Jackson Hole is a beautiful premier travel destination with almost too many great attributes to list, but I’ll try. There’s great hiking, skiing, golfing, boating, shopping, snowmobiling, dining, dog sledding, wildlife sighting and river rafting, to name a few. Unfortunately, missing from that list is great transportation. That is unless you know the local tips and tricks to getting around! So buckle up and grab a pen, because we are hitting the ground running with our Local’s guide to Jackson Hole Transportation.
Jackson Hole Transportation Tips
The best advice when it comes to Jackson Hole transportation is to plan ahead! This is actually essential advice for almost all aspects of your trip to Jackson. You are visiting a small town, isolated in the Rockies with a very serious labor shortage. That translates to a shortage of taxi drivers, Ubers, bus drivers, waiters, chefs, ski instructors and shop clerks. Most of the working class that makes Jackson Hole run doesn’t even live in Wyoming, let alone Jackson. A large majority of the staffers that will help facilitate your trip actually live in Idaho. Please remember that and treat them graciously as they are probably having a long day/week/month/year.
You will also want to budget accordingly! Jackson Hole is not a cheap place to visit and that includes transportation. If you are saving money by staying outside of town, that probably means you will have to spend more on transportation. There’s no such thing as a free lunch, especially in the wealthiest county in the world!
Depending on what activities you want to do during your visit, you should seriously consider renting a car. Whether it’s to get to the mountain for skiing or hiking, or simply to dinner. A rental car is the most dependable form of transportation. However, you’ll want to make sure it’s a good fit. More on that later!
Why should I plan out my transportation Jackson Hole
As previously mentioned, Jackson Hole has a serious labor shortage and that is heavily reflected in the transportation industry. Whether it’s pre booking a rental car months in advance or reserving taxis a few weeks prior, you should definitely consider planning out your Jackson Hole transportation. If you’re a larger group and want a party bus to escort you through the Valley you should call Double Black, Jackson’s only party bus company, at minimum 4 -6 weeks in advance.
If you are going to try your luck with Ubers, then you should at least make a plan for a back up transportation option. Just a heads up, this is easier accomplished at 2:00 pm rather than 2:00 am.
Does Transportation in Jackson Hole vary by season?
While Jackson Hole might be most famous for our world-class skiing resort, we get a lot more visitors in the summer. This is because of the town’s close proximity to national parks, Grand Teton and Yellowstone. That means there are going to be more Ubers and taxis driving around from June - September than any other time. However, that also means the demand will be at its peak as well.
As for rental cars, the average daily price will be higher in the summers. However, if you are visiting during the winter, you should make sure your car has either all-wheel drive or 4wd. This will cost more than 2wd vehicles, but will be worth it. Trust us!
Do I need a rental car in Jackson Hole?
If it is in your budget, we believe you should rent a car while visiting Jackson Hole. If you’re visiting in the summer, a rental car is pretty much the only way to access all of the beautiful hiking trails in Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone. If you’re visiting in the winter, it’s the best way to get to the ski resort and all of the delicious restaurants. However, if it’s not in your budget, you will want to take advantage of the START bus and START on Demand, a free town taxi!
How much does Jackson Hole transportation cost?
After lodging, transportation can be one of the costliest aspects of a vacation so it’s important to examine before finalizing your reservations. Jackson Hole transportation costs can include airfare, fuel, bus fares, party bus tabs, rental cars, Uber charges, and taxi fares. All of these modes of transportation vary in cost, luxury and convenience, this all-comprehensive guide will help line up your expectations with your budget.
Airfare
Flying into Jackson Hole Airport will likely be your biggest transportation cost if you decide to do so. Since it is a small airport with a limited number of daily flights, flight tickets are much more expensive than most parts of the country. You can expect roundtrip flights to range from $400 to well over $1,000. There is also an FBO (private airport) located at JAC if you prefer to go that route. However with the rising demand in private aviation you can expect your bill to range anywhere from $6,000 to $60,000.
Jackson Party Bus
The most fun way to spend your transportation budget is on a party bus and there are tons of reasons to do so in Jackson, whether it’s for a birthday party, bar crawl, wedding or night out on the town!
Prices vary depending on passenger capacity and the size of the vehicle. They start at around $165 an hour for 16 passenger vehicles on weeknights and can go up to $300 per hour for 60 person vehicles on weekends during high season. However, because of Double Black’s discounted prices on weekdays and half-day, full-day specials, our prices can be as low as $150 an hour for a 24 passenger vehicle! To bring it down even lower, ask about our multi-day discounts that are designed for groups needing transportation all weekend long.
Fuel
Whether you get a rental car in Jackson or drive your own car to Jackson, fuel will likely end up being one of your primary transportation costs during your visit. While most of Wyoming has relatively low fuel costs compared to other parts of the country, Jackson Hole is an overpriced ski destination and our gas prices reflect as much. For most of 2022, unleaded has bounced between $4 -$5 a gallon.
START Bus
The START bus is a great affordable option to get to the ski mountain if you are staying in town. One-way tickets are only $3. They also offer START ON DEMAND which is essentially a free Uber that will take you anywhere in the town limits. All you have to do is download the app!
Taxis
Jackson Hole has a ton of taxi companies, unfortunately they all seem to run on the same schedule so you’ll likely either have your choice of 5 or none. Easy places to find them are the airport, the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar before 11 pm and the Town Square. If you are a night owl and like to stay until last call, you may have a difficult time finding one at the Cowboy Bar. They are also quite expensive and charge for each additional person over 2, so be wary! Expect prices to vary from $20 - $100 a ride.
Uber
Ubers are often cheaper than taxis and overall the better option in Jackson. They don’t have any hidden fees and you can track them on their way to pick you up. Instead of taxis saying they’re on their way, only to be late by an hour or more. Unfortunately, Ubers are no guarantee either and sometimes there are simply none available on the road. Depending on the distance, prices can vary from $10 - $70.
Conclusion
Jackson Hole is a beautiful place to visit and you should definitely check it off your list. However, because of cost and isolation, you will want to plan out the trip and your Jackson Hole Transportation as much as possible. We recommend a combination of renting a car, hailing a couple of taxis, chartering a party bus (if your group is 6 or more people) and walking around town. If you want to save some money, check out the START bus schedule and download the START on Demand app for some great public transportation. Get a quote for a Jackson party bus here!