This tour is inspired by the series 1883, a Yellowstone spin-off. A long journey crossing Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and ending in Montana or Oregon, depending on the chosen route. You'll follow the paths traversed by the Dutton family and the pioneers, through deserts, plains, mountains, experiencing cowboy and native culture. Witness migrations westward, old forts, and battlefields from the wars between Native Americans and Americans. A modular journey adaptable in various versions, surely for true travelers.
Days 1 - 3: Dallas and Fort Worth
The journey of the Dutton family, hailing from Tennessee, begins in Fort Worth. Fort Worth is the twelfth-largest city in the United States, known for its Texan hospitality and neighborhoods rich in culture and entertainment. Don't miss Billy Bob's Texas, the world's largest honky-tonk bar, and the new Mule Alley. Founded in 1848, it was a significant center for the cattle industry for years. The arrival of the railway in 1876 marked the beginning of the city's industrial boom. Margaret, Elsa, and young John Dutton arrive in Fort Worth by train along with James's sister, Claire, and her daughter Mary. From Fort Worth, it's easy to visit Dallas, the so-called Big D.
Accommodation: AC Fort Worth Downtown or similar with breakfast
Day 4: Fort Worth - Doan's Crossing (360 km) - Altus
In episode 6 "Borning the Devil," the Duttons, along with the pioneer caravan, stop at Doan's Crossing, where they recruit a cowboy and a cook. It's not an imaginary place but a real trading post strategically located for cattle drivers, which had its small heyday in the 1800s. With the advent of the railway in 1880, however, the decline began, as depicted in the series. Nevertheless, it retains its cultural significance, a piece of Texas history, and part of the Great Western Trail.
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Altus with breakfast
Days 5 - 6: Altus - Amarillo (290 km)
Leaving behind the vast landscapes of the old west routes, we approach a new city: Amarillo. Located on the historic Route 66, Amarillo fully embodies the spirit of Texas. Founded towards the end of the 1800s, its expansion was fueled mainly by gas deposits and later, in the 1980s, by the discovery of oil. An experience not to be missed is the Big Texan Steak Ranch.
Accommodation: Ashmore Inn Amarillo or similar with breakfast
Day 7: Amarillo - Trinidad (380 km)
Located on the Santa Fe Trail, a trade route mainly traversed by Spaniards and Mexicans, Trinidad owes its existence to the discovery of fossil coal in the 1860s. A town still expanding and a necessary stop to leave behind Texas and enjoy the scenic wonders of Colorado.
Accommodation: Quality Inn Trinidad or similar with breakfast
Days 8 - 9 - 10: Trinidad - Denver (319 km)
Denver is the gateway to many itineraries and the Great American West region. Founded during the gold rush in 1858, it sits at an altitude of 1609 meters, exactly a mile high, hence its nickname Mile High City. This altitude makes the city unique for its blue skies and scorching sun.
Art, nightlife, breweries, shopping are just some of the experiences in Denver, not to mention outdoor excursions easily accessible even on a short stay. Rich in historical landmarks, like Buffalo Bill's grave museum.
Accommodation: The Curtis Denver or similar
Days 11 - 12: Denver - Cheyenne, Laramie (163 km)
Leaving Colorado's capital behind, we head towards Wyoming's capital: Cheyenne. Before arriving in Cheyenne, a stop in Fort Collins is necessary. The town, now a place full of art and vibrant venues, was famous for its history dating back to the mid-1800s Indian wars when the city was known as Camp Collins.
Arriving in Cheyenne, we officially enter the Wild West scenario we've always imagined and perhaps dreamt of. Here, cowboy culture permeates every corner, from saloons to giant boots scattered throughout the city. Experience rodeo, and if you're on this tour in the summer, don't miss the Cheyenne Frontier Days.
Spending two nights is necessary not only to fully experience the city but also to discover its surroundings, like Carbon County. Leaving the city and driving north, you can also visit another historic site: Fort Laramie.
Accommodation: Little America Hotel or similar
Day 13: Cheyenne - Casper (285 km)
Leaving Cheyenne, you'll delve into the heart of Wyoming, towards territories that witnessed gold rushes, buffalo hunts, wars, and Wild West tales. We'll spend the night in Casper, our starting point for various experiences, including the Wind River Indian Reservation and the Wind River Wild Horse sanctuary.
Accommodation: Best Western Casper Inn & Suites with breakfast or similar
OPTION 1: DUTTON FAMILY JOURNEY
This is where the paths of the pioneers and the Duttons diverge. The Dutton family will continue to Montana, while the others still alive will continue on the Oregon Trail to Portland.
Days 14 - 15: Casper - Wind River Reservation (250 km)
Leaving Casper, we head northwest towards the seventh-largest Indian reservation in America. The Wind River Reservation is the southern gateway to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Two tribal groups coexist in this immense territory, the Eastern Shoshone and the Northern Arapaho. Within the reservation, besides the spectacular landscapes, you can find ancient archaeological remains dating back thousands of years. Don't miss the grave of Sacagawea, the Native American who guided Lewis & Clark during their 1804 expedition.
Accommodation: Shoshone Rose Casino & Hotel
Days 16 - 17 - 18: Wind River Reservation - Yellowstone (515 km)
Founded in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is certainly one of the most important national parks in the world. It spans an area roughly the size of Umbria over the eponymous caldera. Being the largest dormant supervolcano on the planet, the variety of landscapes and natural phenomena is immense. Canyons, geysers, coniferous forests, vast prairies... This park truly has a lot to offer in terms of natural beauty. Besides the flora inside the park, there's an incredible and varied fauna where the bison reigns supreme, but you can also see wolves, wild horses, deer, eagles, and much more.
Accommodation: The Lodge at Big Sky or similar
Days 19 - 20: Yellowstone - Darby (400 km)
We leave Yellowstone to venture into the Bitteroot Valley, the beautiful valley nestled between the Bitterroot and Sapphire mountains that served as the backdrop for the Dutton family's adventures. Vast plains populated by the most iconic American mammals, ranches, and small villages with a typical old west atmosphere make up the incredible scenery of this part of Montana.
Accommodation: Rye Creek Lodge or similar
Day 21: Darby - Idaho Falls (380 km)
The Duttons' journey is now over, but for logistical reasons, we'll conclude our journey in Salt Lake City for car return (setting it on fire and hoping for insurance reimbursement isn't a valid option). Idaho Falls is an intermediate stop but still a fascinating place to visit, if only to admire the waterfall flowing in the heart of the city, from which it takes its name. Additionally, you can take advantage of the stop here to visit the Craters of Moon National Monument. Craters, lava flows, caves, and strangely shaped trees create an absolutely surreal place, making it seem like you've landed directly on the moon.
Accommodation: Candlewood Suites Idaho Falls or similar
Day 22: Idaho Falls - Salt Lake City (350 km)
Your journey ends in Salt Lake City, another pioneer symbol city, founded in 1847 and now home to the largest Mormon community in North America.
Accommodation: Little America Hotel or similar
Day 23: Salt Lake City
Drop off your car at the rental station in time for your return flight, unless you have other plans in mind.
OPTION 2: OREGON TRAIL
Follow the previous route until day 13. From day 14, you'll travel in the footsteps of the pioneers and the historic Oregon Trail.
Day 14: Casper - Split Rock - Casper (140 km)
Rising about 1,000 feet above the artemisia prairie, Split Rock pointed westbound emigrants directly to South Pass, still over 75 miles away. The relatively gentle landscape offered them a brief but much-needed respite on their long journey. Even the emigrants were struck by the beauty of the rock. "The scene was worthy of the pencil of an artist," wrote William Carter at the end of 1857. "Our camp was near what is called the Split in the Rock, a remarkable fissure in the top of the mountain, which can be seen at a great distance in both directions."
Accommodation: Best Western Casper Inn & Suites or similar
Day 15: Casper - Fort Bridger - Evanston (375 km)
Before reaching the next stop, you'll pass through another crucial location along the historic Oregon Trail. Fort Bridger, initially a trading post for fur trappers and later a vital stop for pioneers traveling this legendary route, eventually became an important Mormon settlement, leaving numerous historical landmarks. Continue to Evanston to rest before crossing the Idaho border.
Accommodation: Best Western Dunmar Inn or similar
Day 16: Evanston - Fort Hall - Idaho Falls (345 km)
The journey continues north, but before reaching Idaho Falls, there's a stop at another significant site in the events that accompanied the pioneers. Fort Hall was an important trading post along the Snake River. It was destroyed in 1863, but today you can appreciate a reconstruction where you can not only relive a significant phase of pioneer life and the trades that took place at that time but also learn about the lives of the natives who occupied these lands.
Accommodation: Candlewood Suites Idaho Falls or similar
Days 17 - 18: Idaho Falls - Boise (390 km)
Boise is a pleasant and modern town that has maintained its relationship with agricultural tradition intact. A mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, it's known as the "City of Trees" for its strong presence of green areas both in the city center and in the surrounding areas. Also rich in historical and artistic places, Idaho's capital was another important stop for those traveling the Oregon Trail.
Accommodation: Modern Hotel or similar with breakfast
Days 19 - 20: Boise - Walla Walla (400 km)
Located between the state of Washington and Oregon, it was initially a trading post for Walla Walla and Nez Perce Native Americans. Today, it's the perfect place to stop and admire the splendid vineyards of the area and enjoy a tasting at one of the over 100 wineries present.
Accommodation: Courtyard Walla Walla or similar
Days 21 - 22: Walla Walla - Portland (390 km)
As the largest city in Oregon, the final destination of our journey and Shea and Thomas' final stop is Portland. But let's not spoil it here; this is where your journey on the Oregon Trail ends. Take advantage of these two days to visit one of the most interesting cities in the Pacific Northwest.
Accommodation: The Hotel Zags Portland or similar
Day 23: Portland
Drop off your car and head to the airport for your return flight.
