7 Most Walkable Town Centers In Wyoming

Get your daily steps in exploring Wyoming's walkable town centers. Cody offers a stroll along Sheridan Avenue, where visitors can browse Western shops and stop at the historic Irma Hotel for a meal. In Jackson, wooden sidewalks pass the Elk Antler Arch and the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. Thermopolis invites walkers to discover local history at the Hot Springs County Museum before heading into Hot Springs State Park to see its mineral terraces. These welcoming communities prove that some of Wyoming's top towns are best discovered one step at a time.

Jackson

Jackson is steeped in Old West character and still features wooden sidewalks, creating both the look and sound of a classic cowboy town. Begin at Jackson's Elk Antler Arch in Town Square, one of the community's most recognizable landmarks and a favorite photo stop for visitors. Cross the street and head north on Cache Street to the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, where guests can sit on genuine saddle barstools and enjoy a pour of Wyoming Whiskey while taking in the lively atmosphere of one of the West's longstanding watering holes. If distinctive jewelry inspired by the surrounding landscape is of interest, return to West Broadway and visit Jackson Hole Jewelry, where custom designs reflect the beauty of the Teton Range and showcase a collection of diamonds and fine gemstones.

Cody

You don't have to wear a Stetson cowboy hat and pull on a pair of handmade leather boots to walk down Sheridan Avenue in Cody, but if you do, you'll feel right at home in this frontier town founded by Buffalo Bill Cody in 1896. Be sure to step into the historic Irma Hotel for a bite to eat before setting off to explore the surrounding stores along Sheridan Avenue. Right next door, Ferris Jewelry features fine Western jewelry and turquoise pieces, while the Cowboy Custom Shop is a few doors down with custom-fitted cowboy hats and handcrafted leather goods. The Wyoming Buffalo Company is also on the same block and known for its buffalo jerky and Wyoming-made gifts.

Thermopolis

Park your car on Broadway Street and North 5th and walk into the Black Bear Café for a cup of their home-brewed coffee and consider your next steps. Now that you've had some sustenance, walk west and treat yourself to a tour of Hot Springs County Museum & Cultural Center, where exhibits explore the region's Native American heritage, pioneer settlement, ranching traditions, and the geological forces that created Thermopolis's famous hot springs.

From the museum, continue northwest toward Hot Springs State Park, where walking paths lead past steaming mineral terraces and the colorful travertine formations created by the park's famous thermal waters. Be sure to cross the park's suspension footbridge over the Bighorn River for wide views of the springs, river, and surrounding landscape, and keep an eye out for the resident bison herd that grazes within the park.

Dubois

Dubois is the real deal. A cowboy town with a great length of sidewalk to amble, the Cowboy Café is a popular spot and a convenient place to fuel the rest of your day exploring Dubois on foot. The café sits on East Rams Horn Street, the main drag. Next door, you'll find Water Wheel Gifts & Books, which features regional history titles and locally crafted gifts. Continue west along Rams Horn Street to the National Bighorn Sheep Center, whose exhibits highlight the remarkable annual migration of the Whiskey Mountain bighorn sheep herd and the rugged landscape they call home. From there, make your way to the Dubois Museum, where displays on Native American culture, mountain men, and early ranching history provide a deeper understanding of the Wind River Valley and the people who shaped it.

Laramie

Laramie is a decent size, but at heart, it is a small town and great for walking. At 7,200 feet above sea level, the Historic Downtown will take your breath away in more ways than one. Start on South Second Street where it meets East Grand Street and head north, passing antique shops and boutiques like Rasmussen Jewelers, which specializes in custom pieces and expert repairs. Continue a few blocks to the Laramie Plains Museum, housed in the historic Ivinson Mansion, where exhibits explore the city's railroad heritage, frontier history, and Victorian-era architecture. To rest and reset, grab a slice of hand-tossed pizza and maybe a margarita while you're at it at The Crowbar and Grill, then stroll through the University of Wyoming campus to admire its sandstone buildings and public art before making your way back downtown.

Rawlins

Originally a Union Pacific Railroad town, Rawlins has a very walkable town center, primarily along West Spruce Street, where you'll have to stop at the Hole in the Wall pub, a longtime local gathering place known for its Old West atmosphere, but not until you visit Baked & Loaded next door for the best potatoes of your life. And just when you think you can't indulge any more, keep heading down West Spruce and treat yourself to a cup of joe at Mukwano Coffee Roasters before turning south and making your way to Windswept Goods on West Cedar Street, another commercial corridor. This locally owned shop offers Wyoming-made gifts, home décor, and unique souvenirs, making it an ideal place to pick up something special for the folks back home.

Sheridan

With Sheridan's famous waterway, Big Goose Creek, winding its way through the center of town, it's a particularly scenic area to explore on foot. Start with lunch or Sunday brunch at Frackelton's on North Main Street, a downtown favorite known for its elevated American fare and historic setting inside one of Sheridan's beautifully restored early twentieth-century buildings. Afterward, continue your stroll to Grinnell Plaza, a welcoming public square that sits between Sheridan City Hall and the landmark Sheridan Inn, the historic hotel where Buffalo Bill Cody once auditioned performers for his Wild West Show. Just steps away, The Museum at the Bighorns offers an engaging introduction to the history and culture of Sheridan County and the wider Bighorn region through exhibits featuring local ranching traditions, community stories, historic photographs, and rotating displays.

Putting Wyoming Boots To Good Use

At a time when so many of us consider a good walk being the one we take to our cars, these Wyoming town centers remind us that taking time out to meander down a block, perhaps checking out a local gift shop or stopping for a steaming cup of coffee in a small café, is one of life's pleasures that should not be missed. So turn off the engine and put those cowboy boots to good use.