Where Wyoming Wanders
Things to do in Ranchester
Ranchester is the small-town stop on the way up US-14: real 1865 history at Connor Battlefield on the Tongue River, a shady riverside park the kids will love, and hand-pressed local-beef burgers at the Wyoming Buckshot Saloon. The Ranchester stops we send guests to are below.
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What are the best things to do in Ranchester?+
Ranchester is the small-town stop on the way up US-14: real 1865 history at Connor Battlefield on the Tongue River, a shady riverside park the kids will love, and hand-pressed local-beef burgers at the Wyoming Buckshot Saloon. The Ranchester stops we send guests to are below.
Where should I stay near Ranchester?+
Wyo Stays manages vacation rentals across Sheridan and Johnson County, including homes in and around Ranchester. Booking direct at wyostays.com means no platform booking fee, and every stay includes the concierge map with drive-times from your door.
Every Ranchester place we recommend
Connor Battlefield State Historic SiteCulture & History
County Rd 67, Ranchester, WY 82839
Quiet, shady grounds on the Tongue River with real 1865 history. Good picnic and leg-stretch on the way up to Dayton.
Wyoming Buckshot Saloon & EateryFood
119 Coffeen St, Ranchester, WY 82839
Hand-pressed burgers from locally sourced beef — the mashburger is the move. A genuine Ranchester gem worth the short drive north, and a natural pair with Connor Battlefield.
Ranchester / Tongue River Riverside ParkCulture & History
Gillette St, Ranchester, WY 82839
Shady riverside town park on the Tongue — easy picnic, wading, and a leg-stretch for the kids on the way up US-14. Small-town Wyoming at its most wholesome.
Dry Bean Coffee ShedCoffee & Bakery
470 US-14, Ranchester, WY 82839
A small coffee stop right on US-14 in Ranchester. Handy for filling a mug before you head up the Bighorn Scenic Byway.
Innominate Coffeehouse & Bakery (Ranchester)Coffee & Bakery
652 US-14, Ranchester, WY 82839
Open floor plan, so you can watch the bakers work while you wait on pastries and breakfast or lunch plates. There are porch tables where the dog can join you.
Tongue River Brewing CompanyBars & Breweries
530 US-14, Ranchester, WY 82839
Ranchester's own craft brewery, with a taproom for flights and pints and a patio where dogs are welcome. A fine stop on the way to or from the mountain.
Silver Spur Bar & LoungeBars & Breweries
408 US-14, Ranchester, WY 82839
Bar and lounge on US-14 in Ranchester that serves food and drinks. Not to be mixed up with the Silver Spur Cafe in Sheridan.
Natural History Museum of Wyoming, Ranchester Outreach CenterCulture & History
480 US Highway 14, Ranchester, WY 82839
Peek into a working fossil prep lab where newly dug fossils get cleaned up. A good rainy-day stop for kids on the way to the mountains.
Stay where the guide begins
Wyo Stays hosts across both counties — book direct with no platform booking fee, then plan your whole day with drive-times from your actual front door.