Things to Do in Wyoming
Ten stops running from a mountain range with no foothills at all, rising straight up from the valley floor, to a rock formation so distinctive it became the country's first national monument.
Wyoming runs a proper depth beyond what the quiz already covers, this list heads toward jagged mountains with no foothills, a properly significant rock formation designated the country's very first national monument, and a rodeo tradition the state takes seriously enough to call the whole event the Daddy of 'em All. Ten stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site if you fancy testing what stuck.
Grand Teton National Park
One of the most dramatic mountain ranges in the country, the Teton Range rises directly from the valley floor with no foothills at all, a properly rare geological feature that makes the peaks appear considerably taller and more abrupt than their actual elevation suggests. Jenny Lake, at the base of the range, offers some of the most photographed reflections of the peaks anywhere in the park, particularly striking at sunrise when the water sits calm.
This park sits right next to Yellowstone, a good combination if you're making the trip, though Grand Teton's compact scale means it works well as a shorter add-on rather than needing a separate multi-day visit.
Best time June-September for full trail access; sunrise for the best lake reflections
Address Grand Teton National Park, WY
Devils Tower National Monument
A distinctive rock formation rising 867 feet from the surrounding plains, designated the country's first national monument by Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, its striking columnar structure formed by cooling volcanic rock. Several Native American tribes consider the site sacred, and voluntary climbing restrictions are observed each June out of respect for tribal ceremonies held during that month.
Rock climbing runs popular here for those with the right experience, over 200 established climbing routes cover the formation's columns, respect the voluntary June restriction if you're planning a climbing trip specifically.
Best time Late spring through early autumn
Address Devils Tower National Monument, WY
Jackson Hole
The main gateway town to both Grand Teton and Yellowstone, Jackson Hole holds a proper Western character despite its considerable wealth and tourism, elk antler arches mark the corners of the town square, harvested from naturally shed antlers collected each spring by local Boy Scouts. The National Elk Refuge, just outside town, protects one of the largest elk herds in the country, winter sleigh rides run directly among the animals when conditions allow.
This works well as a proper base for exploring both national parks, allow extra time in the town itself given the properly good restaurant and gallery scene beyond just the parks.
Best time Summer for parks access; December-February for the elk sleigh rides
Address Jackson Hole, WY
Cheyenne Frontier Days
One of the largest outdoor rodeo and Western celebrations in the world, running continuously since 1897, ten days each July featuring rodeo competitions, a real Native American village, and concerts that have drawn major touring acts for decades. This runs as a properly significant cultural event for the state, time a Wyoming trip around it if rodeo and Western heritage particularly interest you.
Book accommodation well ahead if attending, this draws serious crowds to a city that doesn't otherwise see this scale of visitor traffic during the rest of the year.
Best time Late July, ten-day event
Address Cheyenne Frontier Days, Cheyenne, WY
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
A reservoir on the Green River, straddling the Wyoming-Utah border, named for the striking red rock formations along its shores, considerably less crowded than the more famous canyon country further south. Boating and fishing both run well here, the deep, cold reservoir water supports a properly significant trout fishery that draws serious anglers specifically.
This runs as one of the more underappreciated stops on this whole list, a good detour if you're passing through southern Wyoming and want a properly dramatic landscape away from the busier northern parks.
Best time June-September for boating and fishing
Address Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, WY/UT border
National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson
A properly substantial art museum dedicated entirely to wildlife-themed work, holding real pieces by significant American artists including Georgia O'Keeffe and Andy Warhol, alongside a considerable collection of more traditional wildlife painting and sculpture. The building itself, built into a hillside overlooking the National Elk Refuge, offers sweeping views that tie directly back into the museum's wildlife theme.
This runs well as a proper couple of hours, a good combination with a wider Jackson Hole visit given how close the museum sits to the town centre and elk refuge.
Hours Daily, roughly 9am-5pm, hours vary seasonally
Address 2820 Rungius Rd, Jackson, WY
Hot Springs State Park, Thermopolis
Home to the largest mineral hot spring in the world, flowing at a steady 127 degrees Fahrenheit, part of the spring is diverted into a free public bathhouse where visitors can soak, a properly unusual example of a natural hot spring kept free and accessible to the public by treaty agreement with the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes. A swinging bridge over the Bighorn River and a small bison herd within the park round out a proper, varied visit beyond just the springs themselves.
This runs well year-round, a winter visit pays off specifically if you want to experience the steaming hot water against a snowy backdrop.
Hours Bathhouse daily, roughly 8am-5.30pm
Address 220 Park St, Thermopolis, WY
Fossil Butte National Monument
Protects one of the richest and best-preserved fossil fish deposits anywhere in the world, roughly 52 million years old, the fossils here are exceptional enough that fine details like individual scales and stomach contents remain visible. The visitor centre displays a real, substantial collection of these fossils, and ranger-led programmes occasionally let visitors watch actual excavation work during the main season.
This runs as one of the quieter, less-visited stops on this whole list, a good one specifically if paleontology interests you beyond the more famous dinosaur sites elsewhere in the country.
Hours Daily, roughly 8am-4.30pm, hours vary seasonally
Address Fossil Butte National Monument, Kemmerer, WY
Wyoming's Wild Mustangs
Wyoming holds several of the largest wild mustang herds in the country, protected under a 1971 federal law after public advocacy campaigns highlighted their declining numbers nationally. The Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, near the Montana border, remains one of the most accessible places to spot them, several bands roam visibly along the range's scenic drive.
Keep a proper, respectful distance if you spot a herd, these remain properly wild animals despite how approachable they can sometimes appear from a distance.
Address Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, WY/MT border
Wyoming's Chuckwagon Dinners
A chuckwagon dinner recreates the traditional meal cowboys ate on the open range, beef, beans, and biscuits cooked over an open fire, often paired with live Western music and storytelling at ranches throughout the state. Several dude ranches run these as a regular guest activity, a proper, hands-on way to experience the state's ranching heritage beyond just a standard restaurant meal.
This works particularly well for families, the outdoor setting and live music hold attention considerably longer than a standard indoor dinner would for younger visitors.
Address Dude ranches statewide
Best time to visit Wyoming
June through September covers the most comfortable window for the majority of this list, mountain roads and trails all run at their fullest access during these months.
Late July specifically suits Cheyenne Frontier Days, plan well ahead if that's the priority for your trip.
Getting around Wyoming
A car is essential, the distances between Jackson Hole, the national parks, and eastern Wyoming run into several hours each, this is a state best covered with your own transport.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Wyoming worth visiting beyond Yellowstone?
- Yes, easily, Grand Teton, Devils Tower, and Cheyenne Frontier Days all offer landscapes and culture considerably different from Yellowstone's geothermal features alone.
- How many days do you need in Wyoming?
- Seven days gives a comfortable pace to cover Grand Teton, Jackson Hole, and either Devils Tower or the eastern part of the state.
- Is Wyoming expensive to visit?
- Moderate, national park entry stays affordable, most of the cost on this list shows up in Jackson Hole accommodation specifically, one of the pricier towns in the state.
- What's the best Wyoming trip for kids?
- The National Elk Refuge sleigh rides and a chuckwagon dinner both rank as the most reliably kid-friendly stops on this list.
That's ten decent slices of a state that runs considerably deeper than Yellowstone alone.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
