Jackson Hole

Jackson is the reason most people who've never been to Wyoming can picture it: the Tetons behind a wooden arch made of elk antlers, a town square that looks the way a Western town square is supposed to look. It earns the reputation. It also charges for it: this is consistently the most expensive lodging market in the state, often by a wide margin.

The trade-off in plain terms: you're paying for proximity to Grand Teton and Yellowstone's south entrance, and for an unusually polished town for a place this remote. If that's the trip, it's worth it. If you want mountains without the price tag, the Bighorns or Yellowstone's east side get you closer to the same experience for less.

Where people actually stay

1. 01
   The town of Jackson

   Walkable, right on the square, and the priciest of the three.

2. 02
   Teton Village

   Ski-in access to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, at resort pricing.

3. 03
   South along Highway 89

   Smaller communities, lower cost, a 20–30 minute drive into town.

Best time to go: July for wildflowers and full park access; September for fall color and thinner crowds, though some high trails start closing.