Trip Advice: How to get to Jackson and Cheap Hotels?

So I've always wanted to bike in Moab and ski at Jackson Hole and now I'm trying to throw together a last minute "bike and ski" trip.

I've talked the girlfriend into a trip down to Moab for some riding next week, but I'm now thinking of stopping over in Jackson Hole for a couple of days on the way back. (Even more impressive is that I've talked her into this as well. She's not that strong a skier. Her response to my proposal, "Well it's in all the movies so even I would ski there just to say I was there")

PART 1
We'll be driving up HWY 15 to Idaho Falls from Moab. What's the best way to get to Jackson from there? My map says HWY 26 but a friend of mine was telling me today he's been caught up in winter closures in that area before and had to take a longer way around. Essentially what I want to know is if that section of road will be open.

PART 2
Can any of you guys recommend cheap hotels in the area and or cheap lift tickets deals down there. We're leaving for Moab Friday morning and that leaves little time to try and throw this Jackson thing together before we take off. The plan would be to get to Jackson Hole late next Wed night ski Thurs, Friday, get up and drive back to Calgary Saturday.

HOSTEL X!!!!

This has to have been covered before. Like, at least once.

1) If you don't have to go through Idaho Falls, don't. If you do, then take 26, but only to Star Valley. Follow the signs to Driggs/Victor, and go over the pass. As for closure, ask the weatherman. If there's been a storm, it'll be closed in the morning, like 4-8am. If it's storming heavily, it could be closed anytime. You can almost always make it down 26 to Alpine and then go up the Snake river canyon. Google maps.

2) Hostel X. Ski the pass in the morning. Clip tickets in the afternoon. Eat Thai at Teton Thai a block north of the square in Jackson. Rinse. Repeat.

Yes, I haven't seemed to grasp the full capabilities of the search function. I just wanted some quick answers to some questions and didn't have time tonight to sit and sift through a bunch of threads.

Thanks for the info, much appreciated.

Hostel X for cheap lodging.

Or if you need Hotel style accom, the super 8 in Jackson is newer, clean and you can get a double room for less than $60 if you book online using a AAA discount.

motel 6 in jackson

Before leaving Moab, check the hwys report on the IDOT website because a lot of Idahoes are afraid of snow. Trust me on this, we got locked out in early Feb. You'll be especially pissed as you are from Canada, as we are, and you'll think it's regular or even good winter driving... but they won't. When we were there, there was a foot of snow on the ground in IF and it was the most!snow!in!15!years!OMG ice!Hit the brakes!

Our plan was to take the 26 to 33 through Ririe (goes off the 15 about 20 mins north of IF) to Swan Valley. We ended up taking going south from IF and taking the 34 from Soda Springs north beause all else was closed. They don't just close it for a few hours... one of the hwys had been closed for two days. At Swan Valley it was closed for 24 hours. You might be totally fine, just check when you are far away, even it seems clear.

We stayed at the Antler Inn. Nice people, free cookies, coffee, and hot chocolate in the lobby, comfortable rooms and beds, and a big hot tub. It was around $70 for the two of us. Right downtown. At this late in time you probably can't get any ski and stay packages- we were told we had to book at least a week in advance for that. I called JH central res and they required a 3 night min. It wasn't much of a savings anyways. The only other cheaper place aside from the hostel I found was the Virginian, around $50. It looked okay from the outside, didn't go in. It's not right in the downtown core.

I posted a review last week that went over really well. hahaha. Seriously, I'm sure you'll have a good time- it looks to be a good mtn if you hit it with fresh snow. If it hasn't snowed, hit the Headwall/Casper/Crags area, that's where we found fresh inbounds- low commitment, easy access, short shots though. If she's good on hardish blue/black open/lightly gladed pow, she could probably do the Crags or Casper, the main runs there were pretty obvious and aren't super gnar unless you intentionally hit the cliffs. They look crazier on the map than they are, and it might up her bragging status. She might also like the Hoeback, an even blue pitch, open, long.

Yay road trip! Have fun! I hope the storms keep up for you!

Motel 6 is super cheap and the accomadations are on par with the price but gets the job done with little impact to the wallet.

As mentioned above stay at HostelX.

Unless you want to visit the temples in SLC and I.F. skip route 15. Take 224 from Provo north to 80 east. At Evanston take 16 N to Alpine and then 26 through the canyon to Jackson. Faster, more scenic and unless it is totally storming, safer.

I stayed at Super 8 in Jackson the other week. It was about 60 bucks a night after taxes etc for 4 of us in a room (around 15 a night).

Don't leave shit in the hallway though... my roomate had the most fucked up smelling boots ever and we made him leave them outside our door. I went to smoke a cig, came back and they were stolen. Funny part was that they got returned to outside our door a few hours later. The asshole who ganked them probably realized that they were absulutely disgusting and not worth it.

Thanks for the info. We're heading out tomorrow am. Got HostelX booked for later next week. Will figure out driving logistics when we start heading north from Moab. Thanks for the highways link. Looking forward to finally getting to ski Jackson Hole and ride in Moab. It'll be a jam packed week.

Staying at the 49er is pretty good too. Breakfast free shuttle to mtn.

This time of year you could also score some cheapo luxury rentals too!

check cyberrentals.com and lowball!! !

I just got back from Jackson Hole. It's absolutely sick out there right now. Untracked powder was everywhere (even inbounds). They just got three feet in the high mountain in three days between 3/13-3/16 + I think they got some more after I left. Do prepare for the some of the most challenging terrain you will ever have seen though. I brought my wife on some of the double blues some of which ski more like blacks anywhere else. (Huge mistake) There is plenty of green and single blues for your girl though. Have fun.

^^^^we got another 24" or so in the last two days^^^^

And looking pretty good for tomorrow (I hope).

It's gonna be good up high, but pretty variable below 8K, IMO.

I dig the antler for the cabinesque rooms

Fuggin' Sweet!! I've been checking the weather and it looks like snow off and on for the next bit. We're rollin' in next Wednesday.

I've already negotiated mornings for myself and hooking up with her in the afternoon. She doens't like to ski by herself but she knows the drill at a place like Jackson Hole. If we end up fighting the 10hrs back to Calgary I think it'll have been worth it. I'm kind of worried that once I get there I won't want to leave.