Jackson Hole to Yellowstone: Drive Time, Route and Winter Closures
Jackson, Wyoming is 57 miles and about 1 hour 15 minutes from the South Entrance, and the whole drive runs through Grand Teton National Park. Old Faithful is 95 miles and roughly 2 hours 15 minutes. West Thumb on Yellowstone Lake is 78 miles and about 1 hour 45 minutes. The South Entrance road closes to cars from early November to mid May, which strands Jackson from Yellowstone for half the year.
The drive north
US-89 runs north from Jackson along the base of the Tetons, past Jackson Lake, over Ansel Adams territory at Oxbow Bend and up the Rockefeller Parkway to the South Entrance. It is one of the best hours of driving in the country and you should not treat it as transit. Oxbow Bend, Schwabacher Landing and Snake River Overlook all sit within 20 minutes of the road and all reward an early start.
Two fee notes that catch people. Yellowstone and Grand Teton charge separately at $35 per vehicle each. The America the Beautiful pass at $80 covers both and pays for itself immediately on this route. You will pass through the Grand Teton entrance station on the way to Yellowstone whether you stop in the Tetons or not.
Drive times from Jackson
| Destination | Miles | Time |
|---|---|---|
| South Entrance | 57 | 1 hour 15 min |
| West Thumb | 78 | 1 hour 45 min |
| Old Faithful | 95 | 2 hours 15 min |
| Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone | 98 | 2 hours 30 min |
| West Yellowstone | 125 | 3 hours |
West Yellowstone to Jackson, and the winter detour
In summer, West Yellowstone to Jackson is 125 miles and about 3 hours straight through the park past Old Faithful and West Thumb. It is the standard way to link the two towns and it is beautiful.
From early November to mid May that road is closed to cars. The detour runs west and south through Idaho on US-20 and ID-33 over Teton Pass, about 170 miles and 3 hours 30 minutes in good conditions. Teton Pass is steep, has a 10 percent grade, and closes in storms. Check the Wyoming and Idaho road reports before you commit to it in winter.
Lower loop tours from Jackson Hole
Full day bus and van tours run from Jackson to the lower loop through the summer, typically 12 to 14 hours door to door. They cover West Thumb, Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic, the Fountain Paint Pots and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. It is a long day and a lot of bus, and it is the right choice if you do not want to drive 190 miles yourself. If you would rather split it, our guide to the upper and lower loops lays out how the figure eight actually works.
Doing both parks
Most people underestimate Grand Teton and give it an afternoon. It deserves two days. Our Yellowstone and Grand Teton itinerary splits the time properly, and drive times from every gateway compares Jackson against the other gateways. Planning is free, and we earn only if you book through us.
Jackson Hole to Yellowstone: Drive Time, Route and Winter Closures FAQs
Fifty seven miles and about 1 hour 15 minutes to the South Entrance, all of it through Grand Teton National Park. Old Faithful is 95 miles and roughly 2 hours 15 minutes.
Not through the park. The road past Old Faithful closes to cars from early November to mid May, so the detour runs west into Idaho and back over Teton Pass, about 170 miles and 3 hours 30 minutes. Teton Pass is steep and closes in storms.
Each park charges $35 per vehicle for seven days. The America the Beautiful annual pass at $80 covers both and is worth buying the moment you plan to visit the two together.
