Unique Places to Stay in Wyoming: Hidden Gems
If you’ve never visited Wyoming, don’t wait another moment! Planning a road trip always requires finding the locations you want to stay at that meet your requirements and are within your budget. These are the most unique places to stay in Wyoming, especially near Bighorn National Forest. If getting out of the city, connecting with nature and being outdoors is your thing, then keep reading!
Wyoming is the least populated state in the United States but is the 10th largest by land area. It is a known destination for geologists and paleontologists that have explored and discovered so much over the years. It’s also known as one of the happiest states in the US. Given the diversity of the landscape and its people, I can see why.
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Wyoming boasts some truly unique things to see and do, especially if you venture through the National and State Parks. Here are the best reasons to visit Wyoming:
- Yellowstone National Park: Wyoming is home to 96% of Yellowstone, the first and one of the most famous national parks in the world. The park features geysers, hot springs, waterfalls, and a variety of wildlife, including birds, bison, elk, wolves, and bears.
- Grand Teton National Park: Not too far from Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Park offers stunning mountain vistas, pristine lakes, and a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, fishing, and wildlife watching.
- Scenic Drives: The state offers several scenic drives, including the Medicine Wheel Passage, Bighorn Scenic Byway, Beartooth Highway and the Snowy Range Scenic Byway, which all showcase breathtaking mountain views like you have never seen before, alpine meadows, and the connection to the outdoor world.
- Devils Tower: is a unique geological feature that will astonish you. The Devils Tower is a monolithic intrusion and is considered a sacred site by several Native American tribes. It is worth a visit to experience the first national monument in the USA.
- Outdoor Recreation: Wyoming boasts a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, rock climbing, horseback riding, and more. The state’s diverse landscapes, from mountains to plains, provide ample opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts
- Wildlife Viewing: The state’s national parks and other protected areas provide ample opportunities to see a diverse range of wildlife, including iconic species like bison, elk, moose, and pronghorn.
- Fossil Discoveries: The state has notable paleontological sites, such as the Dinosaur Center in Thermopolis, where visitors can learn about prehistoric life and view fossils.
In this article you can find an overview of the best lodging options we found. If we didn’t stay there, we did research to find the best affordable places to stay in the towns.
The following will provide you with some of the most unique places to stay in Wyoming, especially if you are staying in the north. From traditional teepees to lofts to cabins, there’s a spot for every kind of traveler. Without further delay, let’s jump into the list of unique places to stay in Wyoming.
These lodgings can serve as a base as you explore this vast landscape of lush wilderness, historic locations, breathtaking mountains and rock formations. As you read this, you will also find a few tidbits of culinary delights for you to check out while staying in these areas.
You can read a detailed description of our northern Wyoming road trip that took us to these unique accommodations. I can also help you to plan your awesome trip!
Shell Campground and Cabins
Situated on the west side of the Big Horn Mountains, this is the closest full-service campground to the mountains, being only a six minute drive away.Shell is a gateway to US Highway 14, where you can start your venture along the Big Horn Scenic Byway. It is a perfect location to base for hiking in Bighorn, quadding, biking or skiing in the winter. You have the options to rent a cabin, park your trailer or rent a glamping site. This location is dog friendly and a nice budget friendly option.
The Cabins come in a range of options that can sleep up to 6 people. Most of the cabins include a small kitchenette, air conditioning, free WiFi and a communal Barbecue. There is an open garden where they have firepits and outdoor games for use by all (including cornhole!)
The Glamping Tents provide a view of the valley and come with the comfort basics of camping but with a bed and a shared bathroom. There’s enough space inside to sleep 2 with lots of space for your belongings.
We stayed in a Classic Cabin which had everything we needed while we were there. It was a great relaxing site which I would highly recommend. If you are interested in booking this location, click here to secure a great deal.
Culinary Tip: The best thing about the small towns of Wyoming are the local cafes!
There are not many options in Shell, but a must stop is at the Old Shell Store. We didn’t have a meal there but the desserts we indulged in were hands down awesome!
Historic Hotel Greybull
If you are looking for a great option in the area, check out the Historic Hotel Greybull. Originally built in 1916, this hotel has since been restored and boasts the comfort of an era of Western hospitality and grandeur. Your stay there will include the amenities of today with a touch of history. This hotel was highly recommended as a wonderful place to stay. You can check out the pricing here.
I highly recommend you stop in for an amazing meal at one of the best diners in the area. Bob’s Diner had great food, great service and will soon be featured on America’s Best Restaurant. I can’t say enough good things about the great service and mouth watering food.
Sheridan Inn
When you come out on the east side of the Bighorn Mountains, off Highway 14, you will hit one of the biggest cities you will see in northern Wyoming, with a population of around 20,000 people. This inn first opened in 1892 and Buffalo Bill Cody was one of many people that played a role in the history of this hotel.
The hotel has recently been renovated, but it still preserves its past, with its structure, stories, antique wooden furniture and clawfoot bathtubs. This hotel is highly recommended. Click here to check out the Sheridan Inn.
Spear-O-Wigwam Cabins
This remote lodge is located south of Sheridan, and will either take you anywhere from an hour to three hours drive, down a forest service gravel road, depending which route you take.
This is definitely one of the most unique places to stay in Wyoming, especially right in the Bighorn National Forest. They offer a variety of options for accommodations including meals and activities included, and some rooms are pet friendly. I wish I knew about this location before I planned my trip!
Devils Tower Tipi Camping
If you are looking for an experience that will be one of the coolest things you do, head a bit further east away from Bighorn National Forest towards Devils Tower. Here you will find a few camping options just outside the Tower area. But if you drive just a few minutes down the road, you will hit Devil’s Tower Tipi Camping.
There are a few different options for tents that can sleep up to 4 adults in some of the options. Each tipi has a camp stove, 3 gallons of water, coffee fixings, a propane lantern, solar lantern, communal fire pit, and a portapotty that was very clean.
It was truly an amazing experience to sleep in a tipi, as long as you don’t mind the creatures that may be around. It’s not really that different than camping. It was definitely one of the best places we stayed.
The Loft, Lovell
Venturing back west, Lovell was a very unique place to stay in Wyoming. The Loft sits above a barn that was originally located in Cody, and Buffalo Bill Cody used to purchase feed from this location years ago. It was our base when we went to Bighorn Canyon Recreation Area, hiking in Bighorn National Forest and visited local towns in the area, including Cody.
This comfortable place is only 20 minutes to Bighorn National Forest and provides all the amenities you need for your stay. There is a propane BBQ and firepit for you to use, as well as a pond to sit around and enjoy the sounds of the outdoors.
HF Bar Ranch
This lodging below was not one we stayed at, as it was out of our price range, however it is on the list for the next visit to Wyoming.
It’s a guest ranch that has been named one of the “1,000 Places to See Before You Die”.
HF Bar Ranch offers an outdoors-oriented vacation to truly experience what Wyoming has to offer. Rates include your cabin, meals, horseback riding and many other amenities.
When searching for accommodations, keep in mind the proximity to the specific areas you plan to explore within Bighorn National Forest, as it’s a vast region with different access points and attractions. It’s a good idea to check availability and make reservations well in advance, especially during peak travel seasons.
These are just a few of the most unique places to stay in Wyoming, and I’m sure they will provide you with a connection to nature, that will make you want to come back again.
If you are planning your trip to Wyoming, check out some of my other posts for your epic trip: Wyoming Road Trip, Devils Tower, Day Trip through Yellowstone and the Best Hikes in Bighorn.
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Enjoy your Wyoming road trip and always remember to connect with nature, because most of it deserves that appreciation.
Cool post! The way you wrote every detail from the history to the accommodations really showed how cool a trip to Wyoming would be!