Little America
Interstate 80 at Little America, WY
Green River, WY
A storied oasis on the lonely high desert of southwest Wyoming, born from a rancher's promise after a night in a blizzard.
Little America is one of the most storied road stops in the American West, a full oasis of fuel, food, and lodging set down in the middle of the empty high desert of southwest Wyoming. For generations of travelers crossing the long, lonely miles of Interstate 80 and the old highways before it, the sight of Little America rising from the sagebrush has meant a warm meal, a full tank, and a place to rest before pushing on across the desert.
What sets it apart from an ordinary travel plaza is the story behind it. The place was born from a rancher's memory of a night nearly frozen in a blizzard on this very stretch of country, and his vow that if he survived he would one day build a haven here for travelers. That promise, and the emperor penguin that became its symbol, turned a highway stop into a piece of western road lore.
What Guests Love
- The classic road trip ritual of stopping at a famous middle of nowhere oasis
- A full travel stop of fuel, food, and rooms on an otherwise empty stretch of highway
- The origin story behind the name and the emperor penguin sign
- The sheer sense of space on the surrounding high desert
Worth Knowing
- This is a working highway travel stop, not a formal attraction, so come as a traveler
- Winter brings serious wind, ground blizzards, and closures on I-80, so check road conditions
- The nearest towns and services are a drive away, which is the whole point of stopping here
- Summer days are hot and dry on the open desert, so keep water in the car
Details
Green River, WY
Learn about Little America
Born from a blizzard
The story of Little America begins with a young sheepherder caught out overnight in a fierce blizzard on the high desert of southwest Wyoming. Nearly freezing in the storm with no shelter in reach, he is said to have vowed that if he lived through the night, he would someday build a place on that spot where travelers could find warmth, food, and rest.
Years later he made good on the vow, establishing a travel stop on the lonely highway across the desert. The name is said to have been inspired by accounts of a famous Antarctic expedition base, a fitting choice for a refuge born of a night in the cold, and an emperor penguin became its emblem.
An oasis on the high desert
Little America grew into a full service oasis on one of the emptiest stretches of the interstate west, offering fuel, a dining room, a store, and rooms for the night. For travelers who had driven for a long time across sagebrush country with little in between, it became a natural place to break the drive.
The surrounding landscape is a big part of the appeal. The high desert here is wide, dry, and wind swept, crossed long ago by emigrant wagons and transcontinental rail lines. Against that emptiness, a bright, welcoming stop with everything a traveler needs takes on an outsized presence.
A road trip landmark
Over the decades Little America became a genuine landmark of western road travel, known well beyond Wyoming through highway signs and the memories of countless family trips. Pulling in became a small ritual of the long haul across the interior West, the kind of stop people remember years later.
That reputation grew alongside the great age of the American road trip, when crossing the country by car was an adventure in itself and a reliable oasis in the desert was worth remembering. The name spread to other locations, but the original stands here on the Wyoming high desert where the story began.
Crossing the desert today
The stretch of southwest Wyoming around Little America is still one of the more demanding drives in the region, especially in winter, when wind and ground blizzards can close the interstate for hours. In that context a warm, well stocked stop remains as welcome to modern travelers as it was to those who came before.
For a road trip, Little America makes a fitting pause on the way to the red rock canyons of Flaming Gorge to the south or the ghost towns and desert of the surrounding country. It is a reminder that in this part of the West, the spaces between places are part of the journey.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Green River
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
South toward the Utah line
A deep red rock canyon reservoir on the Green River, with boating, fishing, and dramatic overlooks.
Green River
About 20 miles east
A railroad town on the Green River, gateway to Flaming Gorge and home to striking castle like rock formations along the river.
Fort Bridger
West along I-80
A restored frontier trading post and later military fort that was a key stop on the emigrant trails.