Big Skies, Wild Stories: Discovering Casper WY With Kids

Casper, Wyoming, might not be the first destination families think of when planning a trip out West—and that is exactly part of its appeal. With wide-open landscapes, hands-on pioneer history, dinosaurs, mountain adventures and a walkable downtown, Casper offers families an easy way to experience Wyoming without the crowds or higher prices found around better-known destinations.

Highlights

• Hands-on pioneer history: Experience Wild West and Oregon Trail history in real wagon ruts
• Prehistoric discoveries: Meet dinosaurs and fossils at the free Tate Geological Museum
• Easy mountain recreation: Explore Casper Mountain hikes, picnicking and Garden Creek Falls
• Downtown fun: Let the kids cool off at the free David Street Station splash pad
• Budget-friendly getaway: Plan an affordable Casper vacation packed with free family attractions

Editor’s note: The writer was hosted by Visit Casper.

Let us inspire your travels! Sign up for our newsletter now.

Let the Kids Cool Off at David Street Station

Property: David Street Station | Address: 200 S. David St., Casper, WY 82601 | Phone: (307) 235-6710 | Hours: Splash Pad open June-September, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily

If you’re visiting Casper during summer, pack the swimsuits somewhere you can actually find them—not underneath every suitcase in the car. Right in downtown Casper, David Street Station is a community gathering place with events, concerts and the Hilltop Bank Splash Pad. The free splash pad saves a trip on hotter days without another admission fee.

• The Magic: A vibrant community gathering space where kids cool off right in the heart of downtown Casper
• What We Loved Best: Younger kids run through fountains while older kids get downtime, and admission is free
• Must-Try Recommendation: Keep swimsuits packed near the top of your trunk for an easy starting stop

SheBuysTravel Tip: David Street Station makes an easy starting point for exploring downtown Casper.

Spend an Afternoon Wandering Downtown Casper

Property: Downtown Casper Historic District | Address: Second St. & Center St., Casper, WY 82601 | Phone: (307) 235-6710 | Hours: Varies by business

One of the best ways to experience Casper is simply to slow down and walk. Downtown has locally owned boutiques, restaurants and historic architecture concentrated around a relatively compact area, so give yourself time to browse rather than treating it as another item to check off the itinerary. Not every moment needs a ticket or a scheduled tour.

• The Magic: Locally owned boutiques, charming lunch spots and historic architecture in a compact area
• What We Loved Best: Slowing down to let the kids choose a treat, browse local shops and stop for lunch
• Must-Try Recommendation: Play a round of mini golf downtown before heading back to the splash pad

SheBuysTravel Tip: Give yourself time to browse rather than treating downtown as another item to check off your itinerary.

Meet Wyoming’s Prehistoric Residents at the Tate Geological Museum

Property: Tate Geological Museum | Address: 125 College Dr., Casper, WY 82601 | Phone: (307) 268-2447 | Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Before pioneers crossed Wyoming, some considerably larger residents were roaming this part of the world. At Casper College, the Tate Geological Museum gives kids an introduction to Wyoming’s prehistoric past through fossils, geology and paleontology. Dinosaurs turn rocks outside the car window into clues about what this landscape looked like millions of years ago, and admission is free.

• The Magic: Fossils and paleontology exhibits that turn ordinary rocks outside the car window into ancient clues
• What We Loved Best: Admission is completely free, making it easier to balance your vacation budget
• Must-Try Recommendation: Let kids touch fossil and rock specimens at this regional earth science education center
• Prehistoric Clues: Suddenly those rocks outside the car window aren’t just rocks anymore—they are clues to what this landscape looked like millions of years ago

SheBuysTravel Tip: Combine a visit to the Tate Geological Museum with the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center for a full day of free learning.

Head Up Casper Mountain

Property: Rotary Park and Garden Creek Falls | Address: 2800 W. Mountain View Dr., Casper, WY 82601 | Phone: (307) 235-9325 | Hours: Open daily, dawn to dusk

You don’t have to travel hours from town to give your kids a taste of Wyoming’s wild spaces. Casper Mountain sits just south of the city and acts almost like Casper’s enormous backyard, with hiking, mountain biking, camping, picnicking and scenic overlooks. Rotary Park and Garden Creek Falls offer flexible walks helpful when traveling with toddlers and older kids.

• The Magic: An enormous backyard for Casper offering hiking, camping, picnicking and scenic overlooks
• What We Loved Best: Combining a short walk to Garden Creek Falls with a scenic family picnic
• Must-Try Recommendation: Choose trail lengths based on children’s energy levels for a stress-free mountain trip
• Multi-Age Flexibility: Sometimes everyone is ready for a hike. Sometimes one child is ready to conquer the mountain while another has decided sitting in the dirt examining a pinecone is today’s primary objective

SheBuysTravel Tip: Flexibility is key when traveling with kids of different ages on Casper Mountain trails.

Ride the Oregon Trail With Historic Trails West

Property: Historic Trails West – Day Tours | Address: 13900 SE Wyoming Blvd., Casper, WY 82604 | Phone: (307) 266-4868 | Hours: By reservation

Casper is particularly special for families because the history kids read about in books actually runs through the landscape surrounding them. With Historic Trails West, families can travel portions of the historic Oregon, California, Mormon and Pony Express trails by wagon or horseback. Paired with a 3-course Dutch-oven dinner or lunch, history becomes something kids truly remember.

• The Magic: Hearing wagon wheels move, smelling sagebrush and gazing at the enormous Wyoming sky on real trails
• What We Loved Best: The evening Dutch Oven Wagon Train trek and cookout under the open sky
• Must-Try Recommendation: Book a covered wagon experience paired with a Dutch-oven meal for an unforgettable evening
• Snackless Pioneers: The pioneers didn’t even have gas-station snacks. My children would have turned back immediately!

SheBuysTravel Tip: Visit the free National Historic Trails Interpretive Center before your wagon ride to help kids understand the journey through interactive exhibits.

Take a Day Trip to Independence Rock

Property: Independence Rock State Historic Site | Address: Highway 220, Alcova, WY 82620 | Phone: (307) 577-5150 | Hours: Open daily year-round

Continue your Oregon Trail education approximately 50 miles southwest of Casper at Independence Rock State Historic Site. The massive granite formation became a recognizable frontier register where travelers carved names into its surface. Today’s families can walk around and onto the rock to see historic inscriptions, connecting actual places across the landscape so history suddenly has geography attached to it.

• The Magic: A massive granite landmark where 19th-century pioneers carved names into the rock surface
• What We Loved Best: Turning the search for historic carved inscriptions into a fun “Easter egg hunt” for kids
• Must-Try Recommendation: Walk onto portions of the formation after visiting the Trails Center and riding wagons
• History with Geography: That’s one of my favorite things about using travel as education: history suddenly has geography attached to it

SheBuysTravel Tip: Independence Rock completes the Oregon Trail story beautifully after visiting Casper’s trail center and wagon rides.

Frequently Asked Questions

Read More

• Ditch the Heels, Grab Your Besties: Unforgettable Things To Do in Casper, Wyoming for Your Girls’ Getaway!
• The Ultimate Fall Bucket List for Cody, Wyoming (Ghosts Included)
• Saddle Up for a Wild West Weekend in Cheyenne, Wyoming
• Experience the Natural Wonders of Encampment Wyoming