This 3-day itinerary combines some of the Laramie Area's most scenic fall drives with a tour of it's rich history. Immerse yourself in stories of outlaws, pioneers, railroads, and Laramie's most notable historic figures.
Day 1 - Historic Downtown Laramie
Nestled at the base of the Snowy Range Mountains, Historic Downtown Laramie is a vibrant blend of Western heritage, railroad history, and modern charm. Once a rough-and-tumble frontier town along the Union Pacific Railroad, Laramie has evolved into a lively cultural hub where 19th-century architecture meets contemporary shops, galleries, cafés, and local breweries.
Garfield Street Footbridge
Park downtown in the free parking lot located at 1st and Garfield Street. Climb to the top of the nearby Garfield Street Footbridge for a great view of Laramie’s downtown, the historic Laramie Depot, and the Union Pacific railroad.
Breakfast at Coal Creek Coffee Co. Downtown
110 E Grand Ave., Laramie, WY
Coal Creek Coffee Co.’s downtown location roasts its signature coffee in-house. Grab a seat inside or out and enjoy a breakfast bagel and one of their baked treats (we recommend the cinnamon pull-aparts). Along with their wide selection of coffee and espresso drinks, Coal Creek’s menu offers teas, matcha, hot cocoa, and more!
Historic Laramie Union Pacific Train Depot
600 S. 1st St., Laramie, WY
Visit the only remaining Union Pacific building in Laramie, now a museum of railroad memorabilia. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, the Depot highlights the railroad’s role in the city’s founding. Free tours are available Mondays 9 am – 2 pm or by appointment.
Wyoming Women’s History House
317 S. 2nd St., Laramie, WY
Learn about the women who pioneered women’s suffrage in Wyoming. Wyoming’s motto, “The Equality State”, references the state being the very first in the nation to allow women to vote. The Women’s History House keeps the legacy of women’s suffrage alive.
Lunch at LoveJoy's
101 Grand Ave., Laramie, WY
Lovejoy's menu is a casual mix of cuisine including burgers, steaks and wraps. The bar offers a large selection of beer, along with original cocktails and martinis. Several TVs offer a bird’s eye view of the best sporting events. And there’s always something happening after the sun goes down! The restaurant is housed in the historic Johnson Hotel. Built close to the original Union Pacific Depot by John Johnson in 1900 to catch the rail travelers’ attention, the Johnson Hotel was considered one of Laramie’s finest. Today, it remains an icon of Laramie's downtown.
Laramie Plains Museum at the Historic Ivinson Mansion
603 E. Ivinson Ave., Laramie, WY
Located on the grounds of the restored Ivinson Mansion, the Laramie Plains Museum is a true time capsule of Laramie’s past. This three-story Queen Anne mansion, built by city founder Edward Ivinson, offers an opulent Victorian experience where history comes alive. Inside, visitors can explore carefully curated collections of artifacts that highlight Laramie’s cultural and social heritage, from its early frontier days to its flourishing community life. Saved from demolition in 1972, the mansion has been lovingly restored to its original splendor, drawing thousands of visitors each year to step back in time and witness the elegance of a bygone era.
Antiquing in Laramie
Browse Laramie's best antique stores and find your own piece of history to take home. Here are our suggestions:
Aphrodite’s Antiques and Junction Tobacco
312 Grand Ave.
A wide variety of antiques and collectibles, including artwork, furniture, and glassware. Also has a wide selection of tobacco and cigars.
Snowy Range Flea Market
1951 Snowy Range Road
Snowy Range Flea Market, previously the Boardwalk Mercado, is a consignment shop with a variety of vendors selling antiques, collectibles, clothing, art, and more.
Ruby’s Vintage
710 E. Garfield St.
A vintage and handmade store that showcases western American finds, homemade goods, housewares, and local artists.
The Bent & Rusty
308 S 2nd St.
Find custom jewelry, quilts, reclaimed barn wood furniture, metal work, and more at the Bent & Rusty. It’s not hard to spend hours here browsing local and handmade goods. Check out the local art section of the store for unique finds!
Dinner at The Crowbar and Grille
202 S. 2nd St., Laramie, WY
A stop on the Visit Laramie Foodie Tour, the Crowbar serves American comfort food with boutique beers and cocktails. Try house-made pizzas, local ground beef, or adventurous dishes like Pad Thai fries.
Day 2 - Western History in Medicine Bow National Forest
West of Laramie, discover Medicine Bow National Forest's rich mining, railroad, settlement, and logging history. The area is home to museums, monuments, and trails as well as scenic drives to view trees with their fall colors.
Breakfast at 17th St Cafe
310 S 17th St., Laramie, WY
Fuel up for the day's adventures at 17th Street Cafe. This cozy, locally-owned cafe serves classic homemade American and Southwestern-inspired meals. Try one of their savory omelets or a spicy chorizo breakfast burrito. Their large menu has something for everyone!
NICI Self Historical Museum
2734 Hwy. 130, Centennial, WY
Head west on Highway 130 to Centennial, WY, a charming small town with a rich western history. Stop at the NICI Self museum for a self-guided tour through the area's history of ranching, mining, lumber, and homesteading. See the 1907 Centennial Railroad Depot, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and multiple other historical buildings. Artifacts and exhibits include horse-drawn wagons, ranching equipment, and a train car.
Snowy Range Scenic Byway
Read our Snowy Range Scenic Byway itinerary!
Continue on Highway 130 to the Snowy Range Scenic Byway for a breathtaking view of the Snowy Range Mountains among the bright autumn leaves. Be sure to stop by the Centennial Visitor Center on your way. The visitor center's knowledgeable staff is there to answer questions and provide up-to-date weather information and road conditions.
Stop at the Libby Flats Observation Point, a stone structure built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, for a panoramic view of 6 mountain ranges. Notice evidence of the area's glacial history around you; pristine alpine lakes, dramatic stone peaks, and large boulders scattered across Libby Flats by glacial movement. Move on to nearby Snowy Range Observation point and take the Miner's Cabin Trail to the Red Mask Mine. This short loop passes old mining equipment and an authentic miner's cabin. A plaque in the parking lot commemorates the 66 victims of the October 6th, 1955 United Flight 409 plane crash. At the time, this was considered the worst air disaster in United States history.
Lunch at Bear Bottom Grill in Centennial
2768 Hwy. 130 Centennial, WY
A fun and welcoming family-owned restaurant/bar located in beautiful Centennial, WY. Listen to live music in the outdoor band-shell or inside on the stage, stop in for community events and fundraisers, watch your favorite games and sporting events on one of four big screen TVs, or enjoy the scenery outside on the rooftop deck or backyard picnic tables.
Fall Drive to the Medicine Bow Rail Trail
Check out our Medicine Bow Rail Trail & Fox Park Area page.
Take Highway 11 and turn off just before Albany onto Fox Creek Road. This route is known for bright fall foliage and stunning mountain views. The road connects with Highway 230, which you will use to access the Woods Creek Trailhead of the Medicine Bow Rail Trail. The Rail Trail follows the route of an early 1900's rail corridor and stretches over 20 miles through the Medicine Bow National Forest. Explore a section of the trail and keep an eye out for wildlife and stands of aspen with golden leaves.
The rail corridor, called the Hahn’s Peak and Pacific Railroad, was much longer in its hay day with major stops at Laramie, Wyoming and Coalmont, Colorado. Its railcars once hauled livestock, timber, coal, and gold from the mountains. At 9,050 feet above sea level, this was the highest standard gauge railroad in the country when it was constructed in the early 1900s.
Dinner at Woods Landing
9 Hwy. 10, Woods Landing-Jelm, WY
Make your way to Woods Landing Bar and Cafe. This rustic log building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Woods Landing has a long history of hosting travelers, having been a stop for lumberjacks, freighters, and stagecoach drivers in the late 1800's. Enjoy classic American fare like hamburgers, steak, and a slice of their famous pie.
Day 3 - Laramie's Old West Outlaws
Take a journey back in time to the days of outlaws and Old West justice. Then, you'll visit two historic monuments while you take in fall scenery. End your day with dinner and drinks at two of Laramie's oldest bars.
Breakfast at Night Heron Books and Coffeehouse
107 E Ivinson Ave., Laramie, WY
The extensive drink menu at Night Heron has something for everyone, with a variety of locally-roasted coffees, teas, and smoothies to choose from. They pride themselves on serving artisanal baked goods, inviting you to “join us in savoring the art of baking” on their website. Try their Egg, Cheese, Sun Dried Tomato, and Pesto bagel sandwich or a spicy Mayan Mocha with habanero and cayenne!
Wyoming Territorial Prison
975 Snowy Range Rd., Laramie, WY
Visit the old west prison that held infamous outlaw Butch Cassidy. While guided tours are not available during the winter, you can take a self-guided tour to learn about justice in the Old West.
Lunch at Alibi Wood Fire Pizzaria
404 S. 4th St., Laramie, WY
Featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives! The Alibi Wood Fire Pizzaria and Bakery located on 4th & Garfield in Laramie Wyoming boasts a wood-fired menu, live music, craft cocktails and an excellent draft selection. All of their pizzas are made with the best stuff on earth… caputo flour, San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, local veggies whenever possible & imported meats & cheeses that are the best of their kind. These ingredients atop our special aged dough.
Ames Monument
209 Monument Road, Buford, WY
Just outside of Buford, Wyoming sits the 60-foot granite pyramid known as Ames Monument. Built in 1882, the monument was designed by architect H.H. Richardson to honor the Ames Brothers for their financial contribution to the transcontinental railroad. It marks what was once the highest point on the original railroad route overlooking the abandoned town of Sherman, which was abandoned when the tracks were rerouted in the 1900's.
Fall Drive at Vedauwoo Recreation Area
Located 10 minutes east of Laramie, along I-80 are the towering rocks of Vedauwoo (pronounced VEE-da-voo). The name is derived from the Arapaho word “bito'o'wu” meaning “earth-born” and has been a popular rendezvous since the native tribes first discovered it. The unique 1.4 billion-year-old Sherman granite formations provide a stunning backdrop to some of Wyoming's finest fall colors.
Lincoln Monument
136 US Frst Service Rd 705 A, Laramie, WY
As you descend into Laramie you are likely to see a large bust of Abraham Lincoln overlooking the highway. The monument began as a vague idea by the Wyoming Parks Commission, which wanted to celebrate Lincoln's 150th birthday in 1959. As a justification, it cited the Pacific Railway Act of 1862, which Lincoln signed into law, and which later ran the transcontinental railroad through what was later named Wyoming. The commission hired sculptor Robert Russin to create the 70-ton head out of clay, and it was unveiled in 1959.
Dinner at Sweet Melissa's
213 S. 1st St., Laramie, WY
A local favorite, Sweet Melissa Café is “Comfort Food for the Homesick Vegetarian.” Enjoy creative vegetarian and international dishes, like cauliflower wings or the daily Mac n Cheese special. Guy Fieri featured the café on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, praising Melissa’s vegan creations. Attached is Front Street, a cozy tavern with tasty drinks and mocktails.
Front Street Tavern
215 S 1st St., Laramie, WY
Front Street Tavern, attached to Sweet Melissa’s Café, is home to a truly historic treasure—a bar built over 130 years ago by Laramie’s own Henry Bath. Originally located in the Venice Bar in Hartville, Wyoming, during the town’s bustling iron-mining days, this magnificent piece of craftsmanship was later brought to Laramie, where it now serves as the centerpiece of the Tavern. With exposed stonework quarried from the Laramie Valley, it stands today as one of the oldest bars in the state, offering visitors not only a refreshing drink but also a genuine taste of Wyoming’s Wild West history.
The Buckhorn Bar and Parlor
114 E. Ivinson St., Laramie, WY
The Buckhorn Bar in downtown Laramie is Laramie's oldest standing and most historic bar. Established in 1900, the Buckhorn has hosted people from all corners of the world. Whether you're looking for a refreshing drink, a fun night out dancing, or the love of your life, the Buckhorn is the home to it all and much much more.
