Your Ultimate Guide to Solo Travel in Cheyenne, WY

Updated April 12, 2022.

There’s no doubt about it: solo travel changed the course of my life! It’s exciting, it keeps me growing as a person, and it reminds me to be confdent because guess what: I can do it! And guess what else: you can, too.

I actually wasn’t so solo on this trip, since I was visiting my friends Amanda and Brock who just recently moved to Cheyenne. However, Cheyenne is such a cute, friendly, fun city, I would happily go solo, and I think you might like it, too! So here’s your ultimate guide to travel solo in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Why Cheyenne?

Love the Old West? #ThatsWY! Meaning that’s Wyoming! And that’s also “why Cheyenne”—the Wild West, cow folk, rodeos, cowboy boots, and more! Cheyenne also has an incredible local food scene, local shopping, and beautiful Victorian early 20th century architecture. The people are kind, the small town feel is refreshing, and the downtown area is wonderfully walkable!

Need more convincing? They also have some of the best coffee shops in the world—and I’ve been to a lot of coffee shops around the world!

Read on: The Best Places to Eat in Cheyenne

Is it Safe?

Yes! Despite its history as a dangerous frontier town (it was even known as “Hell on Wheels” in the late 19th century!), today’s Cheyenne is exceptionally safe. I felt safe everywhere I went, all times of day that I was out. No matter where you go, you should always use common sense and practice general safety measures (don’t flash your cash, lock your car door, be aware of your surroundings, etc.), but seriously, Cheyenne is one of the safest destinations I’ve ever visited.

Read on: How to Travel Safely

How Can I Get There?

Step one of going somewhere: know how to get there! Cheyenne is in the southeast corner of Wyoming, and about and hour and a half due north of Denver, Colorado.

Drive

Cheyenne is a fantastic road trip destination, since you will need a car to get here and get around. So if you’re already planning a road trip to or around Cheyenne’s area of the country, don’t skip Cheyenne—make it a destination! It’s two hours from Denver, about 4 hours from Mount Rushmore, and if you’re a really committed road tripper, it’s about 6.5 hours from Jackson Hole, WY, and 8 hours from Yellowstone National Park (the Nation’s first National Park)!

Fly to CYS

Cheyenne Municipal Airport (CYS) is conveniently located, but it’s rather expensive to fly there! When I looked into flying there from my home airport (IAD), it was going to cost $1,000 and the only available arrival time into CYS was 11:54pm! Not at all convenient or within my price range. Hopefully you will have better luck!

Fly to LAR and Drive or Bus

If you choose to fly to Laramie (LAR), you will need to rent a car there, or take a taxi into town and take the Greyhound bus, which takes about 1 hour and leaves at either 3:50am (you read that right) or 3:05pm. The cost is $86-$130. I recommend renting a car if you’re already spending that kind of money and dealing with potentially inconvenient times.

Fly to DEN and Drive or Bus

Denver has the largest airport within reasonable driving distance, so you will probably find the most options flying into DEN. My friend Amanda graciously came to pick me up, but if I was going solo, I would have rented a car. However, there is also a 2-bus option. You can take the Green Ride Bus to Harmony Transportations Center at Ft. Collins ($35), then transfer to Greyhound for the 1337 bus leaving at 1:30am (you read that right) or 1343 bus leaving at 1:00pm bound for Cheyenne (both take 45 minutes and cost $24-42). Again, I would choose driving myself.

More here: What to Know Before You Visit Cheyenne

Where Should I Stay?

I always recommend staying in the city center, or as close as possible to the things you want to see and do. You may pay more for your accommodation than you would if you stayed farther away, but you will save time and money on transportation to the very things you’ve traveled for! My recommendation is the same for Cheyenne: stay downtown!

My friends graciously let me stay with them in their beautiful historic home on F.E. Warren Air Force Base, but if I were going solo, I would first look at the Nagle Warren Mansion Bed and Breakfast. It’s adorable! They also have afternoon tea on Fridays and Saturdays if that’s your thing. Also check out the Historic Plains Hotel if you’re a history buff like me!

You can certainly look into vacation rentals like HomeAway, VRBO, or AirBnB, but if you’ve been following me for a while you know I’ve had some bad experiences with those! Give them a read before you book!

Read on: Your Ultimate Guide to Accommodations
and Your Ultimate Guide to Vacation Rentals

How to Stay Occupied?

There is plenty to keep you busy in and around Cheyenne! Whether you’re a museum gal (don’t skip the Wyoming State Museum), Wild West enthusiast (check out the Nelson Museum of the West), animal lover (head just a few miles south to Terry Bison Ranch), or shopper extraordinaire (so much local shopping!), there is something for you in Cheyenne! They have fabulous coffee shops, great local restaurants, and if you love cinnamon rolls, you have to get one from the Luxury Diner. Just make sure you get it early in your trip so you can eat it over the course of several days!

Read on: 10 Things to Do in Cheyenne

How to Save Money?

Traveling with others means you can split costs of things like rental cars and accommodations. Going solo means it’s all on you! So of course you’ll want to save some money when you travel. Cheyenne will not break your bank! It’s already a very cost-effective destination, but here are some strategies to help you save even more:

• Food: Eat a big breakfast and an early supper. And then take leftovers back to your accommodation for later as well. Also, read my post on What to Eat in Cheyenne!
• Things to Do: There are so many amazing FREE things to do in Cheyenne! And the things you have to pay for are reasonably priced. The museums that charge admission cost only around $5-$10.
• Military Discounts: Are you or your family in the military? Don’t forget to ask for a military discount! Almost every restaurant, store, and museum (that’s not already FREE) offers a discount to the military, usually a dollar off admission or 10% off your purchase!

Read on: FREE Things to Do in Cheyenne

Are you ready to make Cheyenne your next solo travel destination? Comment to tell me below!

Want more? Check out my Solo Travel Page for tips, hacks, and the best solo travel destinations. Then head to my United States Page for more travel ideas across the USA!

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