Located in the southeast of the state of Wyoming, Laramie, boasting numerous historical sites, museums and theme parks, is the cultural capital of the state. It also has the distinction of hosting Wyoming’s only university, and is a good base for touring the region with a rental car.
Getting there
Laramie Regional Airport is located just to the west of the city and serves daily flights from Denver, which is the nearest transit airport for flights from overseas and within the US. National travel deals on car rental can be had at the airport. Amtrakеs Wyoming to Colorado train route runs past Laramie; while Greyhound Lines coaches serve points east and west of Laramie along the I-80, from Cheyenne to Rock Springs.
By road, the I-80 runs from San Francisco in the west, through Rock Springs, Laramie and Cheyenne, and then on to New York on the eastern seaboard. I-25 runs north-south through Cheyenne (east of Laramie) and onwards to Denver in the south. Several other state highways criss-cross the area, making getting around with a rental car the most convenient way to travel.
Key attractions
The Wyoming Territorial Park is one of the star attractions of Laramie and houses the 1872 Prison Museum а temporary home of Butch Cassidy. Also of interest, Frontier Town is a re-created country town with gunfights, trick horseback riding and saloon shows; additionally, the great-great niece of Calamity Jane tells stories here.
The Geological Museum, American Heritage Center and Art Museum are located on the university grounds and are well worth the visit; while evidence of the student population is all over the town in the form of street cafés and a lively nightlife.
Out and about
If you’ve decided on car rental for your vacation, the Medicine Bow Mountains (Snowy Range) lie about 50kms west of Laramie and are a hive for recreation activities with their lush green forests, rivers and lakes. For trout fishing, head for Saratoga, an old mining town in the North Platte River Valley, just beyond the Snowy Range.
The Vedauwoo Recreation Area, to the south of town, has some intriguing rock formations that offer challenging climbs and unique photo opportunities. Alternatively, Cheyenne, Wyomingеs capital, is located to the east of Laramie and is famous for its rodeo а Frontier Days.
Leisure options
The Wyoming Children’s Museum and Nature Center has a bunch of fun exhibits, reptile shows, gold panning and a crawl-through beaver’s house. It provides a great day out for the entire family. Whether youеre driving between attractions or touring outside the city, national travel deals will help with the cost of your vacation.
Safety
Driving long distances can increase the chance of having an accident, so take plenty of breaks. Rock-climbing and certain water sports are also potentially dangerous and you wouldnеt want to be without insurance if you have a problem. We strongly recommend you take out travel insurance when visiting Laramie.