Free & Cheap Things to Do in Casper

History & Culture

A spectacular free museum operated by the Bureau of Land Management that tells the story of the Oregon, California, Mormon, and Pony Express trails — the great emigrant routes that shaped the American West. Seven immersive galleries feature simulated covered wagon rides, life-size dioramas, and thousands of artifacts. The surrounding 500 acres of land preserve actual wagon ruts carved into the prairie by thousands of westward travelers.

Address: 1501 N Poplar St, Casper, WY 82601

Tip: Open Tuesday–Saturday 9am–4:30pm. The outdoor trails on the surrounding land are open year-round and let you walk alongside real emigrant wagon ruts — a genuinely moving experience. Combine with Tate Geological Museum for a full free day in Casper.

History & Nature

A completely free geological museum on the Casper College campus with over 6,000 fossil and mineral specimens, including 'Dee' — a remarkably complete Columbian mammoth skeleton — and a full T. rex display. One of the best free natural history collections in the Rocky Mountain region, and almost entirely unknown outside Wyoming. Kids and adults alike are blown away.

Address: 125 College Dr, Casper, WY 82601

Tip: Open Monday–Saturday 10am–4pm. Free parking on the Casper College campus. The Dee the Mammoth exhibit is the centerpiece — she was discovered by a local rancher and is one of the most complete mammoths ever found in Wyoming.

Arts & Culture

Casper's beloved downtown outdoor gathering space — a free, year-round public plaza with a stage, splash pad, and ice rink hosting fun and family-friendly events all year long. In summer, free concerts, outdoor movies, farmers markets, and community festivals fill the calendar. In winter, the free outdoor ice rink draws the whole city downtown. A genuine community hub that costs nothing to enjoy.

Address: 200 S David St, Casper, WY 82601

Tip: Check the events calendar on the website before visiting — free concerts and festivals run most summer weekends. The splash pad is a hit for families in hot weather. Ice skating in winter is free to skate (skate rentals available for a small fee).

Parks & Nature

A free wildlife museum on the Casper College campus with mounted dioramas of nearly 400 Wyoming birds, fish, and mammals — black bears, mountain lions, pronghorn, raptors, and waterfowl — arranged by habitat. An interactive children's area called The Lair, an outdoor bird-feeding station, and a small native plant garden round out a low-key hour.

Address: 405 E. 15th Street, Casper, WY 82601

Tip: Open Monday–Friday 10am–4pm; closed weekends. Free parking on 15th Street. Pair with the Tate Geological Museum next door — both Casper College facilities, both free.

Historic Sites

A reconstructed 1865 military post on the bank of the North Platte River, with restored barracks, blacksmith shop, sutler's store, and stables furnished as they were when the fort guarded the Oregon, California, and Mormon trails. The adjacent museum interprets the Plains Indian wars, the Pony Express, and the namesake death of Lt. Caspar Collins in 1865.

Address: 4001 Fort Caspar Road, Casper, WY 82604

Tip: Summer hours (May 1–Sep 30): daily 8am–5pm. Winter hours: Tue–Sat 8am–5pm (fort buildings closed; admission half-price). Fort grounds always accessible. Leashed dogs welcome on grounds, not in buildings.

Parks & Nature

Casper's most picturesque park, six miles south of downtown at the base of Casper Mountain, where Garden Creek tumbles roughly 80 feet over multiple tiers through a forested canyon. A short paved path leads from the parking lot to the falls; the five-mile Bridle Trail climbs above the cascade for sweeping views of Casper and the North Platte plain.

Address: S. Rotary Park Road off Casper Mountain Road, Casper, WY 82601

Tip: Open 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Leashed dogs welcome. Spring runoff (May–June) puts the falls at peak. Drive carefully on Casper Mountain Road — narrow and winding.

Walking Tours

Ten miles of paved riverside path hugging both banks of the North Platte River, running from Paradise Valley Park on the west end to the North Casper Sports Complex on the east. The level, mostly flat surface is well suited to walking, running, cycling, rollerblading, fishing access, and birdwatching — the city's free outdoor backbone.

Address: Multiple trailheads along the North Platte River, Casper, WY 82601

Tip: Stroller- and wheelchair-friendly. Bring a bike — 10 miles is comfortable for most riders. David Street Station is a one-block walk from the central segment. Free parking at every trailhead.

Arts & Culture

Casper's contemporary art museum, housed in a 1920s former power station with industrial brick walls and 25-foot ceilings that suit large-scale installation work. Rotating exhibits feature Wyoming and regional artists, with a small permanent collection on the second floor and a Discovery Center for kids with hands-on art-making stations.

Address: 400 E. Collins Drive, Casper, WY 82601

Tip: Open Tue–Sat 10am–5pm, Sun 12–4pm; closed Mondays. Free parking on Collins Drive. The Mueller Sculpture Garden outside is free to walk anytime.

Museums & Galleries

Casper's hands-on science museum fills a downtown space with interactive exhibits on physics, biology, and earth science, plus live demonstrations. A flat low rate and a busy slate of homeschool Fridays and family events make it a reliable rainy-day stop for curious kids.

Address: 222 E Collins Dr, Casper, WY 82601

Tip: Closed Sundays; members visit free, and homeschool Science Fever Fridays run the second Friday of each month.

Museums & Galleries

Set in a WWII-era building at the Casper airport that once served as a base, this free state museum preserves the stories of Wyoming's veterans across every conflict, with uniforms, weapons, vehicles, and personal artifacts. Knowledgeable volunteers bring the military history to life.

Address: 3740 Jourgensen Ave, Casper, WY 82604

Tip: Open Tuesday-Saturday 9-4; it's at the Casper/Natrona County airport, a short drive from downtown.

Parks & Nature

A serene day-use state park six miles east of Casper along the North Platte River, with 2.8 miles of paved trails, a swimming pond, and the only universally accessible fishing pier in the state. More than 200 bird species make it a favorite for birders and easy family walks.

Address: 8700 E US-20/26, Evansville, WY 82636

Tip: Per-vehicle fee; the flat paved trails and swimming pond make it an easy outing with kids.

Museums & Galleries

Run by the Natrona County School District, this planetarium projects full-dome astronomy and science shows onto a 30-foot dome, with public programs scheduled mainly in summer. At just a few dollars a seat, it's one of the cheapest science outings in town.

Address: 904 N Poplar St, Casper, WY 82601

Tip: Bring cash - cards aren't accepted; check the calendar for current public showtimes, mostly in summer.