Summary- The best things to do in Southern Wyoming
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Southern Wyoming blew me away with its beauty! I had no idea what to expect on my first visit, and I’m happy to say we can’t wait to go to back. I love exploring underrated areas and seeing what they have to offer. This blog posts highlights the best spots to hit while in Saratoga and Laramie so you can plan an epic winter trip to Southern Wyoming.
How to get to Southern Wyoming
Depending on where you’re flying from, you may want to consider flying into Denver International airport. Denver offers a lot of direct flights from major airports, from there you can pick up your rental car and its a 1.5 hour drive to Saratoga.
You can also fly into Cheyenne, Wyoming’s airport and from there its a 2 hour drive to Saratoga.
The Best 3 Day Itinerary for Southern Wyoming
Day 1- Saratoga
Start your trip off in Saratoga, known for its hot springs and scenic views of the Snowy Mountain Range. I highly recommend staying in the Saratoga Hot Springs Resort. There are so many great things to do around the Saratoga area too!
Go snow shoeing
Snow shoeing is perfect for outdoor lovers looking to explore the area. Snow shoes are specialized shoes that clip to the bottom of your snow boots to make walking in the snow easier. Rentals cost $20/ day for adults and $10/ day for kids.
If snow shoeing doesn’t interest you, you can also go sledding, snowmobiling, or skiing!
Grab a drink at Snowy Mountain Brewery
Personally, I believe there’s nothing that compares to drinking a freshly brewed beer that was hand crafted by a specialist with over 20 years of experience. Snowy Mountain Brewery and Pub started their brewery 5 years ago, and now it has grown to them having over 12 different drafts. They are even starting to put their drafts in local stores!
Soak in Mineral Hot Springs
There’s no better way to end the day than by soaking in a natural hot spring. The hot springs were discovered many years ago and now they are widely known for the natural hot spring pools. It may be 30 degrees outside, but with the water temperature at a constant 102 degrees it’ll make you forget it’s even winter.
The hot springs water is found at 160 degrees Fahrenheit underground. The water is pumped out slowly into the pools and the surrounding cold air makes it stay at a temperature between 100 and 105 degrees. This allows our bodies to be comfortable in the water and not get too hot.
Where to Stay
Saratoga Hot Springs Resort is a beautiful place that not only has nice accommodations but also has a brewery, delicious restaurant, and natural hot springs!
Best places to eat
- The Malt (Burgers & Sandwiches, $)
- Grumpy Italian (Italian, $)
- Bella’s Bistro (Italian, $)
- Snowy Mountain Brewery & Pub (American, $)
- Saratoga Sandwich Company (Sandwiches, $)
Day 2- Laramie
Go snowmobiling through the mountains
One of the most adrenaline pumping activities in Southern Wyoming is to go snowmobiling! We did a half day tour with the amazing people at Albany Lodge and had a blast!
The Lodge has all of the gear you need to make your trip comfortable (jackets, bibs, gloves, goggles, helmet, and boots). However, it’d still be beneficial to put on layers under the gear to make sure you stay warm! Some additional items I would recommend: face mask, a second pair of gloves that can fit inside a larger pair, hand and toe warmers, and wool socks.
The tour starts off with a tutorial on how the snowmobiles work, features, and a briefing on where the guide will be taking you. After that, you head up the mountain through the trails. The guide will keep an eye out for you throughout the tour just in case you aren’t moving as fast, or you happen to get stuck in some snow.
During our tour we had the opportunity to see how fast the snowmobiles can go, some reaching speeds of up to 80 mph. We even saw a moose and it was incredible because I have never seen a moose up close before!
Once you reach the mountain peaks, be prepared to blown away. The views in Southern Wyoming are simply amazing! There’s an area at the base of the mountain peaks where you can play around with the snowmobile, and even see other snowmobilers climbing up the steep slopes.
On the way back in, there is a warming shack that many people stop by to heat up and eat snacks they may have brought along.
Best Places to eat
- Melissa’s Cafe (Vegetarian, $)
- The Sugar Mouse Cupcake House (desserts, $)
- J’s Prairie Rose (Breakfast diner, $)
- Altitude Chophouse & Brewery (American, $)
- Bond’s Brewing Company (beer, $)
Where to Stay
Albany Lodge is a wonderful place to stay in Southern Wyoming! It’s located in a small town and offers cute and cozy cabin spaces, as well as rooms in the Lodge.
The Lodge also provides a great restaurant and bar serving breakfast, lunch and dinner options. There is also a small convenience shop to grab any essentials you may have forgotten, such as snacks, souvenirs, drinks, medicine, and a few other food options.
Day 3- Laramie
Go skiing at the Snowy Range Ski Area
If you’ve never been skiing before, or you consider yourself a skilled skier, then I highly recommend going to the Snowy Range Ski Area. This location is in Southern Wyoming and is a perfect area for beginners.
The ski instructors and staff here are so informative! They make sure you are safe, learn the basics, and are ready to go, all while being super patient with you in your learning process. The lessons are usually set for 4 hours, with the first 2 hours or so being dedicated to learning how to put on your skis, different maneuvers, and proper techniques.
After getting the basics down, you’ll be able to head up the slopes and start to ski down your first hills. And don’t worry, falling is normal on your first few tries. Just get back on your feet, shake it off, and keep going!
Explore Laramie
Laramie is a small town home to the University of Wyoming. There are many noteworthy stops that you consider visiting including: The Curiosity Shoppe, Laramie’s Basecamp, The Bent & Rusty, Second Story Books, and Works of Wyoming Gift & Gallery.
Best Places to eat
- Melissa’s Cafe (Vegetarian, $)
- The Sugar Mouse Cupcake House
- J’s Prairie Rose (Breakfast diner, $)
- Altitude Chophouse & Brewery
- Bond’s Brewing Company
Where to Stay
The Holiday Inn of Laramie is in a perfect location in town and has a wonderful bar in the lobby.
What to pack for Wyoming in the Winter
Winter in Wyoming can be pretty cold, so you need to make sure you pack correctly so you’re prepared. Here are my suggestions of what to bring:
- Ski gear- When skiing it’s important to have gear that’s waterproof because being wet and cold can lead to some dangerous situations. I recommend this overall set by Burton.
- Waterproof boots- Most places you go will have snow boots for you to rent during your adventures, but you’ll stil have to get from place to place. I wore my thermal +waterproof Blundestone boots and they kept my feet warm and dry.
- Gloves- I recommend fleece lined gloves and a liner glove to go underneath.
- Neck gaiter- This will keep your neck warm throughout your adventures.
- Headband- I love the one from Smartwool here.
- Base layer top- I recommend
- Base layer bottoms-
