May in Grand Teton National Park is spring — winter is finally loosening its grip, wildlife activity ramps up dramatically, and access expands week by week – but snow still lingers at higher elevations.
It’s a fantastic time to visit if you’re excited about wildlife viewing, fewer crowds than summer, and dramatic mountain scenery framed by lingering snow — and you’re comfortable with some seasonal limitations and flexible planning.
Let’s look at exactly what to expect if you visit Grand Teton National Park in May.
‼️ If you just want a quick snapshot about my thoughts on the best time to visit Grand Teton National Park, check out my Best Time to Go To Grand Teton National Park guide.
Grand Teton National Park in May
Weather in May
Weather in Grand Teton National Park in May is variable and elevation-dependent.
Daytime highs: Often in the 50s to mid-60s°F in the valley, warming later in the month.
Nights & mornings: Cold — temperatures can still dip into the 30s°F.
Snow & rain: Spring storms are possible, and snow can still fall, especially early May and at higher elevations.
Layers are essential — mornings can feel wintry, while afternoons may be comfortably mild.
Park Access & Roads
Grand Teton National Park is open year-round, but many park roads are closed in winter. May brings gradual road openings, so access may not yet be complete depending on when in the month you go.
Highway 26/89/191
This is the main highway through the park and is open year-round and provides reliable access to scenic viewpoints.
Teton Park Road
This is the inner park road and typically opens to vehicles on May 1, weather permitting.
This means that you can drive the full 42-mile scenic loop drive. See my Guide to this drive for the full lowdown.
Moose-Wilson Road
This usually opens later in May, depending on snow and mud conditions.
Signal Mountain Summit Road
This often opens mid-to-late May.
Accommodations & Lodges
Inside the Park
🛏️ Jenny Lake Lodge and Dining Room usually open right at the end of May (until early October) so is still closed for most of May.
🛏️ Signal Mountain Lodge (and all the restaurants there as well as the general store and gas station) usually opens the second week of May (until mid-October).
🛏️ Triangle X Dude and Guest Ranch is open late May to early October.
🛏️ Jackson Lake Lodge (and all the restaurants there) is open mid-May to early October.
🛏️ Colter Bay Cabins are usually open late May to the end of September.
🛏️ Headwaters Lodge and Cabins (and Sheffields Restaurant) are closed in May. They usually open at the beginning of June (until the beginning of October).
Gateway Towns
If you’re visiting in May, stay in nearby towns with year-round services and lodges:
Jackson, WY: Full range of hotels, motels, cabins, and services.
Wilson/Teton Village: Great choices near the Moose-Wilson corridor.
Victor/Driggs, ID & Star Valley, WY: Quiet alternatives with mountain views.
Find somewhere to stay:
➡️ The Best Hotels in Grand Teton National Park
➡️ The Best Hotels in Jackson
➡️ The Best Luxury Hotels in Jackson Hole
➡️ The Best Vacation Rentals in Jackson Hole
Campgrounds in Grand Teton National Park
⛺ The Gros Ventre Campground usually opens late April, so is usually open in May (until mid-October).
⛺ Signal Mountain Campground usually opens the second week of May (until mid-October).
⛺ Colter Bay Campground is typically open from late May to the end of September.
⛺ Colter Bay RV Park usually opens very early May (until mid-ish October)
⛺ The Colter Bay Tent Village is usually open late May to the beginning of September.
⛺ Headwaters Campground and RV Park opens early May though the start of October.
🚫 Jenny Lake Campground is not open in May. It usually opens at the start of July (until late September).
🚫 Lizard Creek Campground is not open in May. It usually opens mid June and closes early September.
🚿 The Colter Bay Launderette and Showers are open early May to mid-October.
Visitor Centers
🛈 Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center (Moose) historically opens May 1, weather depending through end October.
🛈 The Jenny Lake Visitor Center, which has visitor information, exhibits, and park store, usually opens mid-May (until late September).
🛈 The Colter Bay Visitor Center usually opens the second week of May until the start of October. It has visitor information, a permits office, a park store, exhibits and a film. There are also often visit with the Indigenous Arts and Cultural Demonstration Artist.
🛈 Pathways & Information Kiosks: Seasonal information is usually available at trailheads and outdoor panels in May.
❌ The Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve Center doesn’t open until early June (until late September), so is not open in May.
❌ The Jenny Lake Ranger Station, which has climbing information and issues backcountry permits, usually opens early June (until early September), so is not open in May.
Water-Based Services
Boat Launches and Marinas
🚣♀️ Moose Landing and Snake River boat launches open in spring after snow removal, so are usually open by May.
🚣♀️ The Deadmans Bar and the Pacific Creek Landing on Snake River boat launch opens when the winter wildlife closure lifted, which is usually the beginning of April (until mid-December).
🚣♀️ The Jackson Lake Dam, Snake River boat launch opens in spring after snow removal.
⛵ Signal Mountain Marina opens mid-May until late September.
⛵ Water levels permitting, the Colter Bay Marina is open late May to late September.
⛵ Leeks Marina opens mid-May and stays open through late September.
🛶 The String Lake Canoe Launch opens at the same time the Teton Park Road opens (typically May 1) and is open until the Teton Park Road closes for the winter, usually the end of October.
⚠️ Aquatic Invasive Species Watercraft Inspection Station opens mid-May (until end of September).
Boat Cruises
🛥️ The Jenny Lake Boat Shuttle and Cruises usually start mid-May (if the ice has cleared) – until late September.
Other Attractions & Services
Sights
🪵 The Menors Ferry Historic District usually opens at the beginning of April so is open by May.
🪵 The Cunningham Cabin Historic District is open year round.
⛪ The Chapel of the Transfiguration is open all year round, though there are no services in May.
🚠 The Jackson Hole Aerial Tram doesn’t usually open until the start of the second week of June (until early September), so is still closed in May.
⛪ Chapel of the Sacred Heart is open June through September with services most Sundays.
Horses
🐎 Jackson Lake Lodge Corrals open late May (until early October).
🐎 The Colter Bay Corrals open late May (until the beginning of September).
🐎 Headwaters Corrals are not open in May. They usually open at the start of June through the end of August.
Stores and Restaurants
🏪 The Jenny Lake General Store opens early May (until early October), so is open for most of May.
🏪 The Colter Bay Convenience Store and Gas Station is open in May (it’s open mid-April to mid-October).
🏪 Headwaters Convenience Store and Gas Station open early May (until mid-October).
🏪 The Colter Bay General Store and Ranch House Restaurant are open late May to late September.
🍕 The Colter Bay Pizzeria is open late May to the beginning of September.
🍕 Leeks Pizzeria opens late May (and closes early September).
Wildlife & Nature
The Tetons remain snow-capped, creating striking contrasts against fresh spring green. At the same time, snowmelt fills rivers, streams, and waterfalls.
It’s a good month for wildlife.
Elk & Moose are highly visible as they move through the valley.
Bears are emerging from dens and actively foraging.
Birdlife increases as migratory species return.
Note that calving season means animals may be protective, so give wildlife plenty of space. Early mornings and evenings are especially rewarding for wildlife spotting.
Wildflowers: While wildflowers begin appearing at lower elevations late in the month, peak blooms won’t arrive until summer.
Willows and cottonwoods leaf out across the valley floor.
Hiking in May
May is a mixed month for hiking. It’s good at lower elevations, but limited higher up.
Valley and lakeshore trails (Jenny Lake area, Taggart Lake, String Lake) are often accessible by mid-May. Short hikes and overlooks are ideal as snow melts unevenly.
However, high-elevation and alpine trails remain snow-covered. And backcountry routes generally aren’t ready for summer hiking yet.
Expect mud, snow patches, and changing conditions — waterproof footwear is a smart choice.
Is May a Good Time to Visit Grand Teton?
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons:
Pros
- Excellent wildlife viewing
- Expanding road and trail access
- Fewer crowds than summer
- Dramatic snow-capped mountain scenery
Cons
- Variable weather and lingering snow
- Limited high-elevation hiking
- Some campgrounds, lodges, and roads may still be closed early May
Bottom line
May is a beautiful and rewarding shoulder-season month in Grand Teton National Park, especially for wildlife lovers and photographers. While it’s not yet full summer season, increasing access, active animals, and quieter trails make May an excellent choice if you plan flexibly and embrace spring’s unpredictability.
When in you May you visit does make a big difference as to what’s open, as most things open up at different times throughout the month.
✨ PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER ✨
Deciding when to go to Grand Teton National Park for is a very important step in planning your trip, and I hope this guide is helping.
However, as I’m sure you’re very aware, this is just one thing of many to decide.
Once you’ve decided the timing of your trip, you still need to
make an actual plan.
In fact, the thing that most people ask me about is
how to put it all together into an itinerary that makes sense. They decide when they’ll go and maybe even book their flights, but still worry about how to minimize the crowds, what to do – and when – and how to coordinate it all.
To help
take away the overwhelm of planning a trip to Grand Teton National Park, I’ve created several super
detailed itineraries.
Without them, people often feel stressed about planning their trip. With them, they have the confidence of getting all the info they need in one spot. Plus,
there’s flexibility built in, so they can easily adapt them to their own interests and activity levels.
There are 1-, 2-, and 3- day options for Grand Teton National Park: all with detailed hour-by-hour schedules, including alternatives for different activity and fitness levels, plus trail maps and descriptions, driving instructions, important information, essential tips, and
everything else you need to plan your trip to Grand Teton National Park.
➡️ Check out the three Grand Teton National Park itinerary options
Enjoy Grand Teton National Park whenever you go!
Additional Planning Resources for Grand Teton National Park
⭐ Grand Teton National Park Guide
⭐ Grand Teton Itinerary
⭐ Planning a Trip to Grand Teton National Park: 7 Mistakes to Avoid
⭐ Best Things To Do In Grand Teton National Park
⭐ The 42-Mile Scenic Loop Drive, Grand Teton National Park
⭐ Best Grand Teton Viewpoints
⭐ Best Hikes in Grand Teton National Park
⭐ Hiking The Cascade Canyon Trail, Grand Teton National Park
⭐ How Many Days in Grand Teton National Park?
⭐ Best Things to Do in Grand Teton National Park in Winter
⭐ Visiting Grand Teton National Park in Winter: Complete Guide
⭐ When is the Best Time to Visit Grand Teton National Park?
⭐ Tips For Visiting Grand Teton National Park
⭐ How To Get To Grand Teton National Park
⭐ The Main Airports Near Grand Teton National Park
⭐ The Airport Nearest Grand Teton National Park
⭐ 12 Fun Facts about Grand Teton National Park
⭐ Best Books about Grand Teton National Park
⭐ Best Airbnbs Jackson Hole, Wyoming
What do you think is the best month to visit Grand Teton National Park? Join my private Facebook group National Parks Collectors and comment and let me know.
➡️ If you are also planning to visit Yellowstone in the same trip, read my Yellowstone National Park Guide and detailed Yellowstone itineraries.
James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.
He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and most of the national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.
Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for many of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, and other resources will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.
As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including USA Today, Newsweek, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.
Read more…
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