Wyoming RV Trip In July

[HBarlow]

My wife plans a two week vacation the last half of July and we plan to take the fiver and wander around the state of Wyoming for about ten or twelve days. I wish we would have more time but time is limited by her workload and responsibilities.

I would appreciate receiving suggestions from TDR members who know Wyoming or have vacationed there. I have started my rough planning by reviewing the WY tourism website and browsing the free travel book I received through the mail.

Your suggestions, comments, and cautions will be welcome and much appreciated.

 

[Grizzly]

Well, there's the obvious, Yellowstone, The Grand Tetons and Jackson Hole, but aside from that one of my favorite places is Pinedale on US 191 and below Jackson Hole.



Too bad you won't have the time, but it be nice if you could get up to Glacier NP in Montana. To me that one of the greatest National Parks in the country.



george

 

[PBJ2500CTD]

Harvey,

If you haven't been to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center you should put it on your agenda. It's well worth the admission price for some excellent historical and art museums. The wife was reluctant to go as she wasn't into the "art" aspect. There are several museums under one roof. Once we got inside I had a hard time pulling her out of the art section - and even the gun collection - and all the other sections... We stayed just down the road several blocks at the Ponderosa Campground. Here are a couple of links:

The Museums
Ponderosa Campground - Cody, WY - Home

Rawlins, WY has an old state prison that gives guided tours. A very interesting place with some great "storytellers" guiding you through. Exciting to sample the solitary cell - with the door closed and locked - then hearing the tour guide's voice fading off into the distance with the less brave souls of the tour party...

I cannot remember the road we took when leaving Yellowstone, but it followed a river to a dam. It may have been highway 14, just West of Cody. There were a number of state parks along the river that were picturesque.

Of course there is Yellowstone...

Bruce

 

[HBarlow]

George,

I should have explained, we have been to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons several years ago traveling through Jackson Hole on the way. We've also been to Glacier on a different summer trip.

What's in Pinedale?

What else do you suggest?

Bruce,

I very much like the idea of seeing the Buffalo Bill Historical Center and the old WY State Prison.

I will put both of those places on the final trip plan.

Please continue with the suggestions.

One of the best RVing vacations we have ever taken was about 15 years ago through CO. I was working at the time with two retired USAF officers who had served in CO and knew the state very well. They suggested all the great tourist spots and I laid out a route that included all of them.

 

[MMeilicke]

The Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody is sure worth a two day stay. Try the Bighorn Mountains. We spent two weeks up there dry camping and had a great time. Check out our blog.
2009 July Mick and Ann's Travels

Stay off of 14A. Very dangerous. Visit the visitor center on 14. Head east and the center is a couple of miles past the intersection of 14A and 14. They are very helpful. Lots of good fishing, elk and moose watching, and hiking. We were not impressed with the Medicine Bows. But the Bighorns, that is something else. Have a great time

 

[JMetzger]

Harvey, I know that you say that you are planing to go to the WY Territorial Prison. I hope that you do not change your plans as that is really interesting. The wife & I have been there twice & if in the area again we will stop again. Enjoy your trip.

 

['strokeThis_'07]

What's in Pinedale?

Oilrigs and oilfield workers. Not much else. Theres a Subway and thats about it. Although there is some nice scenery up around Pinedale, and Fremont Lake is a popular destination. Theres a museum and some other things there as well. Most of the time Ive been there Ive been working...



Theres two old prisons; the old state prison in Rawlins, and the old territorial prison ~96 miles to the east in Laramie. Though Rawlins is not my favorite place, the old state prison is pretty cool.



I second the Bighorns; take a trip up to Sheridan and bop around town for a bit, hop on I25 North to Ranchester, on to Dayton and go on up the mountain. Theres a number of good fishing streams up there. Definately avoid 14A to Greybull, atleast with a trailer. Its real narrow, although it is a pretty drive.



You may want to hit up Devils Tower and the Black Hills section of Northeastern part of the state around Moorcroft and Sundance.



From Sheridan, go to Buffalo, up over the mountain to Ten Sleep, Worland, and Thermopolis. Theres the "World Famous" hot springs there in Thermop, with the Star Plunge and the Teepee Pools. You also have Wind River Canyon and Boysen State Park there within 30min.

Thermopolis, Wyoming: Hot Springs State Park



Head on over to Lander and check out Sinks Canyon State Park; the river runs into a cave on the south side of the highway and pops up on the north side of the road a half mile to the west. From there drive up to Louis Lake, hit the highway again, and check out Atlantic City and South Pass City. Im from this area, and just recently moved back to Riverton/Lander area, so if you would like more detailed info on stuff like campgrounds, feel free to ask.



I could keep going, but theres just too many places to go and see, much of it for nothing more than the scenery

 

[Grizzly]

Harvey,



Pinedale is beautiful, peaceful, quite and scenic. There are plenty of RV Campgrounds there and a lake called Fremont Lake. Great place for hiking or just a good walk. Watch for grizzly bears.



george

 

[HBarlow]

I'm reading these posts as you guys write them, looking them up on the map, and roughing out a trip plan as the suggestions come in.

 

[NIsaacs]

I 2nd. the Big Horns, take the Dayton Cain Hyw (14) west. It's a steep narrow mountain climb but beautiful scenery. While you are that close, you might want to take in Custers Battlefield in Crow Agency, Mt. about 60 miles north of Sheridan on I-90.



Not sure where you are going to enter Wyo. however if you travel I-25 from Cheyenne to Douglas and or hwy 59 from Douglas to Gillette you will see about a million Antelope!



Hyw 191 from Vernal, Ut. to Rock Springs, Wy. is a scenic route, the Green River Flaming Gorge area. Slow steep mountain drive tho, some 8-10 percent grades.



I will be looking forward to your after story. Should be a good workout for your new truck.



Nick

 

[GHerrmann]

Depending on your route. If traveling I25N to I80 in Wyoming, west of Cheyenne is Vedauwoo ( vee-da-voo ). exit329. It constists of some really wild massive rock formations carved by that famous Wy. wind. there is no entry or camping fee ( non CG ). This is almost a must see if your nearby. Their is a small campground their, DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH IT I have a 26' TT and it was very tight and the sites are small and to close together. Their are plenty of places to camp farther down the road that are non CG. just pull in a nice flat open area off the road.



I don't know the way your heading but a strange place to maybe stop and take a leak or something is Jeffery City Wy. Its a 20 centry ghost town. North of Rawlins on hwy 287 / 789 to Muddy Gap, 287 turns west go 21 miles. It was a uranium mining town during the cold war era. Had a population of 4,500 in 1978 down to about 100 or less now. Its kinda like the twilight zone.



If in Rawlins the Territorial Prison is a must see.



If you decide to stop in the Atlantic City South Pass area shoot me a pm. I have done a lot of prospecting there and have led some driving tours through the area for a club I belong to.



The Sinks Canyon state Park is is cool. The river dissappears underground and comes up 1/3 of a mile away.



There are soo many places in wy. Figure out a route and let us know, the whole state is filled with hidden treasure. Enjoy



Guy H.

 

[HBarlow]

I spent some time this afternoon trying to lay out a tentative route on my Rand McNally through/around WY to take in the suggestions you members have provided. I'm having some trouble laying out a logical route without circling back over a lot of previously traveled ground.

Here's what I have in mind as a rough starting plan: TX to Cheyenne, probably on I-25 but perhaps up US-287 to Denver then I-25.

Cheyenne to Newcastle to take the scenic drive west on WY-24 via Aladdin, Hiblet, etc. back to Gillette. Gillette to Sheridan and across US-14 to Cody. Cody to Thermopolis and Lander. Stopping along that route, of course to see the attractions.

That route works fairly well, I think. But as was suggested, I'd like to travel back up to Worland and Buffalo. Also want to see the old prisons and other things of interest in Rawlins and Laramie. It was suggested that I visit the abandoned uranium mine site at Jeffrey City. That was also mentioned on the WY tourism website.

Any routing suggestions for taking in all those locations? Any warnings about the route I'm planning?

I will be towing a 34' long, 13+ foot tall, 14,000 lb. fifth wheel so don't want to get too far into extremely narrow and extremely steep climbs. I usually pick a destination and start driving and figure I'll worry about the hazards when I get into them but it would be stupid to ignore the warnings of guys who live in and know WY.

 

[Pavemen]

just use caution on I-25 between Fort Collins and Wheatland. The wind there is terrible and your trailer is not small. Wyoming's State Flag isn't a straight piece of chain 90* from the ground for nothing! Seen far too many trailers (both personal TT's/5er's and commercials) on their side

 

[GAmes]

Harvey,



Thermopolis also has a pretty good dinosour museum.



Devils tower is in WY, 65 miles NE of Gillette.



Apparantly Paveman isn't aware of how many miles you have accrued pulling RVs in that part of the country. :-laf



Gary

 

[KLauber]

Southern WY has a lot of desolate terrain with beautiful vistas in all directions. Try a loop south from Laramie on Hwy 230 down into N. Colo then back up to I-80 through Saratoga. You will not be disappointed. We expect an awesome slide show in August!

Ken

 

[Pavemen]

Harvey,



Thermopolis also has a pretty good dinosour museum.



Devils tower is in WY, 65 miles NE of Gillette.



Apparantly Paveman isn't aware of how many miles you have accrued pulling RVs in that part of the country. :-laf



Gary

I may not know HBarlow's travel habits, but I know the Wyo wind. Chugwater has some good chili though!

 

[Jerky]

Devil's Tower is a must!! Sometimes it can be a bit breezy in southern Wyo. along I-80
Two weeks may not be enough time.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Cheyenne Frontier Days was a real kick in the pants Harvey I think its the latter part of July. We went a few years ago. My wife has always had horses . I thought just another rodeo. I was very wrong it was a great time.

 

[AfterBurner]

. Chugwater has some good chili though!

Just don't get the chili at the gas station right by the exit! It does have lots of room to park a trailer, but their chili is quite terrible.

We go to rodeos all across WY and I enjoy Sheridan the most. Has a cool downtown area (visit King's Saddlery, its pretty much a museum) and nice setup at the fairgrounds. Wind River canyon is an awesome drive (Shoshoni). Too bad your not going up around halloween when they offer the nighttime ghost tours of the laramie territorial prison. If you're over in the southwest corner you can drop down to flaming gorge recreation area.



If you're leaving TX from anywhere east of san angelo, I'd consider hwy 83, especially if you want to make a loop. It's nice easy highway that's not populated and avoid the aggravation of I-25 between denver and fort collins. We've run that way before between WY and TX and found it to be the fastest since traffic and cops are light. I've also run the 287 route and it's nice until you hit lamar, co and the traffic starts to pick up and it's hard to pass on a two lane when your towin.



One of my favorite things to do in WY is to pull off the road in the middle of nowhere and take the horses for a ride just cause we can... being from TX it blows my mind that all that land is open to the public!

Enjoy your trip.

Forrest

 

[HBarlow]

When the posts on this thread die off in a few days I'm going to print the entire thread and take it along on the trip. I can refer to it as we travel and try to hit the suggested spots.

Forrest, I considered US-83 for the reason you mentioned but my farmhouse is about 50 miles west of Guthrie where it intersects with US-82. I hate to pull the trailer 50 miles in the wrong direction just to travel up US-83.

Big Nasty, I looked at the possibility of taking in the Cheyenne Frontier Days but they don't seem very RVer friendly. A website I looked at said no RV parking allowed. I'm guessing RV parking will be hard to come by in Cheyenne during the event.

I've spent nights in the parking lot across the street from the Flying J before but don't know if that will be permitted now.