Anyone ever drive through Wyoming?

[Patiod]

We're going to a dude ranch in Southern Wyoming (Laramie area) and my S.O. is thinking we should drive up to Deadwood, SD, which is an eight-and-a-half hour drive.

We'd go diagonally up through the center of the state, spend the night, tour around a little, and then drive back down to the Denver airport along the Eastern border of the state.

Is this pretty country, or are we going to be bored out of our minds?

[havocmom]

1. Pretty by my tastes, but then, I like open spaces.

I would not do that trek anytime there is a chance of snow ;) There are actually traffic blocking arms that can be lowered on onramps to the interstates in the event of blizzards in those parts.

[Patiod]

9. We're going the week of Labor Day

The woman who runs the dude ranch said that "they usually clear the snow pretty quickly in September" Yikes!!!!

Her husband wrote today to remind us it will be in the 50s-60s during the day, and 20s-30s at night. Yikes! It will be tough packing turtlenecks, sweaters and heavy coats in soupy 100-degree weather!!!

[havocmom]

12. Yeah, Sept is a month with many weathers!

and clothing in layers. ;) Pack a little emergency kit in the car. WY probably has travel tips on a state website, the Montana Dept of Transportation does. I never leave the driveway without one or two of those mylar-type emergency blankets, water and some energy bars, no matter what time of year it is!

Gets pretty windy out there too. Snow or no snow, the wind can be exciting at times. And Thunder Basin isn't called that for nothin'.

Do keep eyes alert for deer and antelop in the barrow pits along sides the road. Sept is starting to get into the time of the harem roundups and the males can get sorta pre-occupied with that instead of watching for cars. The does can get chased around and bounce into your path fast.

But, yeah, worth the effort to see the area.

[Patiod]

13. Thank you so much for the advice!

We'll be renting a vehicle, and will be trying for a small SUV (like a Ford Escape). We want to balance gas milage with room to move around on such a long trip.

We are very used to braking for deer - of course, when we come across deer, we're doing 35 on the winding roads of Pennsylvania, not 75 across Wyoming!

[havocmom]

17. Deer and antelope behave differently. Deer will dash across your path, as

you know. Antilope tend to try an outrun you. They often stay in front of your vechicle and keep going straight, or race along side of you, and likely to vere into your path at any time. 'SpeedGoats' are crazy bastards!

[Trigger Hippie]

2. I loved it.

I saw Devil's Tower about five years ago. It's beautiful country. I loved it because it was so devoid of people. It made me feel peaceful. Enjoy your trip! :)

On edit: clarification

[stevedeshazer]

3. Bring tapes and/or CDs and you'll have a great time.

Unless you like country music and right-wing talk, because that's all there is on the radio!

It's beautiful to my eye.

[Patiod]

8. Last year we drove the length of AZ with Ron White

Once we got out up toward the Grand Canyon, we were happy to have "They Call Me Tater Salad" for company.

Great suggestion - we can start compiling stuff now, buying from the used CD store, etc. (we're not technically proficient enough to download and burn)

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. I find it to be beautiful!

Lots of open space, red dirt in some areas, wildness and openness everywhere.

As my friend who lived there for many years used to say "Out here in Wyoming we have miles and miles of miles and miles".

I think you should do the drive!

Though if you are out there, you might as well go up to Yellowstone, and from there head over to SD. Unless you don't have the time.

And don't forget Devil's Tower up in the NE corner.

[Patiod]

6. Thanks so much for all the replies

I'm not sure we'll have time to do Yellowstone - I'm thinking if we enjoy the "dude ranch" experience, we might try one near Yellowstone in a few years - I can't think of anything more fun than riding through parts of Yellowstone (or West Yellowstone) on a horse.

Thanks for the Devil's Tower tip - we will be near there, so we'll add that to the itinerary.

Just wish gas prices weren't so brutal...

[yellowdogintexas]

23. DON'T miss Yellowstone. It is the most amazing place

We are going to be there in September for a week. Can't wait.

The Buffalo Bill Cody Museum of the West is in Cody and is a huge spread.

Thermopolis WY boasts of having the largest hot spring in the world.

Your gate pass to Yellowstone also gets you into Grand Teton and is good for a week.

[no name no slogan]

5. It's wide open, beautiful, and barren

but OTOH much more interesting than eastern Colorado or western Kansas. At least you've got a little topography in WY to look at. western SD is also very picturesque, too. Enjoy the trip!

[Patiod]

11. Anything else to see on the way?

Devil's Tower is definitely on the way, and it looks as if we'll be passing through Laramie, Casper, and Buffalo on the way the ranch to Deadwood, then Chugwater and Cheyenne on the way back.

We won't get to the NW corner and all the beauty of Yellowstone, but there's only so much time...

[GalleryGod]

14. Be back in time for the Wild Card Race !

:applause: :popcorn: :applause:

[Patiod]

20. OT: We're going to see the Nationals this week

I'm nervous - I think this week's series is "make or break"

[no name no slogan]

15. well, just the scenery out the window

I was thru Laramie about 13 years ago, and there's nothing that stood out as far as stuff to do. It's a smallish town, very typical of most small towns in the west. blink too long and you'll miss it.

however the scenery in that part of the world is beautiful and surreal. the sky seems to go on forever...

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Yes it is pretty

And Deadwood, SD is in a beautiful spot.

[ellie]

10. Yes, my DH

had an acute anxiety attack there. It was awful. We had to leave post haste.

[asthmaticeog]

16. I've driven through Wyoming, probably will again soon.

I was on I90 the whole time, but thought it was just amazing, totally gorgeous.

Also, I had the best breakfast of my life in Casper.

[Patiod]

21. Where in Casper?

We'll be looking for good cheap eats along the way (although my SO knows to keep us stocked with granola bars, since I get cranky when I don't eat)

[asthmaticeog]

22. Ah, shit, it was 14 years ago, I can't recall the name of the place.

Amazingly fresh EVERYTHING, though, like the eggs were laid and the sausage packed a few minutes before I got there. Wish I could remember the name, I'm awfully sorry.

[Swede]

18. Don't forget to check out Devil's Tower.

But there sure are lots of miles and miles of scrub.

[nookiemonster]

25. Ex-wife's parents live in Hulett, which is nearby.

Various native american tribes were mesmerized by this rock.

http://www.nps.gov/deto/stories.htm

[WeRQ4U]

19. My relatives live near the end of the earth, someone in Wyoming.

It's an odd little state. It has beautiful countryside and open range. But some of the towns are a little creepy. My relatives' town being one of them.

[nookiemonster]

24. Not a whole lot between Laramie and Deadwood,

unless you consider Lusk. It's literally in the middle of nowhere.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

26. I once drove with my parents from Colorado to South Dakota

up through the southeastern corner of Wyoming. I understand that the northwest is very scenic. But what I saw of the state was mile after mile of flat prairie with few signs of habitation. That was back in about 1963 so it might have changed since then. South Dakota and the Black Hills, however, were very beautiful and had a lot of things to do and see. It seemed to have a few more people, too.

[Orsino]

27. Watch for antelope...

"pronking" in site of the highway. Beautiful.