These 10 Towns In Wyoming Were Ranked Among US Favorites In 2025
Within the tranquil landscapes and vibrant countryside that define Wyoming are gateways to many natural and cultural wonders, particularly two national firsts: Shoshone National Forest, the nation’s inaugural national forest, and Devils Tower, America’s first national monument. Towns like Jackson, Cody, Lander, Dubois, and Sheridan were ranked among US favorites in 2025, not simply because of their proximity to the Equality State’s landmarks, but also due to their unique ambiance, their individual histories, and their compelling sceneries and activities. As the year nears a close, see for yourself why these towns in Wyoming were so popular in 2025.
Jackson
Jackson is framed by the towering Teton Range and remains a beloved retreat throughout the year. When winter descends upon the area, you can ski world-class terrain at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Snow King Mountain, and Grand Targhee. When summer melts the snow away, the Jackson Hole Rodeo offers a lively dose of cowboy flair and activities to experience.
For more consistent and daily enjoyment, the National Museum of Wildlife Art houses works by Georgia O’Keeffe and Andy Warhol, and more for those with an appetite for the aesthetic. Jackson also functions as a perfect launching pad for Grand Teton National Park, and it has relatively easy access to Yellowstone National Park, just over an hour to the north. From adrenaline-pumping sports to beautifully curated works of art, Jackson will steal your heart as soon as you walk through the antlered archways in the Town Square.
Buffalo
With the Bighorn Mountains standing sentinel nearby, Buffalo envelopes you in frontier beauty from the moment you arrive. In the heart of town, the Occidental Hotel, once frequented by figures like Calamity Jane and Butch Cassidy, offers guests a glimpse of old frontier life via its period décor and saloon revival from the Wild West. For those eager to learn more about Buffalo’s wild history, the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum displays artifacts from the Johnson County Cattle War and other legendary regional stories.
In the surrounding wilderness, Cloud Peak Wilderness beckons hikers, anglers, and campers with untouched trails and alpine vistas, just as the Bighorn National Forest offers abundant wildlife to discover and admire. Every July, Buffalo hosts the beloved Longmire Days, a festival celebrating the hit TV series and novels set in a fictional version of Buffalo, complete with celebrity appearances and authentic western spirit.
Dubois
Dubois shines and delights travelers between the sprawling Wind River Range and the Absaroka Mountains. At the center of this highly-ranked and favored town, the Dubois Museum & Wind River Historical Center explores Indigenous history, homesteader life, and the unique tie-hack logging industry. Meanwhile, beyond Dubois’ confines lies the National Bighorn Sheep Center, which educates visitors about Wyoming’s state animal through engaging exhibits.
Outdoors enthusiasts will adore venturing into the Shoshone National Forest, the first federally protected National Forest in the United States, and one of the best national parks in Wyoming that has remained rooted in protected wilderness. The scenic Togwotee Pass, meanwhile, offers panoramic views and serves as a gateway to the Wind River Range. In winter, Dubois hosts the final leg of the Pedigree Stage Stop Race, a thrilling dog sled competition stretching between Jackson and Dubois. With its fusion of cultural depth and untamed landscapes, it's no wonder Dubois is considered one of the US favorites to visit in 2025.
Sheridan
Sheridan, a small town around 35 miles north of Buffalo, is a historic spot where one can take a deeper dive into Wyoming’s storied past. For starters, the historic Sheridan Inn, once a haunt of Buffalo Bill Cody, retains its Victorian elegance and still welcomes visitors seeking an immersion into American history. Literary buffs will also delight in the fact that Ernest Hemingway polished parts of A Farewell to Arms while staying in the hotel.
Meanwhile, the Trail End State Historic Site, also known as the Kendrick Mansion, invites visitors inside a grand Flemish Revival estate filled with original furnishings and classic design. On the other hand, the Museum at the Bighorns traces the area from prehistoric eras through pioneer expansion. Sheridan is also on the edge of the Bighorn National Forest, making it an ideal gateway to the region's trails, streams, and quiet refuges in nature.
Ten Sleep
Ten Sleep, a name derived from a Native American way of reckoning distance, is a gateway to thrilling landscapes and a spirited culture. Rock climbers converge here to scale the limestone cliffs of Ten Sleep Canyon, known as one of the premier sport climbing destinations in North America. Like Sheridan and Buffalo, the town also lies near Bighorn National Forest, which gifts hikers and campers miles of trails and alpine vistas.
In town, Ten Sleep Brewing Company offers craft beer, live music, and a warm, local ambiance before or after your adventures throughout the area. On every Fourth of July, the town stages a rodeo, parade, and fireworks, bringing community energy and cowboy flair in an awesome Americana setting. Between climbs, forest explorations, and community gatherings, Ten Sleep delivers a lively yet restorative vacation, with many more opportunities for adventures to cherish.
Pinedale
Situated at the threshold of the Wind River Range, the beloved town of Pinedale is home to one of Wyoming’s most biodiverse regions. The Museum of the Mountain Man tells the stories of trappers and explorers like Jim Bridger, with interactive displays and frontier memorabilia regarding their experiences in Wyoming’s wilderness. Bridger Wilderness, just beyond town, spans hundreds of alpine lakes and mountain passes, an idyllic destination for multi-day hiking and fishing escapades.
Pinedale’s location in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem means wildlife sightings are abundant on local routes. Twice annually in the months of June and October, the Green River Drift cattle drive sends cowboys on a 58-mile trail bringing herds to and from summer pasture in the forest. It is the oldest continually used stock drive in Wyoming. Additionally, the Path of the Pronghorn, one of the continent’s most significant ungulate migrations, is a sight to behold, as the fastest land mammals in North America make their way between their summer range in Grand Teton National Park through Pinedale en route to and from their winter range in the Red Desert area of Wyoming.
Sundance
Sundance sits in the shadow of the mountain of the same name and is full of frontier history. The town preserves and explains its heritage at the Crook County Museum & 1875 Art Gallery, housed in the restored courthouse where Harry Longabaugh, the Sundance Kid, once escaped. Sundance is most famous for its proximity to the Devil's Tower National Monument, which rises as a spiritual and geological icon for many to photograph and see.
The Vore Buffalo Jump, an archaeological site where Plains tribes once hunted bison, is open seasonally for those curious about this important archeological site and the Native American Plains peoples. Southward, Inyan Kara stands as a sacred site for local Indigenous groups such as the Lakota, with limited access. However, if you are seeking a town that balances deep cultural resonance and wild landscapes, Sundance is the place for you.
Centennial
Beneath the Snowy Range, amidst forests, peaks, and quiet roads, the small town of Centennial remains one of the best places to visit in Wyoming. A self-guided tour of the Snowy Range Scenic Byway offers sweeping mountain views, alpine lakes, and meadows in full bloom during the summer. For more daring journeys in the outdoors, one can brave the heights of both Sugarloaf Mountain and Browns Peak for panoramic views over the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. In winter, the Snowy Range Ski Area opens for downhill skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. Centennial is a venerable playground in every season, and you will not regret your stay in this exciting and humble town in the mountains.
Lander
Lander is a small town found at the foot of the Wind River Mountains. Inside the Fremont County Pioneer Museum, you will be treated to an excellent overview of regional history, from the age of the dinosaurs to Lander’s frontier settlement. Close at hand, Sinks Canyon State Park thrills visitors with the mysterious Popo Agie River, which disappears into a cavern (the “sinks”) then resurfaces downstream (“the rise”). The Arapaho Powwow, held every September near Lander, is one of Wyoming’s longest-running Native American gatherings, and in July, the Ethete Celebration honors Shoshone and Arapaho culture with more traditional ceremonies and dances.
For historical perspective, traversing the South Pass offers the chance to explore an Oregon Trail crossing where thousands of settlers once journeyed west, and the Sacagawea burial site lies within the Wind River Reservation, where the famous Shoshone woman who guided Lewis and Clark is honored.
Cody
Cody was founded by Buffalo Bill Cody in 1896 and has long retained its frontier spirit and storytelling flair. At the town’s heart lies the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, a five-museum complex that covers Wild West artworks, Native cultures, natural history, and weapons that Buffalo Bill may or may not have used in his heyday.
From June through August, the Cody Night Rodeo offers rodeo performances under the stars, while Old Trail Town offers seasonal tours of authentic frontier buildings and maintains the graves of some of the most famous outlaws of the Wild West. The Irma Hotel, built by Buffalo Bill himself, continues to operate and is known for hosting Wild West shootout reenactments in summer. Finally, the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway traces the Shoshone River towards Yellowstone’s East Gate.
The Spirit Of Wyoming Shines In Its Small Towns
A handful of towns in Wyoming were ranked among US favorites in 2025 because they embody the natural sceneries of the plains, valleys, and ranges that compose the Equality State, and they preserve the history that has shaped these destinations. From Jackson’s snow-tipped peaks to Cody’s frontier pageantry, each of these highly-ranked towns showcases the best of Wyoming and deserves a spot at the top of the list in 2025.
