While both resorts are large in size and are pretty high up, the Jackson Hole resort offers more terrain variety and advanced runs. On the other hand, the runs at the Grand Targhee are more beginner-friendly and the parks are better. The parking fees and ticket prices are also lower at the Grand Targhee. But the Jackson Hole resort offers better amenities and a larger crowd.
This is only the summed-up version of the entire discussion. To differentiate Grand Targhee vs Jackson Hole, read the entire article.
Grand Targhee Vs. Jackson Hole: Quick Overview
A small glance at the key differences between the Grand Targhee and Jackson Hole resorts can help you see the bigger picture. Here are the differentiating factors for these 2 ski resorts:
| Differentiating Factors | Grand Targhee | Jackson Hole |
| Resort Size | Larger | Smaller |
| Terrain Variety | Less | More |
| Elevation | Higher | Lower |
| Parks | Better | Good |
| Crowd | Less | More |
| Parking Fee | Less | More |
| Skiing Experience | Beginner-friendly | Advanced |
| Amenities | Good | Better |
| Price | Cheap | Expensive |
Grand Targhee Vs. Jackson Hole: In-depth Comparison
Let’s dive deep into the in-depth comparison of the Jackson Hole and Grand Targhee Resort.
Resort Size
The Grand Targhee resort size is larger than the Jackson Hole resort.
The Grand Targhee resort has a total of 2,602 acres and can hold more people. If you’re hosting a dinner or a party, this would be the ideal choice.
On the other end, the Jackson Hole resort is a bit smaller than the Grand Targhee resort. It consists of a total of 2,500 acres. The size of the Jackson Hole resort and Big Sky resort is almost identical in terms of acres.
Terrain Variety
The terrain variety of the Jackson Hole resort is greater than the Grand Targhee resort.
If you’re going skiing in the resorts, the Jackson Hole resort would be the perfect option for you, as it has more variety in terrain. Your skiing experience will be greatly enhanced due to the variety.
On the other end, the Grand Targhee Resort is also a great option for skiing but the variety at this resort is lesser than at Jackson Hole.
Elevation
The Grand Targhee resort is higher than the Jackson Hole resort.
The Jackson Hole resort is lower in terms of elevation when compared to the Grand Targhee resort. This impacts the skiing experience, which we’ll get to later in this article.
Due to the different heights, the weather and snowfall average is different. The average snowfall at the Jackson Hole resort is 11.5 meters whereas the average is 12.2 meters at the Grand Targhee resort.
Parks
The parks at the Grand Targhee Resort are better than the Jackson Hole parks.
You can find stash and terrain parks at the Jackson Hole resort. On the other hand, the Grand Targhee resort is close to the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. These parks are better than the Jackson Hole parks in comparison.
Crowd
Grand Targhee Resort is less crowded than the Jackson Hole Resort.
The Jackson Hole resort gathers a lot of crowds and is busy on even holidays. On the contrary, the Grand Targhee resorts are far less crowded in the holidays. Crowded and non-crowded, both have their perks!
The more famous the resort is, the more crowd there is. The Snow King mountain is also a great place to ski. Hence, the crowd situation is identical in Snow King Mountain and Jackson Hole.
Parking
The Parking fee at Grand Targhee Resort is lower than at Jackson Hole Resort.
Grand Targhee provides a lesser fee for parking, fixed at 20 dollars only. Parking at lots 2, 3, and 4 are always free.
The parking fee at Jackson Hole Resort ranges from 18 dollars to 45 dollars depending on the spot and timing. Yet, parking is free at 1:00 p.m. in the Ranch lot, following 3:00 p.m. in the Base and Upper lots, and following 5:00 p.m. in the Mid lot.
Skiing Experience
The skiing experience at the Grand Targhee is beginner-friendly and advanced at the Jackson Hole resort.
As mentioned before, Jackson Hole has a higher terrain variety, which allows for an advanced-level skiing experience. It has black diamond runs which are steep and have moguls, which raises the bar of challenges.
On the contrary, Grand Targhee offers many easy flat runs, like the Shoshone lift, Teton Vista Traverse, etc. It’s a great run for families with kids.
Be sure to pack for your ski trips properly to get the best skiing experience at the resorts!
Amenities
The Jackson Hole resort offers more amenities like magic carpet lift systems, gondolas, and trams when compared to the Grand Targhee resort.
The Jackson Hole resort offers lodging, outbound adventure centers, pools saloons, etc. On the contrary, the Grand Targhee resort has fire pits, hot tubs, and affordable rooms.
Reaching Jackson Hole resort is easier as it has an airport, which is only 15 – 30 minutes away. But the Grand Targhee doesn’t have any dedicated airport.
There are cable cars available for reaching higher ground for skiing and hiking. You can access higher elevations by using the Jackson Hole trams and gondolas if you wish to do so.
Price
The Jackson Hole lift tickets are much more expensive than Grand Targhee lift tickets.
The prices of the lift tickets (day tickets) at Grand Targhee range from 60 to 135 dollars. On the other hand, the ticket prices at Jackson Hole range from 145 – 242 dollars, depending on the age. Children below 5 years old can get free passes on both resorts.
Grand Targhee Vs. Jackson Hole: Which Resort Should Go to?
The information discussed till now can raise your confusion but don’t worry because I’ll short the differences here.
If you’re planning to ski on advanced runs and want more terrain variety, pick Jackson Hole Resort. It also offers better amenities and has a larger crowd compared to the Grand Targhee resort.
However, the lift ticket and parking fees cost way more and the height and size of this resort are lower.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for beginner-friendly runs for your family and kids, pick the Grand Targhee Resort. It is bigger, cheaper, higher, and has better parks than the Jackson Hole resort. Still, you’ll be getting fewer amenities and terrain variety here.
The Final Words
That’s everything you need to acknowledge to differentiate Grand Targhee vs Jackson Hole resorts properly. Hopefully, the information helped you pick your desired ski resort. Pack up your skiing equipment and have a blast at the resort!
