RV Road Trip: Cheyenne to Casper, Wyoming

Windswept plains and skies full of billowing clouds greet travelers in Wyoming. Native Americans roamed these lands for centuries. Pioneers blazed trails in search of a better life. And cowboys worked to make a living on the varied landscapes. The area along Interstate 25 from Cheyenne to Casper is a fantastic place to visit with historical parks, forts, and museums to explore the state’s trailblazing history.

Wyoming is best experienced as early settlers did: outdoors. Boating, watersports, fishing, hiking, and archery are popular recreational pursuits in the area. Most historical sites in the state and Cheyenne’s World-Famous Rodeo are outdoors as well. Wyoming is the least populous of the US states, yet the tenth largest in area. This combination allows for wide-open spaces with plenty of room to breathe. There is a special feeling knowing that the land is much as it was when pioneers first traversed this area.

Don’t forget to check out the “big” cities of Casper and Cheyenne at each end of this majestic highway stretch, both of which have lots to do and plenty of restaurants. Grab a photo with one of the brightly painted boots in Cheyenne while you are there. So, hitch up your wagon, I mean RV, and blaze a trail to the Cowboy State.

Weekend Warriors

On the Menu

Wyoming’s Rib & Chop House in Cheyenne offers premium steaks and award-winning savory baby back ribs. Enjoy fantastic service and good old-fashioned “Rocky Mountain Hospitality.” Be sure to finish off your meal with a delectable slice of Mountain High Mocha Ice Cream Cake. There’s also a Chop House in Casper.

Off the Beaten Path

More than 35 8-foot-tall hand-painted cowboy boots are located at businesses like this one at the Cheyenne Depot Museum, a National Historic Landmark, and the last of the grand train stations on the transcontinental railroad route.

Must-Do

Experience the West like pioneers did in the “original” RVs on Historic Trails West Covered Wagon Tours. Get a taste with a ride for one or two hours, or live the lifestyle on their one-, three-, or five-day trips traveling on the actual Oregon Trail.

Stay Here

AB Camping RV Park in Cheyenne is close to I-25, yet far enough away to avoid freeway noise. While there, take a break from cooking and try the onsite BBQ restaurant. Other amenities at the Good Sam Park include a fitness room and a playground.

Retired RVers

On the Menu

Start your day right with a tasty and filling breakfast at Eggington’s in Casper. The Cowboy Skillet topped with country gravy is a favorite, or you can indulge your sweet tooth with a sinful cinnamon roll.

Off the Beaten Path

The Quebec 01 Missile Site is the only Peacekeeper Missile Alert facility in the country open for tours. Explore the site to learn about its role in the Cold War and see the control room for a nuclear weapon.

Must-Do

Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum celebrates what is billed as “The World’s Largest Outdoor Rodeo & Western Celebration.” The rodeo is held each July, but you can experience the feel of it any time of year at the museum, which also chronicles the history of the area.

Stay Here

El Rancho Village RV Park & Cabins in Wheatland has large, flat pull-through spots for worry-free parking. The park has convenient on- and-off-freeway access as well.

Family RVers

On the Menu

Chugwater Soda Fountain, established more than a century ago in 1914, is the state’s oldest operating restaurant of its kind. Try one (or more) of the many flavors of milkshakes and malts. Grab an old-fashioned soda to go with your burger and enjoy the restaurant’s small-town feel.

Off the Beaten Path

What a relief it must have been for weary travelers in the 1800s to stop at Fort Laramie. Travelers could rest and resupply before continuing their arduous journey west. Show the kids what frontier life was like at an interpretive talk and see volunteers in period dress during the summer months.

Must-Do

Wyoming is rich with dinosaur fossils. The Glenrock Paleon Museum proudly displays “Stephanie,” a triceratops whose discovery was the impetus for founding the museum. Get your hands dirty with your teens 14 and older on a real fossil dig. Make sure to reserve a spot beforehand.

Stay Here

Rolling hills, pine trees, and a huge reservoir await at Glendo State Park. The park includes 20 campgrounds with over 500 campsites! After exploring the reservoir, try out their cool archery range with 3D targets. See if you can hit Bigfoot!

Full-Time RVers

On the Menu

Sanford’s Pub & Grub in Casper is unlike any restaurant I have ever seen. A giant Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck stand like sentinels next to the entrance. Inside is so much fun decor you could go multiple times and still see new stuff. Make sure to arrive hungry, as portions are huge and delicious.

Off the Beaten Path

Brave pioneers traversed our country in the 1800s in covered wagons, leaving behind deep ruts where countless wheels rolled through soft sandstone. At the Oregon Trail Ruts State Historic Site some of the ruts are more than 5 feet deep! The Guernsey Ruts are some of the best-preserved in the country.

Must-Do

Ayres Natural Bridge Park in Douglas is a beautiful spot for a picnic. Cool off by wading in the water under the striking red-rock bridge (one of only three natural bridges in the US with water beneath it). A limited number of campsites are available for small RVs, but pets are not allowed. Closes for the season on October 15.

Stay Here

River’s Edge RV & Cabins Resort near Casper is a Good Sam Park situated at the edge of the Platte River. The resort is open year-round and has large sites and easy access to the freeway. Take Rover on a walk on the lovely walking trail by the Platte River.