Stay within walking distance of Jackson Hole Town Square, and much of the town is right outside your door. Restaurants, galleries, local shops, and the iconic elk antler arches are only a few blocks apart, making downtown Jackson easy to explore without planning your day around a car.
But the benefits extend beyond convenience. Staying in downtown Jackson offers a different way to experience Jackson Hole, giving you easy access to the energy and character of town while keeping Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and the surrounding valley within reach.
Here’s why staying at one of the top hotels near Jackson Town Square can make a difference, whether you visit for summer adventures, ski season, or a little of both.
Experience Jackson on Foot
Town Square sits at the center of downtown Jackson, surrounded by many of the restaurants, galleries, boutiques and historic landmarks that give the town its character.
When your hotel is within walking distance, exploring doesn’t have to become another item on the itinerary. Head out for coffee in the morning, stop into a gallery on your way back from lunch or walk to dinner after a day in the mountains. Seasonal events, farmers markets, live music and community gatherings also bring something different to downtown throughout the year.
Staying nearby gives you the flexibility to experience Jackson as part of your trip rather than simply passing through it on the way to somewhere else.
It also means fewer short drives and less time looking for parking during Jackson Hole’s busiest seasons.
Downtown Jackson vs. Teton Village
One of the biggest decisions when planning a Jackson Hole vacation is whether to stay in the town of Jackson or closer to the ski mountain in Teton Village.
Teton Village sits at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, approximately 12 miles from downtown Jackson. Its location offers convenient access to the mountain, particularly for travelers whose plans revolve almost entirely around skiing.
Downtown Jackson provides a broader home base.
From town, you can spend the day skiing, exploring Grand Teton National Park, wildlife watching or venturing farther into the valley, then return to restaurants, shops and galleries that you can explore on foot. Rather than choosing between the mountains and town, staying downtown makes it easier to experience both.
Why Stay in Downtown Jackson During Summer?
Summer days in Jackson Hole tend to take you well beyond your hotel.
Grand Teton National Park, the National Elk Refuge and the surrounding national forest offer hiking, wildlife viewing, scenic drives, rafting, fly fishing and countless other ways to spend a day outside. Downtown Jackson makes a convenient starting point for exploring the valley, particularly for travelers whose plans change from one day to the next.
Afterward, you can leave the car behind.
Walk to dinner, browse the shops surrounding our hotel in Jackson Town Square, visit a gallery, or simply take an evening stroll through town. During a season when roads, trailheads and parking areas can be busy, not needing to drive again once you return to your hotel is a welcome advantage.
Downtown is also a natural choice for travelers planning to divide their time among several areas of Jackson Hole rather than basing an entire trip around one destination.
Why Stay in Downtown Jackson During Ski Season?
Staying in town doesn’t mean giving up easy access to the slopes. A 20-40 minute drive away, there are many options to access Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
The START Bus connects downtown Jackson with Teton Village, providing public transportation to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Some downtown hotels also offer dedicated winter transportation for their guests. Both options allow guests to skip parking and head straight to the slopes.
This makes it possible to spend the day skiing and return to downtown Jackson for the evening, where restaurants, bars, and shops are within walking distance rather than requiring another drive.
It’s particularly appealing for groups with different interests. While some guests head to the mountain, others can explore downtown, visit a spa, shop, or enjoy a slower day without needing their own vehicle.
And when ski boots finally come off, having dinner only a short walk away has its advantages.
Do You Need a Car When Staying Near Town Square?
It depends on how you plan to experience Jackson Hole.
A rental car can be useful for exploring Grand Teton National Park and more remote areas of the valley independently. But staying downtown can significantly reduce how often you need it.
Jackson’s START Bus provides public transportation around town and connections to Teton Village, while guided excursions often include transportation. Many downtown restaurants, galleries, shops and attractions can simply be reached on foot.
For guests who do rent a car, staying downtown offers another advantage: you can use it when you actually need it, then leave it behind when exploring town.
Stay a Few Blocks from Town Square at the Rusty Parrot Lodge
The Rusty Parrot Lodge & Spa is located at 175 North Jackson Street, just a few blocks from Jackson Hole Town Square.
Our location offers the convenience of downtown without placing your entire stay directly in the middle of its busiest streets. Guests can walk to Town Square, restaurants, galleries, and shops, then return to the more intimate setting of our 40-room, family-owned lodge.
That balance has shaped the Rusty Parrot experience for decades.
You can begin the morning with breakfast at Wild Sage before heading into Grand Teton National Park, spend a winter day skiing at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, or ask our team to help plan an experience farther into the valley. When you return, Body Sage Spa, dinner at Wild Sage, and the comforts of the lodge are all under the same roof.
During ski season, our complimentary ski shuttle provides transportation to and from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort four times each day. Escorting guests from our lobby directly to the gates of JHMR makes it easy to enjoy the mountain while keeping downtown Jackson as your home base.
The Best of Jackson Hole, From One Home Base
Where you stay shapes how you experience Jackson Hole.
For travelers who want immediate access to the ski lifts above everything else, staying at the base of the mountain can make sense. But if you want to experience the national parks, mountains and wildlife alongside the restaurants, galleries, shops and local character of Jackson itself, downtown offers remarkable flexibility.
Staying within walking distance of Town Square makes that experience even easier.
At the Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa hotel, you’re close enough to walk into the heart of Jackson in minutes, while having a distinctly personal place to return to at the end of the day. It’s a location that lets you experience more of Jackson Hole without having to choose just one side of it. Explore our rooms.
