Wyoming
11 Affordable Destinations In Wyoming For Budget Travelers
Wyoming, known for its breathtaking landscapes and outdoor adventures, has a treasure trove of experiences that won’t break the bank. From the majestic peaks of the Rocky Mountains to the stunning geysers of Yellowstone National Park, this state offers a diverse range of attractions that appeal to nature lovers, history buffs, and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
While Wyoming may be famous for its vast wilderness and iconic national parks, it also boasts hidden gems that provide affordable options for budget travelers. Away from the major metro areas, Wyoming offers notable destinations that allow you to experience the beauty and adventure of the Cowboy State without overspending. Whether you are seeking picturesque hiking trails in Worland or fascinating historical sites in Rawlins, these affordable destinations in Wyoming will help you make the most of your trip without straining your wallet.
Rock Springs
Clear blue skies and vast open fields punctuate the rich outdoor scenery in this quaint college town of Sweetwater County. Rock Springs offers multiple park areas that visitors can freely access for recreation. Among the local favorites is Bittercreek Bark Park, known for its delightful amenities, such as walking pathways, scenic picnic pots, and a small pond. Meanwhile, you can fill up your gas tank for an exciting sightseeing drive along the Uintas National Scenic Byway. The beautiful route showcases appealing natural features, highlighted by the Green River and Flaming Gorge.
For $20, tourists are invited to enjoy an adrenaline-filled show on dirt at the Sweetwater Speedway. This family-friendly spectacle pits talented racecar drivers in an electric atmosphere. Rock Springs has multiple accommodation options that won’t ruin your budget. Holiday Inn Rock Springs offers comfortable rooms for around $70 a night.
Glenrock
A mix of inviting natural areas and a captivating backstory keeps travelers interested in this small village of Converse County. Natural history lovers are drawn to the Glenrock Paleon Museum, which boasts an intriguing collection of quirky exhibits highlighting prehistoric life, such as dinosaur bones, fossils, and archeological specimens. The Duncan Ranch Trailhead beckons newcomers to explore the great outdoors during a fun hiking expedition. This charming 5-mile walkway poses a moderate challenge but rewards you with wildlife viewing opportunities.
Those who prefer a less strenuous activity can opt to play golf at the Glenrock Golf Course. Perfectly tailored for beginners, its nine holes and magnificent views make it a popular getaway spot in Glenrock. Finally, you can find lodging for less than $100 at Motel 6 Casper in the neighboring town.
Kemmerer
Kemmerer’s colorful century-old heritage has seen it live through coal mining, railroad building, and bootlegging eras. It is chock full of exciting folklore and stories preserved at the Fossil Country Frontier Museum. Inside, a whimsical artifact collection acclimatizes first-timers to Kemmerer’s natural and cultural heritage. Meanwhile, guests can tour the J C Penney House and Museum for a vivid feel of local history inside the early 1900s home of James Cash Penney, listed on the National Register.
There is always a chance to hit the outdoors, and Fossil Butte National Monument welcomes adventurers who want to hike its dynamic trails and discover its thriving wildlife. For accommodation, book a room at the Antler Motel starting at $84.
Diamondville
The perfect small-town getaway for thrifty travelers, this high desert enclave in southwest Wyoming is a great place to visit without worrying about spending. A suburb of Kemmerer, this community is steeped in coal mining history, and its deserted mines and tunnels are popular exploration sites for newcomers to the town. A half-hour drive from the village takes you to Fossil Butte National Monument, where opportunities abound for hikers, nature lovers, sightseers, and campers.
Housing less than 1,000 residents, an opportunity to mingle with locals is always welcome. You can do this over a delicious Italian meal at Luigi’s Supper Club, which delights patrons with a welcoming atmosphere. When you need a place to spend the night, Super 8 by Wyndham Diamondville Kemmerer is a pocket-friendly option, charging around $90 per night.
Rawlins
Rawlins credits its existence to the passing of the Union Pacific Railroad line, emerging as a freight station along the famous route. Visitors come for the history, which the Carbon County Museum preserves and interprets. Touring the facility reveals interactive exhibits that shed light on the area’s cultural diversity with tales of Native Americans, outlaws, and lawmen. You can delve further into local history at the Wyoming Frontier Prison Museum. For $12, an hour-long tour takes you through the rustic hallways of Wyoming’s first state penitentiary.
Elsewhere, those who crave an escape to the open spaces will love playing golf at the Rochelle Ranch Golf Course. Ranked as the longest course in Wyoming, this 18-hole facility challenges beginner and seasoned players alike. Lastly, cheap accommodation is available at 1st Choice Inn or Econo Lodge, where you can spend $75 for a cozy night’s sleep.
Worland
This vibrant river community features interesting museums, outdoor opportunities, and affordable eats. It is home to the Washakie Museum and Cultural Center, which uses a catalog of archeological and paleontological exhibits to introduce guests to the dynamic heritage of communities in the Bighorn Basin. You can soak up picturesque scenery during a laid-back trek on the Gooseberry Badlands Scenic Overlook and Trail. This lovely vantage point provides sweeping views of the surrounding landscapes.
One of the best times to visit Worland is during the Wyoming State BBQ Championship and Bluegrass Festival. This annual extravaganza unites locals and visitors with family-friendly activities, including live music and good, fun games. When it’s time to call it a night, consider staying at Days Inn by Wyndham for $119.
Lusk
Lusk traces its beginnings to 1886 and was named after its founder, rancher Frank S. Lusk. Its rich heritage oscillates around ranching, railroading, and oil, something you can learn more about by visiting the C and H Refinery Historic District. Downtown Lusk has a pedestrian-friendly and lively corridor where you can discover cute cafes, shops, and boutiques. If you need to grab a quick bite, stop at the Outpost Cafe to savor delicious comfort meals like chicken fried steak and hashbrowns.
Furthermore, golf lovers can indulge in their go-to hobby at the 9-hole Niobrara Country Club. Boasting well-groomed greens and terrific views, it offers challenging plays for all skill levels. Finally, you won’t have to search far and wide for pocket-friendly lodging, as the Covered Wagon Motel will accommodate you for around $125 a night.
Torrington
Home to Eastern Wyoming College, Torrington has a subtle vibrancy that keeps visitors in high spirits. It offers several attractions, including the Homesteaders Museum, to keep visitors engaged. Inside the facility, a lovely collection of artifacts recounts the region’s history, and most people are intrigued by the county’s first car on display. If you patronize the Silver Screen, you can catch the latest Hollywood Blockbusters at Torrington Cinemas while enjoying delicious popcorn.
Meanwhile, craft beer lovers can join locals at the Open Barrel Brewing Company to revel in the great taste of homegrown beers and ales. Finally, you have multiple lodging options in Torrington, but America’s Best Value Inn has some of the best rates at $120 per night.
Wheatland
If you are looking for affordable destinations in Wyoming where you can immerse in outdoor adventures near Cheyenne, it doesn’t get better than Wheatland. This is a credit to the nearby Grayrocks Reservoir, which provides a 3,500-acre recreational playground with opportunities like camping, fishing, hiking, and nature photography. Wheatland also harbors a beautiful downtown area with exciting attractions. Cinema West Theatre is a must-visit for movie lovers, known to screen classic and new movies for tickets as low as $6.
However, history buffs gravitate towards Laramie Peak Museum, which brings Wheatland’s cultural and historical heritage to life through fascinating artifacts and memorabilia. For just $65, you can spend a peaceful night at Motel 6 Wheatland.
Pine Bluffs
Pine Bluffs emerged with the passing of the Union Pacific in the 1860s, which saw it experiencing spontaneous growth. Visitors can learn more about the town’s past at the Texas Trail Museum. This former firehouse and power plant building exhibits artifacts that preserve the heritage of the Frontier Crossroads region. Meanwhile, Our Lady of Peace Shrine is a notable landmark in Pine Bluffs, featuring America’s largest Marian statue. It is common to see guests posing for a photo in front of the 30-foot structure.
Downtown Pine Bluffs provides several family-friendly locations that are ideal for relaxing, including Pine Bowl. In addition to bowling, the facility serves great food and drinks and has a pleasant bar area. Finally, consider staying at Cobblestone Inn and Suites for $130 to get value for your money.
Medicine Bow
The small town of Medicine Bow surprises many with its collection of local attractions. It promises plenty to see and do, whether you are an indoor or outdoor lover. You can start by visiting the Medicine Bow Museum. Situated inside a former railroad depot, the venue tells incredible stories of Native Americans, dinosaur discoveries, and ranching. Public Park serves as the local outdoor hub, providing decent amenities for townsfolk to gather and spend quality time in the open.
Meanwhile, East Allen Lake sits just south of the town, inviting outdoorsy travelers for secluded picnics and satisfying birdwatching sessions. Finally, book a stay at the Virginian Hotel for under $150. Or head to the Best Western Laramie Inn & Suites for $119; it is just under an hour’s drive outside town.
Next time you decide to visit Cowboy State, consider exploring these affordable destinations in Wyoming to experience a wealth of fun opportunities without straining your budget. From breathtaking landscapes to charming small towns rich in history and culture, Wyoming has something to captivate every traveler in the United States. You don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy the state’s natural beauty and outdoor adventures; instead, embrace the local charm and unique offerings at budget-friendly locations like Torrington and Medicine Bow.
Wyoming
Wyoming power plant booming with suspected UFO, drone sightings — but still no answers after over a year
Fleets of drones and suspected UFOs have been spotted hovering over a Wyoming power plant for more than a year, while a local sheriff’s department is still searching for clues.
Officials with the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office recorded scores of beaming, drone-like objects circling around the Red Desert and Jim Bridger Power Plant in Rock Springs over the last 13 months — though they didn’t specify how many, the Cowboy State Daily reported.
Sheriff John Grossnickle was one of the first to witness the spectacles, and last saw the mind-boggling formation on Dec. 12, his spokesperson Jason Mower told the outlet.
The fleets periodically congregate over the power plant in coordinated formations, Mower claimed.
The sheriff’s office hasn’t been able to recover any of the suspected UFOs, telling the outlet they’re too high to shoot down.
The law enforcement outpost’s exhaustive efforts to get to the truth haven’t yielded any results, even after Grossnickle enlisted help from Wyoming US Rep. Harriet Hageman — who Mower claimed saw the formation during a trip to the power plant.
Hageman could not be reached for comment.
“We’ve worked with everybody. We’ve done everything we can to figure out what they are, and nobody wants to give us any answers,” Mower said, according to the outlet.
At first, spooked locals bombarded the sheriff’s office with calls about the confounding aerial formations. Now, though, Mower said that people seem to have accepted it as “the new normal.”
Mower noted that the objects, which he interchangeably referred to as “drones” and “unidentified flying objects,” have yet to pose a danger to the public or cause any damage to the power plant itself.
“It’s like this phenomenon that continues to happen, but it’s not causing any, you know, issues that we have to deal with — other than the presence of them,” he told the outlet.
The spokesperson promised the sheriff’s office would “certainly act accordingly” if the drones pose an imminent harm.
Meanwhile, Niobrara County Sheriff Randy Starkey told the Cowboy State Daily that residents of his community also reported mystery drone sightings over Lance Creek — more than 300 miles from the Jim Bridger Power Plant — starting in late October 2024 and ending in early March.
Starkey said he’s “just glad they’re gone,” according to the outlet.
Drone sightings captured the nation’s attention last year when they were causing hysteria in sightings over New Jersey.
Just days into his second term, President Trump had to clarify that the drones were authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration to quell worries that they posed a national security threat.
Still, the public wasn’t convinced, but the mystery slowly faded as the sightings plummeted.
In October, though, an anonymous source with an unnamed military contractor told The Post that their company was responsible for the hysteria.
Much of Wyoming outside of Yellowstone and Grand Teton also struggles with emergency response time.
By Katie Klingsporn, WyoFile
Wyoming’s U.S. Sen. John Barrasso is pushing legislation to upgrade emergency communications in national parks — a step he says would improve responses in far-flung areas of parks like Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks.
“This bill improves the speed and accuracy of emergency responders in locating and assisting callers in need of emergency assistance,” Barrasso told members of the National Parks Subcommittee last week during a hearing on the bill. “These moments make a difference between visitors being able to receive quick care and continue their trip or facing more serious medical complications.”
The legislation directs the U.S. Department of the Interior to develop a plan to upgrade National Park Service 911 call centers with next-generation 911 technology.
Among other things, these upgrades would enable them to receive text messages, images and videos in addition to phone calls, enhancing their ability to respond to emergencies or rescues in the parks.
Each year, rangers and emergency services respond to a wide range of calls — from lost hikers to car accidents and grizzly maulings — in the Wyoming parks’ combined 2.5 million acres.
Outside park boundaries, the state’s emergency service providers also face steep challenges, namely achieving financial viability. Many patients, meantime, encounter a lack of uniformity and longer 911 response times in the state’s so-called frontier areas.
Improving the availability of ground ambulance services to respond to 911 calls is a major priority in Wyoming’s recent application for federal Rural Health Transformation Project funds.
Barrasso’s office did not respond to a WyoFile request for comment on the state’s broader EMS challenges by publication time.
The bill from the prominent Wyoming Republican, who serves as Senate Majority Whip, joined a slate of federal proposals the subcommittee considered last week. With other bills related to the official name of North America’s highest mountain, an extra park fee charged to international visitors, the health of a wild horse herd and the use of off-highway vehicles in Capitol Reef National Park, Barrasso’s “Making Parks Safer Act” was among the least controversial.
What’s in it
Barrasso brought the bipartisan act along with Sens. Angus King (I-Maine), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.).
The bill would equip national park 911 call centers with technological upgrades that would improve and streamline responses, Barrasso said. He noted that hundreds of millions of visitors stream into America’s national parks annually. That includes more than 8 million recreation visits to Wyoming’s national parks in 2024.
“Folks travel from across the world to enjoy the great American outdoors, and for many families, these memories last a lifetime,” he testified. “This is a bipartisan bill that ensures visitors who may need assistance can be reached in an accurate and timely manner.”
The Park Service supports Barrasso’s bill, Mike Caldwell, the agency’s associate director of park planning, facilities and lands, said during the hearing. It’s among several proposals that are “consistent with executive order 14314, ‘Making America Beautiful Again by Improving our National Parks,’” Caldwell said.
“These improvements are largely invisible to visitors, so they strengthen the emergency response without deterring the park’s natural beauty or history,” he said.
Other park issues
National parks have been a topic of contention since President Donald Trump included them in his DOGE efforts in early 2025. Since then, efforts to sell off federal land and strip park materials of historical information that casts a negative light on the country, along with a 43-day government shutdown, have continued to fuel debate over the proper management of America’s parks.
Several of these changes and issues came up during the recent National Parks Subcommittee hearing.
Among them was the recent announcement that resident fee-free dates will change in 2026. Martin Luther King Day and Juneteenth will no longer be included in those days, but visitors won’t have to pay fees on new dates: Flag Day on June 14, which is Trump’s birthday and Oct. 27, Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday.
Conservation organizations and others decried those changes as regressive.
At the hearing, Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), assured the room that “when this president is in the past, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth will not only have fee-free national park admission, they will occupy, again, incredible places of pride in our nation’s history.”
Improvements such as the new fee structure “put American families first,” according to the Department of the Interior. “These policies ensure that U.S. taxpayers, who already support the National Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations,” Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said in an announcement.
WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.
Wyoming
Evacuations spread from fires in South Dakota, Wyoming due to strong winds from coast-to-coast storm
CLIMATE TECH: As wildfires grow stronger, faster, and more expensive, a California-based startup is taking a high-tech approach to fight these fires using autonomous drones designed to extinguish flames before they turn deadly. Founder & CEO Stuart Landesberg joins FOX Weather to discuss Seneca’s firefighting drones.
Large, fast-moving fires are causing evacuations in South Dakota and Wyoming due to the impacts of a coast-to-coast storm.
The FOX Forecast Center said winds have been gusting up to 70 mph in the Pennington County, South Dakota area, which has caused the wildfire to spread rapidly.
COAST-TO-COAST STORM CAUSES TRAVEL ISSUES DUE TO HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS, HEAVY RAIN ACROSS NORTHWEST
The blaze, known as the Greyhound Fire, is approximately 200 acres in size. The fire is burning two to three miles south of Keystone and is moving east, according to the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office.
The Greyhound Fire in South Dakota spans 200 acres.
(FOX Weather / FOX Weather)
Highway 40 and Playhouse Road are closed as crews work to contain the fire.
People living along the highway between Playhouse Road and Rushmore Ranch Road have been evacuated, officials said.
TWO KIDS WAITING FOR THE BUS CRITICALLY INJURED DUE TO STRONG WINDS IN IDAHO
Crews are asking anyone in an evacuation zone to leave the area. Officials are advising people in the area to check the Pennington County Public Safety Hub.
A grass fire has caused evacuations in the Winchester Hills section of Cheyenne, Wyoming.
(FOX Weather / FOX Weather)
People in the Winchester Hills area of Cheyenne, Wyoming, have also been evacuated due to a grass fire.
The FOX Forecast Center said winds are gusting up to 75 mph in the area.
The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Warning and says there is a shelter at South High School for evacuated residents.
Check for updates on this developing story.
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