The capital of Wyoming since 1867 sits at the crossroads of I-80 and I-25. This railroad town of 60,000 people hosts the world's largest outdoor rodeo each July.
Cheyenne, Wyoming's capital city, draws 65,000 people to its annual Frontier Days rodeo each July. Walk through the brick-lined streets past the 1886 Union Pacific Depot and the ornate Plains Hotel from 1904. You can hand-feed bison at Terry Bison Ranch, wander through tropical plants in a three-story conservatory, or climb the 500-foot granite formations at Vedauwoo Recreation Area.
Cheyenne Frontier Days Festival
During the last week of July, professional cowboys compete in bull riding, calf roping, and barrel racing at Frontier Days. Start your mornings with free pancake breakfasts alongside thousands of visitors, then watch downtown parades with antique carriages and riders in period costumes. The arena hosts eight different rodeo events daily, from bronc riding to steer wrestling. When evening comes, you'll find carnival rides and country music performances at the main arena.
Downtown Architecture
Walk through 20 blocks of Victorian-era buildings from the 1880s and 1890s, with over fifty structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Watch live performances at the Atlas Theatre, which maintains its original 1887 carved woodwork and decorative ceiling. Inside the Union Pacific Depot Museum, you can explore railroad engineering exhibits and step into a restored 1920s dining car. Look for 8-foot-tall painted boot sculptures and murals of railroad scenes along the streets.
Parks and Recreation Areas
Ride 35 miles of mountain biking trails at Curt Gowdy State Park, 24 miles west of downtown. Choose from gentle beginner paths or challenging single tracks. Fish for trout and salmon in the park's three reservoirs - Crystal, Granite, and North Crow. At Vedauwoo Recreation Area, climb granite outcrops that tower above pine forests, with routes suitable for beginners to experts. In the city, walk through tropical plants and cacti in the Botanic Gardens' conservatory, or let your kids learn about renewable energy through hands-on exhibits at the Paul Smith Children's Village.
Transportation in Cheyenne
Catch one of four daily United Express flights between Cheyenne Regional Airport and Denver International Airport. Six city bus routes run Monday through Saturday, connecting downtown with the college campus and shopping areas. Most museums and downtown sites are within a 15-minute walk of each other. Regular Greyhound service connects you to Denver, Casper, and other regional cities.
