11 Of The Most Welcoming Towns In Wyoming
Wyoming is often celebrated for its vast skies, open roads, and wild beauty, but beyond the scenic horizons are towns where hospitality is as natural as the mountain air. Across the state, smaller communities nurture a strong sense of belonging through local festivals, heritage celebrations, and gatherings that bring everyone together. Whether it’s a lively summer rodeo, a community chili cook-off, or an art fair where visitors are greeted like old friends, Wyoming’s towns excel at making strangers feel at home.
What makes these places truly special isn’t just their size or scenery, but their commitment to connection. From Jackson to Dubois, events often double as reunions, neighbors volunteering side by side, kids running in parades, visitors chatting with locals over pie contests or folk music. These traditions turn remote places into vibrant centers of celebration and remind anyone passing through that Wyoming’s warmth runs much deeper than the glow of its sunsets.
Jackson
Jackson may be best known for its postcard-perfect setting, but its sense of community is what makes it so welcoming. Each September, the Fall Arts Festival transforms the town into a celebration of creativity, drawing artists and visitors from across the region.
Weekly farmers’ markets, live music at the town square, and events like Old West Days (May) create a rhythm of connection. Locals often volunteer and participate in every aspect, from setting up tents to performing on stage, giving each event a hometown feel despite the global attention Jackson receives.
Sheridan
Sheridan’s vibrant downtown is built around togetherness. The highlight of the year, the Sheridan WYO Rodeo, brings thousands each July for a week of parades, competitions, and community barbecues. Sheridan’s Main Street buzzes throughout the year with film festivals, holiday strolls, and small concerts, all organized by volunteers and local businesses.
Adding to its charm is the Historic Sheridan Inn, once the stomping ground of Buffalo Bill and his legendary Wild West Show. An iconic treasure since 1893, the Inn has reopened its restored doors to overnight guests and diners at the Open Range Bar & Grill. In Sheridan, every visit feels like coming home. Visitors are quick to notice how easy it is to strike up a conversation here, a hallmark of Sheridan’s hospitality.
Saratoga
Saratoga is a tiny town with a friendly spirit that is on full display during the Steinley Cup Microbrew Festival, where local brewers and bands take over Veterans Island Park each August. Residents pour as much pride into organizing the event as the breweries do into their craft. Beyond the festival, Saratoga hosts regular chili cook-offs, craft fairs, and fundraisers that bring locals and visitors together in true Wyoming style. The hot springs, always open to the public, double as a community gathering place, a year-round reminder of their warmth.
Story
Set at the base of the Bighorn Mountains, Story feels like a living postcard of Wyoming hospitality. Its signature event, Story Days, is a weekend celebration of small-town joy featuring a parade, live music, a street market, and games for all ages. Residents prepare months in advance, decorating floats and baking treats for visitors. Between events, locals are known for inviting travelers to enjoy a coffee or conversation at one of the town’s cozy cafés, proof that Story’s name matches its character: full of friendly tales and memorable encounters.
Upton
Upton proudly calls itself “The Best Town on Earth,” and its residents strive to live up to that motto. The Upton Fun Days festival, held each summer, features a parade, community barbecue, and family-friendly games that draw nearly every resident. The Red Onion Museum in Old Town and local craft fairs celebrate Upton’s pioneer roots, often organized by volunteers eager to share their history. Visitors comment on how approachable and welcoming everyone is; it’s hard to be a stranger for too long in Upton.
La Grange
Tiny La Grange proves that even the smallest Wyoming communities can host some of the biggest celebrations. Each summer, the La Grange Mini-Fair brings together residents from across Goshen County for a full day of parades, local food, craft booths, and kids’ rodeo events. The entire town gets involved, church groups organize meals, school clubs host games, and families volunteer to make sure everything runs smoothly. It’s a true community effort that captures the heart of small-town Wyoming. For many, the Mini-Fair is the highlight of summer, a time to slow down, reconnect, and share laughter with neighbors old and new.
Cody
Founded by the legendary showman Buffalo Bill Cody, this town remains one of Wyoming’s most spirited and inviting communities. Each summer, the Cody Stampede Rodeo and Fourth of July Parade fill the streets with music, color, and the unmistakable pride of the Old West, drawing visitors from across the region.
Just 50 miles away, the East Entrance to Yellowstone National Park offers a gateway to some of the country’s most breathtaking landscapes, from Yellowstone Lake and West Thumb Geyser Basin to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. After a day of adventure, visitors return to a town where locals are quick to share stories, recommendations, and that trademark Western warmth. In Cody, hospitality is a way of life.
Green River
Green River’s community spirit flows as steadily as its namesake river. Each summer, residents come together for Flaming Gorge Days, a lively weekend filled with concerts, parades, and family-friendly fun that draws visitors from across southwest Wyoming.
The town also celebrates its outdoor heritage through the River Festival, where locals gather for food, music, and cardboard boat races. From world-class fishing and wildlife watching to river rafting, kayaking, and mountain biking, Green River offers endless ways to enjoy this unique corner of Wyoming. The community blends small-town charm with big adventure, and visitors always feel right at home.
Lander
Known for its laid-back charm and full calendar of community events, Lander welcomes everyone like family. Each July, the Lander Pioneer Days Parade and Rodeo, one of the state’s longest-running Independence Day traditions, fills the streets with excitement, bringing thousands downtown to celebrate.
Throughout the year, community picnics, farmers’ markets, and heritage festivals keep the town’s social spirit alive. Lander is also ranked among the best outdoor towns in America, drawing climbers to Sinks Canyon State Park and Wild Iris, and hikers and anglers to the stunning Wind River Range. After a day of adventure, visitors unwind downtown at local favorites like Gannett Grill or Lander Brewing, where conversation flows as easily as the beer.
Buffalo
Tucked between the rolling plains of the Old West and the towering peaks of the Bighorn Mountains, Buffalo perfectly captures Wyoming’s frontier charm. The town’s lively calendar of community events makes everyone feel like a local, from outdoor concerts and farmers’ markets at Crazy Woman Square to annual celebrations that fill Main Street with energy.
History lives on at the Occidental Hotel, a western landmark once visited by Teddy Roosevelt and Calamity Jane, while local cafes and shops offer a true taste of small-town hospitality. Surrounded by pristine mountain trails and fishing streams, Buffalo invites visitors to slow down, join the fun, and experience the welcoming heart of Wyoming.
Dubois
Dubois is one of the friendliest little towns in Wyoming, with a deep appreciation for community, heritage, and the great outdoors. The Dubois Friday Night Rodeo takes place weekly from July to August, bringing locals and visitors together for classic Western fun.
Beyond the arena, the town is surrounded by opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and some of the best big game hunting in the West. Nearby guest ranches like Rams Horn, Crooked Creek, and Bitterroot Ranch offer authentic experiences with horseback riding, fly fishing, and wildlife viewing. Visitors can also join a Whiskey Mountain tour for a glimpse of petroglyphs and mountain views.
The Heart of Wyoming Hospitality
Across Wyoming’s towns, community is the glue that binds people together, and the invitation always extends far beyond local borders. Whether you’re watching a rodeo in Cody, sipping craft beer in Saratoga, or wandering through an art fair in Lander, the warmth you feel comes from the people who make these places thrive. In Wyoming, a handshake still means something, a smile is never misplaced, and an open door is always waiting to welcome you in.
