Island Park" fetchpriority="high" decoding="async">Jackson Hole to Island Park: the routes
Two main ways to drive from Jackson Hole to Island Park, each about 85 miles. The choice is between the scenic Teton Pass route through Victor, Driggs, and Ashton (about 1 hour 40 minutes) and the longer alternative through Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks (longer, scenic, expensive in entrance fees, and seasonal).
For most travelers, the Teton Pass route via Idaho is the practical answer. Below covers both options plus the road-condition realities (Teton Pass had a major landslide in 2024 that closed it for months; it has reopened but the closure pattern affects planning).
Route A: Teton Pass via Victor & Driggs (recommended)
Distance and time
About 85 miles, 1 hour 40 minutes (Jackson Hole Chamber).
Route
From Jackson, take WY-22 west over Teton Pass (8,431 feet summit). The road descends into Victor, Idaho, where WY-22 becomes ID-33. Continue west through Driggs and Tetonia, then north on ID-33 to ID-32, eventually joining US-20 in Ashton. From Ashton, the standard 33-mile drive north on US-20 brings you to Island Park.
What you see
Teton Pass crosses the Teton Range with views of both the Wyoming and Idaho sides. The descent into Victor opens onto the Teton Valley — flat agricultural land with the back side of the Tetons visible to the east. The towns of Victor and Driggs have grown significantly in the last decade (small cafés, breweries, fly shops).
What to know about Teton Pass
A major landslide in 2024 closed the highway for weeks. While the road has reopened, the slide history makes the pass susceptible to future closures. Always check wyoroad.info for current pass status before driving. In winter, the pass requires winter tires or chains.
Stops worth making
- Victor, ID: Brewery options (Grand Teton Brewing). Coffee and pastry.
- Driggs, ID: Larger town. Multiple fly shops, restaurants, services. Grand Targhee Resort accessible from here.
- Tetonia / Felt, ID: Wide-open ranchland with Teton views.
- Ashton, ID: The closest town to Island Park with full services. Mesa Falls Scenic Byway connects from here as an alternative final leg.
Route B: Through Grand Teton & Yellowstone (scenic, expensive, seasonal)
Distance and time
About 110–130 miles depending on stops, 2.5–4 hours.
Route
From Jackson, drive north through Grand Teton National Park on US-191. Enter Yellowstone through the South Entrance. Drive west through Yellowstone’s Grand Loop, exiting through the West Entrance into West Yellowstone, Montana. Then south on US-20/US-191 to Island Park.
What it costs
You’re passing through two national parks — each charges entrance fees. The America the Beautiful Annual Pass ($80) covers both. If you don’t have one, the Yellowstone vehicle pass alone is $35 and a Grand Teton pass is $35 separately. Buy the Annual Pass at the first gate to break even if you’ll visit either park more than once.
When it works
- Summer (June–early September): Full route open. Worth the time for first-time visitors who want to see both parks.
- Late September–October: Still passable but watch for early-season snow on the South Entrance road.
- November–April: Most park roads are closed to wheeled vehicles. Not an option.
What you see
This is the canonical “parks loop” route. You drive past the Tetons, through Yellowstone’s geyser basins (Old Faithful is 5 miles off your route), and through Hayden Valley with bison sightings nearly guaranteed. The drive is the trip, not just getting to Island Park.
Winter routing
In winter (roughly November through April), only Route A through Teton Pass is open. The park routes close to wheeled vehicles. The Teton Pass requires winter tires or chains in heavy snow, and storm-related closures happen.
If you’re flying into Jackson Hole in winter and the pass is closed, the alternative is south through Hoback Canyon to Alpine, then west through Palisades Reservoir to Idaho Falls, then north on US-20. This adds about 2 hours but is dependable. Total: about 4 hours from Jackson Hole to Island Park.