Elk sleighs, Teton snow and winter Old Faithful
This is leg 2 of 2, the final leg.
Travel leg · Grand Teton, Jackson & Yellowstone
Jackson to Yellowstone
Jackson and Yellowstone sit about 127 km (79 mi) apart in a straight line, with Yellowstone to the north. It is leg 2 of 2 on our Grand Teton, Jackson & Yellowstone itinerary, a 7-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 127 km · 79 mi
- Est. road distance
- 153–178 km
- Est. drive time
- 1 h 30 min – 2 h 45 min
- Direction
- Heading north
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Grand Teton, Jackson & Yellowstone itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 153–178 km (95–111 mi) of road and 1 h 30 min – 2 h 45 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
Fly into Jackson Hole (JAC) and out of Bozeman (BZN), about 1.5 hours from Gardiner and Mammoth. The airport is 15 minutes from Jackson; Teton Village is 25 minutes. US-89 through Grand Teton stays plowed in winter, but the Teton Park Road is closed to cars from November to April. In winter Yellowstone's interior roads are open only to commercial snowcoaches and guided snowmobiles: tours reach Old Faithful from West Yellowstone (about 2.5 hours from Jackson over Teton Pass and through Idaho) or from Flagg Ranch north of Grand Teton, and scheduled snowcoaches link Old Faithful with Mammoth. The road from Gardiner through Mammoth and the Lamar Valley to Cooke City is the only one in the park open to cars all winter. Rent an all-wheel-drive car with winter tires.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends, plus 8 places near the straight-line path.
When you arrive in Yellowstone
Geysers, steam and wildlife reached by snowcoach; 2–3 nights at Old Faithful and Mammoth.
Old Faithful
Yellowstone's best-known geyser, erupting about every 60 to 110 minutes; in winter the plume of steam towers over the snow.
Old Faithful Snow Lodge
The main winter lodging in Yellowstone's interior, a short walk from Old Faithful and reached only by snowcoach or snowmobile.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Yellow-walled canyon where the 308-foot Lower Falls builds a huge cone of ice in winter.
West Yellowstone
Montana gateway town at the West Entrance, where most snowcoach and guided snowmobile tours to Old Faithful begin.
Grand Prismatic Spring
The largest hot spring in the United States, in Midway Geyser Basin; in winter its steam drifts over the Firehole River.
Mammoth Hot Springs
Travertine terraces near the North Entrance, steaming and frosted in winter, with boardwalks you can walk on your own.
Near the way
These places from our other itineraries sit within about 19 km of the straight line between Jackson and Yellowstone. The road may not pass them directly, so check how far off your route they are.
Schwabacher Landing
Beaver ponds on the Snake River reflecting the Teton range.
Grand Teton
At 13,775 feet, the highest peak of the Teton Range, rising about 7,000 feet straight from the valley floor.
Jenny Lake Boating Shuttle
Boat across Jenny Lake to the Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point trails.
Snake River Overlook
Pullout on US-89 above a bend of the Snake River, where Ansel Adams photographed the Tetons in 1942.
Signal Mountain Summit Road
Winding road to an overlook above Jackson Lake and the whole range.
Oxbow Bend
Slow Snake River bend reflecting Mount Moran, with moose and pelicans.
Mural Room
Jackson Lake Lodge's main dining room with 60-foot windows facing the range.
Blue Heron Lounge
Jackson Lake Lodge bar with big windows over Willow Flats and Mount Moran.
Before you leave Jackson
Western town at the south end of the valley; 2–3 nights for elk, skiing and the Town Square.
Elk Refuge sleigh ride
Horse-drawn sleigh rides out among the wintering elk, leaving from the visitor center on North Cache Street.
National Museum of Wildlife Art
Museum of wildlife painting and sculpture built into a hillside directly across from the Elk Refuge.
Million Dollar Cowboy Bar
Western bar on Town Square with saddles for bar stools, live country music and a dance floor.
On this curated route
Where Jackson → Yellowstone sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Yellowstone to Jackson is the same 127 km in a straight line, heading south. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in April, when Yellowstone averages highs 6°C cooler than Jackson. Over a year, Yellowstone gets about 180 mm more rain.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson high | -2° | -1° | 3° | 8° | 15° | 22° | 28° | 27° | 21° | 11° | 3° | -3° |
| Yellowstone high | -7° | -6° | -2° | 2° | 9° | 16° | 22° | 22° | 16° | 6° | -2° | -7° |
| Jackson rain | 69 | 62 | 60 | 63 | 63 | 50 | 24 | 31 | 46 | 54 | 61 | 73 |
| Yellowstone rain | 81 | 75 | 77 | 82 | 81 | 70 | 37 | 40 | 52 | 69 | 79 | 91 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Yellowstone month guides.
Jackson to Yellowstone: questions travelers ask
How far is Jackson from Yellowstone?
Jackson is about 127 km (79 mi) from Yellowstone in a straight line, with Yellowstone to the north. By road, we estimate 153–178 km (95–111 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Jackson to Yellowstone?
An estimated 1 h 30 min – 2 h 45 min, assuming 153–178 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
What is there to see between Jackson and Yellowstone?
Near the straight-line path we have 8 places from our curated guides, including Schwabacher Landing (Grand Teton National Park), Grand Teton (Grand Teton National Park), Jenny Lake Boating Shuttle (Grand Teton National Park), Snake River Overlook (Grand Teton National Park). The road may not pass them directly, so check the detour.
Which itineraries include the trip from Jackson to Yellowstone?
Our Grand Teton, Jackson & Yellowstone itinerary includes this leg. Grand Teton, Jackson & Yellowstone runs about 7 days across 3 stops, best in Mid-Dec – Mar.
Getting to Jackson
Guides for both ends
- Jackson travel guide
- Jackson weather best time to visit
- Yellowstone travel guide
- Yellowstone weather best time to visit
Yellowstone by month
Plan Jackson → Yellowstone with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.