A Wyoming family vacation can bring together hands-on museums, warm mineral springs, dinosaur discoveries, and wide-open road-trip scenery. Use these 15 stops to build a practical itinerary around your family’s interests and travel dates. Planning a late-October 2026 trip? Several attractions have shifted to winter hours, and some seasonal stops are already closed.
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15 Unique Wyoming Family Vacation Spots
1. Explore Wyoming history at the Wyoming State Museum (Cheyenne)
The Wyoming State Museum is free and has a hands-on children’s room alongside wildlife and history exhibits. It’s one block from the State Capitol. Hours are Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m., and it’s closed Sundays and holidays.
2. Ride the ranch train at Terry Bison Ranch Resort (Cheyenne)
A narrated miniature train ride crosses a working bison ranch, and crosses into Colorado along the way. Keep an eye out for ostriches and camels, too. The train runs daily except Christmas. Its September–May schedule has departures at 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $23 for adults, $11 for ages 4–12, and free for children 3 and under. Check the ranch website for current details.
3. See the model railroad at Cheyenne Depot Museum (Cheyenne)
Set in an 1887 Union Pacific depot on Depot Plaza, the Cheyenne Depot Museum features railroad exhibits and a large model railroad. Depot Plaza is also home to the Big Boots art walk. Hours are Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Adults are $10, seniors 60+, military, and AAA members are $9, ages 13–18 are $5, and children 12 and under are free.
4. Try a handcart at the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center (Casper)
This free Bureau of Land Management center brings the Oregon, California, Mormon, and Pony Express trails to life with hands-on exhibits. Kids can pull a handcart or sit inside a covered wagon. Hours are Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m., and it’s closed Sundays, Mondays, and federal holidays.
5. Spot wildlife at Werner Wildlife Museum (Casper)
The Werner Wildlife Museum at Casper College is free and displays hundreds of mounted animals. The museum also offers free family programs. Plan this weekday visit for Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; it’s closed on weekends.
6. Walk through a real territorial prison (Laramie)
At the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site, families can walk through real cell blocks at an 1872 prison where Butch Cassidy was once held. October–April hours are Thursday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; the last ticket is sold one hour before closing. Admission is $9 for adults, $4.50 for ages 12–17, and free for children 11 and under.
7. Soak and stroll at Hot Springs State Park (Thermopolis)
The State Bath House offers free public soaking in 104°F mineral water year-round. The park also has bison viewing, playgrounds, and a walk past its rainbow terraces. Grounds are open 6 a.m.–10 p.m. Winter bath house hours are Monday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m., and Sunday, noon–5:30 p.m. Admission is free.
8. Meet dinosaurs at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center (Thermopolis)
The Wyoming Dinosaur Center features more than 30 mounted dinosaurs in a world-class fossil museum built over an actual dig site. Its summer real-fossil dig programs run from late May to early September, so they’re not available in late October. The September 16–May 15 schedule is daily, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors 65+ and children ages 4–12, and free for children under 4.
9. Explore five museums at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West (Cody)
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West combines five museums: Buffalo Bill, Plains Indians, Firearms, Draper Natural History, and Whitney Western Art. Interactive wildlife exhibits make it a useful indoor stop. Through October 31, it’s open daily, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; November 1–30, daily, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. From December onward, hours are Thursday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults are $23, seniors 65+ $22, students and veterans $21, and children 5 and under are free; youth pricing is shown at checkout.
10. Step into an old frontier town at Old Trail Town (Cody)
Old Trail Town is a walk-through collection of 26 authentic frontier buildings, including Butch Cassidy’s Hole-in-the-Wall cabin, saloons, and a schoolhouse. Seasonal status: it’s closed in late October and reopens in mid-May 2027. When open, admission is $15 for adults, $14 for seniors, $8 for ages 6–12, and free for children under 6.
11. Follow the Sculpture Trail at the National Museum of Wildlife Art (Jackson)
Overlooking the National Elk Refuge, the National Museum of Wildlife Art has a Children’s Discovery Gallery with an art studio, puppet theater, and wildlife costumes. Its free outdoor Sculpture Trail includes more than 20 sculptures. Through October 31, it’s open daily, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. From November 1–April 30, it’s open Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and closed Mondays. Adults are $18; seniors are $16; the first child ages 5–18 is $10, each additional child is $5, and children 4 and under are free.
12. Let kids build and pretend at Jackson Hole Children’s Museum (Jackson)
At the new Jackson Hole Children’s Museum, kids can build, create, and play pretend downtown at 105 Mercill Ave. Exhibits include the Meadow Market farmer’s market. Fall hours are Tuesday–Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and Saturday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; closed Mondays. Adults and children 2+ are $24; children under 2 are free. Teton County locals pay $18, military visitors are free, and Museums for All visitors with SNAP/EBT are free.
13. Visit Granite Hot Springs Pool before its seasonal break (south of Jackson)
The rustic Granite Hot Springs Pool is fed by natural hot springs and sits at the end of a scenic canyon drive. There are grassy picnic spots nearby. It’s open through October 31, 2026, then closes until the winter season, which typically runs from early December to mid-March with snowmobile or ski access. After Labor Day, hours are 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Admission is cash only: $12 for ages 12+ and $7 for ages 11 and under. Call 307-690-6323 to confirm access.
14. Learn about bighorn sheep at the National Bighorn Sheep Interpretive Center (Dubois)
The National Bighorn Sheep Interpretive Center is the only museum in the country dedicated entirely to bighorn sheep. It features dioramas and hands-on exhibits, and offers guided tours of Whiskey Mountain habitat. In winter, the area is home to one of the largest bighorn herds in the lower 48. September 11–May 19 hours are Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors 60+, $3 for ages 8–17, and free for children 7 and under.
15. Walk the Tower Trail at Devils Tower National Monument (northeast Wyoming)
Devils Tower National Monument protects an 867-foot columnar rock tower and was America’s first national monument. The paved 1.3-mile Tower Trail loop is stroller-friendly, and prairie dogs live near the base. The park and its roads are open year-round, but the visitor center closes for winter on December 1; in November, it’s open daily at approximately 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Entrance fees are $25 per private vehicle, $20 per motorcycle, or $15 per person arriving on foot or by bike. The entrance accepts cards only, not cash.
Bonus Quirky Stop
Drive beneath the World’s Largest Elkhorn Arch (Afton)
In downtown Afton, you can drive right under a 75-foot-wide arch made from 3,011 naturally shed elk antlers. The arch, which spans US-89, was completed in 1958. It’s free and open anytime. Details are available from the Town of Afton.
Practical Wyoming Family Vacation Notes
- Choose seasonal stops carefully. Old Trail Town is closed until mid-May 2027. Granite Hot Springs Pool is open through October 31, then closes until its winter season. The Dinosaur Center’s real fossil digs are a summer-only activity. Cody’s Dug Up Gun Museum is also May–September only, so skip it for a late-fall visit.
- Plan a focused driving loop. For a 3–4-day southeast and central route, go Cheyenne → Laramie (about 50 minutes) → Casper (about 2 hours) → Thermopolis via US-20 (about 2.5 hours) → Cody (about 2 hours). Devils Tower is an optional detour via I-90. For a 3-day northwest and Wind River route, connect Jackson → Dubois over Togwotee Pass on US-26 (about 1.5 hours) → Thermopolis via Wind River Canyon (about 2.5 hours), with Cody as an optional addition. Thermopolis fits either loop.
- Check park roads before adding national parks. Most Yellowstone roads close to regular vehicles by early November; the North Entrance road from Gardiner to Cooke City stays open year-round. Teton Park Road and Moose-Wilson Road close to vehicles November 1. If your trip includes the parks, check Yellowstone road status and Grand Teton road updates before setting out.
- Make the travel day easier. Compare flight deals, Trip.com, car rental discounts, and destinations with Explore North America. For the drive, consider a kids’ car travel tray, motion sickness roll-on, kids’ neck pillow, hand sanitizer wipes, mini first aid kit, compact travel stroller, or plane activity book. Find more ideas in our Northwest guides, family travel gear, and family vacation planning guide.
A little planning can help you match the route to your dates, keep the drives manageable, and find stops your whole family will enjoy. We’d love to help you plan, explore our Northwest guides for more family-friendly trip ideas.