10 Best Places to Visit in Wyoming That Will Make You Fall in Love With the Wild West

Wyoming is one of those places that stops you cold, literally and figuratively. Whether you're watching Old Faithful send a column of steam into a blue sky or standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone with your jaw somewhere near your hiking boots, this state delivers the kind of scenery that makes you want to cancel your return flight. Here are the ten best places to visit in Wyoming, whether you have a weekend or a full two weeks to explore.

Yellowstone National Park

No list of Wyoming destinations starts anywhere else. Yellowstone is the world's first national park, established in 1872, and it still earns that legendary status every single day. The geothermal activity here is unlike anything else in North America, with more than 10,000 hydrothermal features including the famous Old Faithful geyser, the electric blue Grand Prismatic Spring, and the bubbling mud pots near Fountain Paint Pot. Beyond the geysers, Yellowstone is home to bison herds that wander right across the road, wolves, grizzly bears, and elk. Give yourself at least three days here. One is not enough.

Grand Teton National Park

Just south of Yellowstone and often paired with it on road trips, Grand Teton punches well above its size. The Teton Range rises so abruptly from the valley floor that it looks almost unreal, like someone painted mountains onto a flat horizon. Jenny Lake is the most popular spot, and for good reason. The short hike to Hidden Falls is accessible to most fitness levels, while more ambitious hikers can continue up to Inspiration Point for a full panoramic view of the range. Snake River float trips are another fantastic way to see the park.

Jackson Hole

The town of Jackson sits at the southern gateway to Grand Teton National Park and has a personality all its own. In winter, it's a world-class ski destination with over 4,000 feet of vertical drop at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. In summer, the same mountains draw hikers, mountain bikers, and whitewater enthusiasts. The town square is charming and walkable, with the famous elk antler arches at each corner. Restaurants here are genuinely good, with local game and regional ingredients showing up on menus throughout town.

Cody

Founded by Buffalo Bill Cody himself in 1896, this small city on the eastern edge of Wyoming leans into its Wild West roots without feeling like a theme park. The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is one of the best museum complexes in the American West, with five separate museums covering Plains Indian culture, natural history, firearms, and Western art. Every summer night from June through August, Cody also hosts the Cody Nite Rodeo, which is exactly as fun as it sounds and a great experience for families.

Devils Tower National Monument

In the northeastern corner of Wyoming, a flat-topped column of igneous rock rises 867 feet above the surrounding landscape. Devils Tower is impossible to look away from. It was the first national monument in the United States, designated by Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, and it holds deep spiritual significance for more than 20 Native American tribes. You can hike the 1.3-mile Tower Trail loop around its base, watch rock climbers scale the vertical columns, or sit and stare at one of the most distinctive geological formations on Earth.

Laramie

Laramie often gets skipped on Wyoming itineraries, which means visitors miss a genuinely likeable small city with a lively downtown and the University of Wyoming anchoring its cultural life. The Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site is worth a stop, as is the University of Wyoming Geological Museum, which has a surprisingly excellent collection of dinosaur fossils. The Snowy Range just west of town offers skiing in winter and wildflower-covered meadows in summer.

Thermopolis

Thermopolis is home to Hot Springs State Park, which contains the largest mineral hot springs in the world by volume. The state bath house offers free soaks to visitors, which is a remarkable deal. The surrounding area also has Wyoming Dinosaur Center, a working dig site where visitors can sometimes participate in actual fossil excavations. It's one of those off-the-beaten-path stops that ends up being a trip highlight.

Shoshone National Forest

The oldest national forest in the United States stretches across nearly 2.5 million acres between Yellowstone and Cody. It's a backcountry paradise with opportunities for horseback riding, fishing on the North Fork of the Shoshone River, and backpacking routes that see a fraction of the crowds found in the national parks. The Beartooth Highway cuts through the northern section and is routinely named one of the most scenic drives in America.

Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area

Shared with Utah, Flaming Gorge sits in Wyoming's southwestern corner and rewards visitors with striking red canyon scenery, a massive reservoir, and world-class fishing. Brown and rainbow trout are pulled from these waters regularly. Houseboating, kayaking, and hiking along the canyon rim are all popular ways to spend time here. It's considerably less crowded than the national parks and makes a great addition to a broader Wyoming itinerary.

Fossil Butte National Monument

Near Kemmerer in western Wyoming, Fossil Butte preserves one of the richest deposits of freshwater fish fossils in the world. Fifty million years ago this area was a subtropical lake, and the evidence is embedded in the limestone throughout the monument. The visitor center has an excellent collection of specimens, and there are short hiking trails through the eerily quiet badlands landscape. It's a small, quiet monument that paleontology fans will love.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to visit Wyoming? Summer, from June through August, is peak season for national parks and outdoor activities. Fall brings golden aspens and fewer crowds, making September and October a favorite for experienced travelers. Winter is excellent for skiing around Jackson Hole but closes many park roads.

Do I need a National Parks pass for Wyoming? If you're visiting both Yellowstone and Grand Teton, the America the Beautiful Annual Pass at $80 pays for itself immediately since each park charges $35 per vehicle. The pass covers all national parks and federal recreation lands for a full year.

How long should I plan for a Wyoming road trip? A solid Wyoming road trip covering Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Jackson Hole, and one or two additional stops takes about 10 to 14 days. A shorter five-day trip focusing only on the two national parks is also very doable and satisfying.

Is Wyoming safe for solo travelers? Wyoming is generally very safe for solo travelers. The main considerations are weather changes that can happen fast at altitude and wildlife safety in the national parks. Always carry bear spray in backcountry areas, let someone know your hiking plans, and check weather forecasts before heading out on any trail.