8 Of The Most Underrated Towns In Wyoming

Wyoming is famous for Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons, but the state offers much more than just these big attractions. Many travelers overlook the quiet communities that truly embody the spirit of the West. This 2025 list of the most underrated towns in Wyoming highlights the best places to visit away from the crowds. From historic main streets to wide-open wilderness, these eight destinations offer a chance to explore the state's rugged beauty and rich history on a personal level.

Douglas

Douglas holds the unique title of "Home of the Jackalope," a legend that originated here in a local taxidermy shop in the 1930s. This quirky heritage anchors Jackalope Square, a downtown plaza featuring a large statue of the mythical horned rabbit. The town also protects its industrial origins at the Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center, where visitors can climb aboard a retired steam locomotive and historic railcars parked permanently in the city center.

On the grounds of the Wyoming State Fair, the Wyoming Pioneer Memorial Museum displays an immense collection of frontier artifacts, from Native American beadwork to original wagons. A short drive away, opened seasonally is Ayres Natural Bridge Park, which features a rare rock arch spanning LaPrele Creek. This geological oddity allows water to flow directly through a sandstone wall, offering a scenic spot that remains largely quiet outside of the local population.

Jackson

While known for luxury and skiing, Jackson works hard to preserve its cowboy roots. The Jackson Town Square is the most famous landmark, defined by four giant arches made from thousands of shed elk antlers. Right next door, the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar takes visitors back in time. Since 1937, it has served drinks to patrons sitting on real saddles, surrounded by western memorabilia and unique knobbed pine woodwork.

For a quieter experience, the National Elk Refuge sits just north of town. Established in 1912, it protects a massive herd of elk that come down from the mountains in winter. Sleigh rides allow guests to get remarkably close to the animals. Nearby, the National Museum of Wildlife Art is built into a rocky hillside, appearing to be part of the landscape itself. Inside, it holds a world-class collection of art, focused entirely on wild animals, which connects the rugged outdoors with fine culture.

Cody

Cody distinguishes itself as the "Rodeo Capital of the World." This is not just a slogan; the town hosts the Cody Nite Rodeo, the longest-running nightly rodeo in the country. Every evening from June to August, Stampede Park fills with dust and cheers as cowboys compete in bronc riding and roping, providing a gritty, authentic look at western sports that few other places can match.

Beyond the arena, the town showcases massive engineering feats at the Buffalo Bill Dam. Located just west of town, this concrete arch structure was the tallest dam in the world when completed in 1910. Visitors can walk across the top for dizzying views of the Shoshone River canyon below. Back in the city center, the Irma Hotel anchors the streets. Built by Buffalo Bill himself, the building still hosts nightly gunfight reenactments in the street, keeping the lawless atmosphere of the frontier era visible to the public.

Sundance

Sundance sits in the shadow of the Bear Lodge Mountains, but its fame comes from the outlaw Harry Longabaugh. Better known as the Sundance Kid, he took his nickname from this town after serving jail time here for horse theft in 1887. The Crook County Museum, located in the basement of the historic courthouse, displays the original court records of his trial along with artifacts from the cattle drive era. A life-sized bronze statue of the Kid stands in the town center, marking the spot where the legend of the Wild Bunch began.

This town also serves as the primary gateway to Devils Tower National Monument, the first national monument in the United States. This massive igneous rock formation rises dramatically above the pine forests just a short drive away, attracting climbers and sightseers. For a deeper look at prehistoric life, the Vore Buffalo Jump, which opens in June, offers a rare archaeological site nearby. This natural sinkhole was used by Plains Indian tribes as a bison trap for hundreds of years, and excavations reveal layers of bones and stone tools that preserve a crucial part of hunting history on the Great Plains.

Thermopolis

Thermopolis claims the title of having the "World's Largest Mineral Hot Spring," but the town remains a quiet alternative to the busy geyser basins of Yellowstone. The centerpiece is Hot Springs State Park, where visitors can soak for free in the State Bath House or walk across the historic Swinging Bridge that hangs over the Bighorn River. The park is also home to the state's central bison herd, and it is common to see these massive animals grazing right next to the road as steam rises from the colorful mineral terraces in the background.

History here goes back much further than the pioneers. The Wyoming Dinosaur Center is one of the few museums in the world that allows families to dig for real fossils in an active quarry. Visitors can tour the "Something Interesting" dig site or sign up for a "Dig for a Day" program to help excavate bones that are millions of years old. For a different kind of history, the Hot Springs County Museum invites guests to belly up to the original Hole-in-the-Wall Bar. This beautifully preserved bar was once a favorite watering hole for Butch Cassidy and his gang, offering a tangible connection to the outlaws who once roamed these hills.

Pinedale

Pinedale serves as the primary gateway to the Wind River Range, offering a rugged alternative to the crowded parks further north. The town embraces its roots as a hub for fur trappers at the Museum of the Mountain Man (opened seasonally). This facility preserves rare artifacts, including a rifle owned by the legendary Jim Bridger, and details the harsh lives of the explorers who opened the West. It is a dedicated tribute to the rendezvous era that defined the early history of the region.

Outdoor adventure centers on Fremont Lake, the second-largest natural lake in Wyoming. Just a few miles from Main Street, this pristine body of water attracts anglers and boaters looking for deep, glacial waters. For winter recreation, White Pine Ski Resort provides a classic alpine experience.

Dubois

Dubois stands out visually from the rest of the state due to the Dubois Badlands, a striking landscape of red-banded rock and clay hoodoos that looks more like the desert Southwest than the Rockies. This dramatic geology frames the National Museum of Military Vehicles, a massive facility that often surprises travelers in such a remote location. The 160,000-square-foot museum houses a world-class collection of fully restored tanks, artillery, and landing craft, serving as a major historical tribute to the soldiers of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

The town is also the biological center for the region's wildlife. The National Bighorn Sheep Center focuses on the Whiskey Mountain herd, historically one of the largest populations of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep in North America. The center offers detailed exhibits on the animals' habitat and organizes tours to view them on the winter range. For a closer look at the terrain, the Badlands Trail offers a hiking experience through the colorful sedimentary layers, providing a quiet and scenic alternative to the steep alpine climbs found elsewhere in Wyoming.

Lander

Lander sits at the base of the Wind River Mountains and is famous for a geological oddity at Sinks Canyon State Park. Here, the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River vanishes completely into a limestone cavern at "The Sinks" and mysteriously reappears a quarter-mile downstream at "The Rise." The calm pool at the exit is filled with massive trout, making it a popular spot for visitors to feed the fish and ponder the underground maze.

History takes a gritty turn at South Pass City State Historic Site, a preserved gold rush ghost town just south of the city. Though its exhibits are only open in summer, its grounds and trails are open year-round. Visitors can tour the Carissa Mine and walk the dirt streets where saloon owner William Bright first introduced the bill that gave Wyoming women the right to vote in 1869. Back in town, the Eagle Bronze Foundry reveals an artistic side. As one of the largest foundries in the world, it casts monumental sculptures for clients worldwide, offering tours where guests can witness molten bronze being transformed into fine art.

While Wyoming is often defined by its famous national parks, the true heart of the "Cowboy State" beats in its quiet, underrated towns. From the red rock valleys of Dubois to the mineral-rich waters of Thermopolis, these communities offer a deeper, more authentic connection to the American West. They are places where history is not just kept in museums but lived out in local diners, rodeos, and main streets that have changed little over the last century. By venturing beyond the well-worn tourist paths in 2025, travelers can discover a rugged, welcoming side of the state where the crowds are few, the landscapes are vast, and the spirit of the frontier is still very much alive.