Getting around in the Tetons

I haven't been to the Tetons in almost 15 years and have a trip planned at the end of July.

The cost of a rental car is REALLY high, especially given we won't even be using it most of the time. It would really be nice to have one to leave extra travel stuff in and get around on our own time lines but rental prices are making us seek alternatives.

How easy/difficult would it be to "get around" without a car via use of public transportation? Is there any? We will mainly just be going from airport, to town, to trail head and back.

Also, are there any options for storing extra gear and travel stuff while we are climbing?

thanks for any info.
jeff

Hmmm... I think it would be tough but I don't know for sure. There are taxi's and shuttles in town. I imagine getting from the airport to town is easy, but then getting out to the park and back might be expensive and a hassel. You could hitch as well, not always super convenient. Maybe someone who has done it will chime in?

I was there in Sept of last year and we ended up driving so that we would have a car. Plane tickets and a rental car were pricey and then it is true that the car just sits in the parking lot most of the time.

No car, no go. There is public transpo in Jackson, but its all down valley and not up into the park. Your thumb is your only other option. Sorry.

You will want a vehicle.

There's a shuttle between Jackson and various places in the Park; information is here: alltransparkshuttle.com/

The public bus system is called START; info and schedule here: startbus.com/

That said, neither of these is geared to climbers/hikers in that they don't go to trailheads. Of course, there are lots of taxis and you should have cell phone coverage to call them at the foot of the mountains.

Good info, thanks everyone.

There are lodging guest/employee shuttles between Jackson and the Park, but they're not super convenient time-wise. Your answer is to stay at the Climbers Ranch. Here's what you can do - rent a vehicle for the first night you arrive in JH, but rent it from one of the more expensive rentals that are based right at the airport (there are cheaper ones like Dollar and Budget but they're in town). Drive to the Climbers Ranch, settle in. Next day borrow one of the bikes at the ranch, return your vehicle and bike back to the Ranch (good acclimatization workout as well!). If you are climbing mostly stuff in Garnet Canyon, you don't need a vehicle - there is a trail from the Climbers ranch that you can hike without a hassle of parking at Lupine Meadows trailhead. You can also use their bikes to get to the trailheads. Hopefully, by the time your trip is done you'll make enough friends at the CR to get a ride to town occasionally and/or back to the airport when you return, or you can do the same bike/rental trick. You can usually leave your gear at the ranch while you're climbing (even overnight). The bikes at the Ranch are brilliant - you can bike over to Jenny Lake Ranger station to get your permits etc. or to Dornan's for sundries, groceries and beer.

There is also always an option of a long hike from the ski area in Teton Village to Death Canyon climbs...