Are you looking for a place in Wyoming that offers many world-class outdoor activities and wide open spaces?
Visit the beautiful and welcoming city of Casper, located at the foot of Casper Mountain.
It’s the second-largest city in Wyoming and is also known as “The Oil City.”
The city boasts a strong heritage of oil boomtown and cowboy culture from when oil was first discovered in Salt Creek Oil Field in 1889.
Iconic landscapes, historical sites, and amazing food—Casper offers its travelers with endless places to visit and activities to enjoy.
These are the best things to do in Casper, Wyoming:
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Enjoy exhibits of legendary names associated with the history of the West at the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center on North Poplar Street.
It was established in 2002 and consists of permanent and temporary trail exhibits.
The center also offers interpretive programs, multimedia presentations, and special events.
The permanent trail exhibits include Oregon, California, Mormon, and Pony Express trails.
Explore the hands-on exhibits with surround sound and static displays and gather loads of information.
The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center also offers a fantastic view of Casper Mountain.
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Want to know about Casper’s own dinosaurs and enjoy a collection of over 3,000 fossils and artifacts?
Located on Lisco Drive, the Tate Geological Museum is a must-visit for kids and adults.
The museum houses Dee, the 11,600-year-old Columbian Wooly Mammoth that lived in the American West during the Pleistocene or the Ice Age.
You can spend hours learning fascinating facts about extinct animals, rocks, and other artifacts.
As you enter the museum, a life-sized T-Rex bronze outside will welcome you.
Family-friendly, enjoyable, and educational—a tour of the Tate Geological Museum will surely make your trip memorable.
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The Fort Caspar Museum and Historic Site is a popular Casper attraction and attracts many visitors yearly.
The city derived its name from Fort Caspar, a fully restored frontier outpost named after Lieutenant Caspar Collins.
The museum features reconstructed log buildings, including a wooden stockade.
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You can also find a replica of the Mormon ferry, operational in Casper from 1847 to 1849.
The object collection inside the museum’s Interpretive Center will give you a glimpse of Casper’s initial 100 years.
You can also learn about the history of the community via the available interactive videos.
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In early December, a historical reenactment at the site is undertaken by members of a living history group.
The Fort Caspar Museum and Historic Site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
You can find this attraction along Fort Caspar Road.
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If you are outdoorsy, you won’t run out of recreational activities to enjoy in Casper.
Fishing, canoeing, kayaking, or stand-up paddleboarding—you can enjoy everything along the course of Casper’s crown jewel, the North Platte River.
The river can be accessed through several points like Lusby, By the Way Ranch, Speck/Bessemer Bend, Morad Park, Robertson Road, and many more.
The Platte River Trail travels 11 miles along the North Platte River and is a great place for biking or simply walking.
Enjoy the soft flowing sounds of the water, the birdsong, and the enchanting view of the river.
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The trail is ideal for enjoying a few hours of peace and relaxation while walking or biking.
The local people of Casper enjoy floating—so why not go with the flow?
Loan a watercraft, borrow water jackets, and start your floating activity.
Enjoy sights of local birds, wildlife, and fish jumping out of the water.
Soak in the sun by the North Platte River while enjoying the beauty of Casper.
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Casper Mountain is a treasure trove of spectacular vistas, dense forests, numerous wildlife, and stunning trails.
This iconic landmark offers you endless things to do.
Garden Creek Falls and Rotary Park are two of the most treasured spots at the mountain’s base.
Get in touch with nature while watching the sparkling water cascade down the mountain.
The blooming trees during spring add to the beauty of the place.
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There is an easy, short hike to the waterfall.
You can opt for Bridle Trail at Rotary Park for a tougher hike and horseback riding.
For campers, Casper Mountain offers more than 60 unique camping sites.
Bring a tent, camper, or RV and enjoy a night or two under the sky, stargazing.
Casper Mountain is synonymous with winter sports and the associated adrenaline rush.
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The mountain also boasts more than 50 miles of multi-use trails of varying difficulties.
If you are on a strict budget, budget-friendly snowshoeing is also a great option strap snowshoes to your boots, and you’ll be all set.
Glide through the powdery snow while pedaling the Fat Bikes.
The Casper Mountain Trails Center is the perfect place to start with non-motorized winter sports.
When the snow gets deep, enjoy snowmobiling in the 32 miles of well-maintained trails.
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Be greeted by a nice North American Big Horn Sheep collection at this one-of-a-kind museum.
The Werner Wildlife Museum not only displays wildlife indigenous to Wyoming but also houses a wide range of wildlife specimens from all over the world.
It showcases an impressive collection of labeled taxidermy animals.
Your kids will be fascinated by the exhibition of almost 400 birds, fish, and animals.
The Werner Wildlife Museum is located on East 15th Street.
Your dogs deserve all the fun when on a trip, and they’ll surely love Morad Park on Wyoming Boulevard Southwest.
This wonderful, natural dog park consists of paved pathways and meandering dirt paths for your dog to explore.
It also allows your dogs to run around off-leash.
On a hot day, your pets can enjoy a relaxing bath at the Platte River.
Morad Park is also a great place for biking.
It can also be the start and endpoint for your kayak trips and inner tube floats.
Are you an art enthusiast?
If you are in Casper, do not forget to visit the Nicolaysen Art Museum on East Collins Drive.
This contemporary art museum displays works of world-renowned regional and national artists.
Surf through the rotating exhibits of the permanent collection of works by Picasso, Dali, Matisse, and Charles Russell.
The exhibits also contain special collections of Robert Russin, Tom West, Ben George, and many more.
Your kid can also enjoy art activities and exploration at the Discovery Center.
The awe-inspiring display, periodic auctions, shows, and festivals make Nicolaysen Art Museum an art lovers’ paradise.
Located on East 2nd Street, the M.L. Bishop Museum is the only house museum in Casper.
Visitors can learn about the unique history of Casper, Natrona County, and Wyoming through the eyes of the Bishop family.
Generations of this local family stayed in the historic home for more than 100 years and witnessed the city’s evolution.
The M.L. Bishop Museum was placed on the National Register of Historic Places due to its association with the development of Casper from a small village to livestock and finally to an oil town.
This small historic home is well-preserved with old furnishings and other interesting displays.
The house is available for rent for holiday tours, small groups, and private parties.
Get soaked in the rhythm of music and the beauty of nature during the midsummer Beartrap Summer Festival.
The meadow on Casper Mountain lingers with festival vibes during this weekend-long outdoor music event.
The stage, set in the middle of the meadow, is graced by performances of local, regional, and national musicians and bands.
The Beartrap Summer Festival also attracts a variety of vendors—you can eat and buy handmade goods while enjoying good music.
Make yourself comfortable in your camp chair and blanket while enjoying the fantastic combination of good music and nature’s beauty!
Considered one of the finest breweries in the city, Skull Tree Brewing is an experience recommended by locals and visitors.
This small yet quaint place on Burlington Avenue offers a fine beer selection.
After a long and hectic day, Skull Tree Brewing is the best place to enjoy a relaxing evening with fine beer amid a great ambiance.
The setting is ideal for unwinding with a friend and a cold, tasty beer.
Beers like the “night train,” “County 1,” “sour alewife,” and “son of java fury” are some of Skull Tree Brewing’s offerings.
If you appreciate fine yet unusual spirits, visit Backwards Distilling Company on South Wolcott Street.
Its quirky, out-of-the-box vibe makes this brewery unique.
The spirits are crafted from grain to bottle in small batches in their distillery.
All the spirits found there have a distinct personality and name, like Ringleader Vodka, Strongman Gin, Cinnamon Moonshine, and Sword Swallower Rum.
High-quality spectacular spirits and delectable cocktails await, offering amazing sensations with every sip.
Backwater Distilling Company is committed to craft, quality, creativity, and community.
Cozy atmosphere, excellent hand-crafted drinks, and super friendly staff—things cannot get better than this.
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Downhill skiing and snowboarding lovers must check out the jewel called Hogadon Basin Ski Area, located atop Casper Mountain.
This ski resort features 27 trails of varying difficulties: 20% of ski terrain is for beginners, 40% for intermediate, and the rest 40% for expert level.
Along with being versatile, the trails also offer scenic views.
The resort building is nestled at the summit and not at the base.
Along with the traditional downhill skiing, you can enjoy cross-country skiing minutes away from the actual resort.
Several miles of cross-country trails at Hogadon Basin Ski Area are frequently lit up for night skiing.
Ford Wyoming Center, formerly the Casper Events Center, is a 28,000-square-foot multi-purpose building perched on a hill above Casper and the picturesque Platte River.
The center, established on April 17, 1982, is now under the management of the City of Casper.
Feel free to drop by to catch events like worship services, political rallies, expos, ceremonies, games, festivals, and even bull riding competitions.
Ford Wyoming Center can accommodate around 8,000 people in a horseshoe configuration.
Wyoming High School holds its events here.
You can find Ford Wyoming Center along Events Drive.
Casper is known for its stunning landscape, and golf is an excellent opportunity to enjoy nature while having a good time.
Three Crowns Golf Club is one of the best courses in the area, designed by the legendary architect Robert Trent Jones.
The property, now known as platter River Commons, was one of the world’s largest refineries and is now home to a golf course.
The 350-acre park on King Boulevard features a golf course, a jogging route, a business park, and other parks.
Three Crowns Golf Club’s course is set on 110 groomed acres and 45 acres of natural grass.
Practice facilities at the club include 13 acres, two bunkers, a 300-yard driving range, and an area for short games.
In 1980, Casper residents founded Stage III Community Theatre to hold professional plays suitable for all ages.
For over four decades, it has become a memorable part of the lives of many longtime residents.
From the beginning of September to the end of June, this performing arts theater presents six plays yearly and occasional seasonal productions.
In addition to presenting plays, Stage III Community Theatre also provides its audience with educational and creative possibilities through escape rooms that complement each show’s topic.
You may also join its monthly workshops.
The theater also participates in community events such as the fair and rodeo procession, the Olympics, and more.
This attraction is located on North Center Street.
The time you spend at Escape 307 will surely be one of the highlights of your trip to Casper.
Unlike other escape game centers, the chambers at Escape 307 employ methods and procedures that are exclusive to the company.
In this escape game, you’ll spend 60 minutes in one of four different themed rooms, each with its rules and challenges designed to test your mental fortitude.
It’s up to you to find the right combination of puzzle-solving skills, resourcefulness, and quick thinking to make it out on time.
Escape 307 provides an excellent way to strengthen your bond and have fun as you solve the puzzles.
You can find this escape room along East Yellowstone Highway.
Six miles from Casper, Edness Kimball Wilkins State Park is famous for its excellent wildlife watching opportunities.
Tucked along the North Platte River, it is home to many cottonwood trees and riparian areas.
Numerous trees and wetlands make the park a natural habitat for a mixed bag of wildlife consisting of birds, antelope, deer, and other small animals.
The Wyoming Audubon Society has designated the park as an important bird area.
It means Edness Kimball Wilkins State Park is at the center of the society’s conservation efforts in Wyoming.
The North Platte River, on which the park sits, is famous for blue-ribbon fly-fishing all year round.
Over two miles of paved trails, a swimming pond, volleyball courts, more than 40 picnic spots, river access, and playground areas—all these amenities make the park perfect for a leisurely picnic.
Casper is an excellent destination for a family vacation since it offers something for everyone, from exciting outdoor activities to engaging historical sites.
Many outdoor recreation opportunities include bicycling, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, floating the North Platte River, and fishing.
Begin your adventure with this list of the best things to do in Casper, Wyoming.
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