Winter Van Life: Snow King Mountain Resort
Time of Our Visit: New Year’s Eve 2022, New Year’s Day 2023, February 2025
Many travel to Jackson, Wyoming for Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, as well as Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. But there’s a small, uncrowded ski area in downtown Jackson with an impressive 1,571 vertical feet that can be skied in one steep run from top to bottom – Snow King Mountain Resort.
For family members that don’t like to slide on skis or a snowboard, Snow King has a mountain coaster, snow tubing, and scenic gondola rides with views of the Teton Range, National Elk Refuge, and downtown Jackson.
What We Love About Snow King
It’s the perfect ski area for avoiding holiday crowds. While locals shared with us that the gondola line was the longest they’d ever seen it over the New Year, the line was fast (maybe 10 minutes) and it wasn’t long all day. There was only an uptick mid-morning and around the half day mark. There were no lines at any of the other lifts and runs were uncrowded.
Slope side parking within feet of the gondola and the ticket booth. There is a very tiny parking lot right next to the gondola that didn’t fill up until after the mountain opened and there was a lot of turnover throughout the day. It was a great place to people watch from our van and also easily take breaks after so many long, steep bump runs.
Long, steep bump runs. Since we’ve spent so much time visiting lesser known resorts, we hadn’t seen bumps in a long time. They don’t form when there’s so little traffic on a mountain and runs just aren’t as steep. That’s not to imply that Snow King is heavily trafficked, but their advanced runs are truly advanced. When you look over the edge and you can’t see what you’re dropping into, you know it’s steep.
Uphill skiing with dogs. I loved seeing all the people working their lungs before the mountain opened and all throughout the day. Many had dogs and there was just so much joy on their faces as they raced down the hill. Lucky puppies! (Note: Dogs are only allowed outside of operating hours.)
Plan Your RV/Van Life Road Trip to Snow King
snowkingmountain.com
402 E. Snow King Avenue, Jackson, WY 83001
(307) 201-KING(5464)
info@snowkingmountain.com
Pass affiliations: Powder Alliance 2024/25, Indy Pass 2024/25
Hours of operation: Daily from 9:00 am – more information
Mountain Stats
- Skiable acres: 500 acres
- Vertical gain: 1,571 feet
- Average annual snowfall: 300 inches
Driving to Snow King
If you’re coming from Victor, Idaho, you’ll travel WY-22 over Teton Pass which tops out at 8,431 feet and has a maximum grade of 10%. This stretch of highway is avalanche prone so you’ll want to make sure it’s not closed for avalanche control before you go. Check WYDOT’s website for current road conditions. Teton Pass is popular with backcountry enthusiasts so you might see skiers and snowboarders on either side of the highway making turns.
If you’re coming from Pinedale, Wyoming on US-191, you’ll travel through Hoback Canyon which is also avalanche country. Again, check WYDOT’s website for current road conditions before you go.
If you’re traveling from Montpelier, Idaho or any part of US-89 to Jackson, here’s a great description of that stretch of road.
Wyoming has an abundance of wildlife. If possible, don’t drive highways at dusk, dawn, or at night to decrease your chances of colliding with deer, elk, moose, and more. If you must go, reduce your speed. It’s not uncommon for Wyoming roads to specify a nighttime speed limit.
Parking at Snow King
There are two main choices. Park next to the gondola for scenic rides and direct access to Snow King’s uppermost terrain. Or park at Snow King’s main address which gives you access to their beginner and intermediate runs and Cowboy Coaster.
If you want to be at the gondola, map to 100 E. Snow King Avenue, Jackson, WY or Teton Boulder Park. There is a ticket booth directly next to the gondola. If the parking lot is full, you can find a spot on Snow King Avenue. Otherwise, drive East on Snow King Avenue from Teton Boulder Park and turn right into the first parking lot. There are two levels of parking and you can walk to the gondola from there.
If you want to be at Snow King’s Rafferty Chairlift for beginner and intermediate terrain and the Cowboy Coaster, map to 402 E. Snow King Avenue. Day tickets can be purchased at the building next door at 400 E. Snow King Avenue.
Check out Snow King’s Trail Map for more information. (Note: The trail map linked under Snow King’s FAQs appears to be an older map. It is missing the Sunnyside Chairlift and Sun Bowl area, as well as the Yeti double black run on the frontside.
Using Your 2024/25 Indy Pass or Powder Alliance Benefits at Snow King
For Indy Pass, bring your Indy Pass or photo ID to a ticket window. For Powder Alliance, bring your photo ID and your season pass with Powder Alliance benefits. You will be given a reloadable RFID card which you will have to bring back to a ticket window each day you wish to ski/ride using your Indy Pass or Powder Alliance benefits.
Snow King’s RFID card expires at the end of March which is printed on the card. Most ski areas charge $5 for their RFID card, but I’ve never been charged at Snow King.
Tips on How to Ski/Ride Snow King
See Snow King’s Trail Map here.
To reach Snow King’s uppermost terrain including the majority of their single black and double black runs, you must take the gondola to the top.
At the top of the gondola, you can exit skier’s left and ride down to Snow King’s Sun Bowl and Sunnyside Chairlift or go back down the frontside. The easiest way down to the frontside if you go left is Elkhorn Trail (blue run) to Way Home (green run). Exiting skier’s right will also take you back down the frontside. The easiest way down is Way Home (green run). Otherwise, you’ll be committing to advanced terrain that is likely ungroomed.
While there is some beginner and intermediate terrain accessible from the top of the gondola, I recommend beginners and intermediates stick to the Rafferty Chairlift.
To access the Yeti, East S Chute, and West S Chute runs, you must take the Sunnyside Chairlift. This is not obvious looking at the trail map.
Where to Sleep in Your Van/RV
Snow King does not allow overnight RV camping.
Fireside Resort Jackson Hole Campground – 8 miles / 15 minutes in Wilson – I’ve never been able to score a site here. We don’t do a lot of planning ahead and it seems like this place books far in advance, probably due to their close proximity to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
Teton Valley Resort – 26 miles / 40 minutes in Victor, Idaho – We love the showers at this RV park that also offers cabin rentals. The downside is that it’s on the other side of Teton Pass from Jackson, Wyoming, but we personally love the quieter nature of the West side of the Teton Range. I’d recommend reservations if you want to be there during a weekend or holiday period.
Hatchet Campground – 39 miles / 50 minutes in Moran – This is a great option if you’re going over Togwotee Pass. The website says the campground is closed during the winter, but if you read the fine print, the gate is open and the cost is free when amenities are turned off. It’s basically a huge parking lot used by snow enthusiasts including snowmobilers.
If Togwotee Pass closes for avalanche control or extreme storm conditions, Hatchet is right outside of the road closure gate, so you can camp here until the road reopens.
While the campground was well-plowed when I was there in February 2025, be cautious of entering depending on snow conditions.
My AT&T cell service was strong enough to send and receive texts and stream a couple of movies. I wouldn’t say it’s reliable enough for remote work though, especially if you have to join Zoom calls. Starlink or a cell booster is recommended.
Colter Bay Visitor Center Parking Lot – 41 miles / 1 hour in Grand Teton National Park – It’s a longer drive to and from Colter Bay, but it’s only $5 for dry camping and you get to enjoy the beauty and winter outdoor recreation of Grand Teton National Park. While there are no RV amenities, there is a heated restroom that is kept open in the Visitor Center building with a flush toilet and sink. Dumpsters were also accessible the nights we stayed.
You can pay the $5 at the Moran Entrance Station which you must pass through to get to Colter Bay. If you arrive outside of their business hours, follow the instructions posted at the entrance station or at the Colter Bay Visitor Center.
A word of caution, if it snows, the designated RV camping parking lot might not be plowed. While the rest of the roads in Grand Teton and throughout Colter Bay were well plowed before 7:00 am during the three nights we stayed, the camping parking lot was not. We didn’t have a problem until the third night when the snow thickened up to a point we could not maneuver our van while in 4WD. We almost got stuck, so we backed out and slept in what we thought was a reasonable spot next to the Visitor Center. Fortunately, we didn’t get any knocks on our van from the park ranger.
(Signs in Grand Teton say there is no plowing between 8:00 pm and 5:00 am.)
Also note, there are no fuel options close to Colter Bay. We recommend topping off in Jackson. Otherwise, the Signal Mountain Lodge in Grand Teton offers gas and diesel but at a hefty price per gallon. The lodge is also in the opposite direction of Jackson.
If you do happen to go to Signal Mountain Lodge, the convenience store has a filtered water station. We used it to top off our 3-gallon Dometic water jugs.
Where to Shower Near Snow King
Teton County Community Recreation Center – 1 mile / 5 minutes in Jackson – Shower pricing is not listed on their website, but I last paid $10 in February 2025. The pricing on their site is for full access to their facilities, excluding certain programs and fitness classes. Last known rate for an adult single entry was $22.
The women’s shower room had about 5 shower stalls, each behind its own curtain. Be careful what you place on the floor because water travels from all showers to shared drains, unless you are using a family room. I saw at least 2 family rooms in the building with their own shower, toilet, and sink.
If you’re worried about seeing others naked or others seeing you naked, this might not be the place for you. While individual showers are behind a curtain, it’s hard to close any gaps. And I did have a young child pull open my curtain when I was last there.
A couple of tiny hooks are available in each shower stall, but they don’t hold much. You’ll want to limit what you bring unless you take advantage of a locker.
Working Remotely While Visiting Snow King
AT&T service works great in the Snow King parking lot and throughout the town of Jackson.
Service also works well at Teton Valley Resort and throughout the Teton Valley in Idaho, including the towns of Victor and Driggs.
Service works at Colter Bay in Grand Teton National Park. However, if you need to work, it might not be strong enough. I’d recommend a cell booster or Starlink. Otherwise, service is excellent at the Willow Flats Overlook and anywhere south of that point in Grand Teton National Park along US-191. If you’re on Teton Park Road going toward Jenny Lake, service gets spotty out there.
Where to Shop for Groceries Near Snow King
- Albertsons (Jackson) – 2 miles / less than 10 minutes in Jackson
- Whole Foods Market (Jackson Wyoming) – 2.5 miles / 10 minutes in Jackson
- Smith’s (Jackson Hole) – 3 miles / 10 minutes
- Broulim’s (Driggs) – 33 miles / 50 minutes in Driggs, ID – This is a nice grocery store if you’re staying at Teton Valley Resort. It is only 15 minutes from the RV park.
Other Tips for Your Visit to Snow King
Wyoming winters come with frigid cold temperatures. If you’re used to Eastern Sierra, Lake Tahoe, and Pacific Northwest winter temperatures, the level of cold in Wyoming might be shocking. Make sure you and your rig are prepared to stay warm.
For those with Mercedes Sprinter vans that need repairs, the closest Mercedes with Sprinter techs are going to be in the Salt Lake City, Utah area.
Other Ski Areas Nearby
- Jackson Hole (Ikon Pass 2024/25, Mountain Collective 2024/25) – 13 miles / 25 minutes in Teton Village
- Grand Targhee Resort (Mountain Collective 2024/25) – 45.5 miles / 1.25 hours in Alta
- Kelly Canyon Resort (Indy Pass 2024/25) – 77.5 miles / 2 hours in Ririe, ID
- White Pine Ski Resort (Indy Pass 2024/25) – 88 miles / 2 hours in Pinedale
- Pine Creek Ski Resort (Ski Cooper 2024/25) – 129 miles / 2.5 hours in Cokeville
Other Winter Activities
National Elk Refuge – 1.2 miles / 5 minutes in Jackson – Take a sleigh ride or admire the elk from a turnout along US-191.
Grand Teton National Park – 6 miles / 10 minutes – Enjoy the sunrise or sunset and wildlife viewing at one of the many overlooks throughout the park, snowshoe or cross-country ski Teton Park Road and adjacent trails near Jenny Lake, or head into the backcountry for some human-powered skiing or snowboarding.
