Dubois to Kemmerer: Wyoming's Wind River to Fossil Valley Drive

The drive from Dubois, WY to Kemmerer, WY covers 210 miles, typically taking about 3.5 hours of pure driving time. The route begins at the foot of the Wind River Range and ends in the high desert near the Utah border, but it is the fossils embedded in the landscape that truly define the journey.

Near Kemmerer, the Green River Formation holds one of the world's richest fossil deposits, including the famous Fossil Butte National Monument.

Winter travel can be treacherous due to snow and ice, especially over South Pass (elevation 7,412 feet) on WY 28. Summer thunderstorms can bring sudden downpours and hail. Always carry water, extra clothing, and a spare tire.

For families, the Dubois Museum offers interactive exhibits on the Wind River's geology and wildlife. A short detour to Sinks Canyon State Park near Lander allows you to watch the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River vanish into a cave.

Pets are welcome at most outdoor stops but must be leashed in state parks and national monuments. The Red Desert has no designated rest areas, but there are pullouts for stretching your legs.

To combat fatigue, plan to stop every 90 minutes. The historic mining town of Atlantic City (a 10-mile detour off WY 28) offers a rustic café and a glimpse into Wyoming's gold rush past.

Traveling U.S. 287 south from Dubois, you'll pass through Lander, then join WY 28 across the Red Desert, and finally connect to U.S. 30 near Little America. This is a two-lane highway for most of the trip, with limited services, so planning fuel stops is essential.

• Gas is available in Dubois (last cheap fuel before Lander), Lander, Farson, and Kemmerer. The longest stretch without services is the 90 miles between Farson and Kemmerer.
• Cell coverage is spotty in the Red Desert; download offline maps before leaving Lander.
• The route is generally well-maintained, but watch for livestock on the open range, especially dawn and dusk.

The scenery shifts from pine forests and granite peaks to arid basins of sagebrush and sand dunes. The Red Desert is a high-altitude cold desert, with an average elevation over 6,000 feet, and it holds one of the largest migratory pronghorn herds.

In Lander, the Museum of the American West showcases the area's Native American and pioneer history. Farson is famous for its mercantile and the giant ice cream cones sold at the Farson Mercantile.

Kemmerer is the birthplace of J.C. Penney, and the original Golden Rule Store is now a museum. The town's economy has always been tied to mining and now to fossil tourism.