FAQ

The biggest city in Wyoming is the state capital, Cheyenne. Learn more about things to do and see in Wyoming’s capital city here.

As of 2021, Wyoming’s population is 578,803, making it the least populated state in the country. But fewer people means more room for adventure within Wyoming’s beautiful, wide-open landscapes.

In Wyoming there is a 4% sales tax across the state, except for groceries and prescription drugs. Some counties in Wyoming can have an additional sales tax.

As the last bastion of the American West, Wyoming is best known for rodeos, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Devils Tower National Monument, diverse wildlife and natural hot springs. While Wyoming’s official nickname is the Equality State – a nod to the state’s role as the first to guarantee women the right to vote and hold office – Wyoming is often known as the Cowboy State. This moniker speaks to the grit, tenacity and Western spirit that can be seen across the state. Wyoming is known as a destination where you can truly experience the American West as it once was.

Wyoming offers several scenic routes to Yellowstone National Park, all of which offer breathtaking views. Enter from the east along the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway for glimpses of the Shoshone River and the beautiful Shoshone National Forest. Travel from the south to drive through Grand Teton National Park and see the stunning Teton Range. Or take another route from the east that connects Chief Joseph Scenic Byway to Beartooth Scenic Highway, winding through the Absaroka Mountains along the way.

From Wyoming, there are two main routes to get to the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore National Monument. If you’re traveling from Cheyenne in southeastern Wyoming, take I-25 north to US-26. From here you’ll go east and take state highway 270 to Guernsey, followed by taking US-18 east into South Dakota. This route shows off Wyoming’s eastern plains and beautiful farmlands. If you’re starting from northeast Wyoming near Gillette, take I-90 east to US -6 and follow that into South Dakota. This route features Wyoming’s stunning Black Hills.

Wyoming offers many memorable stops along I-80. Some notable locations for adventure seekers include Medicine Bow National Forest near Laramie, Seminoe State Park north of Rawlins and Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area south of Green River. A few other interesting locations include the Wyoming Frontier Prison and Fort Bridger State Historic Site. Find more to do along I-80 in this article.

Currently there are no COVID-19 travel restrictions in Wyoming. To find the most up-to-date COVID-19 guidelines and current travel restrictions, visit our travel alerts page here.

As a large state sprinkled with small towns, most people travel by car in Wyoming. Wide-open roads winding through scenic landscapes makes Wyoming the perfect road trip destination. Learn about our road trip regions here to start mapping out an unforgettable vacation. If you prefer flying, one of our nine regional airports can help make your trip a breeze.

The best month for visiting Wyoming depends on the activities you want to enjoy. January and February offer the most reliable snow, making it an ideal time for snowmobiling along our highly rated trails and skiing at our world-class resorts. If you want to experience a rodeo or visit one of our national or state parks, Memorial Day through Labor Day is your window. Consider shoulder seasons like spring and fall to catch glimpses of wildlife while avoiding crowds.

Wyoming offers plenty to do for adventurous spirits, families of all sizes and those looking to experience the authentic American West. Our national forests, state parks and mountains offer opportunities for hiking, camping, backpacking, boating, rock climbing, horseback riding, hunting, fishing and more. Experience Wyoming’s culture through unique shops and restaurants, music festivals, rodeos and fairs. During the winter months, ice climbing, snowmobiling, skiing, snowshoeing and dog sledding are just some of the ways you can experience the serene beauty of our state. Discover more things to do in Wyoming here.

Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park are the two national parks located in Wyoming. In addition to these two well-known areas, Wyoming is home to Devils Tower National Monument, Fossil Butte national Monument, Fort Laramie National Historic Site, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area and Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. Learn more about our national parks here.

The best-known national park in Wyoming is Yellowstone National Park. Most of this popular national park’s 2.2 million acres are within Wyoming’s borders – 96 percent of it to be exact. Learn more about the world-famous Yellowstone National Park and how to best experience it here.

Some roads in Wyoming have seasonal closures each winter. Typically, these roads are closed mid-October through Mid-May; however, this timing varies by road and by year. Roads can also close temporarily in Wyoming due to snowstorms, high wind or accidents. For the most up-to-date Wyoming road conditions, call 1-888-996-7623. You can find more tools, including travel information maps and a mobile app, from the Wyoming Department of Transportation here.

Wind in Wyoming varies based on time of year and location. More covered areas, like forests, provide coverage from windy weather. Winds tend to be strongest in the early spring and calmest in the summer, with July ranking as the least windy month in Wyoming.

The wind in Wyoming has to do with how our state’s varied landscapes interact with the jet stream. High pressure in Wyoming’s mountains and low pressure in the plains combine with a west to east jet stream, causing Wyoming to in a sense get squeezed, which results in more wind than your average state. But don’t worry; a windy day makes for an Instagram-worthy photoshoot with Wyoming’s picturesque mountains as your backdrop. Our beloved wind also makes nearly every day perfect for flying a kite.

Yellowstone National Park is a 2.2 million acre section of land in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana that the government set aside to preserve the area’s diverse environment. Yellowstone is the world’s first national park and the second most popular national park in the United States. The area within this national park is known as the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Within Yellowstone National Park’s borders, you can find geysers, hot springs, waterfalls, wildlife and much more. Read More

Yellowstone National Park covers over 2.2 million acres.

Yellowstone National Park is usually open year-round; however, most roads and facilities close during the winter. Yellowstone is typically closed mid-October through late May or early June, with specific dates varying by year and location within the park. Learn more about experiencing Yellowstone in the winter. Read More

Yellowstone National Park is famous for being the first national park in the world and for featuring the most geysers and hot springs in the world, including Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring.

Yellowstone became the world’s first national park in 1872.

Yellowstone National Park sits in the northwest corner of Wyoming. Most of Yellowstone National Park – 96 percent – is in Wyoming, while the remaining portions are shared between Montana and Idaho.

Yellowstone National Park has nine lodges. All are open from late spring through fall. Two remain open in the winter. If you’re looking to camp, you’ll find 12 campgrounds throughout the park. All sites must be reserved.

We recommend planning your trip to Yellowstone nine months to a year in advance. Most lodging within the park requires reservations and books quickly.

The driving distance between Glacier National Park and Yellowstone is 441 miles, or about 8 hours. Glacier is located in northwest Montana, while Yellowstone National Park is in northwest Wyoming.

The closest airport to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming is Yellowstone Regional Airport, located in Cody. Any of Wyoming’s nine airports offer connecting flights from larger international airports like Salt Lake City and Denver. Find more Wyoming airports here.

To see most of the popular destinations in Yellowstone National Park you should plan for at least 2-3 days. If you’re looking for a more in-depth visit to this sprawling national park, plan for about a week. This itinerary highlights a few different ways to explore Yellowstone. Read More

For the best summer weather, you should visit Yellowstone National Park between June and August. For smaller crowds, plan your trip for late April or early September. Since Yellowstone is the second most popular national park, visiting during these less popular times can make for a more enjoyable experience.

Grand Teton National Park is in the northwest region of Wyoming, just 10-minutes north of Jackson Hole. It sits just below Yellowstone National Park.

Grand Teton National Park is famous for its jagged mountain peaks, which create a stunning skyline. The park is also well-known for some of the best wildlife viewing in the United States. Learn more about Grand Teton National Park here.

Grand Teton National Park is about 310,000 acres, or 485 square miles.

Grand Teton National Park offers plenty to do. Hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, scenic drives, wildlife viewing and camping are some options. With six large lakes at the base of the Tetons and over 100 alpine and backcountry lakes, Grand Teton National Park is also a prime location for boating and fishing.

Grand Teton National Park offers a number of cabins, lodges and ranches for you to stay in within the park’s boundaries. You can also enjoy one of seven park campgrounds, all of which require reservations.

Grand Teton National Park is open year-round. However, many roads and facilities close during the winter months, which is typically mid-October through late-May. Learn more about experiencing Grand Teton National Park in the winter here.

Located in northwest Wyoming, there are several ways to get to Grand Teton National Park. From Salt Lake City, Utah, drive east on I-80 to Evanston, Wyoming and take US-89 north. This highway travels through Wyoming’s Star Valley, a series of towns nestled beneath the Salt River Range. From Rock Springs, Wyoming, travel north along US-189, taking time to enjoy the Wind River Range near Pinedale along the way. Discover more ways to get to Grand Teton along different Wyoming routes. Read More

Spending 2-3 days in Grand Teton National Park should give you enough time to explore the area. View our Grand Teton National Park itinerary for ideas here.

Spring and fall are the best times to visit Grand Teton National Park, providing great wildlife viewing, fall colors and smaller crowds.

Devils Tower National Monument is a geological wonder. Made from a rare igneous rock, phonolite porphyry, scientists still wonder how it was formed.

Devils Tower National Monument sits in the northeast corner of Wyoming.

Devils Tower National Monument is 867 feet tall from its base to its summit. This geological wonder stands 1,267 feet above the nearby Bella Fourche River.

Devils Tower National Monument provides a variety of things to do. Hiking, rock climbing and wildlife viewing are just a few activities you can enjoy. Devils Tower is also known for its dark skies, making it a prime destination for stargazing.

Most Native American tribes that lived near Devils Tower National Monument, or Bear Lodge as it is better known to the tribes, have individual oral histories about the creation of the tower. These stories contain similar elements but vary in the details. You can explore the stories here.

Not only is Devils Tower an important geological wonder, but it is also an important sacred site to Native Americans. During the month of June, dozens of Northern Plains tribes arrive at Devils Tower to perform ceremonies. Because of this, rock climbers are urged not to climb the tower in June.

Yes, Devils Tower became the first national monument on September 24, 1906.

Cheyenne sits in Laramie County, Wyoming.

The population of Cheyenne, Wyoming, as is 65,435 based on the 2020 US Census.

Cheyenne, Wyoming has a population of 65,435 and encompasses 20,720 acres.

Cheyenne, Wyoming is best known for Cheyenne Frontier Days, which is the largest outdoor rodeo in the world.

Cody, Wyoming is considered the “Rodeo Capitol of the World.” During the summer you can catch a rodeo every night from June to August. You can also discover Cody’s museums, which include the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Other activities in Cody include outdoor recreation like whitewater rafting and hiking, scenic byways, shopping, tours, wildlife viewing and much more.

Cody is in northwest Wyoming, about 50 miles east of Yellowstone National Park’s East Entrance.

Cody, Wyoming is in Park County.

Cody is 52 miles from the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

Cody, Wyoming is famous for being the “Rodeo Capital of the World” and a well-known gateway town to Yellowstone National Park.

Jackson, Wyoming refers to only the town. If you use Jackson Hole you are speaking of the entire valley including: Jackson, Teton Village, Wilson, The Aspens, Moran Junction, Moose and surrounding areas.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming is known as one of the top ski destinations in the country. It sits just outside of Grand Teton National Park and is known as a gateway to that popular destination.

During the winter months Jackson Hole is an ideal place for winter recreation, such as skiing, snowboarding, dogsledding and snowshoeing. During the warmer months you can hike, fish, boat, climb, bike, and more Shopping and dining in Jackson’s vibrant downtown should be part of your to-do list no matter the season.

Jackson Hole is full of amazing lodges, dude ranches, hotels, cabins, campgrounds and more.

Jackson Hole offers a variety of food options. From farm to table to high end dining and everything in between, there is something for everyone’s food preference and budget.

The major airlines that fly into Jackson Hole include: Alaska, American, Delta and United Airlines.

Any time of the year is a great time to visit Jackson Hole. Winter offers plenty of opportunities to ski and experience other snow sports. Spring and fall are excellent for wildlife viewing and are often less-crowded times of the year. Summer provides a plethora of outdoor activities from whitewater rafting and rock climbing to hiking and sight-seeing.

Spending about three days in Jackson Hole will give you enough time to discover the area, but there are plenty of activities to make a longer stay worth it.

Casper, Wyoming is located in the east central part of the state.

Casper, Wyoming, has a population of 58,446 as of 2019 and encompasses 17,433 acres.

Casper is in Natrona County, Wyoming.

Casper, Wyoming is surrounded by amazing outdoor recreation, multiple museums, fantastic dining, breweries, distilleries and much more. Casper is well known as an incredible fly-fishing destination and is also known for its frontier history.