Grand Tetons, Wyoming
National Park Offers Camping, Colter Bay Tent Cabin Village
Near Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Park offers budget lodging and family activities like mountain hikes, horseback rides and boat cruises - perfect for a holiday!
Location
Grand Teton National Park is in Wyoming, United States and directly south of Yellowstone National Park. The two parks are connected. There is a $25 per vehicle entrance fee to both parks but entrance into one allows access to the other one.
Tent Cabins Make Vacation Fun
The majority of the lodging available in the Grand Tetons is high priced and may be unaffordable for those families with young children or those families on a limited budget (rooms start at $188 and go up to $750). Camping is always an adventurous and cheap option but better is the tent cabin village located at Colter Bay.
The tent cabins are just as the name implies-part tent and part cabin. The cost is $41 per night (plus tax). The cabins are set on a very spacious cement pad complete with a large patio and fire pit. Two of the walls are built of logs like a cabin. The two other walls are made of heavy duty canvas like a tent. A regular sized door leads into the tent cabin.
Inside, there are two sets of bunks for a total of four beds. The bunks do have thin mattresses. Extra cots are available. Bed railings for children are available upon request for no extra charge. Also inside are a handy shelf to keep belongs on and a wood-burning stove for heat.
The tent cabins are large and roomy. The patio comes complete with a picnic table and a broom for clean up duties. Kids love staying in tent cabins. They can play outside all day in nature but still have a feeling of being “home”.
Public restrooms are located a short walking distance from the cabins. Showers and laundry are available near the Colter Bay grocery store and souvenir shops. This is a bit of a longer walk but a very short drive or bicycle ride away. T
he main restaurant is a bit pricey. The grill is reasonably priced but if there are picky eaters in the family, there may be some problems. Packing your own food is always more affordable. Then a trip to the grill is a special treat. There is a chuck wagon parked in the village where a fresh, homemade meal is cooked every evening like in the Old West days.
This year the tent cabins were open from June 1st to September 3rd - check seasonally.
Affordable Activities
The Grand Tetons are a spectacular mountain range so day hiking is always a great family activity. Horseback rides are also available near the tent cabin village. Scenic river floats and a short boat cruise are available. A round trip ferry ride across nearby Jenny Lake takes you to the base of the mountains for hiking or just enjoying the view. Swimming is allowed in the lakes but beware, the water can be freezing even in mid-summer. Wildlife watching in early mornings and late evenings is always fun. Ranger programs are free and educational.
Be Bear Aware
Food and odors of any kind attract bears so be sure to follow National Park rules on how to store food and other items properly. It is ultimately up to you, the camper, to comply to the rules whether anyone is around or not. Bears have been destroyed or relocated for returning to campgrounds in search of food. As the National Park Service says, “The future of the bears and the safety of others depends on you!” It is also a great idea to have a canister of bear spray handy. You never know when a bear will wander into the campground.
For more information: Grand Teton National Park
