While both Jackson Hole gondolas and trams provide excellent views, the tram travels a greater vertical distance and holds more people. But the Jackson Hole gondola is more activity-friendly than the tram and is open for longer hours. The ride duration is also greater on the gondola. The Jackson Hole tram tickets are much cheaper than the gondolas.
Jackson Hole Gondola Vs. Tram: Brief Overview
Before getting into the section on elaborated differences, inspect this table here to know the key differences between the Jackson Hole gondola and trams:
| Differentiating Factors | Jackson Hole Gondola | Jackson Hole Tram |
| Cable Car Type | Open-air | Enclosed |
| Ride Duration | 12 minutes | 9 minutes |
| Open Hours | 9 AM – 8:30 PM | 9 AM – 5 PM |
| Vertical Distance | 2,700 feet | 4,139 feet |
| Passenger | Up to 8 people | Up to 100 people |
| Speed | Fast | Faster |
| Views | Excellent | Excellent |
| Restaurants & Bars | Yes | Yes |
| Suited for | Everyone; especially hikers and skiers | Everyone |
| Price | 40$ | 24$ |
Jackson Hole Gondola Vs. Tram: Detailed Differences
Now let’s get into a detailed discussion of the differences between the Jackson Hole Gondola and the Tram.
Cable Car Type
The Jackson Hole Gondola is an open-air cable car and the Jackson Hole Tram is an enclosed cable car.
The Jackson Hole Tram runs along the tracks and the Gondola is controlled by wires and suspended off the ground. Nevertheless, you can enjoy both rides safely!
Ride Duration
Jackson Hole Gondola has a 3-minute extra ride time than the Jackson Hole Tram.
You can enjoy 12 minutes in the Gondola whereas you can only get 9 minutes in the Tram. Not to mention, the Jackson Hole Gondola and Tram take you to separate locations.
The Gondola takes you to the mountains and the Tram takes you to the top of the track. Moreover, you can enjoy different ski resorts like Grand Targhee and Jackson Hole in different locations.
Vertical Distance
The Jackson Hole trams travel a greater distance than the Jackson Hole gondola.
The Jackson Hole gondola will take you 2700 vertical feet above the valley floor and stop at the mountains. Note that, the gondola will always stop at the midpoint.
On the contrary, the Jackson Hole tram will take you 4139 feet starting from the tram station at the parking lot. The team will go higher above the mountains, allowing you to hike trails.
Open Hours
The Jackson Hole gondola is open for longer hours than the Jackson Hole tram.
The tram station opens at 9 AM and closes around 5 PM. However, the Jackson Hole gondola is open from 9 AM to 8:30 PM. Moreover, the gondola is free after 4:30. It can get crowded at that time though.
The open hours are quite identical in the mountains. For instance, the resorts at Grand Targhee and Jackson Hole open in the morning and close around the evening.
Jackson Hole trams hold more people than the Jackson Hole gondolas.
The passenger capacity of the Jackson Hole tram is about 100 people. It is more spacious compared to the gondola. The gondola can only hold 8 people per ride and it’s smaller than the tram.
Speed
The Jackson Hole Tram is faster than the Jackson Hole Gondola.
The Gondola travels at 10-15 miles per hour. On the other hand, the Jackson Hole Tram travels at nearly 50 miles per hour, which is a much faster tempo. The ride time is lower on the Tram due to the faster speed!
Views
Both the Jackson Hole Gondola and Tram provide excellent views.
With the Jackson Hole Gondola, you can enjoy mountain views and scenes more than the valley. Because the Gondola ride ends at the midpoint, it won’t go to the top.
On the other hand, since the Tram travels higher than the Gondola, it provides a 360-degree view of the Tetons and valleys of Jackson Hole. You can even see and touch the clouds when riding the tram.
You can also get tremendous views of the mountains nearby. For instance, the views of the Jackson Hole and Snow King mountains are quite similar.
Restaurants & Bars
Restaurants are available on both Jackson Hole trams and gondolas.
You can find the restaurants at the top of the mountains. Dining is available on the top of the gondola; you can enjoy the Off-piste Market and the Piste Mountain Bistros! Try to make a reservation at these restaurants beforehand.
As for the tram, you can find the Solitude Station to dine and you can also enjoy the famous gourmet waffles at the Corbet’s Cabin. You can find ski comfort foods and other snacks like pizza, coffee, etc at these restaurants.
Suited for
The Jackson Hole gondola is more suitable for hikers and skiers in comparison to the Jackson Hole tram.
The Jackson Hole gondola is the main transportation for hikers and skiers to get on the mountain.
You can ride a bike down, hike, or ski down the mountains of the gondola. You can take your bikes with you on the gondola and get access to the top 5 hiking routes in Jackson Hole using the gondola.
On the other hand, since the Jackson Hole tram takes you higher than the gondola, skiing can be rough. However, it does provide a nice atmosphere and views for the travelers.
Price
The Jackson Hole gondola is more expensive than the Jackson Hole tram. The gondola is about $12 more expensive than the tram.
The trips at the gondola cost around 40 dollars for adults and 28 dollars for children. On the contrary, the tickets for the Jackson Hole trams range around 15-24 dollars for adults and 10-18 dollars for children.
Remember that both gondolas and trams are free for children under 5 years.
Jackson Hole Gondola Vs. Tram: Concluding Verdict
If you’re planning on skiing and hiking from the mountains, choose the Jackson Hole gondola as it’s more activity-friendly. It’s open for longer hours and the rides are longer as well.
But the ticket prices are a bit high in comparison to the Jackson Hole tram and it holds fewer people.
On the other hand, if you want a better view of the valley and go to the top of the mountain, choose the tram. It’s cheaper, travels faster, and holds more people than the gondola.
However, the skiing and hiking experience from the trams isn’t as good as the gondola’s experience.
Wrapping up
That’s everything you need to know about the differences between the Jackson Hole gondola vs tram. Hopefully, the information above has helped you make a decision!
If you’re afraid of heights, please take precautions before getting up in the trams and gondolas. Have a wonderful ride!
