College Visit Guides

Fly-in guide · 2 days, 1 campus

University of Wyoming in 2 Days: A Laramie College Visit Fly-In Trip

A parent-first plan for visiting the University of Wyoming in Laramie: how UW's personalized weekday visits and walk-in tours work and where to sign up, Future Cowboy visitor parking, four Laramie hotels from budget to mid-range, drive times from Laramie, Cheyenne and Denver airports, the UW Geological Museum and Wyoming Territorial Prison for siblings, and high-altitude Laramie weather by season, every fact sourced and checked Oct 30, 2026.

The pale sandstone Old Main building with OLD MAIN carved over a pair of glass doors, a large arched window and rows of tall windows, seen in summer under the leafy branches of a tree, with flower beds and a lawn to the right under a blue sky
Old Main on the University of Wyoming campus in Laramie (September 2023). Photo: Tony Webster · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Last checked Oct 30, 2026. Every fact comes from the pages listed in Sources at the bottom. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).

The short version

Trip at a glance

School
University of Wyoming (Laramie, WY)
Days
2 days: fly in and drive to Laramie, then a UW campus visit the next weekday.
Fly into
Laramie Regional (LAR) is about 15 to 17 min from campus with no traffic. Bigger airports: Cheyenne (CYS) about 1 hr and Denver International (DEN) about 2 hr 35 min.
Best base
Hilton Garden Inn Laramie, about a 4-minute drive to the visitor parking by Hoyt Hall.
Car or no car
Rent a car. Denver and Cheyenne are an hour or more away, and every hotel here is a short drive from campus.
Registration
Request a personalized weekday visit at least a week ahead, or join a weekday walk-in tour with no reservation.

1. Who this guide is for

This plan is for parents bringing a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, to see the University of Wyoming, home of the Cowboys in Laramie.

UW is Wyoming's only four-year university, and at 7,220 feet above sea level it is one of the highest campuses in the country, so pack layers and water. The photo in this guide shows Old Main on the Laramie campus.

Why this order

  • Day 1: fly in and drive to Laramie, about 17 minutes from Laramie Regional, about 1 hour from Cheyenne or about 2 hr 35 min from Denver International with no traffic.
  • Day 2: a personalized UW visit from the Campus Visitor Center in Ross Hall. Most visits last about four hours and can include academic appointments matched to your student's interests.
  • With extra time, the free UW Geological Museum is on campus, and the Wyoming Territorial Prison, which once held Butch Cassidy, is about 7 minutes away by car.
Plan ahead: registration and timing
  • UW's personalized weekday visit lets your student explore campus, meet admissions staff and add academic appointments based on staff and department availability. UW recommends requesting the visit at least one week in advance so it can arrange appointments. Pick a time on the sign-up page.
  • No reservation? UW runs student-led walk-in tours on weekdays. They don't include academic appointments, but you still see campus and can ask questions. Times are on UW's Visit page.
  • Visiting on a weekend or evening? UW's self-guided texting tour lets you text a campus number and get a photo and facts for each numbered stop.
  • UW's admissions events calendar lists interest-specific visit days and campus events for prospective students; check it before you pick dates.
  • Prospective Division I student-athletes: UW Admissions can't arrange coach meetings, so contact the coach before your visit if you'd like to connect with a program.
Tour availability varies by season.
  • Laramie is cold most of the year: January averages about 33°F highs and 10°F lows at the Laramie airport station, and UW says to be ready for snow in winter.
  • Summer is the mild season: July averages about 81°F highs and 49°F lows. Bring sunscreen and a water bottle at this altitude.
  • It's dry: no month averages even 2 inches of precipitation, and May is the wettest at about 1.8 inches.
  • Check the Cowboys schedule before you book, since home games bring extra traffic and change stadium-lot parking.

2. The suggested 2-day plan

  • Drive and walk times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, with addresses geocoded by OpenStreetMap Nominatim. Campus times are to the Future Cowboy visitor parking just west of Hoyt Hall, next to Ross Hall.

Day 1: fly in and drive to Laramie

  1. Laramie Regional Airport (LAR) → Hilton Garden Inn Laramie

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~17 min, 8.5 mi
    Driving
    Rental car

  2. Cheyenne Regional Airport (CYS) → Hilton Garden Inn Laramie

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~58 min, 51.2 mi
    Driving
    Rental car

  3. Denver International Airport (DEN) → Hilton Garden Inn Laramie

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~2 hr 35 min, 148.7 mi
    Driving
    Rental car
  • Hilton Garden Inn, Holiday Inn and Quality Inn sit along Grand Avenue and South 30th Street just east of campus. Comfort Inn is on Centennial Drive on Laramie's northwest side.
  • Driving up from Denver or Cheyenne in winter? UW links the Wyoming road conditions report for Laramie from its Plan Your Visit page; check it the day you drive.

Day 2: University of Wyoming campus visit

  1. Hilton Garden Inn Laramie → Future Cowboy parking (Hoyt Hall)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~4 min, 1.2 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  2. Holiday Inn Laramie → Future Cowboy parking (Hoyt Hall)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~5 min, 1.6 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  3. Quality Inn & Suites University → Future Cowboy parking (Hoyt Hall)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~6 min, 1.8 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  4. Comfort Inn & Suites Near University of Wyoming → Future Cowboy parking (Hoyt Hall)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~10 min, 3.8 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  5. UW campus → Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~7 min, 2.6 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  6. Future Cowboy parking (Hoyt Hall) → Laramie Regional Airport (LAR)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~15 min, 6.9 mi
    Driving
    Drive

  7. Future Cowboy parking (Hoyt Hall) → Denver International Airport (DEN)

    Driving (no traffic)
    ~2 hr 37 min, 137.6 mi
    Driving
    Drive
  • For weekday visits and tours, park in the "Future Cowboy" spots just west of Hoyt Hall, then check in at the Campus Visitor Center inside Ross Hall, where you'll get a parking permit. UW posts walking directions from the lot.
  • If the Future Cowboy spots are full, the Ivinson Parking Garage is overflow parking for weekday campus visits (Campus Visitor Center permit required).
  • Flying out of Denver the same day? The drive is over 2.5 hours, so plan on an evening flight after a four-hour visit, or stay a second night.

3. Campus by campus

The pale sandstone Old Main building with OLD MAIN carved over a pair of glass doors, a large arched window and rows of tall windows, seen in summer under the leafy branches of a tree, with flower beds and a lawn to the right under a blue sky
Old Main on the University of Wyoming campus in Laramie (September 2023). Photo: Tony Webster · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Campus

University of Wyoming (Laramie, WY)

Where visits start
  • Visits start at the UW Campus Visitor Center in Ross Hall, 1000 E. University Ave. Most personalized visits last about four hours, with time to explore campus, ask questions and customize the day around your student's interests.
  • Academic appointments depend on staff and department availability, so request your visit at least a week ahead if your student wants to meet someone in a specific program.
Visitor parking
  • Weekday visits and tours: park in the "Future Cowboy" spots just west of Hoyt Hall and check in at the Campus Visitor Center in Ross Hall for a parking permit. With a handicap placard, any accessible spot is fine.
  • Overflow: the Ivinson Parking Garage takes weekday campus visitors with a Campus Visitor Center permit, is free for weekend events, and has hourly parking on the top floor on weekdays.
  • Weekends and special events: permits aren't required unless a spot is marked "Enforced 24 Hours." The Ford Stadium Lot behind the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center is free any time except game days, with no permit needed. UW Admissions is not responsible for parking citations.
Getting there
  • The visitor parking by Hoyt Hall is about 15 minutes by car from Laramie Regional, about 1 hour from Cheyenne and about 2 hr 37 min from Denver International with no traffic.
What to know
  • UW suggests walking Prexy's Pasture and mapping your student's route from the Classroom Building to War Memorial Stadium while you're on campus.
Contact
UW Campus Visitor Center: Ross Hall, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071, (307) 766-4075, toll free (800) 342-5996, visituw@uwyo.edu.

Last checked Oct 30, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: UW Admissions: Visit the University of Wyoming (all visit types) · UW Admissions: Plan Your Visit to Laramie (parking and lodging) · UW Admissions: Self-Guided Texting Tour · UW: campus parking map (PDF)

4. Where to stay: Laramie hotels near campus

Price tiers (Budget, Mid-range, Upscale) follow each hotel's star class on Expedia. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Hotel · Our pickMid-range

Hilton Garden Inn Laramie

2229 Grand Ave., Laramie, WY 82070

Why here

  • It's about a 4-minute drive to the visitor parking by Hoyt Hall with no traffic, and it's on UW's Lodging Partners list (call the hotel and ask for the UW rate).
  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists a free roundtrip airport shuttle on request, free self-parking, an indoor pool and children's pool, a 24-hour gym, the on-site Garden Grille and Bar, and cooked-to-order breakfast for a fee. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateMid-range

Holiday Inn Laramie by IHG

204 S. 30th St., Laramie, WY 82070

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 3-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's about a 5-minute drive to the visitor parking by Hoyt Hall, and it's on UW's Lodging Partners list.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists free self-parking, an indoor pool, a hot tub, a gym, an on-site restaurant, cooked-to-order breakfast for a fee and a minimum check-in age of 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateBudget

Quality Inn & Suites University

3420 E. Grand Ave., Laramie, WY 82070

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 2.5-star property, so we place it in the Budget tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's about a 6-minute drive to the visitor parking by Hoyt Hall, and it's on UW's Lodging Partners list.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists a free buffet breakfast, free self-parking, an indoor pool, a hot tub, a gym and a minimum check-in age of 21. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

Hotel · AlternateBudget

Comfort Inn & Suites Near University of Wyoming

1655 Centennial Dr., Laramie, WY 82070

Why here

  • Expedia lists this hotel as a 2.5-star property, so we place it in the Budget tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
  • It's about a 10-minute drive to the visitor parking by Hoyt Hall, and it's on UW's Lodging Partners list.

Good to know

  • Expedia lists a free continental breakfast on weekdays, free self-parking, an indoor pool and a 24-hour gym. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.

Check rates on Expedia →

Expedia link is an affiliate link

All four hotels are on UW's Lodging Partners & Discounts list. The discounts are booked by calling the hotel and asking for the UW rate, so compare that with what you see on Expedia for your dates.

5. Meals between tours

Hours change, so check before you go.

At the hotels

Quality Inn includes a free buffet breakfast and Comfort Inn a free continental breakfast on weekdays. Hilton Garden Inn and Holiday Inn have on-site restaurants and cooked-to-order breakfast for a fee.

6. Things for siblings along the route

With siblings

UW Geological Museum

University of Wyoming campus, Laramie, WY

Free and open to the public Monday through Saturday (closed Sundays and major holidays). Look for the copper T. rex sculpture out front and the museum's star fossil, Big Al, plus a 75-foot Apatosaurus inside.

Official page →

With siblings

Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site

975 Snowy Range Road, Laramie, WY

The only prison that ever held Butch Cassidy, now restored buildings, exhibits and a nature trail along the Big Laramie River; most visitors spend 1 to 2 hours. Adults $9, ages 12 to 17 $4.50, 11 and under free. Open daily May through September, Thursday to Saturday October through April; about 7 minutes from campus by car.

Official page →

7. Practical tips

Getting to campus

  • Park in the Future Cowboy spots west of Hoyt Hall and pick up your parking permit at the Campus Visitor Center in Ross Hall when you check in.

Flying in and out

  • Laramie Regional is about 15 minutes from campus. From Cheyenne (about 1 hour) or Denver International (about 2 hr 35 min), leave plenty of time after a four-hour visit, and check Wyoming road conditions in winter.

Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals: Laramie Regional Airport)

  • Spring: April averages about 51°F highs and 25°F lows, and May warms to about 62°F/33°F with about 1.8 inches of precipitation, the wettest month.
  • Summer: July averages about 81°F/49°F, with cool nights even in midsummer.
  • Fall: September averages about 70°F/39°F, October about 56°F/28°F and November about 43°F/18°F.
  • Winter: January averages about 33°F/10°F and December about 33°F/10°F, with only about 0.3 inches of precipitation a month. Dress in layers and be ready for snow.

Parent checklist

  • Request a personalized weekday visit at least a week ahead, or plan on a weekday walk-in tour.
  • If your student wants academic appointments, note their interests when you request the visit.
  • Book flights into Laramie, Cheyenne or Denver and plan a rental car.
  • Book a Laramie hotel, and call to ask about the UW rate.
  • Pack layers, sunscreen and a water bottle for the 7,220-foot altitude.
  • After each visit, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student.

8. Student-athlete recruiting visits

For families whose student hopes to play a college sport. Rules below are the NCAA's; each school's links were checked Oct 26, 2026.

Coaches arrange the recruiting part of a visit, not the admissions office. The tour sign-ups in this guide are for the regular family visit. An official (school-paid) visit is offered by the school, and contact with coaches follows NCAA rules that vary by division, sport and grade level.

Start with your sport's questionnaire, then email the coaches. The NCAA suggests emailing coaches with your achievements, highlight videos and interest in their program, including your name, position, NCAA ID and graduation year.

1 Division I

NCAA basics for parents

  • Unofficial visit: any campus visit you or your family pay for. You can take as many as you like; in Divisions I and II each one has to come after the first permissible date for your sport.
  • Official visit: a visit paid for by the school. Each school can offer your student only one. Before a Division I official visit, your student must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, be on the school's institutional request list, and the school must have their high school transcripts.
  • Division I (University of Wyoming): on an official visit the school can pay for travel for the student and up to two family members, lodging, up to three meals a day for the student and up to four family members, and up to $60 a person in entertainment, including five home-game tickets. On an unofficial visit there are no free meals, but the school can give up to three home-game tickets. Division I uses recruiting calendars with contact, evaluation, quiet and dead periods; in a dead period, no in-person contact and no visits.
  • Rules change. Confirm with the coach, or check the NCAA's recruiting page and recruiting calendars, before you plan dates.

Planning around the season

  • Check each school's athletics schedule (linked above) before you pick dates, so a coach meeting doesn't land on a road trip or game day for your sport.
  • Our recommendation, not a school rule: ask the coach whether they can line up an admissions session or tour around your meeting. If not, book the regular family tour yourself through the official sign-up links in this guide, and leave time between the two.

Student-athlete sources

All checked Oct 26, 2026.

  1. NCAA, 2026-27 Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete (pp. 3, 21–25)
  2. NCAA.org: NCAA Recruiting
  3. NCAA: Division I and II Recruiting Calendars and Guides
  4. NCAA Directory: University of Wyoming
  5. University of Wyoming Athletics (official site)
  6. University of Wyoming Athletics: Staff Directory
  7. University of Wyoming Athletics: schedule of events

Trip planner

Plan this trip

Add your dates and how you're getting there, and we'll pull this guide into one plan: tour sign-up links, the hotel base, parking or airport notes, the route and meals.

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Sources

All checked Oct 30, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.

  1. University of Wyoming Admissions: Visit the University of Wyoming
  2. University of Wyoming Admissions: campus visit and walk-in tour sign-up (official event listing)
  3. University of Wyoming Admissions: Plan Your Visit to Laramie (parking and lodging partners)
  4. University of Wyoming Admissions: directions from Future Cowboy parking to the Campus Visitor Center (PDF)
  5. University of Wyoming Admissions: Self-Guided Texting Tour
  6. Expedia listing: Hilton Garden Inn Laramie (star class, amenities and address, checked 2026-10-30 via same-id Hotwire listing) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Laramie-Hotels-Hilton-Garden-Inn-Laramie.h1775794.Hotel-Information)
  7. Expedia listing: Holiday Inn Laramie by IHG (star class, amenities and address, checked 2026-10-30 via same-id Hotwire listing) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Laramie-Hotels-Holiday-Inn-Laramie.h1700745.Hotel-Information)
  8. Expedia listing: Quality Inn & Suites University (star class, amenities and address, checked 2026-10-30 via same-id Hotwire listing) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Laramie-Hotels-Quality-Inn-Suites-University.h27971.Hotel-Information)
  9. Expedia listing: Comfort Inn & Suites Near University of Wyoming (star class, amenities and address, checked 2026-10-30 via same-id Hotwire listing) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Laramie-Hotels-Comfort-Inn.h1419726.Hotel-Information)
  10. OSRM routing (OpenStreetMap), driving and walking profiles
  11. OpenStreetMap Nominatim geocoder
  12. NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Monthly Normals, Laramie Regional Airport, WY (USW00024022)
  13. University of Wyoming Geological Museum
  14. Wyoming State Parks: Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site
  15. Wyoming Cowboys Athletics: Composite Schedule