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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Centennial
Centennial, Wyoming
Base here 1–2 nights to drive the Snowy Range Scenic Byway and hike Medicine Bow Peak; skip it if WY-130 over the pass is closed.
Centennial is a one-street mountain town on WY-130 between Laramie and the Snowy Range, with a population of about 190. It began as a gold-mining camp and now works as the closest bed base to Medicine Bow National Forest. Most travellers use it for one night, or as a half-day stop on the drive west from Laramie to Saratoga.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Centennial, Wyoming
- Best months
- Jun–Sep for the byway and hiking; Dec–Mar for the ski area
- Avoid
- Nov–May for the pass road (closed in winter)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $90–140 excl. bed · Mid $140–220 excl. bed · High $220+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911 · Laramie Ranger District +1 307-745-2300 · Wyoming road conditions 511
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $3–6 |
| Burger or steak dinner | $18–40 |
| Draught beer | $6–9 |
| Lift ticket, Snowy Range Ski Area | about $49 |
| Campsite, Forest Service | $25–50 per night |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | $10–25 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- LAR · Laramie Regional
- Small field about 48 km (30 mi) east; limited scheduled service — checkSmall field about 30 mi (48 km) east; limited scheduled service — check
- DEN · Denver International
- Main gateway: about 2.5 h drive via I-25 and WY-130
Typical fares
- Drive Centennial → Laramie
- about 48 km (30 mi), about 40 minabout 30 mi (48 km), about 40 min
- Snowy Range Scenic Byway, Laramie → Saratoga
- about 46 km (29 mi), open June–November most years (check)about 29 mi (46 km), open June–November most years (check)
- Lift ticket, Snowy Range Ski Area
- about $49 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
You need a car. WY-130 is the only road through town, running east to Laramie (about 30 mi / 48 km (30 mi)) and west over Snowy Range Pass to Saratoga (about 29 mi / 46 km (29 mi) of byway). No public transport serves Centennial; fuel and groceries are in Laramie.You need a car. WY-130 is the only road through town, running east to Laramie (about 30 mi / 30 mi (48 km)) and west over Snowy Range Pass to Saratoga (about 29 mi / 29 mi (46 km) of byway). No public transport serves Centennial; fuel and groceries are in Laramie.
See and do
Known for
- Snowy Range Scenic Byway
- Medicine Bow National Forest
- Medicine Bow Peak
- Snowy Range Ski Area
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Snowy Range Scenic Byway and Medicine Bow Peak | Drive west on WY-130 from town; trailheads and overlooks start about 10 mi out | Half day to full day |
| Snowy Range Ski Area | About 5 mi west on WY-130, then left on Forest Road 351G | 15 min |
| Laramie | Drive east on WY-130, about 48 km (30 mi)Drive east on WY-130, about 30 mi (48 km) | About 40 min |
| Saratoga | Drive west over Snowy Range Pass on WY-130, about 46 km (29 mi) of bywayDrive west over Snowy Range Pass on WY-130, about 29 mi (46 km) of byway | About 1 h |
Sleep
- WY-130 strip through town
- The historic hotel, bar and grill and steakhouse sit within a few minutes' walk of each other; this is the whole of Centennial.
- Snowy Range campgrounds
- Developed US Forest Service campgrounds along WY-130 west of town; seasonal, first-come or reserve ahead — check.
- Laramie
- About 48 km (30 mi) east: motels, more food, year-round access when the pass is shut.About 30 mi (48 km) east: motels, more food, year-round access when the pass is shut.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Where is the trailhead? | Where is the trailhead? |
| Is the pass open? | Is the pass open? |
| How much is it? | How much is it? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card? |
| Where is the toilet? | Where is the toilet? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- WY-130 over Snowy Range Pass closes in winter, usually November to late May — check Wyoming DOT before you commit.
- Altitude: the pass tops out near 10,800 ft (3,290 m); Medicine Bow Peak is 12,013 ft (3,661 m). Allow for the thin air.
- Cell coverage is patchy west of town; download offline maps.
- Winter driving needs snow tyres or chains; the road can ice without warning.
- Fuel up in Laramie — there is no gas station in Centennial.
Very low crime in a town of about 190 people. The real risks are mountain weather, altitude and winter road closures on WY-130 — carry water, layers and check WYDOT before crossing the pass.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Centennial yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Snowy Range Scenic Byway
- Medicine Bow National Forest
- Medicine Bow Peak
- Snowy Range Ski Area
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Medicine Bow National Forest (US Forest Service): www.fs.usda.gov/main/mbr/home
- Snowy Range Scenic Byway (Travel Wyoming): www.travelwyoming.com/listing/centennial/snowy-range-scenic-byway
- Snowy Range Ski Area: www.snowyrangeski.com/
- Wikivoyage: Centennial (Wyoming), revision 5240984 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5240984
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
CentennialCentennial, Wyoming
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Laramie Ranger District+1 307-745-2300
- Wyoming road conditions511
No consulates in Centennial. Nearest services: Denver for most countries; check your embassy in Washington, DC.
Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/centennial-wyoming). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.