3 Amazing Mountain Towns To See Fireworks For Fourth of July

Growing up in Chicago, we would take public transit and head down to the Loop to watch the fireworks display. It was almost like a rite of passage as a teenager. A few years ago, we had the opportunity to check out Lake Tahoe’s festivities, and I have to admit… riding your bike to the lake with the mountains as a silhouette was a marvelous way to celebrate the 4^th. It got us thinking. “What other amazing mountain towns are the best places to be on July 4th without the massive metropolitan crowds like New York or Boston?”

Best Ski Towns For 4th of July Fireworks

Lake Tahoe, California

We HAVE to start with our homebase. If you haven’t visited, you should! The crystal-clear waters of Lake Tahoe plus the Sierra Nevada will be the most visually arresting display in the country. But, be forewarned! Over 125,000 visitors check out this display so you need to plan ahead. Make it a day on the beach. Get your spot early and bring enough supplies to stay all day. And please practice Pack It In, Pack It Out. Don’t forget to check out our Lake Tahoe Guide for local spots to eat and drink plus much more!

Where to watch: Fireworks are visible from each town around the lake but the biggest event is in South Lake Tahoe which kicks off at 9:45 pm. Some popular hang-outs are Nevada Beach, Chimney Beach, and Commons Beach. The adventurous can even watch from the summit of Mount Tallac but nothing beats being out on the water for the show. Book a spot aboard one of the many boating outfits such as the M.S. Dixie II, Tahoe Amore, or go in style on a classic boat with Alpenglow Boat Company.

Vail, Colorado

For more info on the 4th of July celebrations in Vail

Vail is home to not one but MULTIPLE displays of fireworks. The biggest in the region is right next door to Vail in the town of Avon, Colorado on Wednesday July 3rd – the gateway to Beaver Creek Resort. In fact, they’re famous for the show they put on over Notthingham Lake. With over 10,000 shells set to blast to the heavens, you won’t go home disappointed. Come early and throw your blanket down in Harry A. Nottingham Park. You’ll enjoy food vendors, a beer garden, and family-fun all starting at 5:00 p.m. and ending at 10 p.m. Don’t stay up too late though! The next day in Vail is the region’s largest parade starting at 10 a.m. followed by Vail’s fireworks display in the evening.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

For more info about Jackson Hole’s 4th of July Celebration

The first sign you’ll see driving into town reads “Howdy Stranger yonder is Jackson Hole the last of the Old West.” With the Grand Teton Range looming in the distance and access to not just one but multiple national parks including the Elk Refuge, you can quickly get away from the crowds if you want to. For the Fourth of July, this place does its best to live up to its moniker of being the last of the Old West with the following:

Town Square Shootout – Watch a lively reenactment of frontier justice at the Jackson Town Square. This show is the longest, continuously running shootout show in the country!

Jackson Hole Rodeo – The rodeo is regularly held each Wednesday and Saturday during the summer season at the Teton County Fairgrounds. The 4^th of July Rodeo is a fine western tradition and a wonderful way to spend an evening as the sun sets over the Teton Range.

They finish it off right with a fireworks display in not just one location but TWO: The base of Snow King Mountain in the Town of Jackson and at the base of the Tetons in Teton Village.

In the end, we hope you have an amazing Fourth of July. If you’re looking for a few more ideas, check out our post Cool Off With Summer Fun to combine it with an assortment of exciting activities like disc golf or river surfing. Happy festivities!