News Release

Additional Campgrounds in Grand Teton Move to Reservation System

Park Campground check in cabin with American flag in front and truck and camper trailer parked in front with cottonwoods surrounding.

NPS Photo/J. Tobiason

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News Release Date: January 6, 2021

Contact: Denise Germann, 307.739.3393

Contact: C.J. Adams, 307.739.3431

MOOSE, WY— Visitors to Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway will soon be able to reserve campsites in advance at all concession-operated campgrounds.  Reservations will go live on Recreation.gov beginning January 26 for the 2021 operating season.  All park campgrounds that were first come, first served are moving to this advance reservation system.

The new system responds directly to public requests for a reservation system at park campgrounds, prompting a collaborative effort between the National Park Service, Grand Teton Lodge Company, Signal Mountain Lodge, and Recreation.gov.  Visitors will now have the ability to plan ahead with confidence and know they will have a place to stay and camp when they arrive, improving the visitor experience, and reducing wait times and associated traffic congestion at park campgrounds. The reservation system will streamline the camping process, allowing park visitors to check the availability of sites in real time and receive immediate confirmation.

Visitors wishing to reserve a campsite in the park for the 2021 season at Colter Bay, Gros Ventre, Jenny Lake, Signal Mountain, and Lizard Creek campgrounds will be able to do so by visiting Recreation.gov beginning January 26, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. Mountain Standard Time.  On that date, reservations will be available for applicable campgrounds for stays through July 26, 2021, and then on a rolling six-month basis thereafter.  Campsite reservations are expected to fill quickly, and visitors are strongly encouraged to plan ahead.

Visitors must create an account on the Recreation.gov website prior to making campground reservations.  Those who already have an account are encouraged to confirm their login and password information. This is the same reservation site to obtain an advance backcountry reservation in Grand Teton National Park, which begins accepting reservations on January 6. For more information about backcountry reservations visit www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/bcres.htm.

Campgrounds which have previously been reservable, including the Colter Bay RV Park and Tent Village, as well as Headwaters Campground, will continue to be reservable at gtlc.com or by calling 307-543-3100 for the 2021 season. However, reservations for these areas will transition to Recreation.gov for the 2022 season. 

Once a campground has launched on Recreation.gov, reservations will no longer be available through the local campground call centers or websites. 

Campgrounds in Grand Teton National Park and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway are operated by concessioners. Grand Teton Lodge Company operates Gros Ventre, Jenny Lake, and Colter Bay campgrounds.  Flagg Ranch Company operates Headwaters campground.  Signal Mountain Lodge LLC operates Signal Mountain and Lizard Creek campgrounds.

For more information on camping in Grand Teton National Park, visit the park website at nps.gov/grte.  Visit the Grand Teton Lodge Company website, the Flagg Ranch Company website, and the Signal Mountain Lodge website for additional information.



About Recreation.gov
This website is a tool to plan your next trip, figure out details, and reserve experiences at over 3,600 facilities and 103,000 individual sites across the country. The Recreation.gov mobile app puts adventure at your fingertips. From booking a weekend getaway to planning a cross-country road trip, the Recreation.gov app helps you find and reserve campsites, review location details, and quickly access information on past and upcoming reservations.

About Grand Teton Lodge Company and Flagg Ranch Company at Headwaters Lodge and Cabins
With a mission to preserve, protect and inspire, Grand Teton Lodge Company and Flagg Ranch Company are authorized concessioners of the National Park Service within Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. Together, these concessioners operate the lodging, camping, restaurants, retail, tours and activities at Jackson Lake Lodge, Jenny Lake Lodge, Colter Bay Village, Gros Ventre Campground, and Headwaters at Flagg Ranch. As subsidiaries of Vail Resorts Management Company, Grand Teton Lodge Company and Flagg Ranch Company are committed to a comprehensive systematic approach to sustainable business practices that preserve the environment, provide quality service, and offer healthy and safe places for guests and employees. For more information, visit gtlc.com or flaggranch.com

About Signal Mountain Lodge
Signal Mountain Lodge is an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service operating in Grand Teton National Park. The only resort located on the shores of Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park, Signal Mountain Lodge allows guests to experience invigorating mountain air and rugged wilderness from May through October. Guests enjoy full resort services while staying in a variety of lodging and camping accommodations. Signal Mountain Lodge takes seriously its obligation to operate in a manner that is environmentally responsible, while setting the standard for the lodging industry—for today’s visitors and generations of visitors to come. For more than 45 years, Signal Mountain Lodge has implemented policies and procedures to address protect and preserve the resources of Grand Teton National Park and our planet including wildlife, marinas, and health and wellness initiatives. For more information, visit signalmountainlodge.com

Signal Mountain Lodge is a subsidiary of Forever Resorts, an exceptional collection of destinations providing hospitality services throughout the world. The company focuses on properties with access to nature and one-of-a-kind surroundings for outdoor recreation.


Grand Teton National Park Campground Information
 Campground   Recreation.gov 
 Go Live Date
 For  Stays  Beginning   2021  Opening  Date  2021  Closing  Date  Notes
Gros Ventre Campground 1/26/2021 2021 Season 4/30 10/10  
Jenny Lake Campground 1/26/2021 2021 Season 5/7 9/26  
Signal Mountain Campground 1/26/2021 2021 Season 5/14 10/17  
Colter Bay Campground 1/26/2021 2021 Season 5/24 9/26  
Lizard Creek Campground 1/26/2021 2021 Season 6/11 9/13  
 
Colter Bay RV Park 11/5/2021 2022 Season 5/6 10/3 Currently reservable for 2021 season on gtlc.com. Reservations will migrate to Recreation.gov for the 2022 season.
Colter Bay Tent Village 11/27/2021 2022 Season 5/25 9/6 Currently reservable for 2021 season on gtlc.com. Reservations will migrate to Recreation.gov for the 2022 season.
Headwaters Campground 12/1/2021 2022 Season 6/1 10/1 Flagg Ranch will move to 100% reservable from 50% for the 2021 season at www.flaggranch.com. Reservations will migrate to Recreation.gov for the 2022 season.
Headwaters RV Park 11/13/2021 2022 Season 5/13 10/1 Currently reservable for the 2021 season on www.flaggranch.com. Reservations will migrate to Recreation.gov for the 2022 season.
Headwaters Camper Cabins 12/1/2021 2022 Season 6/1 10/1 Currently reservable for the 2021 season on www.flaggranch.com. Reservations will migrate to Recreation.gov for the 2022 season.
*Reservations will be available on a rolling 6-month basis as locations go live on Recreation.gov.
*Campground opening and closing dates are contingent on conditions.



FAQs

Why are campgrounds moving to a reservation system?
The new system responds directly to public requests for a reservation system at park campgrounds. Under the current system, visitors have often needed to arrive before dawn during busier periods or have waited in line for hours to secure a campsite.   Campground reservations will allow for an enhanced visitor experience:
  • Predictability—Visitors will have the ability to plan in advance with confidence.
  • Certainty—Visitors know they will have a place to camp when they arrive.
  • Choices—Visitors will be able to see site-specific information and photos and can choose their preferred campsite.
  • Convenience—Visitors will no longer need to call or drive around trying to figure out if there is availability at the various campgrounds.
  • Improved park experience-Visitors will no longer need to arrive before dawn during busier periods or have to wait in line for hours.
  • Decreased Congestion, Improved Safety—remove most congestion and traffic in campground areas which has, in the past, had a negative impact on park visitors. Reduced congestion will also allow for a safer experience.
What campgrounds will be available for the 2021 season through Recreation.gov and which campgrounds will require reservations through a concessioner website/call center?
Gros Ventre Campground Recreation.gov beginning January 26, 2021
Jenny Lake Campground Recreation.gov beginning January 26, 2021
Colter Bay Campground Recreation.gov beginning January 26, 2021
Colter Bay RV Park Grand Teton Lodge Company, (307) 543-3100
Colter Bay Tent Village Grand Teton Lodge Company, (307) 543-3100
Signal Mountain Lodge Campground Recreation.gov beginning January 26, 2021
Lizard Creek Campground Recreation.gov beginning January 26, 2021
Headwaters Campground Flagg Ranch Company,(307) 443-2311

What are the dates of operation for Grand Teton Campgrounds in 2021?

Grand Teton National Park Opening/Closing Dates, contingent on conditions
  Opening Closing
Gros Ventre Campground April 30 (Friday) October 10 (Sunday)
Jenny Lake Campground May 7 (Friday) September 26 (Sunday)
Colter Bay Campground May 24 (Monday) September 26 (Sunday)
Colter Bay RV Park May 6 (Thursday) October 3 (Sunday)
Colter Bay Tent Village May 25 (Tuesday) September 6 (Monday)
Signal Mountain Lodge Campground May 14 (Friday) October 17 (Sunday)
Lizard Creek Campground June 11 (Friday) September 13 (Monday)
Headwaters Campground June 1 (Tuesday) October 1 (Friday)
Headwaters RV Park May 13 (Thursday) October 1 (Friday)
Headwaters Camper Cabins June 1 (Tuesday) October 1 (Friday)

Who operates the campgrounds in Grand Teton National Park?
Campgrounds in Grand Teton National Park and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway are operated by concessioners. Grand Teton Lodge Company operates Gros Ventre, Jenny Lake, and Colter Bay campgrounds. Flagg Ranch Company operates Headwaters campground. Signal Mountain Lodge LLC operates Signal Mountain and Lizard Creek campgrounds.

How does this change to an advance reservations system affect the cost of camping in Grand Teton?
The National Park Service is required to ensure that rates charged to the public for concessioner-provided facilities and services are fair to concessioners, reasonable for visitors, and set in accordance with law and policy. NPS utilizes a comparability method in establishing the maximum rate the concessioners may charge for campsites in Grand Teton. The purpose of the comparability method is to correlate the concessioner’s rates to similar operations in the competitive marketplace. The rate increases were approved based upon an analysis demonstrating similar increases in the local private campground market, including the services of Recreation.gov.

Why Recreation.gov?
The concessioners of Grand Teton chose Recreation.gov as it provides visitors with the tools, services, and information necessary to plan trips to Federal public lands.

How far in advance can I make a reservation?
Grand Teton campground online reservations with Recreation.gov will be open starting January 26, 2021, and may be utilized to reserve sites up to six (6) months in advance.

Do I need an account on Recreation.gov to make a reservation?
Yes.Visitors must create an account on the Recreation.gov website prior to making campground reservations. Those who already have an account are encouraged to confirm their login and password information. This is the same reservation site to obtain an advance backcountry reservation in Grand Teton National Park, which begins accepting reservations on January 6. For more information about backcountry reservations visit https://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/bcres.htm.

I’m here! I was unable to make a reservation for any of Grand Teton’s campgrounds. What should I do?
There are a variety of other developed and primitive campgrounds in the area, in both Wyoming and Idaho. Please conduct an online search of the area for additional campground opportunities, checking with local chamber of commerce offices and USDA Forest Service offices.   
Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce https://www.jacksonholechamber.com/lodging/campgrounds/
Bridger-Teton National Forest https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/btnf/recreation/camping-cabins
Caribou-Targhee National Forest https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/ctnf/recreation/camping-cabins
Shoshone National Forest https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/shoshone/recreation/camping-cabins/?recid=35807&actid=29

What happens if someone cancels or doesn't show up? May I get their campsite?
If cancellations occur or if a campsite remains available, visitors will be able to make “day of” reservations through Recreation.gov. Anyone camping in park campgrounds MUST have a reservation, with a confirmation email. 

Will campsites be available on a first-come first-serve basis in Grand Teton National Park?
No, all concessioner-operated campgrounds within Grand Teton National Park will require advance reservations for the 2021 season.

Are you doing anything for the first year to help visitors ease into this transition to a reservation system?
In an effort to get visitors accustomed to the new reservation system via Recreation.gov, approximately 70% of available sites at Gros Ventre campground will be reservable on January 26 for stays through July 26 and on a six-month rolling basis thereafter. Approximately 30% of available sites at Gros Ventre campground will be reservable at a later date, so campers who were unaware of changes to a reservation system are allowed a second opportunity to reserve a site. However, this is a one-time situation to help visitors become accustomed to the new system. This will not be offered in future seasons.

Are hiker-biker campsites reservable too?
All visitors are encouraged to make reservations for campsites in advance on Recreation.gov to ensure they have a site upon their arrival. However, hiker-biker sites will be available on a first-come first-served basis at Jenny Lake and Colter Bay campgrounds. Hiker-biker sites do not have vehicle parking and are intended for recreationists exploring by foot or by touring bicycle. Hiker-biker campsites are not available at Gros Ventre, Signal Mountain, Lizard Creek, or Headwaters campgrounds.

Are group sites available for reservations?
Colter Bay and Gros Ventre campgrounds each have group sites which will be available to reserve on Recreation.gov. None of the other campgrounds have group sites.

Does the park use Recreation.gov for other reservations?
Grand Teton National Park uses Recreation.gov for backcountry camping reservations as well. Visit https://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/bcres.htm for more information about backcountry reservations. 
 



Last updated: January 20, 2021

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