Road Trip Travel Tips - Wyoming
by 54b on Sep 8, 2009 8:35 AM CDT
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PrintIf you fancy yourself a fervent backer of the Burnt Orange, but have yet to experience the pride, pressure, pomp, and circumstance of a Texas road game, your Longhorns Football Fan résumé is woefully incomplete.
Granted, procuring tickets to Longhorns games is never easy, especially for road games, but if fear of the unknown is your only reason for staying home when the ‘Horns hit the road, then prepare to run out of excuses because after the jump is everything you need to know to join the stampede in Laramie, Wyoming.
Texas vs. Wyoming • War Memorial Stadium • Laramie, WY • September 12, 2009
First off, while I've certainly done the research, I am by no means an expert when it comes to Laramie, Wyoming. The information below was collected about six months ago, so if anyone reading this has updated or additional information, please don't hesitate to comment below. Thank you.
Overview: Escaping the insufferable Texas heat may be reason alone to make the trip to Southeast Wyoming this September (Average High: 72 degrees). Though Cowboys fans are known for getting more than a little riled up when conference rivals Utah and BYU come to town, the locals will undoubtedly roll out the "welcome wagon" when the Longhorns arrive in Laramie.
Transportation: A few commercial carriers serve the airports that are closest to Laramie – located in Cheyenne and Fort Collins - but the most popular way to get there is to fly into Denver, rent a car, and make the scenic two to three hour drive via Route 287.
Lodging: Hotel options in Laramie are limited and most places will probably be booked solid long before the weekend of the game. Consider alternative accommodations in Cheyenne or Fort Collins.
Holiday Inn, 204 S. 30th Street, 307-721-9000, holidayinn.com
Hilton Garden Inn, 2229 E. Grand Ave., 307-745-5500, hiltongardeninn.com
Hampton Inn, 3715 E. Grand Ave., 307-742-0125, hamptoninn.com
[UPDATE]: I have it on good authority that all the hotels in or near Larmie are booked and have been for a while. Suggest trying Fort Collins or other locales in Northern Colorado.
Restaurants/Bars: When asked where the best place to eat in town was, a local responded, "Applebees." So there isn’t exactly a whole lot to write home about when it comes to dining out in Laramie, but there are a variety of eclectic restaurants and bars located near the intersection of E. Grand Avenue and S. 3rd Street and that is most likely where many of the visiting Longhorns fans will be found the night before and after the game.
54b’s Picks:
Altitude Chophouse & Brewery, 320 S. 2nd St., 307-721-4031
Calvaryman Supper Club (Steakhouse, $$$), 4425 S. 3rd St., 307-745-5551
Lovejoy’s Bar & Grill, 101 E. Grand Ave., 307-745-0141
Library Sports Grille & Brewery, 1622 E. Grand Ave., 307-742-0500
The Cowboy Bar, S. 3rd St., 307-745-3585
Tailgating: Again, Cowboys fans have a reputation for drinking with the best of them, so Longhorns fans shouldn’t have any trouble fitting in. Tailgating is encouraged and parking lots open at 8 a.m. on game days, but only the lots located north of the stadium allow open containers (Lots AA, H, IPF, X, and Brown). For more details, check out the comprehensive "Visitors Guide" available at wyomingathletics.cstv.com. Also of note, the Rocky Mountain Texas Exes are hosting a tailgate and details can be found at: rmte.blogspot.com.
Tickets: War Memorial Stadium seats just over 30,000, but there is a possibility that temporary bleachers will be installed for the Texas game. If tickets can’t be secured through the University of Wyoming’s ticket office (800-922-9461, wyomingathletics.com), try acquiring tickets via online auction sites like eBay or Craig’s list. Scalping is legal near the stadium.
Gameday Traditions: Cowboy Joe IV, a small pony donated to the school by a local fan, is Wyoming’s 4th generation mascot. As the team takes the field, Cowboys fans sing the school’s fight song, Ragtime Cowboy Joe. And a photograph of a famous bucking horse named Steamboat, who was reared not far from Laramie in the early 1900’s, inspired the iconic emblem on the side of the players’ helmets.
Local Attractions: Locals rave about the Snowy Range Mountains located to the west of Laramie and encourage visitors to take the short drive out Highway 130 for the spectacular views. There’s also a dude ranch about 20 miles outside of Laramie called the Vee Bar Guest Ranch that offers horseback riding, fly fishing, and a buffet-style dining in the informal Western tradition (veebar.com) for those fans looking to extend the trip.
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Hotels
No hotels left in Laramie….try the KOA if you are looking for an easy/cheap camping option..about 5 miles from the stadium. See you in Laramie!
According to my cousin who attended school there
the bars stay open until 4am and reopen at 6am. Wow!
Hotel Availability
Hotel / motel rooms are available in Cheyenne, 45 miles to the east of Laramie. Several of the hotels have put together special lodging packages for UT fans. Here’s a listing of the Cheyenne packages:
Laramie
The hotels are booked full.We have some great local owned restaurants and the best local brewery in the state, The Library on Grand Ave. is within walking distance to the game. The mountains should be beautiful, the aspens are starting to change and the elk are starting to bugle. It takes 30 minutes to get to the snowy range mountains.The drive up could be worse, it takes us just over 13 hours to drive from Laramie to my mom’s house in Grapevine, TX. We take 287 up to I-70 in Colorado or you take 287 to I-25 at Raton NM and then straight up to Cheyenne to I-80 west to Laramie. Bring your coats the weather will change this weekend with highs in the 60’s and lows in the 30’s.
Enjoy your trip up. We are really excited to have the Horns in town.
I'll be interested to hear how your trip goes to my alma mater.
The other word of warning is that Laramie’s elevation is 7200 feet and the air is very, very dry. If you’re not used to altitude, you’ll be susceptible to nose bleeds and shortness of breath. Also, sunscreen is advisable. The temperature is cool, but you’re missing over a mile’s worth of atmosphere between you and the sun. Burns can happen easier than most people think.
As far as navigating Laramie itself, you only need to know two roads: 3rd and Grand. 3rd runs North-South and is the in-town name for the highway that comes in from Fort Collins. Grand Avenue runs East-West and forms the southern boundary of the university itself. Everything else you need branches off of those two roads.
I also recommend the Library. Parking is actually one block south of Grand Avenue, but you’re better off walking there if you can. Laramie’s small, so there are no worries about walking if you have to.
Good stuff, thanks.
Unfortunately, I won’t be making the trip…funds being limited this fall, I decided to save my powder for Mizzou and OSU. But I hope to hear lots of stories about the trip from those who do go.
Do you have a feel for how Texas fans will be received by the Wyoming fans…I’m also thinking there might be some bloody noses too, but it won’t be becuase of the elevation. In researching the trip, I heard lots of stories about Cowboys fans rolling out the unwelcome wagon to visiting fans. Then again, I heard a lot of that from Utah and BYU alums, so you have to question the source.
I’m sure it’s just like any road trip…if you don’t go looking for trouble, you probably won’t find it…but if you have any tips for those UT fans going to the game, we’d love to hear them.
Thanks again.
Be nobody but yourself in a world that desperately wants you to be like everybody else.
np
Coming from Utah and BYU fans, I have no doubt that their welcome wasn’t pleasant. The BYU-UW matchups were the ugliest ones in the stands all year long. Fights were not uncommon in the stands then.
But as nonconference foes (specifically, non-BYU, Utah, CSU, and Air Force) you won’t have a problem. I would just ask that you don’t come off as arrogant around them, because a nothing-exists-outside-of-Texas attitude is rather irksome to a fellow cattle state. If that’s met, you’ll be treated like brothers.
Oh, and if you have a clear night, I highly recommend getting outside of town a couple miles and checking out the stars. The Milky Way actually looks like milk and sometimes you can see Northern Lights (though rarely).
fans
The only Wyoming fans who will give you trouble are the college kids. Everyone else here is live and let live unless you ask for help and then we all are glad to come to your rescue. The town is really excited to have you all in town for the game. Laramie’s finest are also gearing up for your visit so be careful, don’t drink and drive and show them a little respect and you’ll get some respect right back.We have a safe ride service that will give you a ride from anywhere in town back to your hotel for free.
bars
One note for you flat landers. Here at altitude the alcohol will affect you much greater than at sea level. I learned the hard way, it takes much less to get you drunk so start out slow until you see how your body handles the altitude. We want everyone to have a great visit and not spend most of your time nursing a killer hangover.
Ft Collins
Similar to San Marcos.Home to the New Belgian Brewery.Has more upscale Restaurants near the CSU campus. Lotsa cute ski bunnies.Also try some of the fishing lodges west of Laramie for lodging.
http://www.wyomingtourism.org/overview/Albany-Lodge/2301
Laramie By hooper
Good point. Its not just the altitude it is the sun bleaching you during the day.Drink at least a liter of water during the day to avoid getting goofy after 1/2 beer.Don’t go through the day fast.
Reply button -FTW
"From the waist down, Earl Campbell has the biggest legs I have ever seen on a running back." -John Madden
Medicine Bow
There is a very under used Medicine Bow National Forest about 40 miles west of Laramie with great camping.I was there this time last year and it felt like I was the only one there.
http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/rockymtn/medbinfo.htm
Here is a better link for the fishing lodges in Centennial Wy near the Medicine Bow N.F.
http://www.wyomingtourism.org/overview/Expert-Tip—Medicine-Bow-Winterland/31745
:
national forest
Just east of Laramie is also national forest land and a world known rock climbing area . Camping is available in established camp grounds or you can pull into the forest almost anywhere and camp for free just off any two track road.The drive is only about 10 minutes to the forest east of town.In Centennial Wyoming there are a couple of small hotels and The Rainbow Valley Resort which has cabins for rent.
weather
Update on our weather forecast here in Laramie. The cold front coming in Friday will bring much colder temps. and a good chance of rain and wind on Saturday. We also now have a chance of snow showers during the night.If you are driving on game day from Ft. Collins or Denver via Cheyenne be careful. Highway 287 is known as the death highway here. Just this week a car hydroplaned off the road outside of Laramie and killed a person.Respewct the weather and the driving conditions , we all want you to have a safe trip.
Game Tickets, Tourism Tip
If you need (or are selling) tickets to the game in Laramie, visit the Rocky Mountain Texas Exes Facebook Group. NO brokers are posting here, most are selling for face. You do not need to be a Facebook member to view this page, only to post there. If you’re selling tickets and want to get a post on there just email me at my BON public profile email address.
Also, for you Texas history buffs the Republic of Texas once extended to an area of land just west of Laramie in Carbon County. When the Republic of Texas joined the US it ceded the land. For a historic tour of this ancestral Texas land, and a beautiful drive through the Snowy Range just take Hwy 130 west from Laramie up to I-80 and then back to Laramie (or reverse order, click here for map). That’s a 180 mile gorgeous circle through much of old Texas that’ll take you a little over three hours. The Carbon County line, about 30 miles from Laramie, demarcates the border of the Republic of Texas. Just watch out for the weather over the passes as wyotex notes above.
Drowsy Driving Dangerous on road
Drowsy Driving That Leads to a Fatal Accident Is a Crime Road safety first. This should be the priority of all the drivers to avoid accidents. I have found best gadgets to keep you safe in terms of road safety. First is No Nap . If you are feeling drowsy but needed to keep yourself on the road and just want to make it to your destination as soon as possible without causing a major accident. And you have tried all the un-effective strategies to keep you awake just like drinking 10 cups of coffee, blasting some punk music, or drinking some old stuff like energy drink this is the best gadget for you. The No Nap is a small, easy to use, device that will keep you and others safe during a long, drowsy drive. All you need to do is turn the device on, adjust the wake up angle switch, and place it behind your ear. Then when your head slumps forward as you begin to doze off behind the wheel, the No Nap produces a loud, powerful beeping noise that will snap you out of your snooze. It runs on low battery consumption, and its ergonomic design fits comfortably behind your ear. This gadget has been popular with truckers who spend long hours on the road and it could be useful for keeping many others safe on the highway as well. So why take a risk in driving you might not just save your life but start caring for others too.
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