Dornans Spur Ranch Cabins – Advantages and Challenges – in Grand Teton

Updated: April 28, 2024

Dornans Spur Ranch Cabins – A Grand Teton National Park Lodging Option

A cabin at Dornans — photo credit: Texas Tongs on Flickr

Dornans village is a little confusing when it comes to being considered “inside” or “outside” Grand Teton National Park.

It is technically INSIDE the boundaries of Grand Teton National Park, but it is right outside the southern gate entrance in Moose, WY, where you pay and/or show your park pass.

I mean Dornans is right outside the gate.

Like, about a mile.

Less than five minutes by car.

Therefore, we consider Dornans Spur Ranch Cabins a lodging option INSIDE Grand Teton National Park.

And if you need further proof it’s inside the park, the individual cabins do not have TV sets. (It is a park rule that no TV sets are allowed in any lodging inside Grand Teton National Park).

Dornans is inside Grand Teton National Park’s boundaries but outside the south entrance to the park. See Map.

Dornans Cabins and Village Overview

Dornans is a family-owned and operated resort located inside Grand Teton National Park near the southern entrance to the park. 12170 Dornans Rd, Jackson, WY 83001.

Dornans is on the east bank of the Snake River, 12 miles from the town of Jackson, 45 miles from the south entrance of Yellowstone National Park, and less than five miles from the Jackson Hole Airport.

Dornans is a full-service resort that includes:

• 12 Cabins
• Two Restaurants
• One bar
• Grocery Store with Deli
• Wine Shop
• Gift Shop
• Fishing Shop
• Adventure Sport Shop for Equipment Rentals
• Guided Scenic Snake River Float Trip

Find full descriptions of each amenity in the “Advantages of Staying at Dornans” section.

Dornans Spur Ranch Cabins

There are a total of 12 cabins to accommodate 2-6 people. All cabins are in duplexes.

• Eight – one-bedroom cabins
• Four – two-bedroom cabins

All cabins have queen beds with down comforters and are furnished with handmade, lodge pole pine furniture.

Garnet Cabin at Dornans Spur Ranch Cabins — photo credit: Roy Peterson, TripAdvisor

Also included in ALL Cabins:

• Fully equipped kitchens, including full-size refrigerator, gas range, microwave, coffee maker, toaster, pots, pans, plates, glasses, cups, and silverware
• Queen-size sofa sleeper
• One bathroom
• Covered porch
• BBQ grill (charcoal)
• Free Wifi
• Two chairs
• Dining table
• Heat

Interior of one of Dornans Spur Ranch Cabin’s One Bedroom Cabin – photo credit: John Brandauer

Queen Beds found in the cabins — photo credit: One More Road, TripAdvisor

Cabins do not include:

• TV (park rule)
• Fireplace
• Air-conditioning

Dornans Spur Ranch Cabins do not allow pets and are non-smoking.

Availability and Pricing

Dornans is open ALMOST year round, except for April and November in which the cabins and the village of Dornans are closed.

Different times of year have different rental prices.

May 15th – September 30th, is the busiest time of the year and has the highest rental rates. Discounts can be had if you prepay with a minimum night stay (minimum varies). Check the Dornan’s scheduling page.

Reservations can be made a year in advance.

Note: Dornans Spur Cabins have a very strict cancellation policy. Cancellations require a 60-day advance notice which will refund your deposit, minus a $100 cancellation fee. Cancellations made less than 60 days of arrival will result in the entire deposit being forfeited. More details (click on “Policies & Restrictions” at bottom right side of page). 

Staying at the Dornans Spur Ranch Cabins – Advantages and Challenges

There are advantages and challenges for ALL lodging choices in Grand Teton National Park.

Here are Dornans Spur Ranch Cabins’.

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 Dornans, but to tell you upfront what the cabins are and are not so you can:

• Go in with accurate expectations
• Be happy with your choice of lodging
• Avoid surprises

Location

Every lodging option inside Grand Teton National Park has the advantage of location, as they are already inside the park and have, or are close to, Teton views.

Dornans location advantage is that it is close to:

• The many hiking options in the southern part of the park (Taggart and Bradley Lakes, Jenny Lake, String Lake, Leigh Lake, Paintbrush Canyon, Cascade Canyon, Garnet Canyon, Death Canyon, Open Canyon, Phelps Lake etc….)
• Three scenic drives – 42 Mile Drive, Antelope Flats, and the Moose Wilson Road
• Moulton Barns on Mormon Row – one of Grand Teton’s Famous Four Sights
• HWY 191/89, which makes the Famous Four Sights easily accessible (Moulton Barns, and Schwabacher Landing are close by)
• Bike riding path to Jenny Lake in one direction, and to the town of Jackson in the other
• 10 minutes from the airport
• 20 minutes from Teton Village via the Moose Wilson Road
• 20 minutes from the town of Jackson

Dornans is close to some of the iconic locations you see in photographs, which makes drive times less, and can mean a few more minutes sleep (yea!) if you are going for sunrise pictures.

John Moulton Barn with Grand Teton in the background

The Chapel of Transfiguration is right across the river from Dornans Village

Advantage: Teton Views

Different cabins have different amounts of views of the Tetons, and most are obstructed by some amount of trees.

BUT, if you go a few feet up the hill towards the village, there are Teton views galore!

Teton View from Dornans Village (the lower left building is the Spur Ranch Cabin check-in building)

Advantage: Private and Quiet

Many lodging options inside Grand Teton National Park are cabins that are in duplexes, triplexes, and some are even in quadplexes.

Which can mean a lot of neighbors and noise.

At Dornans Spur Ranch Cabins, there are a total of 12 cabins found in six duplexes, which means only one neighbor.

The other cabins are spread out and not up against each other.

Cabins are spread out — Photo Credit: Roy Peterson

Many people have commented in their reviews how quiet the cabin area is and how that made it feel private. The way the village is set up, the cabins are down a small hill that serves as a buffer from the rest of the village.

My Personal Experience

I stayed at Dornans for one night in the summer of 2020.

I stayed in a one bedroom cabin and found the cabin to be very quiet and it did indeed feel very private.

In fact, I didn’t know I was in a duplex and that there was a cabin on the other side of the wall until the next morning when I looked at the map in the folder. If I had known, I would have made an effort to be quieter as not to disturb the neighbors. (Here’s hoping they found the cabin quiet too!)

To double check that my experience was other guests’ experience, I did scour reviews left from previous guests. Found over and over in the reviews was the comment “quiet and private”, with only one or two mentions of hearing loud neighbors.

Advantage: All Cabins Come With a Kitchen

Kitchens are scarce in lodging inside Grand Teton National Park, and when you do find a place with a kitchen, you usually have to pay more for it.

At Dornans, there are only two types of cabins, a one bedroom cabin, and a two bedroom cabin. Both options come with a kitchen.

Full kitchen in all the cabins at Dornans — Photo Credit: OneMoreRoad at Tripadvisor

Note: Pots, pans, glasses, mugs and silverware are provided. Items like foil, spices, condiments, etc… are not provided. Plan accordingly.

Advantage: Free Wifi in ALL Cabins

All the Dornan Spur Ranch Cabins have free wifi.

I list this as an advantage, even though none of us want to admit we like having wifi.

Wifi in every room

After all, having wifi and being on our devices doesn’t really fit into our vision of unplugging and reconnecting with our family and being one with nature in a national park.

But it is nice to have, if only to “share beautiful pictures of the scenery with friends on Facebook and Instagram….“

You don’t have to share this advantage with your kids, but I’m pretty sure they will figure it out….

Advantage: On the Snake River

All the cabins are close to the Snake River and if you look around, you’ll find some Adirondack chairs to sit in and watch the river go by.

If you’re lucky, you might see some rafters and anglers (people who fish) float by. You may even see some bald eagles and osprey! They are always on the hunt for a fish.

Chairs available by the Snake River — photo credit: Roy Peterson

A perfect perch to watch what goes by on the Snake River — photo credit OneMoreRoad, TripAdvisor

And if you are very lucky, you may see a Moose near by. (Do follow all animal safety rules, stay a minimum of 25 yards from moose, and don’t feed them!)

Pro Tip: You might increase your chances of seeing a moose over by the bridge. There are some offshoots of the river over there that they like.

Note: Use extreme caution around the Snake River. The river banks can be steep and slippery, and the river is swift and dangerous.

Advantage: The Restaurants and Shops in Dornans Village

The cabin area is a little removed from the village, which gives it it’s quiet and private setting. To access all the shops and restaurants of Dornans Village, just walk a few feet up the short hill.

Pizza Pasta Co Restaurant

The Pizza Pasta Co Restaurant is a restaurant with two outside decks, a bar, and an inside eating area that has large picture windows for Teton views.

They are open year round (except for the months of November and April) and a good place for lunch, dinner, drinks, and snacks. They have a diverse menu that includes items for kids, vegetarians, and gluten avoiders.

View from Pizza Pasta Co Restaurant Deck

One thing to know about the Pizza Pasta Co Restaurant is that upon walking in the door, it looks like a full-service restaurant.

It isn’t.

Which is okay, and can be used to your advantage. Click here for the process, and the tips and tricks.

View from the large picture window inside Dornan’s Pizza Pasta Co Restaurant

Chuckwagon Restaurant

The Chuckwagon is an outdoor, casual place to eat, is great for families, and can accommodate larger groups.

Views are fantastic, the food is average, prices are comparable for the area, and the service is self-serve.

Outdoor dining at Dornans Chuckwagon Restaurant

The menu will have at least one option for everyone, including kids and vegetarians.

Order and pay at the cash register, grab your silverware and beverage and stake out your spot.  Your food will be brought to you.

A big draw of the Chuckwagon for kids (of all ages) is the opportunity to eat in a teepee! If the teepee is full, then there are many tables outside, covered and uncovered with a spectacular view of the Tetons and the Snake River.

Trading Post and Deli

The Trading Post is the grocery store where you can pick up the normal grocery store things, but for a higher price than you are used to paying (which is something to get used to in Grand Teton National Park and surrounding area).

They also have some gourmet and specialty items available, even a few items you can take home as souvenirs (think huckleberry jam).

One of the best things about the Trading Post is the deli. Here you can choose from about a dozen sandwiches. It is a good option for a picnic or as an alternative to the Chuckwagon or Pizza Pasta Co restaurants.

Deli Menu

Wine Shop

A wine shop with wines from France doesn’t seem like something you’d find in a village that looks like the old wild west, but you do, right between the trading post and the Pizza Pasta Co Restaurant. They have a selection of over 1,500 wines, plus chilled micro brews and a liquor section.

Wine shop at Dornans

Adventure Sports

Adventure Sports is a place to rent your recreation equipment, specifically bikes, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards and all the extras needed to go with them.

Adventure Sport Rentals at Dornans

My Experience with Adventure Sport Rentals at Dornans

I love, love, love the people who work at Adventure Sports. I try and rent all my equipment from there (I am not an affiliate).

These guys are great to work with and they will load your rentals onto your car (make sure you watch how they do it, for when you return the rentals).

I also like to rent from them as they are closer to Grand Teton National Park, and I like not having to drive into Jackson and back.

If you are renting bikes, you can access the bike path right from Dornan Village. You can head north into the park and ride all the way to Jenny Lake. Or you can cruise over to HWY 191/89/26 and pick up the bike path into Jackson. No transporting of equipment is necessary.

If you are renting paddleboards, String Lake is an excellent place to try them out (and pretty close by). String Lake is also a good place to take canoes and kayaks, with the bonus of being able to portage to Leigh Lake (1/10 of a mile from String Lake). Two lakes for the price of one!

Note: You can also take paddleboards up to Leigh Lake, just know that Leigh is a lot bigger and deeper than String Lake.

Shopping

Dornans has a nice gift shop next to the grocery store. It has all your usual touristy things to buy. They have some t-shirts that the other gift shops in the park don’t seem to carry. So make a stop here for a little variety.

T-shirts found in the gift shop – – photo credit: Dornans

Pro Tip: The t-shirts seem to run a little small, consider going a size up for comfort. (If you find this is not your experience, do write to me and let me know the problem is me….)

If you are interested in signing up for a scenic rafting trip on the Snake River, you can find the signup desk inside the gift shop for the Barker-Ewing Scenic Float Trips. We use them and highly recommend them (not an affiliate) for a scenic river float. Reservations Required. See our full review.

Note: Barker-Ewing Scenic Float Trips only do scenic floats, no whitewater rafting.

Pro Tip: Visit their reservations page and save $5 per ticket when you book online. You can also call them at: 800-365-1800 or 307-733-1800 and they will honor the discount if you mention it.

Pro Tip: If you are staying at the Dornans Spur Ranch Cabins, ask if there is an additional discount for lodging there.

Fishing Shop

For all your fishing/angling needs – hit the on-site Snake River Angler shop.

Fishing gear rentals at Snake River Angler shop

Snake River Angler is a full-service fly fishing shop and guide service. Here you can buy fishing equipment, rent equipment, and/or sign up for a guided fishing trip.

Open May – October.

Challenges of Staying at Dornans Spur Ranch Cabins

While the advantages of staying at Dornans are many, there are some challenges. Solutions and suggestions provided when applicable. Also, I will describe my personal experience when helpful.

Challenge: No On-Site Laundry Facilities

The individual cabins do not have washers or dryers and there isn’t an on-site laundromat like Colter Bay and Signal Mountain have.

No on-site laundry facilities — Image by Ryan McGuire from Pixabay

Solutions

So, if you need to do laundry, you have a few options that you will have to drive to: (2023 prices)

• Jackson Laundromat – 850 W Broadway – 13.8 miles, 21 minutes – Washer: $4.50 – $9.00 per load / Dryer: $1.25 – $1.75 per load
• Missing Sock Laundromat – S 1325 HWY 191/89 – 15.3 miles, 24-28 minutes – Washer: Starts at $2.75 per load / Dryer: 25 cents per 6 minutes
• Signal Mountain Lodge – 17.9 miles, 30 minutes – Washer: $3 – $5 per load / Dryer: $1 per 20 minutes
• Colter Bay Launderette – 27.6 miles, 40 minutes – Washer: $3.50 per load / Dryer: $2.50 per load

Challenge: On the Flightpath

While being close to the airport is an advantage of Dornans, the disadvantage is that Dornans is on the flightpath of the jets and planes that come into and out of the airport.

You will see and hear planes fly over a few times a day.

Dornans is close to the airport — Image by Gerhard G. from Pixabay

Solutions

There isn’t really a solution to this, except maybe ear plugs during the day if you think this will be an issue for you. The good news is there are few, if any, night flights, so it is mainly an issue in the daytime.

My Experience

I don’t remember hearing or seeing the planes while I was inside the cabin, or even outside on the back porch. That is not to say they weren’t there, I just didn’t notice them.

I seem to notice them more when I am on the top deck at the Pizza Pasta Co Restaurant. I find myself annoyed with them as I’m having my post hike beverage up there looking at the view.

Challenge: No Air Conditioning

This is not uncommon for lodging inside Grand Teton National Park. Like most of the other lodges inside the park, Dornans does not have air conditioning.

The good news is, that there are only a few days in the summer when air conditioning is needed, and there are only a few hours on those days when it is needed.

Finding ways to cool off — Image by Engin Akyurt from Pixabay

Solutions

• If you can, bring fans with you.
• Find shade close by. Here at this altitude, there is quite a difference in temperature between the sun and the shade.
• The Craig Thomas Visitor Center, which is very close by, has air conditioning. Plan a trip during the afternoon and look around and shop.
• Jackson Lake Lodge has air conditioning in its main lodge. They have a nice, large common room with a large picture window of the Tetons. It’s a great place to spend an afternoon to cool off (also great for socked-in, rainy days). There are also two restaurants and three shops there.

My Experience

When I stayed there in late July (one of the hotter months) I didn’t need air conditioning. I drew the curtains in the afternoon and had a couple of windows open and found it to be very pleasant.

Challenge: It is Difficult to Make Reservations on Smartphones

Sorry Dornans, I have mad love for you, your village, your cabins, and especially your Adventure Shop and Pizza Pasta Restaurant Bar, but the website reservations page needs some improvement.

It is very difficult to book a cabin using a smartphone.

Or at least for me on my iPhone.

It’s awkward and clunky and the info is cut off in the portrait position. I have to turn it to the landscape position to see the rooms and rates and then it takes a minute to figure out how to progress once a cabin is chosen. I find it much, MUCH easier to make reservations on my desktop computer.

Difficult to make cabin reservations on mobile, but easier to make them on a laptop or desktop

Additional “constructive” criticism includes: it would be nice to have a map of the cabins on the website and reservations page.

Map of the 12 cabins at Dornans

Challenge: No Housekeeping During Stay

No housekeeping available during multiple night stays.

This seems to be the norm now throughout many of the lodges inside the park, and may be here to stay.

No housekeeping during stay

Solutions

For fresh towels and linens you can stop by the front desk from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and pick them up.

Be proactive by bringing any needed cleaning supplies you think you’ll need. (Since COVID, who doesn’t travel with disinfectant/cleaning supplies?) There are some dish-cleaning supplies underneath the kitchen sink.

Challenge: Strict Cancellation Policy

Dornans has a very strict deposit and cancellation policy.

The following wording is from their reservation page when you go to pay:

Cancellation Policy:

If you need to cancel your reservation sixty (60) or more days prior to your arrival, we charge a $100 processing fee.  If you cancel your reservation within sixty days of your arrival, we retain your entire deposit.

For information call 307-733-2522.

Have firm dates to avoid cancellations  — Image by Károly Váltó from Pixabay

Solutions

No solutions or workarounds on this one.

The only advice to give is to make sure you have firm travel dates if you decide to book at Dornans.

If your dates are not set in stone, or you want the flexibility to make adjustments closer to your travel days, consider staying elsewhere. Signal Mountain Cabins require a 7-day notice for cancellations with a $25 fee, Colter Bay Cabins require a 3-day notice, with a $15 fee.

Tips When Making a Reservation

To make a reservation, call: 307-733-2522, or book online.

• Book early to get the best possible options and the most to select from, they sell out by opening of summer season. You can make a reservation 12 months in advance.
• Book direct from Dornans for the best rates and availability (3rd party vendors often charge more and have more restrictive cancellation policies).
• Know that all rates posted on the website do not include tax. (Tax is usually around 11% = 6% state tax, 5% lodging tax.)
• If you have mobility issues, it is best to call to make your reservation to discuss options 307-733-2522. If you want to book online, request the Rimrock Cabin, as it is the only ADA compliant cabin (according to Dornans staff 1/3/2022).
• All buildings are non-smoking.
• No Pets Allowed.

Tips to Enhance Your Stay

Here are some additional tips while staying at Dornans Spur Ranch Cabins:

• Have a good map and directions to get to the village of Dornans. Cell service is spotty throughout the park and you may not always be able to pull up directions on your phone.
• Bring your own coffee. Coffee maker and filters are provided, along with grounds for one pot of coffee.
• Bring your own spices and condiments, not provided in the kitchen.
• Bring your own shampoo and conditioner. Soap and hairdryer provided.
• If possible, bring your own small fan, to aid in cooling off the room if needed.
• Know there are different heating controls for the different rooms. There is one in the bedroom, in the bathroom, and one in the living room.
• Just in case, bring any cleaning supplies you think you may need.
• Bring extra camp chairs for sitting out on the deck if there are more than two people in your party.
• The BBQ grill uses charcoal. You will need to bring/buy your own charcoal. Before you buy, check the recycling room to see if any extra charcoal has been left behind.
• Bring a flashlight to navigate the pathways to the cabin at night. There are some lights, but a flashlight helps increasingly!
• If the restaurants are too crowded and loud, order your food to go and eat on your back porch. (Or look for Adirondack chairs by the river – bring bug spray!!!)
• If you stay in the off-season, know that not all services may be open. Call and check: 307-733-2522.
• Bring Bear Spray, have it reachable, and know how to use it.
• Bring bug spray. You are closer to the water, which can mean more mosquitos.
• Bring an afterbite stick.
• Use extreme caution around the Snake River. It is swift and dangerous.

Now You Know

Hopefully the information provided here will help you in your lodging and accommodations search.

If you have additional questions, feel free to post them in the comments or contact me directly.

Good luck on your Grand Teton National Park Lodging search, and when you get here, to Grand Teton National Park, keep your eye peeled for a moose!