8 Perfect Destinations for a Long Weekend in Wyoming

Wyoming is home to a blend of outdoor beauty, mountain getaways, and the spirit of the Old West. When taking a long weekend trip in Wyoming, you can gaze at the stars in the Yellowstone National Park, see where infamous outlaws hid out in Laramie, and chat with locals at the Green River Rendezvous in Pinedale. This spirit can also be felt in its best getaway towns, such as Green River's Expedition Island fishing spot and Cody's numerous museums dedicated to Buffalo Bill. For a particularly beautiful outdoor experience, Thermopolis is home to ancient Native American petroglyphs that sit near massive hot mineral springs. For your next trip to the Old West, these are the 8 perfect destinations for a long weekend in Wyoming.

Laramie

Laramie is the site of the only university in Wyoming, giving it a distinctly college-town vibe. However, it still is an Old Western town, which once had a very infamous resident: Butch Cassidy. This outlaw was imprisoned at the prison here, which today is a part of the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site. Laramie also keeps important prehistoric fossils on display at the University of Wyoming's Geological Museum, including a 75-foot-tall Apatosaurus. Just outside of this college town is the Vedauwoo Recreation Area within the Medicine Bow National Forest. It was formed by lava rock and rises 8,000 feet above sea level. It's been used for movie sets, Native American rituals, and day hikes. There are several affordable hotels in Laramie to stay at, from Comfort Inn & Suites to The Mad Carpenter Inn B&B.

Green River

Sitting on the border between Wyoming and Utah, Green River is the 7th most populous city in the state, despite only having just under 12,000 residents. The town sits amid the Flaming Gorge-Green River Scenic Byway, which goes through red rock formations, mountain peaks, and fishing spots. One of the most popular fishing places in Green River is on Expedition Island, a river island with trails, a playground, and trout to catch. If you arrive in June, you can enjoy the Overland Stage Stampede Rodeo with bronc riding and calf scramble. Mountain bikers can escape into the Wilkens Peak Trail System, which runs through difficult terrain such as desert, rocks, and bridges. You can grab a drink or grub food from The Brewery in town and check in for the night at the Hampton Inn & Suites.

Jackson

Jackson calls itself The Last of the Old West, as it sits close to two massive national parks where the wilderness still reigns supreme. It's a gateway town to the Grand Teton National Park, a 310,000-acre mountain getaway with the massive 13,770-foot Grand Teton towering above it, along with several beautiful lakes. For those who like to stay in town, Jackson has adorable stagecoach rides through the Jackson Town Square. Around the square is the Astoria Fine Art Gallery and Mountain Trails Gallery, with scenes inspired by the vast peaks and plains of the Old West. You can enjoy that Old West spirit by staying at one of its cute B&Bs, such as the Jacksole Hole Hideout, which has a stone fireplace to keep warm during cold nights.

Ten Sleep

Located at the foot of the Bighorn Mountains, Ten Sleep gets its name form native Americans, who said it was "10 sleeps" away from Fort Laramie and Yellowstone National Park. You can spend a weekend sleeping here and exploring its western attractions. Start your trip here at the Ten Sleep Pioneer Museum, a small roadside attraction preserving its history. Just outside of town is the little-known Tensleep Canyon, made up of limestone and dolomite rock walls that you can view on foot or by climbing up it (if you have the right equipment). To get here, you just have to take Cloud Peak Byway, a scenic drive that goes by Cloud Peak and Powder River Pass. After exploring the mountains, head back to Ten Sleep to purchase a souvenir from the old-timey Dirty Sally's General Store. The Carter Inn is a small but highly ranked hotel you can stay in right in the middle of Ten Sleep.

Pinedale

If you're looking for a destination for stargazing, then Pinedale is the place for you. With just under 2,000 people, Pinedale's dark skies have very little light pollution, allowing you to see the stars as they truly are. There are many places you can go to in and around Pinedale to see the stars, whether that's escaping into the Wind River Mountain Range via the Titcomb Basin trail or at Fremont Lake, the second largest natural lake in Wyoming. You can also stay right in the middle of town with a beer from the Wind River Brewing Company and watch the stars from an outdoor seat. If you arrive in July, you can participate in the Green River Rendezvous, a festival that celebrates all aspects of Western life, from Native American dances to cowboys, rodeos, and storytellers. For places to stay, you can go to the Pinedale Hotel & Suites or the Hampton Inn & Suites.

Buffalo

Buffalo gets its name from the most recognizable animal that once roamed the Great Plains in vast herds. The town sits between these plains and the Bighorn Mountains, meaning you're never far from a grand outdoor adventure here, such as the Grouse Mountain Trail. The city has trails of its own as well, such as the Clear Creek Trail, which runs along a slow-flowing creek with the backdrop of the mountains. The town also knows how to throw a party, as is evident from the Historic Occidental Hotel & Saloon. First opened in the 1880s, it welcomed famous guests such as Teddy Roosevelt, and today it is the only restored saloon in the state. You can take back a little piece of Wyoming home with you to the Wyoming in Color Art Gallery, which sells glasswork, photos, and fine art. For spots to stay, you can book a stay right at the Historic Occidental Hotel or at the Buffalo Inn.

Cody

Cody is named after the most famous showman in the Old West: Buffalo Bill Cody. His performances created much of the image of the Wild West we still have today. In many ways, Cody is the best place to go to learn about that legacy at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. This center is made up of five separate museums, dedicated to western art, firearms, Plains Native Americans, natural history, and, of course, Buffalo Bill himself. By walking out into Cody, you will feel like you've stepped into a Buffalo Bill show with the Old Trail Town, which opens for the season in May. This Trail preserves 26 structures built from 1879 to 1901, including the Hole-in-the-Wall Cabin where Butch Cassidy hid out from lawmen. If you visit during the summer, you can go to the nightly Cody Nite Rodeo, which runs from June 1 to August 31st. Visitors can check in for the night at the Buffalo Bill's Irma Hotel & Restaurant, which has been welcoming guests since 1902.

Thermopolis

Thermopolis is Greek for hot city, and this Wyoming town lives up to its name with its huge mineral hot spring at the Hot Springs State Park. There are more than 1.8 million gallons of 128-degree Fahrenheit water that run through these springs. You can try out a bath house with a slightly cooler temperature in the park, or traverse its 6.2 miles of trails. Thermopolis' grand geology doesn't end at the hot springs; it can also be discovered through its hundreds of fossils at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center, which houses an Archaeopteryx specimen. If you travel about 30 miles northwest of the park, you can reach the Legend Rock Petroglyph Historic Site, which is still located within Thermopolis' borders. This site has more than 300 petroglyphs designed by Native Americans going back thousands of years. You can learn more about the history of these natives at the Hot Springs County Museum & Cultural Center. For a good place to stay the weekend, go to the Hot Springs Hotel and Spa.

There are many old west attractions throughout the United States, but Wyoming truly taps into its spirit more than any other. It honors the showmanship of Buffalo Bill in Cody, the tenacity and culture of Native Americans at the Green River Rendezvous, and the diverse natural beauty of the Grand Teton National Forest, and, of course, the beautiful dark skies. Thankfully, you don't have to sleep under the stars in these destinations, as you'll have chain hotels, B&Bs, and even a historic saloon to stay at for your long weekend getaway in Wyoming.