Things to do in Jackson Hole, WY with Kids in Summer

Last Updated on December 30, 2022 by Leslie Stroud

Everyone should take a family vacation to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Jackson Hole isn’t just great for winter fun!  In fact, we would argue that the best time to visit Jackson Hole is during the summer months.  We visited in the twilight of summer, and it was intensely magical.

Not only does the town of Jackson Hole boast tons of activities for families with kids, but the areas surrounding Jackson are also replete with gems to be discovered.  Within driving distance, you will find The Grand Tetons, Yellowstone National Park, and several beautiful places throughout Idaho!

How To Get To Jackson Hole 

The Jackson Hole airport makes flying a breeze directly.  Flights to the Jackson Hole airport connect through Denver, Salt Lake City, and more.  United and Delta offer the most flight options to Jackson Hole.
You can explore flights to Jackson Hole here.

At the time of our visit last year, we were living in Utah, so driving was our easiest option.  We drove through Boise to Jackson Hole and enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Idaho along the way!  You should be cautious if you visit in the winter, as roads can be quite tricky, but we had no problems in the summer.

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Where To Stay When Visiting Jackson Hole with Kids

While there are tons of gorgeous hotels in Jackson Hole WY, we opted to stay in an Airbnb instead.  We love Airbnbs for our big family and hotels in Jackson Hole can be pricy.  If you do opt for a hotel, you can compare prices here.

We stayed about 45 minutes away in Driggs, Idaho.  We fell in love with Driggs!  There are so many fun activities to do as a family, and lodging is much more affordable.

Best Activities In Jackson Hole With Kids

Downtown Jackson Hole holds the most entertainment options.  Some activities we enjoyed as a family included:

• Jackson Hole Square:  Take a classic photo at the antler arch, play in the park, and soak up the fun town.  You can even take a stagecoach ride, which leaves about every 15-30 minutes from the square.

• Jackson Hole Toy Store.  Prep your wallet, but this toy store is quite fun to visit.  Pre-Covid, there was a fun shooting game that the kids could play; I am hopeful that it comes back at some point.  This is also the bathroom stop we used anytime we were downtown!

• Old Time Photos: (Thanks to my friend Heather for suggesting this)  It was one of the highlights of our trip!  We used Jackson’s Old Time Photos and loved it.  Another option is Judge Roy Bean’s Old Time Photos.

• Downtown Shootout: Sadly, this was canceled due to Covid, but we’ve heard how awesome it is!  Thankfully, it is expected to return this summer! Check this page for re-openings and schedules.

• Jackson Hole Rodeo: Don’t miss the small-town feel at this darling rodeo!  Warning: tickets are booked out quickly!  We could only grab a night at the end of our stay. Be sure you book before you go.

• Shopping and eating.  These are two of our favorite activities anywhere we go! Jackson Hole has some serious yumminess to offer!  There are tons of cute shops and stores downtown where you can window shop or buy loads of fun souvenirs. 
  As for the best food in Jackson Hole, we loved:
  • Breakfast at Persephone Bakery.  Eat outside and enjoy the beautiful atmosphere!
  • Merry Piglets– yummy Mexican food.
  • Order take-out pizza from Pinky G’s. We ate ours in the town square.
  • Candy shopping at Yippy I-O Candy Shop.  They have some really run, retro candy.
    Other recommendations I’ve heard but haven’t tried:
  • Calico’s for a nice family dinner out.
  • Liberty Burger
  • Breakfast at D.O.G (great breakfast burritos)
  • If you’d like a bar, the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar looks really fun and is right downtown!

Other Outdoor Activities in Jackson Hole with Kids

• Activities at Snow King Mountain.  A popular ski resort in the winter, this resort also hosts some fun summer activities! Cowboy Coaster, Alpine Slide, Mini-Golf, Amaze’n Maze, Bungee Trampoline, The Scenic Chairlift, and The Tree Top Adventure are all available.  We chose to do the maze and the chairlift up the mountain. It was beautiful, and the kids had a blast.

• Playgrounds.  We enjoyed the Phil Baux Park near Snow King Mountain after doing some fun activities there.

• White-Water Rafting.  My husband took the older kids on a rafting trip and loved it!!  There are lots of options around, but we used Dave Hansen. They had a great time.

• Hiking.  This area offers some of the best hiking around.  I like using AllTrails to find the best hikes and read recent reviews.

• Camping in Jackson Hole.  While we aren’t big campers, this area is famous for it.  If you enjoy camping, be sure to reserve your campground early and enjoy.

Best Day Trips From Jackson Hole

One of the best parts about Jackson Hole is the convenient location and the many amazing things to see close by!  Day trips from Jackson Hole are a great option. Be sure to add the following to your list:

• Yellowstone National Park.  Yellowstone is only a 2-hour drive from Jackson Hole (even closer to our accommodation in Driggs, ID).  We only spent one day there, but it was full of fun!  We spotted moose right inside the park, loved the Grand Prismatic, and caught the last showing of Old Faithful.  We ate at the cafe at Old Faithful afterward. It was a day full of excitement and fun. If you’re looking for a longer experience, check out this tour.

• Teton Village.  Take the gondola up the mountain, enjoy playgrounds and splash pads, and more.
• Granite Hot Springs.  Idaho has tons of natural hot springs.  Take some time to enjoy them!
• Grand Teton National Park. With only a day to enjoy in Grand Teton from Jackson Hole, we opted to explore Jenny Lake!  We took a boat ride across the lake, which cost our family about $50 round trip. However, you can also opt to walk the 2.3 miles around or take a guided tour on a small bus.
  Once on the other side, we embarked on two quick hikes: Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls. These were both very kid-friendly hikes and provided such a fun outdoor day trip for our family.

Enjoy your summer travels, and let me know your favorite things to do in Jackson Hole, Wyoming!

xoxo,
Leslie

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