Staying at Colter Bay RV Park – Advantages and Challenges – Grand Teton National Park
Colter Bay RV Park – The Advantages and Challenges
Colter Bay RV Park is for the RV’ers that are looking to stay INSIDE Grand Teton National Park with the convenience of FULL hookups.
It is nestled in a lodgepole pine forest in Colter Bay Village and near Jackson Lake.
Colter Bay RV Park is the only RV Park within Grand Teton National Park’s boundaries that has full hookups (water, sewer, and electricity).
Fast Facts
OPEN: May 2 – October 10, 2024
CAMPGROUND TYPE: RVs only. No Tents.
HOOKUPS: Water (20 amp), Sewer (30 amp), Electricity (50 amp)
SITES:
- 102 Pull-through sites – max length of 45 ft (combined length of RV and tow vehicle);
- 12 Back-In Sites – 30 ft maximum length (combined length of RV and tow vehicle);
- Six Wheelchair ADA Accessible Sites;
RATES: $92.69 – $117 plus tax and fees (discounts for Senior Pass Holders)
RESERVATIONS: Required. Can be made up to 6 months in advance of your planned arrival date at Recreation.gov
RESTROOMS: Running water with flushing toilets (showers located in Colter Bay Village for a fee)
PETS: Yes, Follow Regulations
ADDRESS: 100 Colter Bay Village Rd, Moran, WY 83013
DIRECTIONS
DRIVE TIMES: (without traffic)
- to Jackson Lake Lodge = 5.9 miles, 12 minutes
- to Moran Junction = 10 miles, 15 minutes
- to Signal Mountain Lodge = 9.4 miles, 16 minutes
- to Jenny Lake Visitor Center = 19 miles, 40 minutes
- to Moose, WY via HWY 189/91/26 = 28.6 miles, 38 minutes
- to Jackson Hole Airport via HWY 189/91/26 = 32.4 miles, 48 minutes
- to Jackson, WY via HWY 189/91/26 = 41.6 miles, 58 minutes
- to Yellowstone South Boundary = 18.5 miles, 25 minutes
Pro Tip: Do reserve a site as early as possible as they reserve quickly. Do check back at recreation.gov often to snag any cancellations.
Article Contents
Article Contents
Colter Bay Village
Colter Bay is a village located in the northern part of Grand Teton National Park, found on the east side of Jackson Lake (see full park map). It is a full-service village providing visitors with lodging options, services, and many options of recreation on or by the lake.
Lodging options include: RV Park, Cabins, Tent Cabins, and Campground.
Guest services include: visitor’s center, full-service marina, grocery store, restaurants, laundry, showers, gas station, and gift shops.
Recreation options include: hiking, fishing, swimming, boating, scenic lake cruises, scenic river cruises, picnicking, and horseback riding.
Location of Colter Bay RV Park in Grand Teton National Park – See Larger Map
Colter Bay RV Park vs. Colter Bay Campground
For this article, we will only be covering Colter Bay RV Park – full hookups of water, sewage, and electricity.
So to be clear on terminology, as “RV Park” and “Campground” are often used interchangeably:
- Colter Bay RV Park is for RV camping with water, sewage, and electricity hookups. No tents allowed.
- Colter Bay Campground is for tent and dry RV camping. No hookups.
Colter Bay Village RV Park
After reading the description of Colter Bay and all the services it provides, you may have deduced that it is a pretty big place (well, big for Grand Teton National Park anyway). The following is a map of Colter Bay Village, showing the location of the Colter Bay RV Park in the village.
Colter Bay RV Park on the Colter Bay Village Map – See Larger Map
Colter Bay RV Park Provides:
- 102 Pull-through sites – one RV with one tow vehicle, for a maximum combined length of 45 feet.
- 12 Back-in sites – one RV with one tow vehicle, for a maximum combined length of 30 feet.
- An overflow parking area for tow vehicles if the maximum combined length is exceeded (within a five-minute walk from RV sites).
- Six Wheelchair ADA Accessible Sites widened to accommodate wheelchairs, with accessible picnic tables and level sites. ADA Accessible RV Sites: #426, #427, #430, #434, #436, and #438.
- Water hookups: 20 amp.
- Sewer hookups: 30 amp.
- Electricity hookups: 50 amp.
- Propane is available for purchase.
- Public restrooms, located in specific loops, with running water, and flushable toilets (showers located in Colter Bay Village in the laundromat for a fee).
Colter Bay RV Park Advantages and Challenges
The following list of advantages and challenges can help you decide if the Colter Bay RV Park is right for you.
Please know: When I point out the advantages and/or challenges, I’m not doing so to persuade you to stay or dissuade you from staying at Colter Bay RV Park, but to tell you up front what the RV sites are and are not so you can:
- Go in with accurate expectations
- Be happy with your choice of lodging
- Avoid surprises
Advantage: RV Sites are Large Enough For Slide-outs, Awnings
Most sites have room for pullouts, slide-outs, and awnings.
Colter Bay RV spot with room for slide-outs and awnings
Advantage: RV Sites are Shaded
All sites have a lot of shade, with most of them being about 80% shaded.
Pro Tip: Bring your hammocks.
Hammocks
Advantage: You’ll Have Your Own Picnic Table
Each site has its own picnic table. With the General Store nearby for supplies, you are set for a picnic.
Remember you are in bear country and to handle food, food storage and clean up properly. Colter Bay RV Park is very bear-safety conscious and on-site managers are known to confiscate any items that are not stored properly.
The following items must be stored properly, and NOT left outside anytime day or night, unless in immediate use:
- Food
- Trash
- Drink Cans & Bottles
- Dishes & Utensils
- Wash Basins & Cleaning Supplies
- Coolers
- Toiletries
- Water Bottles
- Stoves & Grills
- Pet Food & Bowls
Confiscated items can be retrieved at the Colter Bay RV Park Check-in Desk.
Please know the on-site managers do not confiscate improperly stored items to be “jerks”. They do it for your safety and the bears’ safety. Bears are often seen in Colter Bay. Bears that get too comfortable around humans are often euthanized.
They are helping you to not be the culprit responsible for endangering humans and bears.
Each site comes with its own picnic table
Advantage: The RV Park is Close to Everything in Colter Bay Village
In addition to the conveniences of full hookups, the RV sites are within walking distance to all the facilities of Colter Bay Village, including the general store, gift shop, laundry and shower area, restaurants, marina, museum, amphitheater, swimming beach, and picnic area.
Note: If you are staying at Colter Bay RV Park at the beginning of the season (May) or end of season (late September – October) not all amenities and services may be open and/or available. To find out, call: 307-543-2811.
Pro Tip: Book Sites 401 – 430 for the shortest walk to the Colter Bay General Store, Gift Shop, Activities Desk, and the Laundromat and Showers building.
Pro Tip: Book Sites 505 – 512 for the shortest walk to the Picnic Area
Colter Bay RV Park Map – Full Size Map
Colter Bay Village Services
Following is a short description of each Colter Bay service/facility, along with some insider tips when applicable.
Grocery Store
For a grocery store in a national park, Colter Bay’s General Store does a good job providing a large selection of fresh and packaged food including organic fruits and vegetables!
They are a full-service grocery store and even have a small deli with freshly prepared sandwiches to grab and go. You can also find fresh made donuts and coffee.
In the back of the store, there is a small liquor store that sells beer and wine including locally brewed beer.
Also you will find one of my favorite things located in Colter Bay’s General Store - their ice cream station.
The ice cream station is located in the back of the store between the deli and liquor section and has a selection of about 6-10 flavors. The ice cream station is a popular item in the evening, requiring two to three employees to man it.
Be sure to get your ice cream before store closing hours!
Colter Bay General Store
Pro Tip: If the ice cream station doesn’t have a flavor you want, go to the freezer section and you will find a few flavors of ice cream in multiple sized cartons to pick from; as a bonus it’s usually cheaper too!
Pro Tip: The Colter Bay General Store is also a place to get all your s’mores supplies!
Pro Tip: A great place for s’mores is the north end of Swimming Beach. You will have an unobstructed view of Jackson Lake and the Tetons! (They no longer have campfire rings there, so you will need to bring your own camper stove.)
Coffee Bar
Never fear, they have your Starbucks coffee here at Colter Bay’s Coffee Bar, located inside the General Store.
For 2024 - hours open are listed as 7:00 am (I know! It needs to be way earlier!!) to 3:00 pm.
Starbucks Coffee at Colter Bay's Coffee Bar inside the General Store - photo courtesy of Ricko Pan @ Unsplash
Pro Tip: While anxiously awaiting your order to be made, take a look around at all the knick-knacks and souvenirs. Get your coffee and souvenirs at one time…two birds, one stone…
Restaurants
There are two restaurants in Colter Bay Village: the Ranch House and the Cafe Court Pizzeria.
Ranch House
The Ranch House describes itself as “American Comfort Food with a BBQ Twist”.
It is a sit-down, dine-in, restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is a bar area you can sit at and order food too.
Possibly one major plus for the Ranch House is that it opens at 6:30 am. The earliest in Colter Bay that you can get coffee.
Note: The Ranch House does not have views of Jackson Lake or the Tetons.
Note: The Ranch House closes in between meals. Be sure to check the Ranch House hours of operation.
Two Restaurants Located in Colter Bay Village
Cafe Court Pizzeria
Here you can get pizza, salads, and sub sandwiches starting at 11:00 am.
You can dine in at the Cafe Court Pizzeria if you choose, just know, like the Ranch House, the Cafe Court doesn’t have views of Jackson Lake or the Tetons.
If the view is important to you, (like it is to me) place a to-go order online, pick it up, and head to the marina, Swimming Beach, or the picnic area at Swimming Beach. All have fantastic views!
My Experience: My family has had pizza here many times and loved the pizza. They are very large and two large pizzas feed our family of seven very easily with a few slices left over.**
**Your results may vary.
Ranch House Restaurant-Bar and Cafe Court Pizzeria Restaurants in Colter Bay Village - photo courtesy of Yelp reviewer - A.C.
Launderette and Showers
These are located in the same building next to the General Store.
The launderette is open 24/7, but you will need to check the hours for the showers, as they usually close around 7:00 pm (which to me seems early).
Showers are separated into men's and women’s showers and cost $5.00 a shower with towel rental and soap extra.
My Experience: I like the showers here, as there isn't a time limit, and every time I have used them there has been plenty of hot water.
Showers and Laundry in Colter Bay Village, plus free wifi here.
Pro Tip: Wear shower shoes!!!
Pro Tip: There is free wifi service here.
Ranger Station
You don’t know how useful a ranger station is until you need one! So take note, the Ranger Station is located at the Colter Bay Visitor’s Center.
Here you can get your boat permits that are needed if you have brought your own boat to access the lakes and rivers in Grand Teton.
The Ranger station is where you need to pick up your backcountry camping permits.
And the Ranger Station is where you will find actual park rangers. They are the people to ask when in need of ideas of things to do, where to go, and what to see. They also have the latest and most up-to-date information on what is going on in the park. They are the experts and they know their stuff!
The rangers even have activities you can do with them!
The Rangers at Colter Bay lead a variety of programs throughout the day including a hike to Swan Lake, a lakeshore stroll, Indian arts and culture, wildlife watches, short presentations on park highlights, and a variety of evening programs.
Grand Teton Park Ranger - photo courtesy of National Park Service
Check the Ranger-led program page for current schedules.
Service Station and Convenience Store
While not really within walking distance, the Service Station and Convenience Store are conveniently located at the entrance of Colter Bay Village. Stop here to gas the car for the day’s adventures and go inside and grab souvenirs, snacks, and coffee too.
Grab Snacks and Souvenirs at the Colter Bay Village Convenience Store - photo courtesy of GBarkz of Unsplash
Full-Service Marina
The Colter Bay Marina is just a short walk away.
Here you can:
- Sign up for a guided fishing trip for Jackson Lake or the Snake River.
- Take a scenic lake cruise (with and without meals) (Note: Check water levels - Colter Bay Marina was closed in 2022 due to low water levels and no scenic cruises ran).
- Rent kayaks, canoes, and motorboats. (Note: Check water levels - Colter Bay Marina was closed in 2022 due to low water levels and boat rentals were not available.)
- Walk the Lakeshore Hiking Trail (1-2 miles round trip).
- Walk out to “The Point” (a quick side trip found along the Lakeshore Hiking Trail) for fantastic views and to watch the boats come in and go out.
Colter Bay Marina in Grand Teton National Park
Pro Tip: If you have some time, set up a hammock on your way to or close to the point and watch the boats drive in and out.
Colter Bay Visitor’s Center and Museum
Located by the marina, the visitor’s center is there for you…the visitor.
Go to the Colter Bay Visitor’s Center to:
- See the 35 artifacts from the David T. Vernon Indian Arts Collection.
- See a variety of short movies on Grand Teton National Park including the fabulous documentary on the reintroduction of Wolves in Yellowstone.
- Attend a ranger-led program.
- Talk with park rangers.
- Shop the bookstore and gift shop.
- Chat with visiting Native American artists and view their work.
Colter Bay Visitor Center - photo courtesy of National Park Service
Amphitheater
The Amphitheater is located right next to the Colter Bay Visitor’s Center. Here, come by in the evenings where rangers lead programs on all things Grand Teton National Park. Programs include presentations on animals found in the park, wildflowers, geology, history, and much more.
There are usually two presentations a night.
The later presentation usually has a campfire going, so come down to the front to get warm.
You can also attend a non-denominational church service at the Amphitheater on Sunday mornings.
Evening Park Ranger Program at Colter Bay Amphitheater - photo courtesy of nps.gov
Stop by the visitor’s center for a schedule.
Gift Shops
No destination is complete without gift shops to pick up souvenirs for loved ones and more importantly, for yourself!
Colter Bay has three shops you can visit for souvenirs and clothing.
The main gift shop is connected to the General Store, by the Coffee Bar. This is the largest shop where you can find all the usual suspects: t-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, jewelry, art, candles, key chains etc… and they have camping and hiking gear for sale there too.
The Visitor’s Center has a bookstore that sells gift and souvenir items too.
The third shop is found in the marina store. Here you can also get t-shirts and hats.
Something for everyone in Colter Bay's gift shops
Pro Tip: In the main gift shop, look for the “Sale” table, there are usually some good items to be had and as the season goes on, there are more and more to pick from.
Recreation at Colter Bay Village
Okay, this is where Colter Bay really does shine, it’s long list of recreational activities and opportunities, including:
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Swimming
- Boating
- Scenic Cruises
- Horseback Riding
- Picnicking
Hiking
Colter Bay serves as the trailhead for three hikes. All are relatively flat and range in distances from 1-mile round trip (RT) to 10 miles RT.
- Lakeshore Trail - 1-2 miles RT
- Heron Pond-Swan Lake Loop - 3.2 miles RT
- Hermitage Point - 10 miles RT
View from the outside loop of the Lakeshore Trail at Colter Bay
Pro Tip: Lakeshore Trail is a great intro hike to Colter Bay and Jackson Lake, and has fantastic views of the Tetons on the outside loop.
Pro Tip: If you do Lakeshore Trail, for the best views - start and walk along the marina. When you get to the outer loop, go counterclockwise, then finish the inner loop clockwise ending by the amphitheater/visitor's center or back at the marina.
Fishing
You can book a private, guided fishing trip through Colter Bay for both lake fishing on Jackson Lake or fly fishing on the Snake River. These trips are open to the beginner up to the avid angler.
Fishing in Grand Teton - photo courtesy of National Park Service
Pro Tip: You will need to purchase a Wyoming State Fishing License no matter what type of fishing you do. You can purchase one at the Colter Bay Marina store.
Swimming
Colter Bay has a designated swimming area, appropriately called "Swimming Beach". It is a large beach and has fantastic views of the Tetons.
Two things to know before going - the beach is a rock beach, not sand, and in the afternoons you will be in full sun.
Colter Bay Swimming Beach
Now, as uncomfortable as a rocky beach sounds, the advantage is that you don't have the problem of sand going everywhere. Also, you can prepare by wearing water shoes and bringing chairs if blankets laid out on the rocks don't appeal to you.
Be sure to bring and reapply sunscreen and/or bring an umbrella or a portable sun shade.
Note: I cannot stress enough how much you will need sunscreen. It is really easy to burn here with the high elevation and the thinner atmosphere.
Boating and Scenic Cruises
Want to escape the crowds?
We've got you.
The perfect way to leave the crowds behind and get a different perspective of Jackson Lake and the Tetons is by renting a boat or taking a scenic cruise.
Renting a Canoe or Kayak
The nice thing about renting a canoe or kayak at Colter Bay is that they are already in the water. You don’t have to load them up and transport them anywhere! You just put on your life jacket, grab your paddle and go. The marina staff will give you a map and instructions.
Canoe Rental from Colter Bay on Jackson Lake
Take a Scenic Cruise
If you’d rather relax, get closer to the Tetons, and leave the navigating to someone else, a scenic cruise is a good option.
Colter Bay offers cruises throughout the day with and without meal options.
All cruises take you over to the west side of the lake closer to the Tetons.
Along the way, a narrator gives you information on John Colter, who Colter Bay was named after, and other history of the area. As you get closer to the Tetons, they give you more information on the geology of the area.
If there is extra time (there usually is), the narrator will ask the audience what subject they want to know more about.
Colter Bay Scenic Lake Cruise
Rent a Motorboat
If you are comfortable operating a small, 15ft boat powered by a 9.9-horse engine, this is the option for you. You can go farther in a shorter amount of time than kayaks and canoes, and you are not tied to any schedules like the scenic cruises.
Colter Bay Motorboat Rental on Jackson Lake
Horseback Rides
Colter Bay has 1 or 2-hour horseback rides for all riders, from beginners to experts. Both rides include winding through lodgepole pine forests, seeing Heron Pond and Swan Lake, and riding through meadows. The 2-hour ride takes you a little further to where you can see views of the Tetons.
Colter Bay Horse Ride
Picnics
As Colter Bay is right on Jackson Lake with views of the Tetons, it makes a great place for picnics.
You will find a couple of picnic tables scattered here and there at the marina and along Swimming Beach, with more tables located at the north end of Swimming Beach.
And if you don't need a picnic table, throw a blanket down on Swimming Beach or anywhere you see fit.
Couple with their dog at Colter Bay Picnic Area (north end of Swimming Beach)
Important: Picnics are fun, but come with the responsibility to protect yourselves and the wildlife. Please learn all the safety tips for food in Grand Teton National Park.
CHALLENGES
Challenge: No Lake or Teton Views from RV Sites
Colter Bay RV Park sites are not directly on Jackson Lake and do not have views of the mountains or lake (due to the tall pine trees), but both are a short walk away. It is just a few minutes’ walk to the Colter Bay Marina and/or to the Swimming Beach.
Colter Bay Picnic Area on Swimming Beach overlooking Jackson Lake – a short walk from the Colter Bay RV Park
Challenge: Unlevel Sites
The campsites are a mixture of gravel and dirt, which makes many of the sites unlevel. You will most likely need leveling items (boards, blocks, etc…) to level your RV.
RV using leveling blocks in Colter Bay RV Park
Challenge: RV Sites are Close Together
While individual RV sites have plenty of room for pullouts, slide-outs, and awnings, the sites are close together with no privacy. BUT, the sites are staggered, so you don’t feel right on top of your neighbors.
You may hear the noise from fellow campers and their RVs. Quiet hours are from 10:00 pm to 7:00 am.
If you have a spot behind the General Store or Laundry facility, know there is a good chance you will hear their generators, and they run off and on all day and night.
Colter Bay RV Park in Grand Teton National Park
Pro Tip: Do not reserve RV sites 401 – 430 if you think the Store and Laundry buildings’ generators will be a problem.
Earplugs can be helpful too.
Challenge: Weak Satellite Signals
There is no Wifi in the RV Park, but you can find free Wifi at the Laundry and Showers building, Restaurants, and the Colter Bay Cabin Office.
Satellite and TV signals are spotty here at best, and are often reported to be nonexistent. For the evening, bring movies for your DVD or attend a ranger-led talk, or go to the picnic area on the Swimming Beach and watch the sunset.
Ranger Campfire Presentation at Colter Bay Amphitheater – Photo courtesy of nps.gov
Challenge: No Campfires in Individual RV Sites
Speaking of campfires, none are allowed in the Colter Bay RV Park as none of the individual sites have a fire pit.
Colter Bay used to have fire pits and grills at the north end of Swimming Beach, but they have been removed for fire and bear safety.
You can still go to Swimming Beach and take your camp stove there to roast marshmallows.
Colter Bay’s Swimming Beach Picnic Area
3 DAY Itinerary for the Top 12 Things to do in Grand Teton National Park
Want to do the Top 12 Things in Grand Teton National Park and squeeze in a few more? We have a 3 DAY Itinerary that lays out the best time-efficient way to fit them all in while you are here.
All the best places to see, hikes to do, places to dine, and the fun to have organized into this 3 DAY Itinerary.
Colter Bay RV Park 2024 Rates
Pull-Through Sites
- $117 per site, per night, – plus tax and fees
- $98.24 per site, per night, for Senior Pass/Golden Age/Interagency Senior or Golden Access/Interagency Access campers, – plus tax and fees
Back-In Sites (30 ft. max total length)
- $112 per site, per night, – plus tax and fees
- $92.69 per site, per night, for Senior Pass/Golden Age/Interagency Senior or Golden Access/Interagency Access campers, – plus tax and fees
Colter Bay RV Park Policies
- Propane is available for purchase by the check-in office.
- The maximum stay permitted at the Colter Bay RV Park is 14 nights, and the maximum cumulative stay between all park campgrounds is 30 nights
- Check-in is after 12 PM.
- Check-out is at 11 AM.
- Quiet hours are 10pm – 7am. Generators cannot be used during these hours.
- No tent camping permitted.
- No fires are permitted.
- Gas and charcoal grills are permitted, however, must be cleaned and stored after use.
- Camping accommodations are pet-friendly. Please review Campground & National Park Pet Regulations.
- Wildlife activity is prevalent in the park. Please be familiar with food storage and wildlife safety guidelines.
- U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities can apply for an Access Pass / Senior Pass through the National Park Service.
Colter Bay RV Park On-Site Office
Make Your Colter Bay RV Park Reservations at Recreation.gov
If you want to stay at Colter Bay RV Park, you must make reservations.
Make your reservations at: recreation.gov and you can make them up to 6 months in advance. Sign up for a free recreation.gov account to make your reservation.
And you must make reservations through recreation.gov. Grand Teton Lodge Company (the company that runs the RV Park) won’t be able to help you with reservations. (Sorry to pull the “must” word on you; trying to save you time and frustration!)
Save yourself the hassle of last-minute scrambling, plan ahead and make your reservations early! RV sites are expected to go quickly.
Good luck! Fingers crossed!!
Have any questions about Colter Bay RV Park? Please ask them in the comment section.
Keep Your Eye Peeled for a Moose!
Jenn Cunningham
Founder, Explore GTNP
Hi, I'm Jenn, pictured here on Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park. I am a Wyoming native and have vacationed every year of my 40+ years in Grand Teton National Park. I know this park inside and out, so use my years of experience and knowledge to plan, go, and do your perfect Grand Teton National Park vacation!
This is a wonderful website that has answered most of my questions. Looking forward to our first vacation in the Grand Tetons this summer!
Thank you Hector! Any additional questions you have, feel free to ask them here or through the “contact” link at the top of the site.
For the Colter Bay pull thru RV sites that specify a 45’ max length limit can we use a 35’ trailer pulled by a 22’ truck if the truck is parked alongside the trailer? Or must their combined total length when connected together meet the 45’ max?
Great question, as they don’t make it clear on recreation.gov. I even used their chat line to confirm, and they couldn’t give a definite answer as campgrounds differ from place to place.
I did call gtlc.com as they own the campground. They confirmed that the camper/rv and towing vehicle combined must not go over 45 feet. So it is combined length of the two.
Thanks for also checking into it. Yes it is confusing. My hopes were up that the longer trailer would be okay. Especially because I also called recreation.gov yesterday and his interpretation was that if the total length of the trailer is under 45’ then the truck could be disconnected and parked near it on the site. Also a RV club website I looked at late last night had comments from prior campers that their 40’+ trailers or 5th wheels fit okay in the pull thru sites if the tow vehicle was disconnected. We already have our reservations we made last… Read more »
I don’t think you have to cancel. I wouldn’t yet as reservations are so hard to come by. We have a 32 foot camper and we go into a 36 ft site. Our two suburbans fit in the site with the camper. Going to call right now and see if there is an overflow place to park towing vehicle, just in case. Here is the # for gtlc, that owns the campground. 307-543-2811
Okay, good news. Just talked to GTLC (307-543-2811). If your towing vehicle doesn’t fit in your site with your RV, there is an overflow place where you can park towing vehicle. It is within 5 minutes of the campsites – out in front of the grocery store!
So to reiterate – try seeing if your towing vehicle fits with your camper (as I explained ours does in previous answer), if not, then park it at the overflow. Yea!
Thanks you so much Jenn for double-checking! My daughter’s family were so excited when they upgraded their trailer and it would have been a shame to have cancelled our upcoming stay at Grand Tetons because of it. Thanks again.
You are most welcome! It was a good question that I know many other people must have. I’m so glad it works out for you guys! Enjoy Colter Bay and Grand Teton!!
Hi Jenn
Wow, thank you for your service here. What a great article.
Booking on recreation.gov isn’t quite clear. We’re trying to book 2 consecutive weeks. And each day we go in to reserve the start of our trip, it’s booked. We’ve not booked using this before so not sure if we’re missing something. Any pro tips in the ‘how to reserve’ category?
Hi Alicia, I feel your pain. We also try to book for two consecutive weeks in the summer and it is quite the feat! What I do: 1. Have a site or two scouted out the night before when the reservations go live. So, for this example, today is 12/30. I would go to recreation.gov and see which sites are going to go live on 1/1/2023 for 6/1/2023. (No sites will be reserved tomorrow 12/31 because there isn’t a June 31st). At first glance, here are a few that will be available to reserve: #402, #403, #410, #416, #430, #430… Read more »
Can you have a shower tent next to your RV for an outdoor shower?
Hi Marlene, I double-checked with Grand Teton Lodge Company which owns Colter Bay RV Park and they said yes. Having a shower tent next to your RV is just fine.
Thank you!
Most welcome!
Enjoying your help Jenn! You mentioned that you can look on the reservation site to see what sites might be opening up the next day. When I look, all say not released. How do you find out what is opening up? Thanks
Hi Mike, Recreation.gov reserving process is fun stuff said no one ever! It’s a convoluted process with many rules, twists, and turns, so I’m going to try and explain, but if it doesn’t come across well, please ask me follow-up questions. Okay, so as I’m writing this it is February 26th. The next available time to book is February 27th for a reservation starting on August 27th. So, before the window opens on February 27th, go to August 27th and look for spots on August 27th with an NR on it. So currently at Colter Bay RV Park, the following… Read more »
We were thinking about bringing our stand up paddle boards with us. Can we use our SUPs if we bring them?
Also we will have our bicycles. Are there a lot of bike paths into and out of the park?
Thank you, I really enjoyed reading your article. It’s very helpful.
Hi Roger, thank you for the kind words and am glad the info is helpful! Yes, you can absolutely bring and use your paddleboards. Swimming Beach at Colter Bay is a great place to use them, and so is my favorite – String Lake! Before you put your paddleboards on any body of water in Grand Teton you will need to have your paddleboards inspected and permitted. All water craft, including paddleboards and windsurfing boards, are required to be inspected and permitted. It’s pretty easy. 1. Have your paddleboards inspected at the Moose Entrance. There will be a large sign… Read more »
Correction – the separate bike path does end at Jenny Lake, BUT as of 2023 there is a bike lane on the Jenny Lake Scenic Drive Road. It is not a separate path, you would be on with cars, but in a designated bike lane. You can take that part to String Lake.
Thank you for the information! Planning a family reunion for about 30. There will be a couple of trailers but mostly tents and sleeping in backs of pickups with shells. What can you tell me about group camping?
And is this the campground you would recommend? Haven’t been to The Tetons for over 30 years.
Hi Tacy, this page is for the Colter Bay RV Park – which provides full hookups of water, sewer, and electricity for RVs. What you want is the Colter Bay Campground that has group camping (these two camping areas get confused for each other all the time!). At Colter Bay Campground, you will find Group Camping which will have spots for the amount of people in your group. They list 11 group spots. Here is the page with the info: https://exploregtnp.com/3-different-ways-to-camp-at-colter-bay-campground/. Also, you will need to reserve your campsite through recreation.gov. Spots open 6 months in advance for reservations. Gros… Read more »
We are traveling with a travel trailer. We will have an additional vehicle besides our tow vehicle. My question is there a place to park additional vehicles, or paid parking around the village? I see the RV park has overflow parking for tow vehicles that exceed the max length, but no mention of having an additional vehicle to park. Would we be able to use overflow parking for our additional vehicle, or is it strictly for tow vehicles? Thank you in advance.
Hi Roger, great question! I called and talked to the Grand Teton Lodge Company (who owns Colter Bay, Jackson Lake Lodge, Jenny Lake Lodge and Campground, and Headwaters Area) and they said you can park your additional vehicles in the overflow parking area too, over by the grocery store, showers, etc…
Also, you may be pleasantly surprised and your extra vehicle may fit in the campsite area. We have a 32 foot camper and we are able to fit two suburbans in a 36 ft site.
Good luck and thanks for checking!!
Thank you so much!