You just never know what you might discover in Wyoming's small towns. I remember opening the window of my hotel room in downtown Buffalo to catch whiffs of barbecued steaks, which I'd expect in Wyoming – and riffs of live jazz, which I never dreamed I'd hear in this town of fewer than 5,000 folks. A leisurely three-day loop tour out of Casper will help you discover small-town Wyoming history, hospitality and surprises, too.
Day 1
Head west from Casper on Highway 20/26. Your first stop is 99 miles away, at Shoshoni (population 658), home of Yellowstone Drug Store and its old-time soda fountain. Drop in for a milkshake or malt, served in more than 60 delicious flavors.
From Shoshoni, drive 33 miles north on Highway 20 to Thermopolis (population 2,953). Just south of Thermopolis, you'll pass through Wind River Canyon, where the deer, antelope and fat trout play. See more than 20 skeletons at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center,
Northeast Wyoming Occidential Hotel
then enjoy a relaxing soak – or water-slide fun – at Hot Springs State Park.
Meeteetse (population 347), a 52-mile drive from Thermopolis on Wyoming Highway 120, is your stop for tonight. Savor a hearty meal at the Outlaw Parlor and Cowboy Bar. Then bunk down, park your rig, or pitch your tent at the Oasis Motel & RV Park along the Greybull River.
Day 2
Before leaving Meeteetse, enjoy the evocative Western photography showcased at the Charles J. Belden Museum. Backtrack south from Meeteetse to State Highway 431, then drive east to Worland. Continue 28 miles east on U.S. Highway 16 to Ten Sleep (population 317), named for its location 10 nights, or "sleeps," between major Indian camps. Browse among the handmade rugs and quilts at Dirty Sally's, then have lunch at a local café or picnic in the town park on the east end of town. From Ten Sleep, it's 69 super-scenic miles east on Highway 16
Central Wyoming Old wagon west of Kaycee
to Buffalo. The road crests near 10,000 feet at Powder River Pass, with many fantastic rock formations and vistas along the way.
Book a night at the historic Occidental Hotel in Buffalo (population 4,256), or at least take a peek at its museum-like lobby. After dinner, stroll along the Clear Creek Trail to Bozeman Crossing, where attractions include a historic carousel, miniature golf and an ice-cream parlor.
Day 3
Don't miss the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum before you leave Buffalo. Here, you'll find an impressive collection of pioneer and Indian artifacts, plus displays on the famous Johnson County War of 1892, which pitted cattle barons against local homesteaders.
From Buffalo, it's a two-hour drive on I-25 to Casper – but if you're not quite ready to leave the slow lane, pull off for a final small-town stop in Kaycee (population 271), near the "Hole-in-the-Wall Country" where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid hung out. Kaycee is also the smallest town in America with its own Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association-sanctioned rodeo, now held in July just before Cheyenne Frontier Days.
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