The Wild West of the USA

Our journey takes us through four U.S. states, from south to north, through Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. Of course, there are many more cities and regions that are part of the Wild West, but it would take too long to cover them all - to ride or drive. That's why we have compiled the must-sees for all cowboys on a route from the southernmost Texas to northern Montana.

You are sure to find even more wonderful places along the way; just let yourself be inspired by the fascinating nature along the route. What this trip will cost you depends entirely on you - the type of rental car, the number of your accommodations, and the length of your cowboy experience can all influence the price.

Take care of flights (preferably to San Antonio International Airport) and a rental car before your arrival, and then the time travel can begin: Work on a ranch, participate in rodeos, search for gold in mines, or simply ride through breathtaking landscapes into the sunset. And who knows - maybe by the end of your journey, you might even shoot faster than your own shadow.

Where could you better start a road trip through the Wild West than in the home of the cowboys - in Texas? The best starting point for your journey is the airport in San Antonio; here, instead of a horse, you first grab a rental car and can immediately start your adventure - but remember: You are in Texas, so don't forget your cowboy hat!

If you want to start your road trip through the Wild West in style, you won't spend your first night as a cowboy in a hotel in the big city of San Antonio, but in the great outdoors, on a real ranch! We recommend the Mayan Dude Ranch, located about an hour's drive west of San Antonio. Here you will be welcomed like family, and the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. The ranch is the perfect starting point for you to get 'warmed up' for the Wild West: You could practice your lasso throwing or improve your shooting skills.

After you've devoured your T-Bone steak outside with the other guests, you can end the evening with authentic country music in the saloon.

The next morning, don't leave right away - make sure to enjoy the cowboy breakfast. For that, you'll ride early in the morning to a beautiful picnic spot and can enjoy bacon and eggs directly from an open fire. Don't worry - the beginners among you will certainly receive a briefing. The horses of the Mayan Dude Ranch are very calm companions and really make it easy for beginners - we speak from experience.

If you manage to say goodbye to the Mayan Dude Ranch, you'll have to sadly dismount your horse and get into your rental car. There's not much time to grieve anyway - after about five hours, you'll reach the next highlight of your road trip through the Wild West. After leaving major cities like San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas behind, you'll arrive in Fort Worth, which calls itself the city of cowboys and culture.

A day's stay here is definitely not enough to see everything! As soon as you arrive, make your way to the Fort Worth Stockyards. Here you can find everything a cowboy's heart desires: You can witness the cattle drive through the city twice a day, enjoy country music at Billy Bob's Texas, experience your first real live rodeo, or visit the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. The Stockyards Hotel is perfect for your stay, as its Western themed rooms will allow you to dream of cowboy life even at night.

When you leave Fort Worth and turn onto Route 287, turn up your radio and sing along with Tony Christie: 'Is this the Road to Amarillo?'

This is your last stop in Texas, which is about five hours away at the state's northern border. After the long drive, it's time to get back in the saddle - off to the Los Cedros Ranch with the cowgirls and cowboys of the West! Here you can not only ride into the sunset but also enjoy a hearty meal in a real chuckwagon.

Don't forget to pick up cowboy boots beforehand in one of the many shops in Amarillo! A good overnight option in the city is the Big Texan Steak Ranch, where you can also take on the famous challenge at the attached restaurant: If you manage to eat the 2kg steak with sides within an hour, you won't have to pay anything. But beware: If you lose the challenge, it will cost you $72! More than 87,000 people have attempted the challenge, and only 10,000 have succeeded.

After you've filled up at the chuckwagon and had more than enough with a 2kg steak in Amarillo, it's time to head to the next state: Welcome to beautiful Colorado! After you've become real cowboys and cowgirls in Texas, you can put your new riding skills, your cowboy boots, and your favorite country songs to good use here in Colorado! If you've traveled through New Mexico on Route 87, you'll reach Colorado Springs after about six hours on Interstate 25.

After resting from the long drive - for example, at the Comfort Inn Manitou Springs - you'll make your way to the Garden of the Gods, located only about 10 minutes away, a public park you can explore on foot or horseback. Here, you can admire breathtaking rock formations and beautiful nature.

If your wallet has already been stretched a bit too much by now, we have just the thing for you: Head directly to a real gold mine, about an hour's drive from Colorado Springs.

You can choose between various tours and mines with the Gold Mine Tours and, with a bit of luck, you might find some gold nuggets. An hour-long tour costs about $20. Note: The Mollie Kathleen Goldmine is closed from October to April! But you should definitely check it out, as the Wild West and the gold rush simply go hand in hand.

Once you've gathered enough strength - and gold - it's time to continue your road trip through the Wild West. You'll leave Colorado Springs on Interstate 25 towards Denver - but you'll leave the city behind and reach the C Lazy U Ranch near Rocky Mountain National Park after about three hours.

Here, you'll return to your roots. Among the 180 horses, there's sure to be the right companion for each of you. Once you've found it, you can participate in rides through Colorado's breathtaking nature or fly fishing twice a day. If you want to perfect your cowboy experience, you can also help to round up cattle on horseback. If you haven't felt like a cowboy until now, you definitely will once you have a lasso in hand on your horse's back with a stubborn calf in front of you on the C Lazy U Ranch!

Anyone who can say goodbye to their faithful companion at the C Lazy U Ranch will continue from Colorado to Wyoming. The Wild West still has more in store for you: Nowhere else can you admire more beautiful endless landscapes, as Wyoming is the least populated state in the USA.

Here, you'll head directly into the Wind River Indian Reservation, which you'll cross on your way through Wyoming, reaching it about five hours after leaving the C Lazy U Ranch.

Here, it's best to choose one of the small hotels so you can have enough time to attend a classic powwow in summer. Powwows are gatherings of Native American tribes where they happily dance, sing, and celebrate with guests - all to honor the culture of the communities. The eastern Shoshone and northern Arapaho tribes are home in the Wind River Reservation and warmly welcome all guests to their powwows in the summer.

After this truly emotional experience, you'll leave the reservation heading north and drive on Route 120 to the city of Cody, which was founded by none other than Buffalo Bill, the famous bison hunter, and is known as the rodeo capital of the world. Here, it's best to stay at the Irma Hotel, the birthplace of Buffalo Bill - from there you can explore the city. For example, it's just a ten-minute walk to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, which encompasses five different museums under one roof that you can explore for about $20.

On the far west side of the city, you can discover Old Trail Town, a town that looks just like it did during the Wild West days. A little further on is the infamous Cody Stampede Rodeo, where only the bravest rodeo riders dare to enter the arena - definitely check out one of the many events, and don't forget your cowboy boots.

Before you leave Wyoming, make a stop northeast of Cody at the Eatons' Ranch to gather strength for the final leg of your Western road trip. Here, after your city stay, you can enjoy the wide open spaces and solitude at the Bighorn Mountains, help round up cattle (by now, you should be real pros), or take rides into the mountains before continuing on to Montana.

Your last stop in the Wild West of the USA is Montana. Bordering Canada and traversed by the Rocky Mountains, this northern state is on par with the other stops on your journey in terms of nature!

About an hour away from Eatons' Ranch is the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. Upon arrival, a shiver runs down your spine - you're standing in the middle of a vast cemetery. Here, on June 25, 1876, a large American cavalry regiment was defeated by three Native American tribes, including the Lakota Sioux. Several hundred soldiers and Native Americans died in the battle. A place that reminds us all of the exciting but often cruel moments of early American history and calls for us all to live together in peace.

After this sobering experience, you should treat yourself to a few days of relaxation after the exciting last few days. You can do this best at the Mountain Sky Guest Ranch, which is about three hours away. From there, you still have the option to visit Virginia City - a town where time has literally stood still. It looks just like in the old Western movies. A truly worthy conclusion to your Wild West road trip.

We promise you, the Wild West will enchant you, and you won't regret your road trip - so saddle up and let's go! ... 'I'm a poor lonesome cowboy...!'

You can either plan your road trip yourself and combine flights, rental cars, and accommodations individually, or even book organized tours in a package. We have compiled links for all options.