Welcome to Thermopolis! Soak in steamy mineral pools beneath red cliffs, watch bison graze beside bubbling geysers, and crack open ancient fossils with your own hands — Thermopolis is where wild Wyoming meets hot springs and dinosaurs.
☑️ Thermopolis Checklist
- Book your Flight: Fly into Cody Yellowstone Regional Airport (COD), about 90 minutes from town
- Reserve your Hotel: Stay near Hot Springs State Park for walkable access to pools, trails, and bison herds
- Join your Tour: Schedule your Dig Site fossil adventure or book a guided soak session in advance
💦 Day 1: Hot Springs Magic
- State Bath House Soak: Start your day with a free, 104° mineral soak under colorful tilework — locals swear it’s healing
- Swinging Bridge Walk: Cross a swaying bridge suspended over the Big Horn River with steam rising all around
- Terrace Walk Trail: Wander along rainbow-hued mineral terraces where steaming water trickles and glows in the morning light
- Bison Herd Drive-By: Cruise the park loop and watch bison lumber across the road like they own it — because they do
- Hellie’s Tepee Pools: Slide into hot pools, cold plunges, and steamy grottos inside this retro family-run bathhouse
- Rainbow Terraces Sunset: Catch the last light hitting mineral shelves in fiery oranges and pinks — bring your camera
- Steamy Night Soak: Slip into a twilight soak under the stars at Star Plunge, where the mist rises like mountain fog
🦖 Day 2: Dinosaurs & Digs
- Wyoming Dinosaur Center: Come face to face with a full T-Rex, walk through ancient sea life, and touch real fossils from local digs
- Dig Site Tour: Hop in a van and head to the hills to help uncover bones with real paleontologists — dirt, sweat, and the thrill of discovery
- Big Spring Source: Stand over the massive mineral spring where 3.6 million gallons of hot water bubble up daily — it smells like eggs, but it’s mesmerizing
- Gift Shop Fossils: Sort through bins of trilobites, geodes, and dinosaur teeth — you’ll find a pocket-sized treasure to take home
- Lunch in Town: Refuel with a buffalo burger and fry sauce at a tiny roadside diner with swivel stools and cowboy hats on the wall
- Museum Stroll: Duck into the Hot Springs County Museum for wild west memorabilia, a jailhouse cell, and vintage rodeo posters
- Evening Soak & Slide: Wind down with a hot mineral soak, then zip down the 500-foot waterslide at Star Plunge like a kid on summer break
🏞️ Day 3: Wild Wyoming
- Wind River Canyon Drive: Cruise a winding road flanked by sheer cliffs and thundering rapids — it’s raw, rugged beauty at its best
- Legend Rock Petroglyph Site: Follow a dusty path to sandstone walls carved with figures, spirals, and mystery — over 10,000 years old and still speaking
- Fishing Stop at Boysen Reservoir: Cast a line into deep blue waters surrounded by desert cliffs and eagle shadows
- Coffee in Downtown: Sip a hot cup inside a wood-paneled café where ranchers chat and the pastries are baked that morning
- Souvenir Stop: Pick up a hand-carved arrowhead, a bag of hot spring salts, or a dino claw replica from a mom-and-pop rock shop
- Dinner at the Steakhouse: Order a sizzling ribeye and buttery baked potato while boots clack on hardwood floors
- Moonlit Soak: Finish your trip back at the springs — steam curling into the dark, the scent of minerals, and stars so bright it feels unreal
💡 Thermopolis Tips
- Bring a Swimsuit: The town is built around soaking — don’t leave yours behind
- Expect the Sulfur Smell: The hot springs do have a strong scent — you’ll get used to it fast
- Pack Layers: Even summer mornings can be chilly before the sun heats up the valley
- Plan for Limited Cell Signal: Especially near petroglyphs and canyon drives
- Hydrate After Soaking: Hot water can sneak up on you — drink plenty of water
- Wear Grippy Sandals: The mineral surfaces around pools can get slick
- Check Pool Hours: Some bathhouses open early, others stay open late — build your soak schedule accordingly
📅 Thermopolis Calendar
- Thermopolis Cowboy Rendezvous PRCA Rodeo (June): Bulls, broncs, and boots hit the arena in classic Wyoming fashion
- Hot Spot Car Rally (June): Vintage rides line the park with chrome, flames, and rockabilly music
- Big Horn Basin Folk Festival (July): Fiddlers, storytellers, and quilters fill the town with handmade flair
- Wyoming Whiskey BBQ (July): Pitmasters smoke brisket and ribs while live music rolls across the hills
- Hot Springs County Fair (August): A full week of rodeos, livestock shows, and funnel cakes
- Fall Fossil Fest (September): Celebrate dinosaurs with hands-on digs, science talks, and Jurassic-themed treats
- Christmas Light Parade (December): Pickup trucks and tractors glow with lights as the town rings in the season
🍖 Thermopolis Menu
- Buffalo Burger: Lean, juicy, and loaded with local flavor — it’s Wyoming on a bun
- Fry Sauce & Curly Fries: A local favorite — tangy, creamy, and the perfect dip for those crispy spirals
- Sizzling Ribeye: Served on a hot iron skillet, spitting and steaming as it hits the table
- Cowboy Beans: Sweet and smoky, often served right alongside cornbread or a slab of ribs
- Hot Springs Salt Taffy: Soft, chewy, and made in wild flavors like huckleberry and root beer
- Breakfast Burritos: Oversized, overstuffed, and often eaten with a view of the rising steam
- Apple Pie à la Mode: House-baked and served warm with a melting scoop of vanilla on top