Visiting Laramie for a Game?

Most traveling fans fly into Denver International Airport (DEN), located approximately 133 miles from Laramie, and rent a car for the roughly 2-hour 20-minute drive north via I-25 and I-80 (or alternatively via US-287 through Fort Collins). Note that Groome Transportation, which formerly operated a shuttle between DEN and Laramie, no longer services Laramie; visitors should check current shuttle providers or consider Greyhound, which offers daily bus service from Denver's Union Station (not DIA itself) to Laramie. For those who prefer to fly closer, United Airlines (operated by SkyWest) runs daily flights from DEN to Laramie Regional Airport (LAR), though rental car availability at LAR is limited so booking ahead is essential.

Laramie does have some public transit options — the University of Wyoming runs free bus routes (UWYO Roundup) open to the public on weekdays, the City of Laramie operates the free LaramieLink fixed-route bus service, and UW's SafeRide program provides free on-call rides anywhere in city limits during evenings and weekends. However, none of these are well-suited to visiting sports fans on game days, and rideshare availability is sparse compared to larger cities, so a rental car is strongly recommended. The city is compact and War Memorial Stadium is close to downtown, meaning fans who stay near the University of Wyoming campus or downtown can walk to the game and many pre-game bars and restaurants. On game days, Uber does operate in Laramie but expect longer wait times after the final whistle.

The University of Wyoming campus area and downtown Laramie are the best zones for sports fans, putting you within walking distance of War Memorial Stadium and Grand Avenue's bars and restaurants. The Hilton Garden Inn is just an 8-minute walk from the stadium, while the Hampton Inn sits about 1.2 miles away; both run roughly $99-$160 per night on game weekends. Budget options like the Days Inn and Motel 6 are available from around $55-$75 per night but are farther from the action along the I-80 corridor. Book at least 2-3 months out for home football games, as hotel occupancy can spike dramatically and rates can rise 35-50% over standard prices.

Laramie is a true single-team college football town, and the Wyoming Cowboys inspire intense loyalty among locals and alumni who travel from across the state for home games at War Memorial Stadium, creating a passionate game-day atmosphere that punches well above the city's size. The Cowboys compete in the Mountain West Conference, with rivalry games against Colorado State (the Bronze Boot rivalry) and Boise State drawing particularly charged crowds. At 7,200 feet in elevation, the thin air at War Memorial Stadium is a genuine factor for visiting teams, and fans from lower elevations will notice it too, so plan to hydrate well. Laramie's compact, walkable downtown on Grand Avenue offers a genuine Western college-town bar and dining scene that makes for an enjoyable game-day experience beyond the stadium itself.