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Vedauwoo Recreation Area and Campground

August 3, 2020

Right off Interstate 80 in southern Wyoming is an unusual retreat of natural granite formations that is home to some of the best rock climbing in Wyoming and a beautiful campground that will inspire many future return trips.

According to Cheyenne’s tourism website, Vedauwoo is pronounced Vee-Duh-Voo and means “Land of the Earthborn Sprits.” Located within Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, the area is a draw for climbers from around the world but is also a hotspot for hiking, fishing, ATV riding, mountain biking, and camping.

The Vedauwoo Campground near the entrance to the recreation area is $10 per night for a single site with a table, fire ring, and nearby vault toilets. There are 28 campsites altogether, and they are available on a first-come, first-served basis only. The sites seemed fairly spaced out and clean when we were there, and they’re set nicely into the natural landscape.

If you’re looking to be within walking distance of the formations, the main campground is a great choice. But if you don’t mind driving a few miles, or you want a free campsite near Vedauwoo, there are several dispersed sites just down the road and past the entrance to the Vedauwoo Recreation Area. Simply take the dirt road, which will be a bit bumpy but totally manageable in a passenger car, and you’ll start to see the designated spots on both sides of the road.

We’ll note that this isn’t a free-for-all or camp where you want location, and there are several signs designating this throughout. With that said, some choices may be up to your own interpretation.

Want to know how to find more unique places to camp? Check out our article on How to Find the Best Campsites. You might also be interested in 15 Amazing Destinations for Your Camping Bucket List.

Stay safe and happy exploring!

Photographs from the Vedauwoo Campground. From top: the view at our campsite within the dispersed camping area outside Vedauwoo Recreation Area. Middle: Deer at the paid campground at dawn. Bottom: Sunrise over the formations at Vedauwoo.

what else is there to do near vedauwoo?

By the way, yes, we know that rhymes. That aside, there are many attractions near Vedauwoo within the cities of Cheyenne to the east, Laramie to the west, and in between. Since we love unique roadside attractions, we couldn’t resist a stop at Mel Gould’s Buryville. We first learned of this curious collection of metal sculptures through Roadside America, which is a great place to discover all sorts of fun off-beat finds. Property owner and inventor, Mel, named the site after his underground workshop where he creates his sculptures, and it will not disappoint on your next trip to southern Wyoming.

Photographs and text by Elaine Skylar Neal and Vincent Neal / Travels and Curiosities

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