Cheyenne is the state capital and largest city (estimated 2014 pop. 62,845) of Wyoming. Cheyenne was founded in 1867 by Major General Grenville Dodge, the chief engineer of the Union Pacific Railroad. In 1869, Cheyenne became the capital of the Territory of Wyoming. It became the state capital in 1890.

Understand

Climate

Cheyenne
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       0.3     40 18       0.5     41 19       1.1     48 24       1.8     55 31       2.3     65 40       2.3     75 49       2.2     83 56       2     81 54       1.5     72 45       0.9     59 34       0.6     47 24       0.5     38 17 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches    Data from NOAA (1981-2010)
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       7.6     4 −8       13     5 −7       28     9 −4       46     13 −1       58     18 4       58     24 9       56     28 13       51     27 12       38     22 7       23     15 1       15     8 −4       13     3 −8 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm

Get in

By car

Cheyenne is located at the crossroads of Interstates 80 and 25 in southeastern Wyoming, about 40 miles west of the Nebraska border, 180 miles south of Casper, 50 miles east of Laramie, and 8 miles north of the Colorado border.

Cheyenne is 90 miles directly north of Denver. The trip takes approximately 1.5 hours, depending on Denver traffic. Cheyenne generally has no traffic problems, although spots like Dell Range Blvd. and Central Ave. can have minimal jams.

By plane

Denver International Airport (DEN ^IATA) is the closest major airport to Cheyenne. Rental cars are available at the airport. Shamrock Airport Express has shuttles from the airport to Cheyenne with drop-offs at the Holiday Inn and the Best Western Hitching Post, via the Harmony Transfer Center in Fort Collins, Colorado.

For the adventurous, small 15-seat prop planes fly from Denver International Airport to the Cheyenne Regional Airport (CYS  ^IATA). The flight is not recommended for those with weak stomachs or those who hate roller coaster rides. However, if you would like both an aisle and a window seat you are in luck. Great Lakes Airlines operates the 40 minute flights (about 20 minutes of actual flying time) and code shares with Frontier and United.

On July 15th, 2010, American Eagle Airlines began non-stop jet service between Cheyenne and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport with small regional jets.

Alternatively, Allegiant Air serves Fort Collins (about 47 miles south of Cheyenne and 61 miles north of Denver) from Las Vegas.

Get around

Downtown Cheyenne map

Getting around Cheyenne is pretty easy. With good roads, bikeways, and its own small public transportation system, CTP, with six routes.

See

• 1 Wyoming State Capitol, 200 W 24th St, ☏ +1 307 777-7220. Completed in 1888 before Wyoming was a state, the Wyoming State Capitol is a National Historic Landmark and the dominant structure on the Cheyenne skyline. The Capitol is open to the public 8AM-5PM Monday – Friday. (updated Mar 2016)

• 2 Wyoming State Museum, 2301 Central Ave, ☏ +1 307 777-7022. 9AM-4:30PM M-Sa. Features artifacts, various collections and gift shop, full of souvenirs and Wyoming books. (updated Mar 2016)

• 3 Cheyenne Depot Museum, 121 W. 15th St, ☏ +1 307 632-3905. Former Union Pacific Railroad Depot and recently renovated National Historic Landmark. The plaza in front of the depot hosts concerts and other events during the summer. The station also hosts Shadow's Pub & Grill. (updated Mar 2016)

• 4 Old West Museum & Store, 4610 North Carey Ave, ☏ +1 307 778-7290. Located in Frontier Park on the grounds of Cheyenne Frontier Days, the historic rodeo called the "Daddy of 'em All". Includes a large display of horse-drawn carriages and exhibits on the history of the CFD rodeo which was established in 1897. (updated Mar 2016)

• 5 Nelson Museum of the West, 1714 Carey Ave, ☏ +1 307 635-7670. May 1-Oct. 31. 9AM-4:30PM M-F. Western museum with 11,000 square feet of exhibits, including Indian artifacts, cowboy trappings, 19th century weapons and outlaw memorabilia. (updated Mar 2016)

• 6 Governor's Mansion, 300 East 21st St, ☏ +1 307 777-7878. 9AM-5PM Tuesday – Saturday. The historic mansion, home to Wyoming governors from 1905 to 1976. Free. (updated Mar 2016)

• 7 Big Boy Steam Engine, 1142-,1188 E Lincolnway (17th St & Morrie Ave. (Holliday Park)). This powerful coal-fired engine was designed to pull a 3600-ton train over steep grades between Cheyenne and Ogden, Utah. The 4004 is one of eight remaining Big Boys on display throughout the country. (updated Mar 2016)

• 8 Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, 710 S. Lions Park Dr, ☏ +1 307 637-6458. 8AM-4:30PM M-F, 11AM-3:30PM Sa-Su. Includes diverse flora and a greenhouse conservatory. The grounds are also home to Historic Locomotive 1242 and the Western Walkway, connecting the Gardens to the Old West Museum. Free. (updated Mar 2016)

Do

• Cheyenne Frontier Days. World's largest outdoor rodeo & Western celebration that takes place the "Last Full Week in July"™. This historic rodeo was established in 1897 and is called the “Daddy of ‘em All”®. Events include numerous rodeo events, free pancake breakfasts, night-time concerts, and parades. 

• Historic Trolley Tours, 121 W. 15th St, ☏ +1 800 426-5009. Narrated, 90-minute tours of historic Cheyenne. Purchase tickets in the Depot and tours leave from the Depot Plaza. $10 adults/$5 children. There is also a horse-drawn carriage tour option. 

• Terry Bison Ranch, 25 Service Rd, ☏ +1 307 634-4171. 51 I- - Located 7 miles south of Cheyenne off I-25, this ranch is home to more than 2,000 bison. Take a tour through the herd from the safety of a vehicle. The ranch also has “horses, longhorn steer, camels, llamas, ostriches, emu, chickens, turkeys, turkins (1/2 turkey-1/2 chicken), peacocks, donkeys, goats, and beefalo (1/2 buffalo-1/2 steer).” 

Buy

• 1 Frontier Mall, 1400 Dell Range Blvd. Conveniently located near Cheyenne Regional Airport and anchored by Dillard's, JCPenney, Sears, Sports Authority, a nine-screen movie theatre, and a buffet. (updated Mar 2016)

Eat

• The Egg & I. Breakfast. (Chain, Downtown). 

• Silver Mine Subs. Sub sandwiches. (Local Chain, $6 per person, South Greeley Highway) 

• Capitol Grille, 1600 Central Ave. Gourmet restaurant located in the historic Plains Hotel, not a budget choice 

• Shadow's Pub & Grill, 115 W 15th St (Located inside the historic Union Pacific Depot, includes microbrewery). 

• 1 Poor Richard’s, 2233 E. Lincolnway, ☏ +1 307-635-5114. Fine dining specializing in steaks and seafood. (updated Mar 2016)

• Sanford’s Grub & Pub, 115 E. 17th St. Eclectic décor with a huge menu. Look for the back-end of a pickup truck hanging over the entrance 

• Sagebrush Sandwich Co, 102 E. 19th St (Small shop, great chili). 

• Good Friend's Chinese Restaurant, 507 Lincolnway. Serves Chinese and Japanese. 

• Taco John’s, 2220 Carey Ave (Why fast food? The chain is headquartered in Cheyenne.). 

• 2 The Albany, 1506 Capitol Ave, ☏ +1 307-638-3507. The Albany Restaurant Bar. (updated Mar 2016)

• The Pie Lady, 3515 E Lincolnway. "Mom's Kitchen" feel with a wide variety of pies. 

Sleep

• 1 Candlewood Suites Cheyenne, 2335 Tura Pkwy, ☏ +1 307-634-6622. $129/night. (updated Mar 2016)

• 2 The Cheyenne Motel, 1601 E. Lincolnway (1 Mile East of Downtown on Lincolnway), ☏ +1 307-632-4834. Check-in: 3:00, check-out: 10:30. Small, quiet establishment with affordable nightly and weekly rates. Friendly service, attentive staff, and low rates you just can't get at the larger chain motels. $40 and up. (updated Mar 2016)

• 3 Fairfield Inn & Suites Cheyenne, 1415 Stillwater Ave, ☏ +1 307 637-4070, fax: +1 307 637-4070. (updated Mar 2016)

• 4 The Historic Plains Hotel, 1600 Central Ave, ☏ +1 307 638-3311. (updated Mar 2016)

• 5 Holiday Inn Express & Suites Cheyenne, 1741 Fleischli Parkway, ☏ +1 307 433-0751. (updated Mar 2016)

• 6 Little America Hotel & Resort, 2800 Lincolnway, ☏ +1 307 775-8400. (updated Mar 2016)

• 7 Motel 6, 1735 Westland Rd, ☏ +1 307 635-6806, fax: +1 307 638-3017. (updated Mar 2016)

Go next

Despite also being in Wyoming, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks are hundreds of miles away on the opposite side of this fairly large state. Fort Collins, Colorado is only 44 miles to the south.

Routes through Cheyenne

Casper ← Douglas Template:Lfarrow Jct E ←	N  S	→ Fort Collins → Denver
Rock Springs ← Laramie ←	W  E	→ Sidney → North Platte
Rock Springs ← Laramie ←	W  E	→ Sidney → North Platte
Spearfish ← Torrington ←	N  S	→ Eaton → Greeley