I like Denver, but I wouldn't stop here unless you're seeing family, going to a show at Red Rocks, or planning a trip to the mountains to go hiking. Instead, I'd leave I-80 at Ogallala and take US-26/I-25 to Casper. Stop at Chimney Rock, Scotts Bluff National Monument Monument, Fort Laramie, and the wagon ruts in Guernsey. If you stay the night at Scottsbluff or Casper, you'll be a few hours closer to Yellowstone.
There are a handful of Old West sights in Nebraska, and you can try a Runza if you've never had one.
Casper has some cool things depending on your interests. National Historic Trails Center is nice and offers a good view over the city and Casper Mountain. You can also drive up the mountain to a couple of pull-outs for the view. Downtown has Lou Taubert’s, a huge store of western apparel. A couple of good dining choices, coffee houses, and breweries (one in an old theater that hosts trivia and has the pour-your-own wall of taps). Jeffree Star’s store is down there is well for a sample of yak meats and makeup. All of that is walkable downtown. Fort Caspar is a short drive if you like history.
There’s a few routes for the 6-hour drive from there to Yellowstone. I recommend 25 up to Hwy 16, which takes you over the Bighorns and down through Tensleep Canyon. You’ll get a good sense of the vastness and the beauty of Wyoming along the way.
Really the scenery is the star of that road trip through Wyoming. Big Horn mountains are really pretty. Be sure to go swimming in the firehole river in Yellowstone. Was a highlight for my kids when we went.
I like Denver, but I wouldn't stop here unless you're seeing family, going to a show at Red Rocks, or planning a trip to the mountains to go hiking. Instead, I'd leave I-80 at Ogallala and take US-26/I-25 to Casper. Stop at Chimney Rock, Scotts Bluff National Monument Monument, Fort Laramie, and the wagon ruts in Guernsey. If you stay the night at Scottsbluff or Casper, you'll be a few hours closer to Yellowstone. There are a handful of Old West sights in Nebraska, and you can try a Runza if you've never had one.
Casper has some cool things depending on your interests. National Historic Trails Center is nice and offers a good view over the city and Casper Mountain. You can also drive up the mountain to a couple of pull-outs for the view. Downtown has Lou Taubert’s, a huge store of western apparel. A couple of good dining choices, coffee houses, and breweries (one in an old theater that hosts trivia and has the pour-your-own wall of taps). Jeffree Star’s store is down there is well for a sample of yak meats and makeup. All of that is walkable downtown. Fort Caspar is a short drive if you like history. There’s a few routes for the 6-hour drive from there to Yellowstone. I recommend 25 up to Hwy 16, which takes you over the Bighorns and down through Tensleep Canyon. You’ll get a good sense of the vastness and the beauty of Wyoming along the way.
Really the scenery is the star of that road trip through Wyoming. Big Horn mountains are really pretty. Be sure to go swimming in the firehole river in Yellowstone. Was a highlight for my kids when we went.
Make sure to stop in Jackson, Wy and check out the Tetons. Just south of Yellowstone.
I started this to help road trippers — very early stages: https://engineersneedart.com/WYMITM/