time!
Again, if you don’t already have the app(s) Campendium and iOverlander, I highly suggest using them to find other great sites nearby. Usually there are more recent reviews from others that went to these sites, as things can very easily change.
If you get to check out these sites above, let us know how it went! Are there any sites that you’ve gone to around Grand Teton National Park that we missed? Let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!
