Things to Do in Sheridan, Wyoming

What to Expect

Sheridan is a city of roughly 18,000 people set at about 3,745 feet on the eastern flank of the Bighorn Mountains in north-central Wyoming. Its historic downtown runs along Main Street with brick storefronts from the 1890s through the 1920s, and it functions as a real working town rather than a resort. Hotel rooms typically run $90-$160 per night (estimate), parking is free, and most of what you came to see is within walking distance of the center. The wider Sheridan and the Bighorns region extends south toward the cattle country around Buffalo and northeast toward Devils Tower and the Black Hills.

The area around Sheridan carries a ranching and polo culture that goes back generations. The village of Big Horn, about 6 miles south on US-87, hosts Sunday polo matches June through August at the Big Horn Equestrian Center. Admission is free, the crowd brings its own tailgate, and it is one of those only-in-Wyoming afternoons that does not show up in most travel guides. The Bradford Brinton Memorial Museum, also near Big Horn, preserves a historic working ranch with a Western art collection heavy on Russell and Remington. It is quiet, rarely crowded, and takes about an hour.

On Main Street itself, King's Saddlery has been producing hand-crafted saddles and ropes since 1946. The free museum attached to the shop holds hundreds of saddles representing over a century of Western craft, and the rope room runs floor to ceiling with braided lariat stock. Two blocks away, the WYO Theater is a restored 1923 movie palace that still hosts live performances and film screenings throughout the year.

What to Do There

Trail End State Historic Site, the Flemish Revival mansion of Wyoming cattle baron John B. Kendrick, sits on 3.5 acres near downtown and is open mid-May through mid-September. Admission runs about $4 per adult (estimate). The Sheridan Inn, built in 1893 directly across from the original railroad depot, is a National Historic Landmark where Buffalo Bill reportedly held auditions for his Wild West Show on the 69-foot covered front porch. It now operates as a restaurant and event venue. Even if you are not staying or eating there, the lobby and front veranda are worth a few minutes.

The Bighorn Scenic Byway offers two routes into the mountains west of town, and both are worth knowing before you go. US-14 climbs through Shell Canyon, a narrow limestone gorge with a 100-foot waterfall called Shell Falls, and crests above 9,000 feet at Burgess Junction. US-14A takes the alternate Medicine Wheel Passage route, winding past the Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark, a stone circle roughly 75 feet in diameter that has been a sacred site for Indigenous peoples across the Northern Plains for centuries. Together, the two routes form roughly an 88-mile loop from Sheridan through the Bighorn high country and back, or you can carry on west and descend into the Bighorn Basin toward Cody.

In July, the WYO Rodeo brings four nights of PRCA competition to Sheridan. Tickets typically run $20-$30 per night (estimate). It is a real rodeo crowd, bull riding, team roping, barrel racing, saddle bronc, and smaller and more straightforward to navigate than the Cheyenne Frontier Days crowds. If you are planning a ranch-focused trip, several operations in the Bighorn foothills south of town offer multi-day stays. See the Best Dude Ranches in Wyoming for vetted picks in this part of the state.

Big Goose Creek and Little Goose Creek, which drain out of the Bighorns east of town, hold brown trout and are accessible by county roads above the valley floor. The Tongue River north of Sheridan is a less-advertised smallmouth bass fishery. For gear, flies, waders, and Wyoming fishing licenses, Sportsman's Warehouse on E Brundage Lane is the main outfitter in town, stocking major brands alongside general hunting and camping gear.

Getting There and Access

Most visitors fly into Billings Logan International Airport (BIL) in Montana, about 80 miles north on I-90 and roughly a 65-minute drive. Sheridan County Airport (SHR) handles small regional flights and charters. Gillette-Campbell County Airport (GCC) sits about 70 miles east for travelers approaching from the Black Hills or Rapid City direction.

By car, Sheridan is on I-90 near the Montana state line. From Casper, drive about 165 miles north via I-25 and I-90, which runs close to 2.5 hours. From Cody, plan 2 hours on US-14 or US-14A through the Bighorns in summer when the mountain passes are open. Devils Tower is 65 miles northeast via I-90 and US-14, a drive of roughly 55 minutes. The town of Buffalo, which has its own lodging options, sits 34 miles south on I-90 and makes a useful alternate base for southern Bighorn trailheads.

Best Time to Go

Late May through September is the reliable window for everything in and around Sheridan. Summer days run warm and mostly dry, with average July highs in the low-to-mid 80s Fahrenheit in town and cooler temperatures as you climb into the Bighorns. The mountain byways on US-14 and US-14A typically open by late May. July is the peak month driven by the WYO Rodeo and general summer travel. Expect hotel rates to climb in mid-July around rodeo week, and book accommodations at least a few weeks out if you want downtown options.

September is the local favorite. Bighorn aspens go gold by mid-month, the elk rut starts in the foothills, and both prices and crowds pull back from the summer peak. The mountain passes typically stay open through late October in dry years. Winter keeps Sheridan's lower streets and businesses running year-round, but the high Bighorn passes close by November, and backcountry access shifts to snowmobile season through the Cold Springs and Burgess Junction areas.

Good to Know

For current event listings, local maps, and outfitter recommendations, the Sheridan County Travel & Tourism visitor center at 1517 E 5th Street is a useful first stop. Staff can help with Bighorn day trip routing, ranch referrals, and what events are running during your visit. It is open most of the year and offers some of the most useful on-the-ground trip advice in the region.

For dinner, Wyoming's Rib & Chop House on N Main Street covers the steakhouse and barbecue side well, with smoked ribs, brisket, and grilled cuts in a casual setting. Sheridan's dining options are solid but not extensive, so if you have a specific reservation in mind, make it before you arrive rather than after.

Sheridan to Yellowstone's East Entrance runs about 2.5 to 3 hours via Cody and US-14 or US-20. Do not plan to combine a Yellowstone day trip with a Devils Tower visit in the same day. Those two destinations are about 125 miles apart, and trying to do both in one outing leaves you with too much windshield time and not enough time at either place. Spread them across two days or build a loop.