Start your ghost town road trip in Atlantic City, Wyoming, a windswept relic of the 1868 gold rush near South Pass. You’ll wander boarded-up storefronts, a weathered church, and scattered mining artifacts without crowds or admission fees. From Lander, it’s just 28 miles south on Highway 28. Budget two to three hours to loop through South Pass City and Miner’s Delight. Everything you need to plan the perfect trip is waiting just ahead.
Key Takeaways
- Atlantic City, Wyoming, founded in 1868, offers gold rush history with weathered buildings, mining artifacts, and boarded-up storefronts to freely explore.
- From Lander, drive south on Highway 28 for 28 miles, then take the Atlantic City turnoff onto a half-mile gravel road.
- Budget two to three hours for a full loop covering Atlantic City, South Pass City, and Miner’s Delight.
- South Pass City, one mile away, charges $1 admission and opens May 15 to October 15, featuring original homes with 19th-century artifacts.
- Visit during summer or early fall for the best daylight, access, and vibrant high-plains scenery around the ghost towns.
Why Atlantic City Is Wyoming’s Most Rewarding Ghost Town Drive
When most people picture a Wyoming road trip, they imagine Yellowstone crowds and packed parking lots — but Atlantic City offers something rarer: genuine solitude wrapped in 19th-century gold rush history. Founded in 1868, this former boomtown carries deep ghost town history that you can explore at your own pace, without tour groups or admission lines crowding your experience.
You’ll drive Highway 28 through open sagebrush plains with the Wind River Mountains rising nearby, then roll onto gravel roads into a landscape barely touched by time.
Atlantic City and neighboring South Pass City deliver rich mining heritage through weathered buildings, artifact-filled homes, and crumbling cabins.
It’s a road trip that rewards curiosity, moves on your schedule, and connects you directly to Wyoming’s raw, unfiltered past.
How to Reach Atlantic City From Lander or Pinedale
If you’re coming from Lander, head south on State Highway 28 for about 28 miles until you spot the Atlantic City turnoff.
Travelers approaching from Pinedale will find the towns sitting off the south side of WY-28 as they make their way toward Lander.
Either way, your final stretch pulls you off the pavement and onto a short gravel road — roughly half a mile — before you roll into town.
From Lander Via Highway 28
There are two natural jumping-off points for reaching Atlantic City: Lander to the east and Pinedale to the northwest, both connected by Wyoming Highway 28.
If you’re coming from Lander, head south on Highway 28 for about 28 miles. The drive rewards you with scenic views of high plains, sagebrush valleys, and the distant Wind River Mountains, so keep your eyes open for local wildlife along the way.
Once you spot the Atlantic City turnoff, you’ll leave the pavement and travel roughly a half mile on gravel road before reaching town. It’s a straightforward drive that puts you directly into ghost-town territory without unnecessary detours.
Pack water, check your fuel, and give yourself at least an hour to properly explore once you arrive.
Approaching From Pinedale
Coming from Pinedale, you’ll pick up Wyoming Highway 28 on its northwest side and follow it southeast toward the South Pass area, with Atlantic City and South Pass City sitting just off the south side of the highway.
This approach offers a sweeping sense of the region’s scale before you drop down into its history.
Pinedale works well as a basecamp if you’re weaving ghost town preservation into a broader Wind River exploration. The drive places you in the middle of a landscape that shaped 19th-century western expansion, and the historic significance of the South Pass corridor becomes clear as the terrain opens up around you.
Watch for the turnoff signs along WY-28 and expect a short gravel stretch before reaching Atlantic City itself.
Final Gravel Road Access
The last stretch into Atlantic City swaps pavement for gravel, a small but satisfying signal that you’ve left the main road behind.
After turning off Highway 28, you’ll follow roughly half a mile of gravel road conditions before the town appears through the trees. It’s a short drive, but the shift feels deliberate — pine stands and open sagebrush frame the approach, offering scenic viewpoints across the high plains toward the Wind River Mountains.
The road is generally manageable for standard vehicles, though washboard surfaces can develop depending on the season. Keep your speed moderate and stay alert for mixed public and private land boundaries.
That brief gravel stretch sets the tone perfectly, easing you into a place where the 19th century still lingers at every turn.
How Much Time the Full South Pass Ghost Town Loop Takes
Covering all three ghost towns — Atlantic City, South Pass City, and Miner’s Delight — takes a little over an hour if you’re moving at a steady pace, but most visitors naturally linger longer.
The ghost town history here runs deep, and once you’re reading old plaques, peering into preserved cabins, or wandering boardwalks, time slips away. Budget two to three hours if you want to explore without rushing.
Time slips away fast here — budget two to three hours if you want to explore without rushing.
The scenic routes connecting each stop wind through sagebrush flats and pine stands, adding natural beauty between historic landmarks. South Pass City alone can hold your attention for 45 minutes.
Add a slow drive along BLM roads toward Miner’s Delight, and a half-day disappears easily. Plan accordingly, and you’ll leave satisfied rather than scrambling.
Atlantic City’s Boarded-Up Buildings, Church, and Mining Remnants
Atlantic City’s streets are quiet in a way that feels earned — boarded-up storefronts, a weathered church, and old timber structures line the roads like a neighborhood frozen mid-sentence.
You’ll walk past boarded buildings that still carry the bones of a gold rush that exploded in 1868 and collapsed just as fast. The church stands as one of the more striking remnants, its simple frame holding steady against decades of high plains wind.
Scattered throughout the town, mining artifacts surface in unexpected places — rusted equipment, collapsed outbuildings, and foundations swallowed by grass.
Nothing here is roped off or over-explained. You’re free to move through it at your own pace, piecing together the story from what the land and structures have left behind.
What South Pass City State Historic Site Costs and Includes
Just a mile or so from Atlantic City, you’ll find South Pass City State Historic Site waiting with a surprisingly low admission price of only $1.
The site is open from May 15 through October 15, so you’ll want to plan your visit within that window.
Once inside, you can walk through a couple dozen original homes still packed with 19th-century artifacts, giving you an unusually intact look at frontier mining life.
Admission Fee Breakdown
For only $1, you’ll gain access to South Pass City State Historic Site, one of Wyoming’s most well-preserved windows into 19th-century gold-rush life.
That pricing information makes it one of the best-value stops on any Wyoming road trip. The admission details are straightforward — one dollar gets you inside a site featuring a couple dozen original structures still filled with authentic artifacts.
There’s no complicated ticketing, no reservation system, and no crowds fighting for space. The site runs seasonally from May 15 through October 15, so timing your visit within that window is essential.
For a dollar, you’re walking through actual history, not a reconstruction of it. It’s the kind of stop that rewards the curious traveler without draining a travel budget.
On-Site Historic Structures
That dollar buys you entry into a site that’s genuinely stacked with original structures. South Pass City State Historic Site preserves ghost town culture through authentic, artifact-filled buildings you can actually walk through — not sanitized replicas.
Historic preservation here means you’re seeing the real thing.
You’ll encounter roughly two dozen structures packed with 19th-century life, including:
- Original homes still furnished with period artifacts
- A saloon reflecting the rugged social fabric of mining-era Wyoming
- Commercial buildings that anchored the town’s short-lived boom
Each structure tells a different story about survival, ambition, and collapse.
You’re free to roam, absorb, and connect directly with the past. For one dollar, South Pass City delivers an honest, unfiltered look at what ghost town culture actually looked like.
Seasonal Access Dates
South Pass City State Historic Site opens its gates each year from May 15 through October 15, so your window for a visit is limited but well-timed for Wyoming’s best travel weather.
The seasonal schedule reflects both the demands of the high plains climate and the careful attention ghost town preservation requires to protect aging structures from harsh winters.
Admission runs just $1, making it one of the most affordable historic stops you’ll find anywhere in the West.
Inside, you’ll explore a couple dozen homes still filled with original artifacts, giving you an unfiltered look at 19th-century mining life.
Plan your road trip between late spring and early fall, and you’ll catch the site at its most accessible and visually striking.
How to Add Miner’s Delight to Your Ghost Town Loop
Once you’ve explored Atlantic City and South Pass City, adding Miner’s Delight to your loop is a natural next step.
Once you’ve explored Atlantic City and South Pass City, Miner’s Delight makes a natural—and rewarding—next stop on your loop.
The BLM-preserved ghost town sits along the Ft. Stambaugh Loop Road (BLM 2324), an 11-mile graveled route that connects easily to your existing drive. You’ll find decaying log cabins, a deteriorating saloon, and historic artifacts scattered across the site.
Here’s how to work it into your day:
- Head south from Atlantic City onto BLM 2324
- Follow the loop road approximately 11 miles through pine and aspen terrain
- Explore Miner’s Delight before looping back toward Highway 28
The detour adds meaningful depth to your ghost town experience without greatly extending your drive time.
Where to Camp Near Atlantic City and South Pass City
If you’re planning to spend more than a day exploring the ghost towns, two BLM campgrounds sit close enough to serve as solid basecamps: Atlantic City Campground and Big Atlantic Gulch Campground.
Both offer water as a camping amenity, which matters when you’re deep in open country far from town services. You’ll wake up surrounded by sagebrush flats and pine-covered ridges with the Wind River Mountains cutting the horizon.
Nearby activities fill your days naturally — South Pass City, Miner’s Delight, and the Ft. Stambaugh Loop Road all sit within easy reach.
Staying on-site means you set your own pace, linger at ruins longer, and explore the two-track roads without watching the clock. It’s the kind of freedom a day trip simply can’t deliver.
When to Visit Wyoming’s South Pass Ghost Towns
Timing matters when you’re pointing your vehicle toward Atlantic City and South Pass City. The best travel times are summer and early fall, when roads stay passable and South Pass City State Historic Site runs its May 15–October 15 season.
Outside that window, you’ll find locked gates and limited local dining options at Atlantic City’s small restaurant.
Plan around these seasonal realities:
Plan around these seasonal realities — show up when the landscape and history are actually open to you.
- Summer offers the longest daylight for exploring multiple sites in one day.
- Early fall brings cooler temperatures and stunning high-plains color without heavy crowds.
- Winter and spring close key access roads and historic sites entirely.
You’ve got genuine freedom out here, but only if you show up when the landscape and the history are actually open to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicle Required to Reach Atlantic City, Wyoming?
You don’t need a four-wheel-drive to explore Atlantic City’s scenic routes — a standard vehicle handles the short gravel road easily, letting you focus on local wildlife and soaking up Wyoming’s untamed, historic freedom.
Are Pets Allowed at South Pass City State Historic Site?
Before you pack up your furry companion, here’s what you need to know: pet policies and historic site regulations for South Pass City State Historic Site aren’t clearly outlined in available information—you’d want to confirm directly with the site.
Can You Find Cell Phone Service Near Atlantic City and South Pass City?
You’ll face cell coverage challenges in this remote Wyoming region. Check with local network providers before heading out, and don’t rely on your phone for navigation — embrace the freedom of disconnecting among these rugged, historic landscapes!
Are There Any Food or Fuel Services Near the Ghost Towns?
Creature comforts are scarce out here! You’ll find limited local dining and gas stations near the ghost towns, so fuel up and stock up before you hit the open road from Lander or Pinedale.
Is Photography Permitted Inside South Pass City’s Historic Buildings?
The knowledge doesn’t confirm photography rules inside South Pass City’s historic buildings. You’ll want to check visitor guidelines directly with the site, as historic preservation policies can vary and staff there can give you accurate, current details.
References
- https://www.jacksonholenet.com/scenic_drives/atlantic_city_south_pass_wyoming.php
- https://www.blm.gov/visit/atlantic-citysouth-pass
- https://www.sweetwaternow.com/gas-up-the-tank-and-go-find-some-ghouls-a-haunted-wyoming-road-trip/
- https://ghost-towns.close-to-me.com/states/wyoming/miners-delight-wy/
- https://gohlingyong.com/blog/top-14-ghost-town-road-trip-routes-to-try-for-exploring-americas-forgotten-west-this-year
- https://windriver.org/experience/driving-tours/to-through-wind-river-country/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5dQVdVf0uc
- https://www.rv.com/archive/wyomings-spook-route/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ghost_towns_in_Wyoming
- https://travelwyoming.com/blog/stories/post/5-wyoming-ghost-towns-you-need-to-explore/
