Evanston is more than just a dot on the map along the I-80! That is what we discovered when we had the opportunity to partner with the city of Evanston and explore all of the adventures in this area. We have driven through this town on our way to Bear Lake or on longer adventures to Colorado, but this was our first time actually staying in Evanston. We found so many things to do in Evanston with your family.
Evanston is only about one hour from Salt Lake, Ogden, Bear Lake, and Park City, which makes it a great spot for a day trip or a quick getaway weekend. It also has cooler weather than the valleys of Utah. It was about 10-15 degrees cooler than our home in Lehi when we visited in late July. So we gathered a bunch of fun family-friendly things to do while staying in Evanston, Wyoming!Â
White Bison
One of the main attractions in Evanston are their white bison. They are located at the Bear River State Park, which was one of our favorite places in Evanston. There are also elk, too. It’s fun to see these beautiful creatures up close.
Bear River State Park
We love exploring Bear River State Park. It is located right in Evanston. Make sure to stop at the Visitor Center. It has a ton of different animals on display. We were impressed with all of the species. It felt like a mini Cabela’s.
There are also a lot of short, easy beautiful trails in this park. You can walk along the river, or through the green trees. They are perfect for a quick walk in the morning or evening. Read more about this park here.
Historic Downtown
There are some great old buildings in the down town area of Evanston. You can walk around and admire all there is to see. There are information signs about the area, too. We also liked the small botanical garden.
Uinta County Museum
This museum is located in the downtown area and it is really fun. There is a great children’s area and several scavenger hunts with prizes! Our boys enjoyed searching for all the different objects on the scavenger hunt while we learned the history of this part of Wyoming.
Purple Sage Golf Course
We had the chance to golf at the Purple Sage golf course, which was really fun for our up and coming golfers. This golf course is beautiful and family-friendly. They have a driving range, as well as a place to practice putting. There is also a restaurant. If you are a golf lover, this is a great beginning course.
Roundhouse & Railyards
The old roundhouse and railyards of Evanston are being preserved. Evanston is a railroad town, and there are still lots of trains that pass through every day. The historic buildings and the roundhouse have been preserved and you can schedule a tour of the historic buildings and ride on the turntable. We had a lot of fun. These buildings are mostly used for events, so if you are looking for a special place to have a meeting or wedding, you should check them out.
Bear River Pond & Greenway
Evanston has a great greenway area right in the middle of the city. With Walmart in the background, you can fish, kayak, swim, or walk around the Bear River pond and Greenway. It is a beautiful little spot!
Hamblin Park & Splash Pad
We visited a few parks in Evanston, and this was our favorite. This park has a disc golf course, volleyball net, playground, grassy area, pavilion, and a splash pad. We had fun playing and splashing here.
The Pie Hole
We tried a few local restaurants and one that we really loved was getting pies at The Pie Hole. They were so yummy! They had a bunch of flavors, but we really loved the sour cream blueberry! You can also grab lunch if you are looking for a meal, too.
Dad’s Ice Cream
We always try to find a few treat stops when we visit a new place. Dad’s Ice Cream is a cute little ice cream stop with lots of options right inside a souvenir shop.
Fort Bridger State Park
About 30 minutes from Evanston is Fort Bridger State Park. This historic site has a ton of old buildings that you can walk through. There is a trading post, museum, historic buildings, and beautiful grounds.
Piedmont Charcoal Kilns & Ghost Town
The Piedmont Charcoal Kilns are off the 1-80 outside of Evanston. You do have to drive on a dirt road, but it is passable via car. At the site you will find some information signs, and historic kilns that you can walk in and explore. Just past the kilns, there are a bunch of ghost town buildings. We walked around and looked at what Piedmont used to look like.
These next three adventures are further out of town, but Evanston offers a great jumping off point for visiting.
Fossil Butte National Monument
We always enjoy a stop at a national site and this place is fun for fossil lovers. There is a great museum, as well as an active quarry that you can visit and see what discoveries they are currently making. One hour from Evanton.
Fossil Lake Safari
This was one of our favorite adventures from our Evanston trip. It is about an hour and 15 minutes away with some dirt roads (cars can make it). At Fossil Lake Safari, you can dig for your own fish fossils. It was amazing!
Mirror Lake Highway
The Mirror Lake Highway is one of our favorite places in Utah, especially in the summer to escape the heat. There are hundreds of lakes in the high Uinta mountains, and this spot isn’t too far from Evanston. Mirror Lake is one hour away. There is so much to do! Check out our post to see our favorites.
Next time you are passing through Evanston, plan to do some exploring!
