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the USA🇺🇸 | regionsWyomingGeyser basins, Teton wall, Devils Tower, Cody rodeo, long empty highways | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Wyoming
🌟 Highlightregion ranked #13
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Wyoming has the lowest population of any U.S. state, under 600,000 people, so the gaps between gas stations are real and a full tank is not optional. It sits in the northwest of the United States, and public transit mostly doesn’t exist, which is why experienced travelers rent a car or split one with strangers from a hostel board. A Lander cook once slid me a second biscuit and said, “Gas up in Jeffrey City, nothing’s open past it.” She was right, and I still thank her. Your first day could mean coffee in Lander, a short climb at Sinks Canyon, and an early bed.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 the USA Travel Guide.


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✨ Why go?
Ranked #13 region in the USAWhat sets this place apart

Wyoming gives you two national parks, a monument and a mountain range without a single flight between them, which is rare in the American West. The state is the size of a small country but holds fewer than 600,000 people, so campsites, trailheads and diners stay unhurried outside the parks. Gas stations can be 60 miles apart, so a rental car or a van-share keeps you flexible. Most backpackers stitch together Yellowstone’s geyser basins and the Teton Range with a few days of real quiet in the Wind River Range, where granite lakes sit far from any ticket booth. Cody and Jackson add rodeo nights and saloons, so a week can swing from sulfur steam to alpine lakes to boot-stomping music without repacking.

💡 HighlightsDon't-miss highlights and experiences

  1. Old Faithful, Yellowstone: the geyser erupts roughly every 90 minutes, and the Upper Geyser Basin boardwalks nearby hold hundreds more thermal features.
  2. Grand Prismatic Spring: the largest hot spring in the US, ringed in orange and blue bands. The Fairy Falls trail to the overlook is the best angle.
  3. Grand Teton National Park: peaks rise abruptly from the valley floor with no foothills. Jenny Lake and the Cascade Canyon trail are the classic hike.
  4. Devils Tower National Monument: a 867-foot volcanic column in the northeast, sacred to many Plains tribes. The 1.3-mile Tower Trail loops its base.
  5. Jackson and the Town Square: elk-antler arches, saloons with saddle barstools at the Cowboy Bar, and a gateway to Snow King and Teton Village.
  6. Cody Nite Rodeo: held nightly in summer, one of the few daily rodeos
… read more 👉
  1. Old Faithful, Yellowstone: the geyser erupts roughly every 90 minutes, and the Upper Geyser Basin boardwalks nearby hold hundreds more thermal features.
  2. Grand Prismatic Spring: the largest hot spring in the US, ringed in orange and blue bands. The Fairy Falls trail to the overlook is the best angle.
  3. Grand Teton National Park: peaks rise abruptly from the valley floor with no foothills. Jenny Lake and the Cascade Canyon trail are the classic hike.
  4. Devils Tower National Monument: a 867-foot volcanic column in the northeast, sacred to many Plains tribes. The 1.3-mile Tower Trail loops its base.
  5. Jackson and the Town Square: elk-antler arches, saloons with saddle barstools at the Cowboy Bar, and a gateway to Snow King and Teton Village.
  6. Cody Nite Rodeo: held nightly in summer, one of the few daily rodeos in the country. Tickets are modest.
  7. Buffalo Bill Center of the West: five museums under one roof in Cody, strong on Plains Indian art and firearms.
  8. Wind River Range, Green River Lakes: a remote trailhead with Square Top Mountain mirrored in the water, the gateway to serious backcountry.
  9. Independence Rock: a granite dome near Casper where Oregon Trail emigrants carved names. It takes 20 minutes to walk.
  10. Hot Springs State Park, Thermopolis: free bathhouse soaking for 20 minutes at a time, plus a swinging footbridge over the Bighorn River.
Seeing all of it properly takes about two weeks, and a rushed version fits into ten days.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Wyoming

Private Yellowstone Wolf Watching & Wildlife Safari + lunch

Private Yellowstone Wolf Watching & Wildlife Safari + lunch

5.0(111)
From €1,814
per personViator
Private 8-Hour Grand Teton Adventure

Private 8-Hour Grand Teton Adventure

5.0(104) 8h
From €2,217
per personViator
Private Grand Teton Wildlife Safari Tour

Private Grand Teton Wildlife Safari Tour

5.0(90) 8h
From €497
per personViator
Half-Day Traditional Driftboat Fly Fishing at Jackson Hole

Half-Day Traditional Driftboat Fly Fishing at Jackson Hole

5.0(62) 4h
From €408
per personViator
Yellowstone: Private Guided Tour

Yellowstone: Private Guided Tour

5.0(60)
From €1,534
per personViator
8 Hour Combination Snowshoe & Wildlife Viewing in Grand Teton National Park

8 Hour Combination Snowshoe & Wildlife Viewing in Grand Teton National Park

5.0(59) 8h
From €317
per personViator
E-Bike Tours in Yellowstone National Park

E-Bike Tours in Yellowstone National Park

5.0(47)
From €227
per personViator
Yellowstone National Park Private Tour

Yellowstone National Park Private Tour

5.0(45)
From €1,625
per personViator
Whitewater Rafting Tour in Jackson Hole: Classic Adventure

Whitewater Rafting Tour in Jackson Hole: Classic Adventure

5.0(39) 3h
From €95
per personViator
Yellowstone National Park - PRIVATE Full-Day Lower Loop Tour from Jackson Hole

Yellowstone National Park - PRIVATE Full-Day Lower Loop Tour from Jackson Hole

5.0(38)
From €805
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

⌛️ 5 daysA smart one-week plan

Day 1: Jackson: Fly into Jackson Hole and spend the afternoon on the Town Square, then sleep early. Distances here are long, and the roads are the only transport, so a car sets your pace and each day is built around one driving leg.
Day 2: Grand Teton National Park: Drive north and hike Cascade Canyon from Jenny Lake, taking the shuttle boat to save your legs. The park lies on the way to Yellowstone, so you gain a major hike without backtracking.
Day 3: Yellowstone: Enter the south gate and give Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic a full day. Camp or sleep near the basins so you reach the boardwalks before tour buses arrive. Detour: Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis adds a free soak and a gentler pace if you extend the loop east, and it fits because the road to Cody passes nearby.
Day 4: Cody: … read more 👉
Day 1: Jackson: Fly into Jackson Hole and spend the afternoon on the Town Square, then sleep early. Distances here are long, and the roads are the only transport, so a car sets your pace and each day is built around one driving leg.
Day 2: Grand Teton National Park: Drive north and hike Cascade Canyon from Jenny Lake, taking the shuttle boat to save your legs. The park lies on the way to Yellowstone, so you gain a major hike without backtracking.
Day 3: Yellowstone: Enter the south gate and give Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic a full day. Camp or sleep near the basins so you reach the boardwalks before tour buses arrive. Detour: Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis adds a free soak and a gentler pace if you extend the loop east, and it fits because the road to Cody passes nearby.
Day 4: Cody: Leave through the east entrance on a scenic canyon road that drops toward the plains. Spend the afternoon at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, then watch the nightly rodeo.
Day 5: Devils Tower: Cross the Bighorn Mountains to reach the tower and walk its base trail.

If you keep only one day, make it Day 2. Cascade Canyon at first light, with the Tetons overhead and almost no one ahead of you, is the day I would build the trip around.

🌤️ When to go?Choosing the right time of year

  • Summer (June to August): Highs of 24 to 32°C (75 to 90°F), cool nights, and roughly 15 hours of daylight. Yellowstone and Grand Teton crowds peak and lodging prices run highest.
  • Fall (September to October): Highs of 10 to 21°C (50 to 70°F), thinner crowds, elk bugling, and lower rates after Labor Day.
  • Winter (November to March): Highs of -9 to 2°C (15 to 35°F), short days, and snowy passes. Skiing around Jackson is the draw, and many park roads close.
  • Spring (April to May): Highs of 7 to 16°C (45 to 60°F), mud, and late snow. Prices are low, but high trails stay buried.
Book summer beds in the Tetons by February.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: below average for travelingFEBFebruary: below average for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: good for travelingMAYMay: good for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: highly recommended for travelingAUGAugust: highly recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: good for travelingNOVNovember: fair for travelingDECDecember: below average for traveling
when-to-go

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🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

Jackson is the best base in Wyoming for backpackers, with the most hostels, a walkable town square, and shuttles to Grand Teton trailheads. It is also the priciest, so expect dorm beds around US$45 to 80 in summer. Cody works well for a cheaper stay near Yellowstone's east entrance, with a rodeo most summer nights, a small downtown, and motel rooms from about US$80. Laramie, home of the University of Wyoming, is the social budget pick in the southeast. Its bars, cafés, and student crowd keep prices lower, and Medicine Bow National Forest is close for hiking. Lander suits climbers and hikers, with … read more 👉
Jackson is the best base in Wyoming for backpackers, with the most hostels, a walkable town square, and shuttles to Grand Teton trailheads. It is also the priciest, so expect dorm beds around US$45 to 80 in summer. Cody works well for a cheaper stay near Yellowstone's east entrance, with a rodeo most summer nights, a small downtown, and motel rooms from about US$80. Laramie, home of the University of Wyoming, is the social budget pick in the southeast. Its bars, cafés, and student crowd keep prices lower, and Medicine Bow National Forest is close for hiking. Lander suits climbers and hikers, with Wind River Range access, a relaxed local scene, and campgrounds at US$10 to 25. All four are safe, small, and easy to read. Campgrounds in national forests fill less quickly than park sites and cost less.
Best hostels in the USA


Best quality hotels in the USA

🚌 Getting aroundTransportation options and practical tips

Wyoming punishes anyone who assumes buses and trains will link its towns, because they mostly will not. Visitors who skip a rental car end up paying for pricey shuttles or stranded in a town of 400 people with the next ride three days away. Distances are huge, empty, and gas stations can be 80 km (50 miles) apart. Most backpackers drive, hitch a rental with other travelers, or fly into one hub and stay local.
  • Rental car: US$50 to 100 a day, and the only practical way between parks and towns. Rental fleets are small and sell out in summer, so book weeks ahead and split costs with two or three others.
  • Flights: Jackson Hole Airport is the main gateway but fares are steep. Experienced travelers often fly into Salt Lake City or Denver instead (5 to 8 hours of driving) and save several hundred dollars.
… read more 👉
Wyoming punishes anyone who assumes buses and trains will link its towns, because they mostly will not. Visitors who skip a rental car end up paying for pricey shuttles or stranded in a town of 400 people with the next ride three days away. Distances are huge, empty, and gas stations can be 80 km (50 miles) apart. Most backpackers drive, hitch a rental with other travelers, or fly into one hub and stay local.
  • Rental car: US$50 to 100 a day, and the only practical way between parks and towns. Rental fleets are small and sell out in summer, so book weeks ahead and split costs with two or three others.
  • Flights: Jackson Hole Airport is the main gateway but fares are steep. Experienced travelers often fly into Salt Lake City or Denver instead (5 to 8 hours of driving) and save several hundred dollars.
  • START bus (Jackson): Runs around Jackson and Teton Village for about US$3 to 6 a ride. It exists because parking is scarce, so leave the car at your lodging.
  • Greyhound-style intercity coach and Salt Lake shuttles: Service is thin, with a few daily departures at best, costing US$30 to 90. Check schedules before committing, since routes change.
  • Hitchhiking: Common near Teton trailheads and legal in most places, but traffic is sparse on rural roads. Carry water and a sign, and expect waits of an hour or more.
Fill the tank whenever it drops below half, because the next pump may be farther than you think.

🍲 FoodEating & Drinking in Wyoming

Wyoming eats like a ranch kitchen: bison burgers and elk sausage with a lean, gamey bite, prime rib on weekends, and chicken-fried steak under peppery gravy. Wash it down with a pint from a small craft brewery in Jackson, Laramie, or Cody, or a sweet-sour huckleberry milkshake in the northwest.

Backpackers eat cheaply at diners serving all-day breakfast (US$10 to 16), farmers markets in summer, and grocery stores for sandwiches and trail food. Saloons mix burgers, live country music, and the smell of woodsmoke, and a burger and beer there runs about US$18 to 28.

Tip 18 to 20 percent, as servers rely on it. Kitchens in small towns often close by 9 pm, so eat early. Greet the table next to you; strangers chat easily here, especially over a bar counter.

FAQTraveler FAQ

Plan 5 to 7 days for Wyoming if you want Grand Teton and Yellowstone, and 10 to 14 if you add Cody, the Wind River Range, and Devils Tower. Jackson to Yellowstone's south entrance is about 1.5 hours of driving. A long weekend only covers Jackson and the Tetons.
Getting around Wyoming without a car is hard, and the realistic options are limited. In Jackson, the START bus costs about US$3 to 6 and reaches Teton Village and some trailheads, while a few seasonal shuttles run into the parks for US$30 to 90. Between towns, plan on hitchhiking, sharing rides with other travelers, or joining a guided tour.
Wyoming is known for Yellowstone, the world's first national park, and Grand Teton, with peaks above 4,000 meters (13,000 feet). It also has Devils Tower, rodeos in Cody, and wide-open ranch country with more cattle than people. Park entry is about US$35 per vehicle, plus a US$100 fee for each nonresident aged 16 and over without an annual pass since 2026, and wildlife like bison, elk, and bears is common.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other American regions near Wyoming

Explore more nearby:

  • Colorado—Rocky Mountain elk, Ancestral Puebloan cliffs, Maroon Bells, steam railroad| 378 km away
  • Utah—Five national parks, Zion Narrows, Delicate Arch, red-rock hoodoos| 507 km away
  • Montana—Going-to-the-Sun Road, ghost towns, Flathead cherries, hot springs| 518 km away

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We 💚 feedbackKey takeaways before you go

Wyoming punishes travelers who trust a map’s scale, so the classic mistake is cramming too many stops into one day. Plan one big sight per day, fill the tank at every town, and carry extra water. I would also skip hurrying between sights and let a diner conversation decide the next detour.

✈️ When did I visit the USA?
In January 2023 I visited New York. Many years before, before digital cameras existed, I discovered most of the national parks in the West.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in the USA, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?

Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

The goal is to provide realistic, experience-driven guidance — not generic itineraries — so you can explore destinations with better context, clearer expectations, and more confidence.

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