Alpine / Bridger-Teton National Forest KOA Holiday Blog
Closest KOA to Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park
Whether you’re exploring the local area or hanging out at the campground, KOA Holidays are an ideal place to relax and play. There’s plenty to do, with amenities and services to make your stay memorable. Plus, you’ll enjoy the outdoor experience with upgraded RV Sites with KOA Patio® and Deluxe Cabins with full baths for camping in comfort. Bring your family, bring your friends, or bring the whole group – there’s plenty of ways to stay and explore.
Whether you’re exploring the local area or hanging out at the campground, KOA Holidays are an ideal place to relax and play. There’s plenty to do, with amenities and services to make your stay memorable. Plus, you’ll enjoy the outdoor experience with upgraded RV Sites with KOA Patio® and Deluxe Cabins with full baths for camping in comfort. Bring your family, bring your friends, or bring the whole group – there’s plenty of ways to stay and explore.
Turn off Highway 89, 2 miles North of Etna, WY (heading north) or 7 miles south of Alpine, WY (heading south) and continue behind the Airstream of Wyoming dealership. Follow the road in front of the Airstream dealership to our KOA.
Get Google Directions
Conquering Yellowstone National Park in a single day sounds daunting—and honestly, with 2.2 million acres, you can’t see it all. But if you are staying at the Alpine/Bridger-Teton KOA Holiday in Etna, you have a massive advantage.
Because the campground sits roughly 2 hours south of Yellowstone’s South Entrance, you are perfectly positioned to tackle the South Loop (The Lower Loop). This is the absolute heart of the park, containing its most legendary bucket-list icons: Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
To beat the brutal summer crowds and fit it all into a single day, you need a strategy. This hour-by-hour, counter-clockwise battle plan is designed to get you in, get you the best parking spaces, and get you back to your spacious KOA campsite in time for s'mores.
The Master Game Plan
1. **The Pre-Dawn Launch:** 6:00 AM.
Pack your cooler the night before and hit the road early. You'll drive north through the beautiful Star Valley, pass through Jackson Hole, and cruise right past the Grand Tetons. Leaving early ensures you cruise through the park's South Entrance gate before the long lines form.
2. **West Thumb Geyser Basin:** 8:30 AM.
Your first official park stop. This lakeside thermal area is peaceful, uncrowded in the morning, and features bubbling hot springs right in the freezing waters of Yellowstone Lake. Take a quick 30-minute stroll on the boardwalk.
3. **The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone:** 10:00 AM.
Drive north through the Hayden Valley (keep an eye out for bison herds!). Head straight to **Artist Point** on the South Rim. Here, you’ll get the most famous, jaw-dropping view of the 308-foot Lower Falls plunging into a canyon of yellow and pink volcanic rock.
4. **Picnic & Midday Drive:** 12:00 PM.
Do not try to buy lunch at the park lodges—the lines will eat up two hours of your day. Grab sandwiches from your cooler and eat at a designated picnic area near Canyon or Norris as you cut west across the middle of the loop.
5. **Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook:** 2:00 PM.
Instead of fighting for parking at the main Midway Geyser Basin boardwalk (which is a gridlock nightmare at 2:00 PM), park at the **Fairy Falls Trailhead**. Take the easy, flat 0.6-mile walk up to the Grand Prismatic Overlook. You'll get an elevated view of the stunning rainbow-colored rings that you can't see from the ground.
6. **Old Faithful & The Historic Inn:** 3:30 PM.
Head to the Upper Geyser Basin. Check the predicted eruption schedule at the visitor center (it blows roughly every 90 minutes). While you wait, walk inside the **Old Faithful Inn**—built in 1904, it is the largest log structure in the world and features a massive 85-foot stone fireplace.
Golden Rules for Surviving the Day
The "Bison Jam" Factor: If a herd of bison decides to walk down the middle of the double-yellow lines, your schedule is out the window. Embrace it, take photos from inside your vehicle, and never approach the wildlife. Always maintain at least 25 yards from bison/deer and 100 yards from bears/wolves.
Download Offline Maps: You *will* lose cell service the moment you pass the south gate. Download Google Maps for offline use, or download the official National Park Service (NPS) app ahead of time.
Fuel Up in Alpine: Gas prices increase significantly the closer you get to the park. Fill your tank completely at the gas stations right near the KOA before you head out.
Pack Layers: You will start the morning in the crisp 40°F mountain air, hit 80°F heat by mid-afternoon on unshaded geyser boardwalks, and return to chilly temperatures by dark.
Heading to Basecamp- Back into Star Valley
By 5:30 PM, you’ll turn back south toward the South Entrance. As you drive back through Jackson Hole, keep your eyes peeled for moose in the willow flats along the river.
When you pull your vehicle back onto the wide, easy-to-navigate gravel pads at the Alpine/Bridger-Teton KOA around 8:00 PM, you’ll be exhausted—but you will have successfully conquered one of the most famous national park routes on earth in a single, epic day trip.
That doesn't mean this area has to always be empty. When you start reviewing camping options, your history will display here to help compare sites and find the best stay. You will be able to share your stay information with friends or family and save it for a later time if you have a KOA Account.
Make checkout easy by booking all your reservations at once. Add your sites from different campgrounds into your shopping cart* and then choose checkout.
