Jenny Lake Lodge Review: Is It Worth the Expensive Price Tag?
Considering staying at Jenny Lake Lodge? Read my full review below.
I’ve been coming to Grand Teton National Park since I was a little girl and is a place I find myself returning to again and again.
I’ve stayed at my fair share of hotels, cabins, and Airbnbs in and around the national park, so I was really excited when I finally got the chance to stay at Jenny Lake Lodge!
Jenny Lake Lodge is a AAA Four-Diamond, full-service resort located at the foot of the Teton Range. The lodge is ideal for those who want to experience nature…without sacrificing fluffy pillows and fine dining. It’s “glamping” on a whole other level!
So, how does it stack up against other accommodations in the Grand Tetons? I’m here to share the good, the bad, and the ugly (spoiler: there’s no “ugly” here).
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Jenny Lake Lodge Overview
I’ve broken down my review into six individually scored categories (location; rooms; food and drink; amenities; and value for money), the average of which determines the overall rating. See below for how I ranked each category with more details to follow:
- Location: 10/10
- Rooms: 7/10
- Food & Drink: 9/10
- Amenities: 7/10
- Value for Money: 8/10
Overall Rating: 8.2/10
A quick note: I was not compensated in any way to write this review of Jenny Lake Lodge. All opinions and thoughts shared are completely my own and 100% subjective!
Location (10/10)
I’ll start with the biggest pro to staying at Jenny Lake Lodge: the location!
The lodge’s location is quite extraordinary. You get unobstructed views of the Grand Tetons (proof: the sunrise photo above taken right outside the main lodge lobby), hiking trails just steps from your cabin’s door, and a sense of real tranquility.
Jenny Lake Lodge is in a secluded spot within Grand Teton National Park, about 40 minutes from Jackson Hole and Teton Village. It’s an ideal getaway, far away from any crowds, but minutes away from popular landmarks.
I assume you may want to do some hiking on your trip, so let’s talk a little bit more about the perk of “hiking trails just steps from your cabin’s door” because this is a huge plus.
In summer, the park roads can get quite crowded—sometimes due to wildlife crossings, but mostly from the number of visitors. Parking lots at popular trails fill up by 9-9:30 a.m., so you will likely need to park along the road if you arrive later, adding 10+ minutes to your hike.
Staying at Jenny Lake Lodge lets you skip much of the chaos. Its central location allows you to walk straight to some of my all-time favorite trails—like Jenny Lake Loop, Leigh Lake, and String Lake Loop—right from the lodge.
So you don’t have to worry about getting there before 9 am to find a parking spot. You can have that second cup of coffee if you’d like. Get a stretch in before the hike. Sit by the fireplace in the lobby and read a book/newspaper.
You’re on vacation after all!
Staying this deep in the national park also puts you closer to Yellowstone. It’s a 2.5-hour drive to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, 1 hour 40 minutes to Yellowstone Lake, and about 2 hours to Hayden Valley, a great spot for wildlife.
If you stayed in Jackson Hole instead, this would add another 30+ minutes to your drive.
Rooms (7/10)
There are 37 cabins scattered around the property. You can choose between Freestanding Cabins, Duplex Cabins (two cabins connected), Deluxe Suites, and the Premium Suite.
Cabins start at $1,139 (plus taxes and fees) and include daily breakfast, five-course dinner, horseback rides, and other amenities listed later on in this post.
The cabins are “rustically elegant”, with handmade quilts, down comforters, and authentic Western charm! No, there’s no electric air conditioning and you won’t find a TV or mini-bar in your room, but that’s part of the charm. Being in the heart of one of the largest parks in the U.S., a luxury hotel like the “Four Seasons” would feel out of place here.
P.S. Small fans are provided in each room at Jenny Lake Lodge. Despite my husband being a HOT sleeper, we never needed them and didn’t miss having A/C. Since you’re at 6,867 feet (2,093 meters), I recommend just opening the windows at night to keep cool.
Here are some amenities you can expect to find in your room:
- Bathrobes
- Safe
- Refrigerator
- Coffee maker
- Hair dryer
- Iron and ironing board
- Free WiFi
- Daily refill of the ice bucket and complimentary water bottles
- Hiking poles
Food and drink (9/10)
Each guest’s lodging package includes an all-you-can-eat breakfast and a rotating 5-course prix fixe dinner each night.
Breakfast starts at 7:30 a.m. with the last seating at 9:30 a.m., and no reservation is needed. There’s also no dress code, so you can wear your hiking gear, yoga pants, etc.
Dinner is served from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and does require a reservation. This should be made before your arrival, though you can make changes at the front desk. There is a dress code for dinner — scroll down to the FAQ section for more details.
Note: Lunch is not included in your package, but you can still enjoy a meal in the dining room. Reservations for lunch are suggested, but we had no problem snagging a table. Jenny Lake Lodge also offers grab-and-go picnic-style box lunches for $20 (as of 2024).
How’s the food?
OK, now let’s talk about the food itself! I was lucky to have spent four nights at Jenny Lake Lodge and experience 4 out of the 5 rotating dinner menus.
If you’ve ever been to Grand Teton National Park, you know how rare it is to find a good restaurant within the national park. The dining room at Jenny Lake Lodge easily has the best food you’ll come across inside the park…or any national park for that matter.
With each meal, you get an appetizer (choose between 4 choices), soup (2 choices), salad (2 choices), entree (4 choices), and dessert (4 choices).
A sample menu for each course is listed below to give you an idea of what to expect:
- Appetizers included: Wild Game Carpaccio, Breast of Quail, Seared Diver Scallop, Tomato & Onion Tart, Pheasant Brochette, Poached Prawn, Oyster Mushroom, Steak Tartare, Lamb Paupiette, Bison Short Rib, and Smoked Duck
- Soups included: Roasted Tomato Feta, Potato Kale, Three Sisters Vegetable, Harira, Wild Mushroom Brie, and “soup of the day”
- Salads included: Mediterranean, Melon Panzanella, Blanched Zucchini, Foraged Salad, Grilled Peach Salad, and “Jenny Lake signature salad”
- Entrees included: Rack of Lamb, Smoked Chicken, Dover Sole, Bison Filet, Grilled Salmon, Baked Brie, Turkey Roulade, Striped Bass, Butternut Dumpling, Veal Chop, Lobster Tagliatelle, Chicken Fricassee, Wagyu Ribeye, and Roasted Acorn Squash
In other words, you’re not exactly picking between chicken tenders and fries here!
As of 2024, the price per meal is $125 for adults and $70 per child (included in your package cost). This does not include any alcoholic beverages or the tip.
Is the meal worth $125+ though?
Yes and no. The meals are delicious, no doubt about that. There were just a few dishes that didn’t hit the mark for me (a couple of the soups were a bit underseasoned and appetizers that were just ok). So, I do feel $125 per person is a bit steep.
That being said, it’s super convenient to be able to walk to dinner each night from your cabin. (especially since there aren’t many other dining options nearby — you’d have to drive at least 20 minutes to find anything halfway decent.)
Plus, one of the highlights of dining at Jenny Lake Lodge is the fantastic staff! You’ll be served by people from all over the U.S. and the world — shout out to our sweet waiter from Romania who greeted us with the biggest smile every day.
Amenities (7/10)
Jenny Lake Lodge is categorized as a “full-service resort”. Now you may be thinking, what’s the difference between a full-service resort and an all-inclusive?
Glad you asked! The main difference between the two comes down to snacks and drinks. At an all-inclusive resort, you can sip on as many beverages as you want and snack all day without worrying about extra charges.
On the other hand, with full-service resorts like Jenny Lake Lodge, alcoholic drinks are not included and will be added to your final bill.
And while unlimited snacks aren’t available, they do offer chocolate chip cookies in the afternoon at the main lodge lobby (near the front desk), so keep an eye out for those!
Here’s a rundown of the amenities included in your package at Jenny Lake Lodge:
- Gourmet all-you-can-eat breakfast and nightly five-course dinner
- Daily activities, like Craft Beer and Cornhole and Stargazing
- Huckleberry lemonade and chocolate chip cookies in the main lodge lobby
- Cruiser-style bicycles with easy access to the scenic multi-use pathway
- Complimentary guided horseback rides (based on availability; spots are extremely limited, so please inquire at the desk upon check-in)
at Jenny Lake Lodge
Now, if I had to dock points in any category, it would be this one.
I understand that a big draw of Jenny Lake Lodge is to unplug and enjoy nature, but personally, I would’ve appreciated more “typical resort amenities” like a pool, spa, or sauna. After a long day of hiking, relaxing in a hot tub or booking a massage to soothe sore muscles would’ve been a great addition.
But that’s just me nitpicking.
Value for money (8/10)
Is Jenny Lake Lodge worth the high price tag? First things first — staying in or around Grand Teton National Park is pricey, period. The park consistently ranks among the top 10 most visited in the U.S., so hotels charge more simply because they can.
So you need to take that into consideration.
Jenny Lake Lodge is also the only Four Diamond resort in Grand Teton National Park. Trust me, this is as luxurious as it gets within the national park!
That being said, if this lodge were located anywhere else—let’s use the Ozark Mountains for example—it wouldn’t be worth the price they charge (in my opinion). The rooms are fairly small and basic (aside from the Premium Suite – Water Lily), with limited amenities to add extra value.
The saying “location, location, location” couldn’t be more fitting here. You’re definitely paying a premium for staying in Grand Teton National Park, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Many guests reserve their spot up to a year in advance to stay here.
All in all, would I stay here again? Absolutely, and I hope I get the chance to someday.
FAQs
Does Jenny Lake Lodge allow dogs?
No, Jenny Lake Lodge is not pet-friendly. If you do want to bring your furry friend, I would look into the cottages at Jackson Lake Lodge ($20 per night pet fee), the cabins at Colter Bay Village ($15.50 per night pet fee), or Headwaters Lodge ($20 per night pet fee).
When does Jenny Lake Lodge open and close?
Jenny Lake Lodge is open seasonally from early June to early October. Reservations can be made 366 days in advance, but spots fill up fast, so be sure to book early!
You can make a reservation online at www.gtlc.com or by calling 307-543-3100.
What is the dinner dress code?
Dinner attire varies, from men in suit jackets to more casual wear like jeans and a western-themed top. Collared shirts or jackets for men are recommended but not required. Guests are just asked to avoid “hiking clothes, ripped denim, caps, or graphic t-shirts.”
Final Thoughts
Hope you enjoyed my review of Jenny Lake Lodge! Guests praise the incredible service, serene location, and fine dining, and I couldn’t agree more.
If you’re looking for a unique getaway in Grand Teton National Park, this lodge offers a memorable experience you won’t forget. Whether you’re soaking in the views or savoring a delicious meal, it’s definitely worth the visit!
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