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Wyoming
Curated by Our Guild Explorers · Updated August 2026
The Equality State · Capital: Cheyenne · The West
Yellowstone's geysers, the Teton skyline and the real American West.
Why go
What makes Wyoming worth the trip.
Yellowstone
The world's first national park — geysers, canyons and wildlife.
Grand Teton
The most dramatic mountain skyline in the Rockies.
Cowboy country
Jackson Hole, rodeos and wide-open ranchland.
Wyoming on the map
The capital and the places worth building a trip around. Click a marker for a quick note and hotels.
Wyoming — State Facts
A short history
Wyoming's high plains and mountains were home to the Crow, Shoshone, Arapaho, and Lakota, whose bison-hunting cultures were deeply tied to the Yellowstone and Wind River regions. Fur trappers and mountain men, including Jim Bridger, opened routes through South Pass in the early 1800s that became the Oregon and Mormon Trails, carrying hundreds of thousands of westbound settlers.
Wyoming became a U.S. territory in 1868 and made history in 1869 by granting women the right to vote, the first place in the modern world to do so, earning its nickname 'The Equality State.' It joined the Union in 1890 as the 44th state, and in 1872 the territory had already become home to Yellowstone, designated the world's first national park.
Ranching, oil, and coal have long anchored Wyoming's small, spread-out economy, the least populous state in the country. Today tourism rivals energy in importance, with Yellowstone's geysers, Grand Teton's jagged skyline, and the ski-and-cowboy town of Jackson Hole drawing visitors from around the world to the real, working American West.
Yellowstone became the world's first national park in 1872, protecting the geyser basins decades before anyone knew what a national park even was. Wyoming earned the Equality State nickname because it was the first territory to grant women the right to vote, way back in 1869.
Where to go
The signature places to build a trip around.
Cheyenne
The historic railway and ranching capital, home of the famous Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo.
Selected hotels
Yellowstone National Park
Old Faithful, hot springs and bison herds.
Selected hotels
Grand Teton National Park
Jagged peaks above Jackson Hole.
Selected hotels
Jackson Hole
A Western resort town and a ski legend.
Selected hotels
Devils Tower
The country's first national monument.
Selected hotels
Skip Old Faithful's crowds and catch one of the smaller geysers nearby, they're just as wild and you won't be shoulder to shoulder with a tour bus. For Grand Teton, get to Schwabacher Landing at sunrise, that mirror reflection of the peaks in the water is the shot everyone's chasing.
When to go
Summer for the parks; winter for Jackson Hole's slopes.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Deep snow and bitter cold; Jackson Hole's ski slopes are in full swing while Yellowstone's interior roads close to cars.
Spring (Mar–May)
Snow lingers at altitude; late May starts to open up high-country roads and wildlife viewing.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Peak season for Yellowstone and Grand Teton — warm days, crowded park roads, and afternoon thunderstorms.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
September offers golden aspens and thinning crowds before snow returns to the high peaks.
Wyoming FAQ
What is the capital of Wyoming?
Cheyenne is the capital of Wyoming.
What is the largest city in Wyoming?
Cheyenne is both the capital and the largest city in Wyoming.
When did Wyoming become a state?
Wyoming became the 44th U.S. state on July 10, 1890.
What is Wyoming known for?
Wyoming is known for yellowstone's geysers, the Teton skyline and the real American West.
When is the best time to visit Wyoming?
Summer for the parks; winter for Jackson Hole's slopes.
Plan your Wyoming trip
Browse hotels and flights through the Guild's travel partner, and explore more of the United States.
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