Best Family Weekend Destinations in Wyoming

Wyoming's family destinations are dominated by Yellowstone and Grand Teton, but the state also has exceptional science, history, and rodeo experiences for children.

Yellowstone National Park
No national park engages children as immediately as Yellowstone — Old Faithful erupts on schedule, bison walk along the road, mud pots bubble, and the colors of Grand Prismatic Spring are otherworldly. The Junior Ranger program is excellent. The Lamar Valley drive for wolf and bear watching is extraordinary at dawn and dusk. Key stops for families: Old Faithful Inn (a 1903 log building of extraordinary architecture), the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs terraces (constantly changing mineral formations), and the Lamar Valley.

Grand Teton: Jenny Lake and String Lake
String Lake (shallow, warm enough for swimming, calm enough for children) and Jenny Lake (ferry rides, Inspiration Point hike) are ideal for families in Grand Teton. The Colter Bay area has a junior ranger program and horseback rides. Moose viewing along the Snake River is consistently excellent.

Buffalo Bill Center of the West (Cody)
Five museums in one complex — the Plains Indian Museum's collection of Native American material culture is extraordinary; the Cody Firearms Museum is the finest collection of American firearms in the world; the Natural History Museum covers the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Allow a full day.

Cheyenne Frontier Days (July)
The largest outdoor rodeo in the world brings professional bull riding, bareback bronc riding, steer wrestling, and a major carnival midway. The free Indian Village and the nightly concerts make Frontier Days a full festival. Book accommodations months in advance.

Devils Tower National Monument
The approach drive through the Black Hills adds context; the Tower Trail circumnavigation (1.3 miles, paved) is easy and takes 45 minutes. The geological columns, the prairie dog town at the base, and the movie connection (Close Encounters of the Third Kind was filmed here) all engage children.