In-depth guide · CampingSpirit
From Fort Laramie via Independence Rock and South Pass to Fort Bridger: 1,000 kilometres along the wagon ruts on which settlers travelled west in the 19th century.
The spirit of the route
Wyoming is vast, and the wind comes with it. If you follow the Oregon Trail, you drive across high plains of sagebrush and grass, past red sandstone rocks, through valleys where 170 years ago covered wagons ground tracks into the rock. In Guernsey you can touch the grooves in the sandstone with your hand, on Independence Rock names from the 1840s read like a guest book of the prairie, and at South Pass the landscape looks so flat that you hardly notice the Continental Divide. The roads are long, straight and almost empty; the towns in between are small, and the filling stations reliably few. In the evening the camper stands by a reservoir or on BLM land, and from the sliding door you see a vault of sky with more stars than you are used to. The route demands planning: water, fuel and the weather forecast are not a side issue here but part of the journey.
Stage-by-stage plan
1Stage 1: Fort Laramie to Casper (approx. 250 km)
- The drive
- From Fort Laramie take the US-26 west via Guernsey to the I-25, then north via Douglas to Casper (a good 140 miles in all). Mostly two-lane and wide open, speed limit 65–80 mph on the interstate and 55–70 mph on the US-26. Between Guernsey and the I-25 there are often strong crosswinds. Pure driving time is about 3 hours, or a whole day with stops. There are filling stations in Fort Laramie, Guernsey, Douglas and Casper.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Fort Laramie National Historic Site (NPS): founded in 1834 as a trading post, later a military fort at the crossing of the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails. Well-preserved buildings and ranger programmes in summer; check opening times and admission on nps.gov beforehand, as the buildings are open seasonally.
- Oregon Trail Ruts State Historic Site near Guernsey: wheel ruts about 1.5 metres deep are worn into the sandstone, admission free, a short walk. Also Register Cliff, where settlers carved their names into the rock.
- National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper (BLM): an exhibition on the Oregon, Mormon and California Trails and the Pony Express; check opening times and admission beforehand. The Fort Caspar Museum is a good addition.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Guernsey State Park on Lake Guernsey: several camping areas by the lake, some with electricity, a dump station and toilets; reserve pitches for motorhomes in advance with Wyoming State Parks and check lengths. In Casper the Fort Caspar Campground (municipal, near the Fort Caspar Museum) has pitches with hook-ups; clarify availability and facilities in advance. In summer pitches fill up quickly at weekends.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Dispersed camping is generally allowed in Wyoming on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, usually for up to 14 days in one place; on private land it is forbidden. In open country the tracks are often gravel or clay and impassable in rain. On site, observe BLM maps and signs.
- Insider tip for campers
- Fill up with fuel and water in Fort Laramie and Guernsey; on the long stretch to Casper there are only occasional filling stations. Crosswinds on the US-26 and I-25 can be critical for tall motorhomes; stop early when there are wind warnings. Wyoming 511 shows road conditions and wind closures.
2Stage 2: Casper to Jeffrey City (approx. 170 km)
- The drive
- From Casper take the WY-220 south-west along the North Platte River, past Alcova and Pathfinder Reservoirs and Independence Rock and Devil’s Gate (both right on the WY-220) as far as Muddy Gap, where you join the US-287/WY-789 to Jeffrey City. A two-lane road, speed limit 65–70 mph, quiet and wide open, with the occasional climb. Driving time is about 2.5 hours. There are filling stations in Casper; after that only occasional ones, and Jeffrey City offers hardly any supplies, so fill up completely beforehand.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Independence Rock State Historic Site: a 40-metre-high granite rock that settlers hoped to reach by 4 July; thousands of names are carved into the stone. Free, a short walk, and about an hour is enough; rattlesnakes can be on the rock in summer.
- Devil’s Gate: a narrow gorge that the Sweetwater River has cut through the rock; there is a viewpoint with information boards and access to the site, but check the access rules beforehand, as parts are privately managed.
- Martin’s Cove and Mormon Handcart Visitors’ Center: a memorial to the Mormon pioneers of 1856; access is public, and you visit at your own risk in the terrain. Check opening times beforehand.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Along the WY-220 there are several basic campgrounds at the reservoirs (Alcova and Pathfinder Reservoirs), with changing operators (including Natrona County and the Bureau of Reclamation); clarify facilities, electricity hook-ups and any reservation requirement before the trip. There is hardly any infrastructure in Jeffrey City, so it is better to stay overnight at a reservoir or in Casper.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): On BLM land along the Sweetwater River dispersed camping is allowed; the land is open, windy and without shade. In a thunderstorm or strong wind, do not spend the night near the river. Observe signs and grazing fences, and close gates again.
- Insider tip for campers
- Buy water and food in Casper. The wind between Independence Rock and Sweetwater Station is often fierce; take in umbrellas and awnings. The Sweetwater River carries little water in summer, and you can only drink it after filtering. Thunderstorms build up quickly in the afternoon.
3Stage 3: Jeffrey City to South Pass City (approx. 160 km)
- The drive
- From Jeffrey City take the US-287/WY-789 north-west to Lander, where you join the WY-28 south-west towards South Pass; the turn-offs to Atlantic City and South Pass City lie shortly before the summit of the pass. The road climbs gradually to about 2,250 m, two-lane with a speed limit of 55–70 mph and little traffic. Atlantic City and South Pass City are reached by short side roads, partly gravel. Driving time is about 2.5 hours. There are filling stations in Lander; hardly any along the way, and Jeffrey City offers hardly any supplies.
- Highlights & must-sees
- South Pass: the pass lies at about 2,300 m and is so flat that covered wagons could cross it without climbs; it was the most important crossing of the Rocky Mountains for the Oregon Trail. Information boards and viewpoints on the WY-28.
- South Pass City State Historic Site: a gold-rush ghost town of the 1860s; Esther Hobart Morris became the first female justice of the peace in the USA here in 1870. Buildings are open seasonally; check opening times and admission beforehand.
- Atlantic City: a small town in the mountains, a few miles from South Pass City; the access roads are partly gravel, so check the status. The Parting of the Ways memorial site, where the Oregon Trail divided, lies west of the summit of the pass and can only be reached by gravel tracks.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Sinks Canyon State Park near Lander (Popo Agie Campground): pitches by the river, toilets and water available according to the latest information, no hook-ups; check the length restriction and any reservation requirement with Wyoming State Parks. Around South Pass there are basic sites on BLM land; the Shoshone National Forest campgrounds lie closer to Lander. Clarify facilities and road access beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Dispersed camping is allowed on BLM land around South Pass (in the Shoshone National Forest the Forest Service rules apply); an altitude of 2,200 m and above means cold nights even in summer. Gravel roads are only passable to a limited extent in rain or frost and are often unsuitable for large motorhomes.
- Insider tip for campers
- Top up your supplies in Lander (supermarkets, filling stations). The gravel access road to Atlantic City and South Pass City is manageable for vehicles up to medium size, but slippery when wet. At altitudes above 2,000 m engine and heater performance is reduced; check battery capacity. Thunderstorms in summer, snow and road closures in winter.
4Stage 4: South Pass City to Green River (approx. 190 km)
- The drive
- From South Pass City take the WY-28 south-west to Farson, then the US-191 south to Rock Springs and on along the I-80 west to Green River. A two-lane road, speed limit 65–70 mph, across high plains with wide views, then gently downhill into the Green River basin. There are filling stations in Farson, Rock Springs and Green River; hardly any between South Pass and Farson. Driving time is about 2.5 hours.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Pacific Springs: information boards on the WY-28 about the spring that was the settlers’ first watering place west of the pass.
- Farson: a small town with the well-known Farson Mercantile; the ice-cream parlour is a popular stop in summer. Check opening times beforehand.
- Expedition Island in Green River: a city park at the place from which John Wesley Powell set out on his Colorado River expedition in 1869; free, with walking paths.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: In Green River there are several RV parks with hook-ups; for simpler pitches the Firehole Canyon Campground (Ashley National Forest on Flaming Gorge Reservoir, about 29 miles from Rock Springs) is a good choice: 37 pitches without electricity, with flush toilets, showers and a dump station; clarify season and reservation status in advance. Alternatively, in Farson on private sites or on BLM land on the US-191; clarify facilities.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Dispersed camping is allowed on BLM land around Green River and Rock Springs, usually for 14 days; the terrain is open and windy. Watch for grazing fences and drilling sites, and avoid tracks when wet.
- Insider tip for campers
- Fill up with fuel, shop and empty your tanks in Green River before the last stage. The area around Green River and Rock Springs partly has industrial sites and gas fields; watch the signs. In summer temperatures can exceed 35 °C, and it cools down sharply at night.
5Stage 5: Green River to Fort Bridger (approx. 90 km)
- The drive
- From Green River take the I-80 west to the Fort Bridger exit (follow the signs). An interstate with a speed limit of 75–80 mph, well built and with lorry traffic; in autumn and winter there are frequent closures in wind and snow. Driving time is about 1 hour. There are filling stations in Green River, Little America and Fort Bridger.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Fort Bridger State Historic Site: a trading post founded by Jim Bridger in 1843, later a station for the Pony Express and a military fort; buildings and museum are open seasonally, so check opening times and admission beforehand.
- Church Buttes: a rock formation away from the I-80 that settlers passed as a landmark; access via gravel, so check the status.
- Pony Express Station and Overland Trail: information boards in the fort and along the route about the postal line of 1860–61.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: In Fort Bridger there are private RV parks with hook-ups; the offer and prices change, so check beforehand. Evanston (to the west) with further campgrounds is an alternative; clarify availability. According to the latest information, the Fort Bridger State Historic Site itself has no campground of its own.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Dispersed camping is allowed on BLM land around Fort Bridger and Evanston; overnighting at I-80 rest areas is not allowed or is limited in time. If in doubt, contact the BLM office in Kemmerer or Rock Springs.
- Insider tip for campers
- The I-80 in Wyoming is known for snow closures and wind warnings in autumn and winter; check Wyoming 511 before setting off. Fill up with plenty of fuel, as filling stations at the edge of the interstate are overcrowded during closures.
Camping practice & local rules
Wild camping & overnight parking
- Wyoming allows dispersed camping on BLM land and in the national forest, usually for up to 14 days in one place; on private land, in state parks outside the campgrounds and at most rest areas it is forbidden. Roads and terrain are subject to signs; access to private land only with permission.
- Interstate rest areas usually allow only a time-limited stay; Walmart and other car parks only after asking in the store.
- Wildlife: rattlesnakes, wild horses, bison and elk occur; keep your distance and never feed them. Ticks and mosquitoes in early summer; store food securely.
- Apps and sources: iOverlander, Campendium, The Dyrt; Recreation.gov for federal campgrounds, Wyoming State Parks for state park campgrounds, Wyoming 511 for road conditions.
- Fires: in drought years fire bans apply; check the fire status with the BLM and counties. Open fires only in existing rings and never unattended.
Waste disposal & supplies
- Dump stations are available in state parks, in private RV parks and at some filling stations, often for a fee; sanidumps.com lists locations. There is no waste disposal on BLM land.
- Drinking water is available in towns and at state park campgrounds; not on BLM land or at reservoirs. Use rivers and lakes only after filtering or boiling; bring containers.
- Never let grey water run onto the ground or into water; empty chemical toilets only at dump stations.
- Propane is available from filling stations and dealers in Casper, Lander and Green River; European gas bottles need an adapter and are usually not refilled.
- Fuel and food: towns in Wyoming are far apart; fill your tanks in Casper, Lander and Green River. Mobile reception is patchy away from the interstate.
Vehicle size & traffic rules
- Speed limits: interstate 75–80 mph, US and state highways mostly 65–70 mph. Trailers and lorries can have lower limits; observe the signs. In Wyoming there are no tolls and no low-emission zones.
- Admission: Fort Laramie National Historic Site charges admission; the America the Beautiful Pass is valid there. Wyoming State Parks charge day-use and camping fees for vehicles without Wyoming plates; check current amounts on the park website.
- Dimensions: maximum height 14 ft (4.27 m); check long motorhomes beforehand for gravel access roads and small car parks.
- Weather and season: wind is a constant issue; winter brings snow and road closures, especially on the I-80 and the WY-28. The best time is June to September.
- Emergency: 911; mobile reception is missing across large parts between Casper and South Pass. Check water, fuel and the weather forecast before each stage.
CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist
- A wind-proof awning, or doing without one, and levelling ramps, because wind and sloping pitches are typical on open land.
- Water containers (20 l) and a filter, as drinking water is scarce away from the towns.
- Offline maps, a paper map and Wyoming 511 saved; mobile reception often drops out between Casper and South Pass.
- Warm layers and a down jacket: nights at 2,000 m can fall below 5 °C even in summer.
- Binoculars and a camera with a telephoto lens for wild horses, pronghorn and birds of prey on the high plains.
As of 2026-09. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go.
