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Major city · United States

BuffaloBuffalo, Wyoming

One night, two at most: use Buffalo as a base for the Bighorn Mountains and a stop on I-25/I-90 between Sheridan and Gillette.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Buffalo is a small high-plains town of about 4,600 people at the foot of the Bighorn Mountains, on I-25 and I-90 in northeast Wyoming. It is a one-night stop for most drivers and a two-night base if you want a full day in the Bighorns or at the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum. The historic main street and the Occidental Hotel are the reason to get out of the car.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Jun–Sep
avoid Jan–Feb (cold, wind, snow)
Airports
CPR · BIL · DEN
Nights
1–2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Buffalo911 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Buffalo, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeUS$3–6
  • Sit-down mealBurger or steak dinnerUS$18–40
  • Street or quick mealDiner breakfastUS$12–20
  • BeerDraught beerUS$6–9
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekUS$15–30
  • Budget bedChain motel double room, a night, per roomUS$90
  • Mid-range bedChain motel double room, a night, per roomUS$140
  • High-end bedChain motel double room, a night, per roomUS$220

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$160 · High US$280

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Jim Gatchell Memorial MuseumHistoric Occidental HotelBighorn Mountains accessMain Street storefronts
Airports
CPR Casper-Natrona County International (About 2 h 15 min south by I-25; the closest commercial airport with regular service) · BIL Billings Logan International (About 3 h north by I-90) · DEN Denver International (About 6 h south by I-25; the usual arrival point for a longer Wyoming loop)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    2°C (36°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    4°C (39°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    9°C (48°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    13°C (55°F)

  5. May

    not flagged

    18°C (64°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    24°C (75°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    30°C (86°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    29°C (84°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    15°C (59°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    7°C (45°F)

  12. Dec

    not flagged

    2°C (36°F)

Best: Jun–Sep. Avoid: Jan–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (30°C (86°F)), coolest Jan (−10°C (14°F) low), wettest May (10 rain days), driest Jan (6). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Buffalo: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

2°C (36°F)

−10°C (14°F)

6 rd

Feb

4°C (39°F)

−9°C (16°F)

6 rd

Mar

9°C (48°F)

−5°C (23°F)

8 rd

Apr

13°C (55°F)

−1°C (30°F)

9 rd

May

18°C (64°F)

4°C (39°F)

10 rd

Jun

24°C (75°F)

9°C (48°F)

9 rd

Jul

30°C (86°F)

13°C (55°F)

7 rd

Aug

29°C (84°F)

12°C (54°F)

7 rd

Sep

23°C (73°F)

7°C (45°F)

7 rd

Oct

15°C (59°F)

1°C (34°F)

7 rd

Nov

7°C (45°F)

−5°C (23°F)

6 rd

Dec

2°C (36°F)

−10°C (14°F)

6 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is the practical choice: the town is small but the sights that justify the stop — the Bighorn foothills, the interstate, the next town — are all outside walking range. Main Street itself is walkable in 10 minutes. There is no local bus service; rideshares are limited, so plan on your own vehicle or a taxi from your motel.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Bighorn National Forest (Cloud Peak Wilderness foothills)

go

Door to door: 20–60 min to the first viewpoints

US 16 west out of town, up the mountain

The main reason to add a second night; check seasonal road closures on US 16.

Sheridan

go

Door to door: About 40 min

I-90 north, about 35 min

Bigger town with more food and lodging; an easy half-day.

Gillettecaution

Door to door: About 1 h 20 min

I-90 east, about 1 h 15 min

Coal-country town; worth it only if you are heading that way.

Moorcroft

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 40 min

I-90 east then US 14, about 1 h 30 min

Small stop; combine with Gillette rather than a dedicated trip.

Aladdin

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 20 min

WY 24 northeast, about 1 h 15 min

Tiny settlement with a general store; check it is open before driving.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Downtown / Main Street

Walk to the museum, shops and restaurants; the Occidental Hotel is here. Best if you want to park once.

I-25 bypass and North Bypass Road

Chain motels with free parking right off the interstate; 5–10 min drive from Main Street. Best for a late arrival or an early start.

Bighorn foothills west of town

Cabins and guest ranches toward the mountains; a car is required and many close in winter.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
US$90–140 excl. bed
Mid
US$150–230 excl. bed
High
US$250+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Chain motel double room1 × 1 night × US$140US$140
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$160US$320
Car fuel, 200 km of driving1 × US$25US$25
Museum entry2 × US$10US$20
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20US$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$55
Trip total≈ US$300 per person per day, bed includedUS$600

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeUS$3–6
Diner breakfastUS$12–20
Burger or steak dinnerUS$18–40
Draught beerUS$6–9
Gallon of petrolUS$3–4
Motel room, midweekUS$90–180
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekUS$15–30

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A quiet, low-crime small town; the real risks are the drive — snow and wind on the interstates, wildlife at dawn and dusk, and long gaps between services.
  • Distances are large: the next services on I-90 or I-25 can be 40–60 min away, so fill the tank in town.
  • Winter brings snow, ice and strong wind on I-25 and I-90; check road conditions before driving.
  • Wildlife on the roads at dawn and dusk, especially toward the Bighorns.
  • Cell coverage thins quickly once you leave the interstate corridor.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

BuffaloBuffalo, Wyoming

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Can you take me to this address?To this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Wyoming road conditions511

Embassy

No embassies in Buffalo; consulates are in Denver and the embassies are in Washington, DC.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Fuel, Buffalo → Sheridan and back: about US$8–12
  • Motel room, one night: US$90–180
  • Museum entry: about US$10

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Where is the restroom? — Where is the toilet?
  • Do you take cards? — Can I pay by card?
  • How far is that? — How far is it?
  • Is the pass open? — Is this road open in winter?

Tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, US$1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Buffalo. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep · avoid Jan–Feb (cold, wind, snow) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contracts for CPR, BIL and DEN: last sensible departure, drive time and a motel fallback.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Main Street, the museum, the interstate strip, the Bighorn foothills road.
  3. Place pages with verified hours for the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum and the Occidental Hotel, plus eat pages with last orders.
  4. Winter and hostile-weather fixtures for I-25 and I-90 so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources