10 Offbeat Towns to Visit in Wyoming
Known for its rangelands and high prairies, world-famous national parks such as Yellowstone, and paleontology, Wyoming has no shortage of quaint, offbeat towns boasting their unique geography and cultural heritage proudly. The state is home to the Rockies, the Great Plains, and the Intermontane, offering diverse terrain to explore across this Wild West state, with changing elevations, histories, and atmospheres. From world-renowned fishing stops to annual Blues and beer festivals, there is a locale in Wyoming for every traveler.
Sundance
Located in the valley of the Bear Lodge Mountains, Sundance was founded as a trading post in 1875. The town's population of just over 1,100 people sits at an elevation of 4,750 feet above sea level in the Rockies. The town is home to The Vore Buffalo Jump, a large heritage excavation site home to thousands of preserved buffalo bones and human tools. It is also near numerous natural parks, including the Thunder Basin National Grassland and the Spearfish Canyon (across the border in South Dakota), offering ample options for outdoor entertainment, from hiking to sightseeing, to hiking.
On Tuesdays and Wednesdays during July and August, join the Crook County Museum for their Sip n' Walk, where you will learn about Sundance's notorious histories while sipping on a glass of beer, wine, or lemonade.
Aladdin
A quirky hamlet with a population of only 15 people and 15 buildings, Aladdin, north of Sundance, is a worthwhile stop on your next visit to Wyoming. The best-known building in town, the Aladdin General Store, was built in 1896 as a buying place for fishing, mining, and home gear.
Today, you can sit on the porch eating homemade candy before walking over to Cindy B's Aladdin Cafe for homemade pastries. Nearby the town is the Devil's Tower monument, a geologic oddity with rich cultural importance for many Indigenous groups such as the Arapahoe, Cheyenne, the Crow, the Kiowa, and the Lakota.
Rock Springs
Rock Springs is home to just over 18,000 people and was founded as an outpost town along the Overland Trail. Once the coal mines closed in 1963, the town turned to economic decline without the industry stable to support it. Today, the historic downtown is home to a number of shops, services, entertainment, and dining options, such as the Boars Tusk Steakhouse and the Broadway Theatre Rock Springs. On June 15th, 2024, the town is hosting to annual Sweetwater Blues n' Brews festival, where you can try a new beer while enjoying live music outdoors.
Newcastle
Built upon the intersection of coal and oil, this Wyoming town, south of Sundance and next to the South Dakota border, is an outdoor lover's dream. Newcastle is a great jumping-off point to explore the Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota, along with its many caves, like the Jewel Cave National Monument. Home to 11 biking and hiking trails, 50 miles of groomed snowmobile and cross-country trails, along ample fishing space, Newcastle invites residents and visitors alike to find their space in nature.
Whether you head to the Newcastle Country Club, spend time at the Anna Miller Museum, or drive around exploring the scenic roads throughout and around town, your breath will surely be taken away from this tiny town's beauty.
Worland
Worland, Wyoming, is home to the annual CultureFest in June and the Pepsi Wyoming State BBQ Championship and Bluegrass Festival in mid-August. Both events are celebrated with ample food and culture. CultureFest features many regional artists and vendors, while the Pepsi Wyoming State BBQ Championship and Bluegrass Festival features live music.
The town is close to the Bighorn National Forest, which is home to one of the largest mineral hot springs in the world. Curious tourists will enjoy a visit to the Washakie Cultural Center and Museum, which features exhibits on early mammoth hunters as well as dinosaur remains.
Torrington
A quintessential spot to start your visit to Torrington, the Homesteader's Museum preserves and displays Torrington's and Goshen County's histories as historic homesteaders and early resident communities. If museums are not your speed, consider a visit to the year-round Cottonwood Golf Course, encircled by Wyoming's scenic nature. A short drive away at the Hell Gap National Historic Landmark, you can join history and visit an active archaeological site examining life on the plains roughly 13,000 years ago before visiting the Table Mountain Vineyards back in town for a wine tasting.
Riverton
Known as the Rendezvous City, Riverton sits between the Big and Little Wind Rivers, which has long been a gathering place. It is home to the only trade rendezvous site that remains on the original ground upon which it was built and from which it was operated. Riverton was the true Wild West in its history, with the Army stationed at Fort Washakie being called in at one point.
While in Riverton, consider visiting a nearby Ghost Town such as Atlantic City or spend some time looking at the Petroglyphs in Castle Gardens. The town is home to countless outdoor activities, including rock climbing, snowmobiling, off-road vehicle trails, and the annual hot air balloon festival. Riverton is certainly a memorable spot for any equestrian lover as well, with the Wild Horse Sanctuary and countless places for horseback riding and wild horse spotting.
Green River
The must-stay spot for all those who love fishing, Green River's motto is "Fish It. Float It. Live It." The Green River is home to a bountiful fish game with ample resources for fishers of all levels, from beginners to seasoned fishers. If fishing isn't your speed, there are still ample opportunities to spend a day on the water. From river rafting to kayaking, to swimming, to simply spending a day along the shore, the town is known for its river and the activities that naturally come with it.
The Expedition Island Park features a natural 1,200-foot lazy river for kayaking and inner tube floating. Bringing your own boat? Get on the water at the Buckboard Crossing and start exploring the area on your own terms.
Wheatland
Wheatland is a small Wyoming town with a typical small-town downtown street full of artisanal shops, historic murals, and places to grab a bite to eat. Whether you are looking to try a brew at the Windy Peaks Brewery & Steakhouse or just finding a place to land your head on your way to nearby attractions, Wheatland is a perfect stop for any traveler. Wheatland is close to the Guernsey and Glendo State Parks, which offer ample camping, hiking, and water activity space in the Wyoming wilderness.
The town is also near the Fort Laramie National Historic Site (not far from Torrington), which was the largest military post in the Northern Plains before it was abandoned in 1890. Today, the site offers a well-preserved walk to the past American expansion Westward and Indigenous resistance to their encroachment.
Thermopolis
South of Worland, Thermopolis is the ideal place to relax in Wyoming with its famous mineral hot springs and vibrant downtown. The first national park in Wyoming, the Big Horn Hot Springs State Reserve is home to free, world-famous minerals hot springs with a constant temperature of 128 degrees Fahrenheit. The park also maintains a free public bathhouse onsite, with water temperatures maintained at 104 degrees Fahrenheit. While in town, be sure to visit the One Eyed Buffalo Brewing as well as the nearby Wyoming Whiskey Shop to savor a proper taste of Thermopolis.
Whether you are looking to stand in the middle of an old Western or you are looking for a spa-like getaway by visiting a world-renowned hot spring, you will be sure to find the ideal getaway with a scenic drive through Wyoming. You can spend your weekend looking through the records of old bandits, walking through old ghost towns, or exploring paleontological digs before spending a fun night on the town or a quiet one in the backcountry.
