At the crossroads between two spectacular national parks, Jackson is a popular destination for skiers in the winter and outdoor enthusiasts of every stripe in the summer. While the population of the city is only around 10,000 or so, it often feels much larger at the height of the summer season, when its streets swell with visitors taking in the charming Old West ambiance as they explore the town’s main square.
The valley surrounding Jackson is known as Jackson Hole and was first settled by Native Americans over 10,000 years ago. As European settlers spread across the continent, the area was traversed first by fur trappers and then by pioneers heading to destinations further west. It’s possible to get a real feel for what the untrammeled frontier must have been like even today, as much of the area surrounding Jackson is a stunning mix of wild, untamed wilderness and impressive, jagged peaks. In the winter, there’s plenty of skiing available, and those same mountain peaks offer fine hiking trails in the summer months.
Visitors will know they’ve reached the town square when they see the enormous arch fashioned entirely from elk antlers. The Western aesthetic only gets better from there, with a row of shops, saloons, and restaurants sporting an array of facades that look like they came straight from an old western film. The area is perfect for a stroll, especially for those looking to outfit themselves with a cowboy hat or eat an ice cream cone. After exploring the shopping and dining scene, visitors can visit the Jackson Hole Museum to learn about some Native American artifacts and antique equipment from the fur trade.
Virginian Lodge is located conveniently close to all the amenities in Jackson and offers wooded pull-through sites with picnic tables, a pool and hot tub, full hookups, Wi-Fi, and an area for pets. It’s open from May through September.
Snake River RV Village offers full hookups for trailers that are 30 feet or smaller and is located just 15 minutes outside of Jackson. Its sister site, Alpine Valley Resort, accommodates RVs up to 75 feet in length and also acts as an overflow when the main site is full. Sites are cozy, and many feature shade trees and pretty views. This campground is a popular destination for RVers seeking access to white water rafting on the Snake River.
Jackson Hole Campground at Fireside Resort offers all the amenities to make an RV stay more comfortable, like coin-operated laundry machines, a campground store, flush toilets, pull-through sites, full hookups, and a dump station. The resort is open year-round, although the dump stations are only available for use in the summer season.
Bear Lake State Park was once the haunt of only Native Americans and fur trappers, but today it offers recreational opportunities for fishing enthusiasts and those who enjoy water sports like scuba diving, swimming, water skiing, and boating. Rendezvous Beach is a popular destination for RVers, as there are camping sites with hookups, bathrooms, picnic areas, and places to rent watercraft for enjoying the lake to the fullest. If that area is busy, Bear Lake Marina is just a few minutes up the road and offers similar amenities for RV camping.
Buffalo Bill State Park offers breathtaking scenery that differs little from how it must have looked when William Cody, the famous “Buffalo Bill,” first came to the area. Jagged peaks are interspersed with lush meadows surrounding the reservoir and offer a spectacular backdrop for fishing, hunting, hiking, biking, and camping. There are two campgrounds suitable for RVs, with North Fork Campground being the largest. The park is open year-round, and campers can stay for up to two weeks during any month-long period.
Massacre Rocks State Park commemorates a popular spot for the ambush of wagon trains as they traversed the Oregon Trail. The outcropping of stone formed a narrow choke point that made travelers vulnerable to outlaws. Today the area is perfect for seeing bird species that live at the nearby Snake River and for hiking and scenic drives. There’s a visitor center and a spot where you can read graffiti carved into the rocks by passing settlers. RV campsites are available in the main campground overlooking the Snake River and include electric hookups, a dump station, showers, flushing toilets, and Wi-Fi.
The John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway connects Yellowstone to Grand Teton National Park with a 27-mile-long stretch of road that traverses granite outcrops, lava beds, and a section of the Snake River. This makes it an absolute sightseeing must for RVers intending to see one or both national parks. There are plenty of places to pull off and enjoy the natural beauty or to spend an afternoon trying your luck with some fly-fishing. RV drivers are spoiled for choice should they decide to spend the night along the route, as campgrounds catering to RVs abound both in and outside of national lands.
Fossil Butte National Monument preserves the remains of creatures fossilized tens of millions of years ago in what was then an enormous and ancient lake. One of the best sites in the world for Cenozoic remains, the park covers 13 square miles, although the best place to see particularly good specimens is in the visitor center, which also features an informative video. Summer visits often include opportunities to hear lectures from visiting paleontologists. RVers will enjoy traversing the scenic highway through the park. There’s no camping or dining inside the monument, but the surrounding area offers plenty of opportunities for both.
Golden Spike National Historical Park commemorates the joining of the continent by rail. Where the two lines met in Utah, a dazzling golden railroad spike was the very last one placed to celebrate the momentous achievement. The park has an engine house filled with locomotives, hiking trails, and a driving tour. The park hosts the occasional festivity complete with costumed actors. There’s an excellent visitor center and areas for picnicking. While there’s no camping at the site, RVers will find plenty of opportunities to do so nearby, along with other entertainment and dining options.
Bridger-Teton National Forest stretches between the borders of two national parks and encompasses more than 3 million acres of stunning mountainous terrain and lush lowlands, making it one of the largest parks in the continental United States. Because much of the area is wilderness, the most popular pursuits include hiking, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, and photography. There are dozens of campgrounds in the park, with some like Half Moon Lake Campground offering RV-accessible sites, vault toilets, and access to a boat launch.
Caribou-Targhee National Forest comprises more than 2 million acres of stunning wilderness, offering opportunities to explore and recreate all year long. The abundance of moose, elk, buffalo, bear, wolf, and deer species gives a clear glimpse of what the long-ago frontier must have been like. Once visitors have had their fill of hiking and biking, Minnetonka Cave offers spectacular underground formations and a respite from warm temperatures. Roads in the forest offer excellent access for RVs to traverse much of its vast span, and campgrounds are available.
Shoshone National Forest offers pristine wilderness with lush alpine meadows and peaks punctuated with glaciers. Its more than 2 million acres of land escaped the attention of developers and retains its ancient wildness. This makes it particularly good for fishing or spotting grizzly bears, mountain lions, and other wildlife. Photographers will enjoy its raw beauty, while hikers and sportsmen will enjoy exploring its thickly forested depths. There are more than a dozen campgrounds in the park, but they offer only basic services. There are no hookups for RVs, but there are toilets and potable water available at most.
Grand Teton National Park is home to some of the spectacular jagged peaks that adorn much of western Wyoming. At just over 300,000 acres, it’s some of the most pristine wilderness in the continental United States. Its untouched ecosystem supports a fascinating range of animals that have not changed over the last several thousand years. In spite of its primordial splendor, it offers plenty of facilities to make a visit more enjoyable, like RV-accessible campgrounds, dining venues, and a network of scenic highways. Activities are almost too numerous to list but include hiking, skiing, fishing, biking, photography, and swimming in Jenny Lake.
Yellowstone National Park covers areas in three states. It is home to an array of creatures, including eagles, bears, bison, and wolves. Equally fascinating are its geological attractions, which are the result of the enormous and ancient caldera that underpins the entire area. From spectacular waterfalls to boiling pools of water and the towering spout of Old Faithful, there’s an endless array of things to see and do. Fishing Bridge RV Park offers an excellent home base for RV drivers during their stay, with 50-amp electrical hookups, water, toilets, a dump station, picnic facilities, and showers.
Wind Cave National Park is located just over the border of Wyoming in South Dakota and is almost unique for its collection of calcite boxwork formations. It’s one of the longest cave systems in the world as well and is sacred to the Lakota people as the site where the first human entered the world. The park has several roads perfect for scenic drives and admiring the prairie ecosystem once visitors are finished exploring underground. The Elk Mountain Campground offers basic amenities but no hookups for RV drivers. There are also campgrounds near the park in Custer.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Jackson, WY, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Jackson?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Jackson from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Jackson?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
