a complete guide to Casper, Wyoming: 9 epic things to see + do

Discover the best things to see and do in Casper, Wyoming with this complete guide. From exploring museums to hiking trails, there's something for everyone in Casper, and this guide details 9 epic things to do in this Western destination.

Disclosure: I was hosted by Visit Casper. As always, all opinions are my own and my experience is expressed authentically.

Wyoming is criminally underrated. Anything outside of Yellowstone and Jackson Hole truly does not get any credit. Perhaps that’s why Casper, a small city in central Wyoming, took me by surprise— I’d never heard much about it. With a population of just under 60,000 people, Casper is a surprising treasure trove of art, cowboy culture, and outdoor adventures just waiting to be had. Casper’s central location makes it the perfect place to stop on your way elsewhere, but it’s worthy of being the star of its own planned trip.

I urge you to give Casper a try. It will surprise you; either with its art, surrounding natural wonders, or its rich cultural history. No trip out West is complete without a few days spent in the goodness that is Casper, Wyoming. Trust me.

getting to Casper ↴

Casper is in central Wyoming in a relatively “in-between” location. A road trip to Casper insures you have a vehicle to explore the Casper area thoroughly. Casper does have an international airport that is serviced by Delta and SkyWest airlines.

If you planning a U.S. road trip, consider these as your onward points of call (all a 4-hours’ drive from Casper):

Rapid City, South Dakota
Denver, Colorado
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Billings, Montana

getting around casper ↴

Luckily, the downtown of Casper is walkable. However, experiencing all the activities in this post (fly fishing, wagon rides, etc.) will require you to have a vehicle to get out to the meeting/starting points.

where to stay in Casper ↴

While visiting Casper, I had the pleasure of staying at the Best Western Plus Casper Inn + Suites. I walked into my room and was immediately floored by its size. I was happy to see that, along with the many amenities of the property, there were also a number of health and safety precautions in place (hand sanitizing stations in place, clean pens at the reception desk, etc.).

Other things I loved most about staying at the Best Western Plus included:

quiet location just minutes from the city center
complimentary continental breakfast
gigantic room with workspace in the room
spa and swimming pool

BOOK YOUR STAY HERE | Best Western Plus Casper Inn + Suites

Oregon Trail with Historic Trails West, Casper, Wyoming

GRUNER BROTHERS BREWING CO., Casper, Wyoming

what to see + do in Casper ↴

shop around downtown Casper

Downtown Casper could have bankrupted me, easily. The number of locally-owned boutiques was impressive, especially given the town’s size. But, for me, it was the quality and variety of goodies on sale at each place that made my wallet panic.

Some of my favourite shops included:

Floral Rhino | jewelry, boutique stationery, and heaps more— this place could have taken every dollar I had
The Mustard Seed | homeware and fashion accessories of all sorts
Lou Taubert | for all your Western essentials from boots to hats and everything in between
Scarlow’s Gallery, Art, + Coffee | beautiful, custom framed artwork and delicious coffee

hit the trails at Rotary Park

Another surprise about Casper was the number of outdoor activities the city offers its visitors. Garden Creek Falls, located at the base of Casper Mountain, was a beautiful lunchtime stop on our hike around Rotary Park. The trails around the waterfall lead to a viewing deck!

Hot tip: Bring good shoes if you intend to hike up to the observation deck. We saw a few people who couldn’t make it up the steep incline on the gravel trail in their sandals.

visit the Nicolaysen Art Museum

The Nicolaysen Art Museum is features collections of traditional Western and contemporary art from both established and up-and-coming artists. My favourite exhibit was by Bria Hammock with modern paintings of legendary women of the Wild West. Unfortunately, that particular exhibit is no longer running, but be sure to stop by the Nic, as it’s locally known, to check out all of its other incredible art on show.

go fly fishing on the North Platte River

The experience that “made” Casper for me was fly fishing. With approximately 5,000 fish per mile, the North Platte River is a fishing haven for enthusiasts from all over the world. It’s something I have always wanted to do but never felt like I “could” as a vegetarian/vegan. It turns out, I learned more about conservation and general wildlife information on my half-day fly fishing tour with Wyoming Fly Fishing than I ever had previously. Paired with a guide in a drift boat, you’ll be given tutorials on everything from how to cast to how to tie a fly (the bait used to fly fish). With the help of our guide, Zack, we caught hoards of fish (and released them)!

Tips for first-time fly-fishing:

be patient | almost no one is an expert right away (except for Luke apparently)
listen to your expert guide | they know what they are doing and they will not lead you astray
dress in layers | early mornings on the river are chilly, even in the summer months
bring cash for a tip | I brought cash, but not enough! I learned only afterward that the average guide for a half-day excursion gets tipped around $125 for their time and expertise

BOOK HERE | www.platteriverguides.com

learn about pioneer history at the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center

Typically, I don’t expect much from free information centers. That was before the National Historic Trail Interpretive Center set the bar extremely high with the incredibly interactive way it explained, examined, and informed visitors about pioneer history along the Oregon, California, and Mormon westward trails. It’s no wonder local schools often take field trips to the center— we could have easily spent half a day here and we’re full-grown adults. The Trails Center is a wealth of information you may have never learned in high school history class made more interesting thanks to it being so hands-on.

experience the Oregon Trail with Historic Trails West

After learning about the many historic westward trails just yards from the Trails Center, we were escorted outside the city to ride in a canvas-covered wagon to give Oregon Trail life a try. We spent part of the evening riding around in a covered wagon built by our guide (I know!!!) while he described trail life and its many obstacles to us. Windblown and face dusted by trail sand, we ended our pioneer experience with a Dutch Oven supper complete with a drool-inducing peach cobbler. The team at Historic Trails West could not have been more fun to spend an evening with. Having this kind of Western experience brought me closer to pioneer history and gave me a greater appreciation for the journey itself (wagon rides are not really comfortable ha!). Watching the sunset along the North Platte River while helping ourselves to seconds of cobbler, felt a little like magic.

BOOK HERE | www.historictrailswest.com

try a beer (or two) at one of the local breweries

There are a number of breweries in Casper that keep an ever-flowing supply of craft beer to locals and visitors.

Gruner Brothers Brewing
Mountain Hops Brewhouse
Skull Tree Brewing
Frontier Brewing Company and Taphouse
Oil City Beer Company

go mural hunting downtown

I mentioned earlier that Casper’s biggest surprise is just how artsy it is! That artistic expression bleeds into the downtown thanks to a number of vibrant murals painted along the alleyways and streets of Casper. You can’t miss any of them, but be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the “Better Together” mural near Backwards Distillery— it was especially easy on the eyes.

drive through Fremont Canyon

Fremont Canyon is frequented by rock climbers, kayakers, and thrill seekers eager to explore this geological wonder in Casper.

attend a rodeo or the Horse Nations Indian Relay Championship

Wyoming is called the “Cowboy State” for good reason. The Casper area is riddled with the history of colliding Indigenous and cowboy cultures. This fact alone makes it the ideal destination if you are hoping to witness barrel racing, bareback racing, bull riding, and everything in between. Keep an eye out for upcoming event dates on VisitCasper.com.

where to eat + drink in Casper ↴

Note: Masks are not required but are encouraged at most indoor dining establishments. Be sure to take advantage of outdoor seating and patios where offered!

breakfast + brunch

GRANT STREET GROCERy + market

I figured in a place like Wyoming, finding veggie food or anything other than BBQ/diner fare would be an ordeal. Grant Street Grocer was my first meal in Casper and everything about it blew me away. The food? Delicious. The staff? Friendly. The interior? Filled with every kind of boutique-type card and specialty grocery items (we spied ingredients for Lao food I haven’t found anywhere in the Midwest). But, the best part was the neighbourhood that is home to Grant Street Grocer. The quiet and quaint surroundings of Grant Street make it feel like a really “local” spot. I watched people step out of their houses and across the road to grab a cup of coffee at the grocer, chatting about the weather. It just really had a lovely atmosphere I wanted to be a part of.

Eggington’s

Ask about breakfast or brunch in Casper, and you’ll quickly be pointed towards Eggington’s. Do not say “no” to the french toast. Do not say “no” to the breakfast tacos. Honestly, just don’t say “no” to anything on the menu. It’s all wildly delicious.

lunch + dinner

LUDOVICO @ GRUNER BROTHERS BREWING CO.

I am not kidding when I say this pizza is the best I’ve had in the United States point blank period. It’s literally that good. Think deep dish pizza with a honey marinara sauce— I know. The view from the patio overlooking Casper makes for a great summer night out and the beer here is the pizza’s perfect pairing.

The cottage café

This quaint blue cottage is the place to go for healthy lunch. The extensive menu did not come to play: wraps, salads, sandwiches, and soups of all kinds are waiting to be devoured by hungry patrons.

C85 Branding Iron

I stopped into C85 Branding Iron over lunch and chowed down on one of their giant salads. My meal was crispy and fresh, and Luke’s soup was exactly what he was looking for post-hike. Service was fast and friendly, but it was the overall environment that got the thumbs up from me. The front of the store opened like a garage door out onto the sidewalk, spilling into downtown. Also, FRIED. GREEN. TOMATOES. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Racca’s Pizzeria Napolenta

Incredible pizza with a lively atmosphere right in the downtown. This is perfect if you’ve just finished shopping and are looking for dining with a contemporary atmosphere.