There are occasions when you need to get somewhere fast, but if you have the time, the road less traveled can provide a unique experience you’d otherwise miss.
In this case, the road less traveled is Wyoming’s HWY-210, aka Happy Jack Road, between Cheyenne and Laramie. Sure, you can get from A to B zipping along at 80 miles per hour on I-80, but why not take it a bit slower on the highway? It offers sights and activities you won’t find on the Interstate, and you’ll gain a new appreciation for the high plains of the Cowboy State.
Happy Jack Road between Cheyenne and Laramie is roughly the same length as I-80, but the drive is definitely more enjoyable.
Google Maps With loads of sights and attractions, plan on making an afternoon of it when you opt for HWY-210.
Both the interstate and Happy Jack Road take you over the expansive high plains, but HWY-210 is the option that winds through a portion of the Medicine Bow National Forest.
TractorDoc76/TripAdvisor
Plus, the scenery along Happy Jack Road is infinitely more spectacular…
Maria K/TripAdvisor
…especially if you make the drive in the springtime or early summer when the wildflowers lend a splash of color to the countryside.
JasonBechtel/Flickr
There’s even a place to stop for refreshments.
TravelBoy27/TripAdvisor The Bunkhouse Bar and Grill is a charming country pub and burger joint that serves up finger-lickin’ western fare with a live band and a dance floor to boot.
Curt Gowdy State Park is just off Happy Jack Road, with three reservoirs, tons of wildlife, and ample paths for hiking.
dasandman/TripAdvisor
Further up the road, you may want to stop off at Vedauwoo Recreation Area to get an up-close look at the fantastically peculiar rock formations.
Daleeva/TripAdvisor
The spot at the end of the road where Happy Jack hooks back up with I-80 is also near the Lincoln Monument. It’s a huge bust of the 16th president sitting atop a 30-foot tall pedestal made of granite.
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr This monument is the showpiece of the Visitor’s Center at the Summit Rest Area. It’s the perfect place to stop and stretch your legs as well as learn all you ever wanted to know about this part of Wyoming.
What’s your favorite part of the drive on HWY 210? Is there another Wyoming byway you love to travel? Share your favorites with us in the comments below!
Google Maps
With loads of sights and attractions, plan on making an afternoon of it when you opt for HWY-210.
TractorDoc76/TripAdvisor
Maria K/TripAdvisor
JasonBechtel/Flickr
TravelBoy27/TripAdvisor
The Bunkhouse Bar and Grill is a charming country pub and burger joint that serves up finger-lickin’ western fare with a live band and a dance floor to boot.
dasandman/TripAdvisor
Daleeva/TripAdvisor
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr
This monument is the showpiece of the Visitor’s Center at the Summit Rest Area. It’s the perfect place to stop and stretch your legs as well as learn all you ever wanted to know about this part of Wyoming.
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