On-route place guide
Thermopolis
Plan a Route 20 stop in Thermopolis for Hot Springs State Park, dinosaurs, local history, Wind River Canyon, and an overnight.
Thermopolis
On Route 20
Thermopolis is one of Wyoming’s most complete Route 20 destinations. Hot Springs State Park, the Wyoming Dinosaur Center, local history, and the Wind River Canyon approach give the town enough depth for a half day and enough variety for an overnight before the route continues through the Bighorn Basin.
Why stop here
Thermopolis offers more than a practical pause between Shoshoni and Worland. It combines a soaking destination, a mineral-springs landscape, a serious paleontology stop, and a compact town base. That mix supports different visits without leaving the Route 20 corridor.
The approach matters too. From the east, Route 20 follows the Bighorn River through Wind River Canyon before reaching town. Thermopolis works as the reward at the end of that scenic run and as the point where travelers decide whether to stop or continue north toward Worland and Cody.
What kind of stop it is
Best described as a half-day stop or overnight destination.
A shorter visit can focus on Hot Springs State Park or the dinosaur museum. A half day can combine the park with one museum. Stay overnight when soaking, paleontology, and a relaxed canyon drive all matter, or when continuing toward Cody would make the day feel rushed.
Choose the shape of the visit
- Hot springs and park time: Hot Springs State Park centers the visit on mineral springs, terraces, walking paths, soaking options, and the park landscape. Choose this when relaxation and time outdoors matter more than collecting several attractions.
- Dinosaurs and geology: the Wyoming Dinosaur Center combines museum exhibits with active paleontology work. Its longer dig programs are planned experiences, not casual add-ons, so reserve ahead when fieldwork is the reason for the trip.
- Local history: the Hot Springs County Museum adds regional, Indigenous, pioneer, and town history. It works well as a second indoor stop or as an alternative when weather changes the outdoor plan.
- A simpler town pause: downtown, a meal, and a walk near the river can turn Thermopolis into a useful two-hour reset without forcing a full attraction schedule.
- The canyon drive: Wind River Canyon is part of the Route 20 arrival from Shoshoni. Allow time for the scenery, but use designated pullouts and keep attention on the road rather than treating the canyon as a series of spontaneous stops.
Practical planning
The state park’s pools, paths, terraces, and wildlife areas do not function as one compact attraction. Decide whether the priority is soaking, walking, scenery, or a combination, and check current access before arrival. Bring what the chosen pool experience requires.
Confirm museum schedules and program requirements, especially for the Wyoming Dinosaur Center. A museum visit can fit a through-travel day; a dig program becomes the day’s main event. Weather, road work, and maintenance can also affect park paths or the canyon drive, so keep the plan flexible.
Route 20 planning notes
Traveling west, Thermopolis is the point to choose between an overnight and the next basin leg through Worland toward Cody. Traveling east, it is the natural pause before Wind River Canyon and the longer open run toward Shoshoni and Casper.
The town can close the Lusk to Thermopolis Route 20 Weekend or begin the Thermopolis to Cody Route 20 Weekend. Avoid treating it as both a full destination day and a minor waypoint in the same itinerary.
What it pairs with
Thermopolis pairs best with Shoshoni, Worland, the Casper, Shoshoni, and Thermopolis segment, the Thermopolis, Worland, and Greybull segment, the Lusk to Thermopolis Route 20 Weekend, the Thermopolis to Cody Route 20 Weekend, and the broader Wyoming state page.