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Local Discovery Guide

Cheyenne, Wyoming

The oldest continuously active Air Force base. Frontier town, ICBM fields, and big sky country.

Airport
Cheyenne Regional Airport (CYS) — direct flights to Denver; DEN is 97 miles south
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Nearest City
Cheyenne (2 mi)
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Cost of Living
Moderate
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Best Seasons
May through October

F.E. Warren AFB sits on the western edge of Cheyenne — the state capital and Wyoming's largest city at 65,000 people. Warren is the Air Force's oldest continuously active installation, and its Victorian-era brick buildings are some of the most beautiful on any military post in the country.

Warren operates the 90th Missile Wing, one of three ICBM wings. The missile fields extend across southeastern Wyoming, northeastern Colorado, and western Nebraska — thousands of square miles of prairie above and beneath.

Cheyenne is a working cowboy town that happens to be a state capital. The western culture is genuine, not performative. Frontier Days in July is one of the greatest rodeos in the world.

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Must Eat

The spots worth eating at before you PCS out.

Albany Restaurant

Steakhouse / Diner
$$

"Cheyenne institution since 1942. The real deal."

The Albany has been feeding Cheyenne since 1942 — a classic Western diner with steaks, prime rib, and the kind of service that doesn't happen at chains. Busy at lunch, excellent for dinner.

steakhousehistoricdinerprime-riblocal

Sanford's Grub & Pub

Bar & Grill
$$

"The military favorite. Consistent, cheap, and huge portions."

A Cheyenne staple that's become the default military hangout — enormous portions, a massive beer selection, and a menu that runs from burgers to wraps. Always full on weekends.

barburgersmilitary-favoritecasual

Poor Richard's

Pizza
$

"Best pizza in Cheyenne. Local institution."

Cheyenne's most beloved pizza joint — hand-tossed crust, fresh ingredients, and a beer selection that punches above its weight. The lunch buffet draws crowds of state workers and military.

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Hidden Gems

What the internet won't tell you. What the locals actually know.

Historic F.E. Warren Housing District

Historic District
$

"Victorian-era brick officers' quarters on the National Historic Register."

The original Warren installation buildings — red brick Victorian-era structures from the 1880s — are on the National Register of Historic Places. Walking among them is genuinely striking. Ask about installation history tours.

historicvictorianarchitectureon-basenational-register

Cheyenne Botanic Gardens

Botanical Garden
$
Kid OK

"Solar-powered greenhouse and beautiful grounds. Free admission."

A solar-powered botanical garden with year-round greenhouses and seasonal outdoor gardens. One of Cheyenne's most underrated assets — especially welcome in winter.

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Cheyenne Depot Museum

History Museum
$
Kid OK

"Transcontinental Railroad history in an 1886 depot."

Cheyenne grew because of the railroad, and this museum in the restored 1886 Union Pacific depot tells that story well. The building itself is worth the visit.

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Outdoor

Get outside. The land around military installations is usually the best reason to be there.

Vedauwoo (Medicine Bow-Routt NF)

Rock Climbing / Hiking
$

"World-class crack climbing. 30 miles west."

Vedauwoo's bizarre granite formations make it a mecca for crack climbers from across the country. Even if you don't climb, the bizarre "fat man's squeeze" terrain and hoodoos are worth the drive.

rock-climbinghikingnational-forestgranite

Curt Gowdy State Park

State Park
$
Kid OK

"Fishing, mountain biking, and reservoir camping. 25 miles west."

Cheyenne's backyard playground — two reservoirs for fishing and kayaking, technical mountain bike trails, and solid camping. The granite formations look like a miniature Vedauwoo.

state-parkmountain-bikingfishingcampingkayaking
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Culture & History

Places with stories. Most military towns sit on deep history — dig in.

Cheyenne Frontier Days

Annual Rodeo / Festival
$$
Kid OK

"The Daddy of 'em All. World's largest outdoor rodeo. Last week of July."

Frontier Days is one of the premier events in the American West — 10 days of PRCA rodeo, major concerts, parades, and genuine Western culture. The military parade on opening day is a must. Get tickets months in advance for concerts.

Insider

Warren AFB gets free tickets every year. Ask your unit about the allotment — don't pay for tickets you can get through the base.

rodeofestivalannualwesternconcerts

Wyoming State Capitol

Historic Building
$

"1890 sandstone capitol. Free tours."

Wyoming's gold-domed capitol is a gorgeous Romanesque Revival building open for free public tours. The legislative chambers and rotunda are worth an hour of your time.

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Family

Stuff to do with the kids. Rated by people who have brought actual children.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (Colorado Springs)

Zoo
$$
Mil DiscountKid OK

"Best zoo in the region. 100 miles south in Colorado Springs."

If you're making the drive to Colorado Springs, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a genuine highlight — built into a mountain, with giraffes you can feed and sweeping Pikes Peak views. Military discount available.

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Day Trips

When you need to remember there's a world outside the gate.

Rocky Mountain National Park145 mi

"True Rockies. 14,000-foot peaks, elk, and alpine tundra."

RMNP is a 2.5-hour drive from Cheyenne and worth every mile — Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in the US, crossing alpine tundra above treeline. Elk rut in September is spectacular.

hikingwildlifephotographynational-park
Denver, CO97 mi

"The big city. An hour and a half south."

Denver is close enough for a day trip or easy weekend — sports teams, restaurants, nightlife, the Denver Art Museum, Red Rocks Amphitheater, and access to the entire Front Range ski corridor.

city-tripsportsfoodconcertsshopping
Laramie, WY50 mi

"University of Wyoming town in a high plains valley."

Laramie is a college town at 7,200 feet with a lively downtown, Wyoming Cowboys football and basketball, and a completely different vibe from Cheyenne. Good for a casual day or evening out.

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Insider Intel
Things only people who've been there know.
01

Wyoming has no state income tax. Max your TSP contributions accordingly — this is one of your better financial postings.

02

Frontier Days military allotment tickets disappear fast. Ask your first sergeant or unit administrator in May.

03

The wind in Cheyenne is constant and can be violent. This is not a metaphor. Tie down your lawn furniture.

04

Denver airport is 97 miles and about 90 minutes. For anything more than a puddle jump, DEN is your real airport.

05

Vedauwoo climbing — take a guided lesson if you've never crack climbed. The technique is very different from face climbing.

Honest Warning

Cheyenne can feel like a small town despite being the state capital. If you need a major city's nightlife, restaurant diversity, or cultural scene, Denver is your pressure valve — but it's 90 minutes each way. The military community is tight-knit, the West is genuinely beautiful, and Frontier Days is worth the assignment alone.

Know something we missed?

This guide is built by people who've been stationed here. If there's a spot we got wrong or a gem we missed, tell us.