Do you dream of eating house-smoked BBQ in a tepee with views of the Grand Tetons?

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Dornan's Chuckwagon is the best place to eat in Grand Teton National Park — Enjoy a house-smoked BBQ pork sandwich in the Dornan’s Chuckwagon tepee.

If there's one thing you should know about me, it's that I'm highly food-motivated. Just ask my husband.

So, when we detoured from Yellowstone's West Thumb into Grand Teton National Park for a day, one of my first and most urgent questions was, "Where are we going to eat?" Grand Teton National Park has, it turns out, a number of lovely dining options, but a girl can only eat in so many National Park Lodges in a 10-day period.

Fortunately, an experienced local recognized that "hangry wife" vibe and pointed us in the direction of Dornan's Chuckwagon. The campy little restaurant is such a delight, it needs to be on your must-see itinerary for your next trip to Grand Teton National Park. Here's why Dornan's Chuckwagon is the best place to eat in Grand Teton National Park:

You can eat in a giant tepee.

You read that correctly. The giant, towering tepee at Dornan's restaurant is not just a decorative element or brilliantly placed marketing; it's full of wooden picnic tables. It is the out-West dining experience of your childhood dreams.

Dornan's has been serving visitors since 1948.

Dornan's has been a mainstay for hungry travelers since 1948, making it an iconic local eatery with historic roots. They know how to do it right because they've been doing it for generations.

They house-smoke their pork every day.

Hailing from South Carolina, we take pulled pork seriously. Dornan's Chuckwagon smokes and seasons their pulled pork and brisket daily, resulting in delicious bbq and sandwiches that passed the picky husband test. The dill coleslaw is equally delicious; pile some on your sandwich!

The beer list offers tasty local brews.

Drinking local is more than a catchphrase; it's about supporting local business owners and your community. The Chuckwagon offers a curated beer list that includes locally brewed cider and beer. Logan loved the Jenny Lake Lager after a long, hot day hiking.

They also serve sloshies.

What's a sloshy, you ask. A sloshy is a frozen adult beverage (which you can also enjoy in the tepee). While we couldn't try one on account of our long drive home, I can't imagine anything more delicious after a long day of outdoor activity in the scorching Wyoming summer. And, if you have one sloshy too many, remember that Dornan's also offers limited lodging options!

Dornan's Chuckwagon is inside the boundaries of the Grand Teton National Park.

A trip to Yellowstone or the Grand Teton National Park is the trip of a lifetime, so you're unlikely to want to spend hours of your precious trip time driving to and from gourmet eateries that are a cut above the standard National Park lodge fare. Fortunately, Dornan's Chuckwagon is conveniently located inside the boundaries of the Grand Teton National Park (just minutes away from Mormon Row, actually), so you can have your pulled pork and eat it, too! We loved that the Chuckwagon offers tasty eats and a ready jumping-off point for your next adventure.

The Chuckwagon offers stunning views of the Grand Tetons.

There is nothing like lunch with a sweeping view of the Grand Tetons, whether it's from a tepee or the covered patio area. Trust me, everything tastes better when you're staring at one of America's most beautiful National Parks.

They have lawn games.

Enjoy a leisurely game of cornhole or oversized Connect Four after lunch. The array of lawn games is set against the sweeping views of the mountains, making Dornan's the perfect place to relax and unwind during your vacation.

Dornan's also offers adventure sports.

I mentioned that the Chuckwagon is a well-placed waterhole for your next adventure, but did you know they also offer sports equipment rentals on-site? Dornan's has equipped visitors with bikes, kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards for 25 years.

You can gas up and stock up for your camping or hiking adventure.

The Trading Post, located across from the Chuckwagon, has everything you forgot to pack for your upcoming camping excursion. Fill up your tank, grab a wheel of fine cheese, and score some fresh produce at this convenience store.