By Alexandra Haller
Grand Teton National Park sprawls across nearly 500 square miles of wilderness, rivers and streams, and mountainous terrain. Between Jackson Hole and the Teton Mountains in Wyoming, it's no surprise that nearly 2 1/2 million people visit this park each year, while thousands set up RVs and tents. With five campgrounds offering a diverse array of amenities and the "roughing it" adventure, there is a unique camping experience to be enjoyed.
Size
There are five campgrounds inside the park ranging from 50 to 360 campsites. Choose from tent sites with no amenities to larger, more spacious sites for motor homes.
Season
Gros Ventre and Signal Mountain campgrounds open in May and remain open the longest, through the first week in October. The other three campgrounds are open during those dates.
Popularity
Jenny Lake and Signal Mountain campgrounds usually reach full occupancy by early afternoon. Generally, there is always vacancy at Colter Bay, Gros Ventre and Lizard Creek campgrounds.
Fees
As of summer 2009, at Gros Ventre, Jenny Lake and Colter Bay campgrounds, campers will pay $19 a night. The fee is $20 a night at Signal Mountain and $18 a night at Lizard Creek ($5 to set up camp without a car).
Reservations
You can't reserve individual campsites at any of the parks, but advance reservations are strongly recommended at Gros Ventre and Colter Bay if you are looking for group sites to accommodate 10 or more people.
Geography
Among the more than 1,000 sites to set up camp within these five campgrounds, tourists can have views of lakes, rivers, pine and fir trees, and the Teton Mountains.
About the Author:
Alexandra Haller has written for numerous health and fitness outlets. Her work has been picked up by "Runner's World," "Reuters." She has worked as a copy editor for the American Mathematical Society, the editor-in-chief for Her Active Life and is now a proofreader for Plante & Moran.
