8 Best Attractions To Visit In Wyoming
Wyoming is a state unlike many others in America. It offers visitors and residents a true sample of the best America offers: a wide range of natural, historical, and cultural attractions that appeal to outdoors enthusiasts, history students, and museum lovers alike. The state features some of the oldest and most influential protected sites in the United States, along with smaller but enriching destinations that tell the exciting story of the American West. There’s no shortage of things to do, places to see, and experiences to be had when visiting ‘The Equality State.’ Still, it’s best to start with what the state does best: gorgeous outdoor parks that celebrate the abundance of nature and cultural centers and monuments that harken back to the state’s rich history.
Below are eight attractions that consistently draw visitors for their scenic, scientific, and cultural importance. Each section highlights what to see, how the site matters, and where to find more practical information.
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is the world’s first national park and the inspiration for Jellystone Park, the fictitious home of Yogi Bear. Among other interesting facts, visitors can witness geothermal features that are unique in scale and variety. The park contains a concentration of hot springs, mud pots, fumaroles, and more than 500 active geysers, including the famed Old Faithful, which can be watched from the dedicated Old Faithful viewing area or from some of the boardwalks that are peppered around the geyser and throughout the Upper Geyser Basin.
While in Yellowstone, it’s also worth visiting Grand Prismatic Spring, the park’s largest hot spring. It measures around 300 feet in diameter and more than 120 feet deep. With limited parking, arriving when the spring opens at 10 a.m. is a good idea to ensure a spot.
Wildlife viewing opportunities in areas such as Lamar Valley, along the Lamar River, allow visitors to observe bison, elk, and, occasionally, wolves and grizzly bears in their natural habitat. The Lamar Canyon wolf packs are among the most famous residents, with wolf enthusiasts from around the world congregating to see the impressive animals in their natural habitat. The National Park Service (NPS) manages visitor services, safety guidance, and interpretive programs, and park roads and facilities are open seasonally depending on weather conditions. With over two million acres to explore, it is perfect for a long weekend of exploration in Wyoming.
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park showcases a dramatic mountain skyline dominated by the Teton Range, and it is a center for mountaineering, hiking, and scenic photography. The park’s lakes and rivers, including Jackson Lake and the Snake River, provide canoeing and fishing opportunities, while an extensive trail network invites day hikes and multi-day backpacking trips. When the weather is nicer in summer and fall, the dedicated parking areas can fill up quite quickly. If you plan a hike on the more popular trails at Jenny Lake, String and Leigh Lakes, Lupine Meadows, Death Canyon, and Granite Canyon, be prepared by planning an alternate hike. The Garnet Canyon Trail is a favorite, spanning 8.4 miles and climbing 2,650 feet into the Middle Teton.
Grand Teton has a long mountaineering history and features well-established visitor centers and lodging near Moose and Jenny Lake. The park is operated by the NPS, which maintains trails, roads, and safety information. If you’re interested in the full range of services and ranger programs offered during the busiest of months, then make sure you’re there between May and September to get the total experience.
Devils Tower National Monument
The monolithic columns of. Devils Tower rises prominently above the surrounding prairie, and the formation holds profound cultural and spiritual significance for many Northern Plains Indians and indigenous people. This significance is recognized throughout much of the area and in trails like the 1.3-mile Tower Trail, where visitors can see Native American prayer clothes attached to trees that represent the spiritual connection many tribes have with the Tower. President Theodore Roosevelt designated the site as the first U.S. national monument in 1906, and the NPS now oversees interpretive exhibits, trail access, and cultural information.
Hikers can walk the loop trail at the monument base, and experienced climbers may seek approved routes up the columnar rock faces, following seasonal climbing regulations that respect traditional ceremonies. Those interested in camping should visit the Belle Fourche River Campground, which offers 45 sites, the majority of which have room for RVs. However, note that it is a first-come, first-served site and does not accept reservations. The campground operates during the spring, summer, and early fall seasons.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is a multi-museum complex in Cody, Wyoming that examines the history, art, and culture of the American West. Housing the Buffalo Bill Museum, Plains Indian Museum, Cody Firearms Museum, Draper Natural History Museum, and Whitney Western Art Museum, the Center allows visitors to explore crosscutting themes in one location. The exhibits visitors will find combine archival material, original objects, and interpretive programming, and the Center functions as a Smithsonian affiliate and research resource. Tickets for the museum are also suitable for two consecutive days of admission, allowing for a return visit that ensures a full and complete experience of the Center.
Cody’s proximity to Yellowstone makes the museum a practical stop for travelers who want historical context after visiting natural sites. The Center’s hours change based on the time of year, so be sure to check the hours on their official website before visiting.
Fort Laramie National Historic Site
Fort Laramie played a central role in the 19th-century westward expansion era. It’s this significance that makes it an important stop for visitors looking to explore restored buildings and museum exhibits that document the fur trade, treaty negotiations, and aspects of America’s military history. The site began as a private trading post in 1834, and it later served as a major Army post and diplomatic location on the Northern Plains. Today, the NPS preserves structural remains, interpretive signage, and educational programming that explains how the fort connected routes such as the Oregon Trail and the Bozeman Trail. Many of the resources available provide historical interpretation that addresses interactions among traders, settlers, and the region’s Indigenous nations.
Fort Laramie is open from sunrise to sunset every day of the year, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Admission is also free, making it ideal for budget-minded travelers.
Fossil Butte National Monument
Fossil Butte National Monument protects an exceptional array of Eocene fossils from Fossil Lake, covering approximately 8,200 acres of high desert plateau in southwestern Wyoming. Exposed layers of the Green River Formation preserve organisms from about 50 million years ago, including more than 20 species of fish, plants, insects, crocodiles, turtles, birds, and early mammals. Some fossil slabs measure several feet across, and many specimens retain remarkable detail, from scales to leaf veins.
The NPS visitor center displays hundreds of fossils, including a 13-foot crocodile and entire schools of fish frozen in time. Outside, the 2.5-mile Historic Quarry Trail passes former commercial quarries, while the 1.5-mile Nature Trail introduces the site’s geology and wildlife. Fossil-bearing rock layers here can reach up to 2,000 feet thick, and scientists continue to study them for insights into ancient ecosystems and climate. The NPS manages exhibits, fossil preparation demonstrations, and ranger programs, while nearby Kemmerer provides services for visitors. The monument is open from sunrise to sunset year-round, making it a rewarding stop in any season, especially when paired with other year-round sites such as Fort Laramie.
Hot Springs State Park, Thermopolis
Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis covers around 1,100 acres and features terraces formed by mineral-rich water that flows at a constant 128°F (53°C). The state park maintains a free bathhouse with indoor and outdoor pools regulated at a comfortable 104°F (40°C), making it one of the most accessible hot spring experiences in the region.
A suspension footbridge known as the “Swinging Bridge” spans the Bighorn River, offering excellent views of the terraces and surrounding cliffs. Visitors can also see the park’s managed bison herd, typically numbering around 15 animals, which are fed in the mornings during the fall and winter months. The park has 6.2 miles of trails, picnic shelters, and educational displays that explain the thermal processes and history of local Indigenous use. Additional facilities include fishing access points, boating opportunities, playgrounds, and sports courts, making the site an all-day destination.
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area spans 120,000 acres across northern Wyoming and southern Montana, centered on the 71-mile-long Bighorn Lake formed by Yellowtail Dam. The canyon walls rise more than 1,000 feet, offering dramatic vistas from overlooks like Devil’s Canyon Overlook. The area protects a mix of desert, canyon, and wetland habitats that support over 200 bird species and large mammals such as bighorn sheep, mule deer, and wild horses.
The Cal Taggart Visitor Center in Lovell, Wyoming, serves as a starting point with exhibits and ranger guidance. Popular activities include boating, kayaking, and fishing for walleye, trout, and bass in Bighorn Lake. On land, more than 15 miles of hiking trails offer access to both canyon rim and desert environments. Historic ranches like the Mason-Lovell Ranch, Ewing-Snell Ranch, and Caroline Lockhart Ranch are preserved within the area, providing a glimpse into frontier life and ranching history. Scenic drives connect many of the overlooks and trailheads, making the recreation area accessible for both casual sightseers and more adventurous visitors.
Best Places To Visit In Wyoming
If you’re looking for a fast-paced time in a bustling metropolis, you’d be better suited to pay a visit to parts of New York or California. Wyoming rewards those who value the splendor of nature and the richness of American history, and patient travel with sites that range from steaming hydrothermal basins to monolithic rock towers, active research monuments, and living cultural museums. Whether one plans a single-park adventure or an itinerary that links cultural museums with field geology, official park and state pages supply up-to-date conditions so there’s no question of what’s open and what’s not.
