Wyoming · Medicine Bow National Forest
Vedauwoo is not an unrestricted roadside camping zone. The Forest Service identifies designated dispersed campsites near Forest Road 700 and the Vedauwoo recreation area. Use the current map, MVUM and physical campsite signs instead of selecting a random pullout or relying on one generic GPS coordinate.
The Forest Service maintains a separate Vedauwoo designated dispersed-camping listing and map. Because the agency migrated its website in 2025, some older brochure and map links may temporarily redirect or fail. Confirm the current map with the Laramie Ranger District before relying on an archived copy.
Regional planning information for the designated dispersed campsites near Vedauwoo and Pole Mountain.
| Camping type | Multiple designated dispersed campsites; not one developed campground and not one universal GPS point. |
|---|---|
| Primary access | Vedauwoo Road from Interstate 80 Exit 329, then Forest Road 700 toward the managed camping area. Follow current signs and map instructions. |
| Maximum stay | Medicine Bow National Forest dispersed camping is limited to 16 days within a 30-day period. More restrictive local orders or postings take priority. |
| After the stay period | The current forest brochure states that continued camping after 30 days requires moving at least three miles from the previous site. |
| Reservations | Do not treat a designated dispersed site as reserved. Site availability is not guaranteed. |
| Vehicle access | Use only roads shown open for the vehicle and season on the current Motor Vehicle Use Map. Do not create a new spur or drive cross-country. |
| Facilities | Plan for no potable water, trash service, hookups or toilet at the individual dispersed site. |
| Developed fallback | The separate Vedauwoo Campground has 28 developed sites and seasonal water, trash pickup and vault toilets. It uses different rules and may charge a fee. |
| Season | Access is weather dependent. Vedauwoo Road may clear in spring, but road opening, mud, snow and service dates vary each year. |
| Land manager | USDA Forest Service — Medicine Bow National Forest, Laramie Ranger District. |
| Office contact | (307) 745‑2300 · 3838 Cherrywood Loop, Laramie, WY 82070. Call ahead for current front-desk hours. |
Vedauwoo sits within the Pole Mountain unit of Medicine Bow National Forest, between Laramie and Cheyenne. The area is known for weathered granite formations, climbing, hiking, mountain biking and easy access from Interstate 80.
The camping product here is best understood as a managed collection of designated dispersed sites. It is different from the separate developed Vedauwoo Campground, and it is also different from unrestricted dispersed camping elsewhere in a forest.
A signed or mapped campsite may already be occupied. Do not crowd, wait beside or hold a site for someone who is not present.
A satellite image, tire track or third-party map does not establish that a road is open to your vehicle or open during the current season.
South-facing roads may lose snow early while shaded roads remain muddy, soft or closed. Turn around before causing ruts.
Coordinate policy: this page intentionally does not publish one campsite coordinate. A single pin could direct visitors to an occupied site, closed road, climbing parking area or location outside the current designated-site map.
The Forest Service dispersed-camping brochure directs visitors to check posted closures, use the current Motor Vehicle Use Map, remain on authorized access routes, and follow current campsite-selection guidance.
For the managed Vedauwoo area, use the official designated-site map and physical signs rather than applying general forest-wide distance guidance to create a new campsite.
Do not camp in day-use or climbing parking. Trailheads, picnic sites and roadside parking areas are not automatically overnight campsites.
Pole Mountain is exposed to wind, sudden thunderstorms, freezing nights and seasonal snow. Vedauwoo Road may become passable earlier than higher Wyoming mountain roads, but annual opening dates and surface conditions still vary.
Do not interpret “2WD accessible” as an all-weather guarantee. Mud, standing water, snow, fallen trees and road maintenance can change access quickly.
Use these Forest Service sources before departure. Agency orders, current maps and physical signs control when they differ from CIWILD.
No. Vedauwoo is in Medicine Bow National Forest near Laramie and Cheyenne. Bighorn National Forest is a separate forest in north-central Wyoming with different rules.
No. Use the designated dispersed campsites shown by the current Forest Service map and physical signs. A random pullout or parking area is not automatically a legal site.
Designated dispersed camping is different from the developed campground and is generally planned as primitive camping without developed-site services. Verify current fee status because agency programs and site operations can change.
The current Medicine Bow brochure states 16 days within a 30-day period. More restrictive posted rules or temporary orders take priority.
Vehicle needs depend on the open access road and current surface. Dry roads may be manageable for ordinary vehicles, while mud, snow, erosion or rough spurs may require more clearance or turning around.
Return to the Wyoming state guide or compare Vedauwoo with a regional corridor and a complete two-day route.
