The Old West comes alive when you climb aboard a covered wagon and feel the gentle sway of wooden wheels rolling across the same trails that pioneers once traveled. Modern covered wagon tours offer a unique way to experience the American frontier, combining historical education with stunning scenery and authentic outdoor adventure.
These journeys let you step back in time while exploring some of the most beautiful landscapes the western United States has to offer. From multi-day expeditions that follow actual pioneer routes to shorter excursions perfect for families, these tours provide an unforgettable glimpse into America’s westward expansion.
Here is a list of 20 scenic covered wagon tours that showcase the best of the American West.
Bar T 5 Covered Wagon Cookout
Located near Jackson Hole, Wyoming, this tour combines a scenic wagon ride through the Bridger-Teton National Forest with an authentic western cookout. The journey takes guests through aspen groves and meadows with views of the Teton Range. Professional wranglers share stories of the Old West while guests enjoy a hearty meal cooked over an open fire.
The tour operates during summer months when wildflowers bloom across the mountain meadows, creating a picture-perfect western experience.
Oregon Trail Wagon Train
Nebraska’s authentic wagon train experience follows portions of the actual Oregon Trail near Bayard. This multi-day adventure allows participants to live like pioneers, sleeping under the stars and cooking meals over campfires.
The tour covers about 15 miles of original trail, passing landmarks like Courthouse Rock and Jail Rock. Participants learn frontier skills like campfire cooking and basic blacksmithing while experiencing the challenges and rewards of pioneer travel.
Historic Trails West
Operating from Casper, Wyoming, this company offers covered wagon tours along the original Oregon, California, and Mormon Pioneer trails. The tours range from half-day excursions to week-long adventures that cover significant portions of these historic routes. Guests travel in authentic reproduction wagons pulled by teams of oxen or mules.
Professional guides share detailed historical information about the pioneers who traveled these same paths in the 1800s.
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Ponderosa Ranch Wagon Tours
Montana’s Ponderosa Ranch near Bozeman offers covered wagon rides through the Gallatin Valley with spectacular views of the surrounding mountain ranges. The tours follow old ranch roads through fields where buffalo and elk often graze. Guests enjoy traditional Western meals prepared by ranch cooks using time-honored recipes.
The experience includes stops at historic homestead sites where guides explain the challenges faced by early Montana settlers.
Teton Wagon Train and Horse Adventure
This Wyoming outfitter near Jackson provides multi-day covered wagon expeditions into the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The tours follow old logging roads and game trails through some of the most pristine wilderness in the lower 48 states.
Participants sleep in comfortable tents and enjoy meals prepared by camp cooks. The wagons are pulled by teams of draft horses, and the pace allows for wildlife viewing and photography opportunities.
Flint Hills Overland
Kansas might not seem like typical covered wagon country, but the Flint Hills Overland tour near Cassoday offers a unique prairie experience. The tour crosses the largest remaining tallgrass prairie in North America, where the landscape looks much as it did when pioneers first crossed Kansas.
The gentle rolling hills and endless grasslands provide a different but equally authentic western experience. Buffalo herds roam the area, offering guests chances to see these magnificent animals in their natural habitat.
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Circle Bar Guest Ranch
Located in Utica, Montana, this guest ranch offers covered wagon camping trips into the Little Belt Mountains. The tours combine Western hospitality with stunning mountain scenery and authentic ranch experiences.
Guests help with daily ranch chores and learn traditional skills like rope work and horseback riding. The covered wagon portions of the trip take guests to remote camping spots where they can stargaze under some of the darkest skies in the continental United States.
Rockin’ R Ranch
Arizona’s Rockin’ R Ranch near Phoenix provides covered wagon dinner rides through the Sonoran Desert. The tours showcase the unique beauty of the desert landscape, with towering saguaro cacti and stunning mountain backdrops.
Professional wranglers entertain guests with cowboy poetry and western music during the ride. The experience includes a traditional Western barbecue dinner served in an authentic Old West town setting complete with wooden sidewalks and hitching posts.
Double Diamond X Ranch
Montana’s Double Diamond X Ranch offers covered wagon adventures in the Paradise Valley near Yellowstone National Park. The tours provide spectacular views of the Absaroka and Gallatin mountain ranges while following historic trails used by Native Americans and early settlers.
Guests often spot wildlife, including elk, deer, and occasionally bears, from the safety of their wagons. The ranch’s location allows for easy access to Yellowstone while providing an authentic Montana ranch experience.
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Wyoming High Country
This Dubois, Wyoming outfitter specializes in covered wagon trips into the Wind River Mountains and surrounding wilderness areas. The tours range from overnight camping trips to week-long expeditions that reach elevations over 10,000 feet. Participants experience true wilderness conditions while traveling in historically accurate wagons.
The high-altitude locations provide stunning panoramic views and excellent opportunities for fishing in pristine mountain lakes and streams.
Historic Frontierland
Located near Sturgis, South Dakota, this operation offers covered wagon tours through the Black Hills region. The tours pass through areas rich in both Native American and pioneer history, including stops at historic forts and trading posts.
The Black Hills landscape provides a dramatic backdrop with pine-covered mountains and granite outcroppings. Guests learn about the region’s complex history, including the conflicts between settlers and Native American tribes.
Drowsy Water Ranch
Colorado’s Drowsy Water Ranch near Granby provides covered wagon camping experiences in the Rocky Mountain National Park area. The tours take guests through high mountain meadows filled with wildflowers during the summer months. Professional guides share information about local wildlife and the area’s ranching heritage.
The combination of mountain scenery and authentic western hospitality creates an unforgettable family-friendly adventure.
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American Safari Ranch
Texas Hill Country’s American Safari Ranch offers covered wagon tours through landscapes that showcase the diversity of Texas terrain. The tours pass through areas where guests can observe exotic wildlife, including zebras, antelope, and various species of deer.
The ranch’s location in the Hill Country provides rolling terrain covered with oak trees and wildflowers. Professional guides explain the area’s ranching history and the challenges faced by early Texas settlers.
Covered Wagon Tours Utah
Operating from several locations throughout Utah, this company provides tours through some of the state’s most spectacular red rock country. The tours pass through landscapes that look like movie sets, with towering sandstone formations and vast desert vistas.
Many tours include stops at ancient Native American petroglyphs and historic pioneer sites. The unique Utah landscape provides a dramatically different covered wagon experience compared to traditional prairie or mountain tours.
Diamond Cross Ranch
Montana’s Diamond Cross Ranch near Townsend offers covered wagon adventures through the Helena National Forest. The tours follow old mining roads and cattle trails through mountains rich in both natural beauty and western history.
Guests often visit abandoned mining camps and learn about Montana’s colorful mining heritage. The ranch’s location provides easy access to both mountain and prairie landscapes, offering diverse scenery within a single tour.
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Medicine Bow Lodge
Wyoming’s Medicine Bow Lodge provides covered wagon experiences in the Snowy Range area near Laramie. The tours showcase the diversity of Wyoming landscapes, from alpine lakes to rolling prairie. Professional outfitters use authentic equipment and techniques to provide guests with realistic pioneer experiences.
The high-altitude locations offer excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography, with frequent sightings of moose, elk, and various bird species.
Westgate River Ranch
Florida might seem like an unusual location for covered wagon tours, but Westgate River Ranch near Lake Wales offers authentic western experiences in a unique setting. The tours travel through Florida’s cattle country, where cowboys still work large ranches much as they did a century ago.
The flat Florida landscape provides easy wagon travel and excellent opportunities to observe the state’s diverse wildlife. The ranch offers a complete western experience, including rodeos and horseback riding.
Badlands Wagon Train
South Dakota’s Badlands region provides a dramatic setting for covered wagon tours that explore one of America’s most unique landscapes. The tours travel through areas where fossil discoveries have revealed creatures that lived millions of years ago. The stark beauty of the Badlands creates an otherworldly atmosphere that’s both beautiful and haunting.
Professional guides explain the geological forces that created this landscape and the challenges faced by pioneers crossing this difficult terrain.
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Grand Canyon Mule and Wagon Tours
Arizona’s Grand Canyon area offers covered wagon experiences that combine western adventure with one of America’s most spectacular natural wonders. The tours travel through areas adjacent to the canyon, providing glimpses of this geological marvel from unique perspectives.
The high desert landscape of northern Arizona offers its own beauty, with juniper and pinyon pine forests and distant mountain views. These tours often include stops at historic sites related to early Grand Canyon exploration and development.
Hideout Lodge and Guest Ranch
Wyoming’s Hideout Lodge near Shell provides covered wagon camping trips into the Bighorn Mountains. The tours follow old Indian trails and cattle drives through some of Wyoming’s most pristine wilderness areas.
Guests experience true backcountry conditions while enjoying the comfort and safety of professional outfitting. The Bighorn Mountains offer diverse ecosystems ranging from prairie grasslands to alpine environments, providing constantly changing scenery throughout the journey.
Rolling Through Yesterday Into Tomorrow
These covered wagon tours prove that some experiences never go out of style. While pioneers traveled these routes out of necessity, modern adventurers choose them for the unique perspective they provide on American history and western landscapes.
Each tour offers its own combination of authentic historical education, spectacular scenery, and genuine Western hospitality that creates lasting memories for participants of all ages. Whether you choose a short dinner ride through desert country or a week-long expedition into mountain wilderness, these covered wagon experiences connect you directly to the spirit of adventure that built the American West and continue to inspire new generations of explorers.
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