Jackson, WY

Jackson sits in Teton County, Wyoming, serving as the county seat of a region long associated with the rugged landscapes of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The town has a year-round population of roughly 10,000 residents, though that number swells significantly with seasonal visitors, second-home owners, and outdoor guides. Its character blends Old West heritage with an upscale resort feel, evident in the wooden boardwalks, galleries, and restaurants that line the famous town square with its elk-antler arches. Jackson is best known as the southern gateway to two of the country's most celebrated national parks, and it lies about 300 miles north of Salt Lake City, Utah, the nearest major metropolitan area.

Just a few minutes north of town lies Grand Teton National Park, where the jagged Teton Range rises abruptly from a broad valley floor. The park offers some of the most photographed mountain scenery in North America, with opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing, climbing, and paddling on the Snake River or around Jenny Lake. Visitors can reach the park's southern boundary in about a 15-minute drive, and the scenic Teton Park Road winds its way past pullouts, trailheads, and historic ranch properties.

Continuing north from Grand Teton, the road leads into Yellowstone National Park, the world's first national park and roughly a 60-mile drive from Jackson to the South Entrance. Yellowstone is famous for its geothermal features, including geysers, hot springs, and mud pots, as well as for its populations of bison, elk, wolves, and grizzly bears. The South Entrance typically opens in mid-May and closes in early November, while winter visitors can still reach the park via snowcoach through the Northeast Entrance. The drive from Jackson to iconic destinations like Old Faithful generally takes about two to three hours depending on wildlife traffic.

Closer to town, the National Elk Refuge stretches across the valley floor just north of Jackson and protects one of the largest wintering elk herds in the country. From late fall through early spring, visitors can take horse-drawn sleigh rides out onto the refuge to view the animals up close. The refuge also serves as a hub for migratory birds in warmer months and offers walking trails and an interpretive center near its main entrance.

Jackson's appeal as a short-term rental market is rooted in the combination of a small-town atmosphere and proximity to some of the most recognizable natural landmarks in the American West. Travelers come in every season to ski the nearby resorts in winter and to hike, raft, and watch wildlife in summer, generating a near-continuous flow of guests. Limited lodging supply inside the national parks keeps demand high in the town itself, while the local airport, well-maintained highways, and a growing collection of restaurants, galleries, and shops help support comfortable stays for those who use Jackson as a base for exploring the surrounding mountains and wilderness.