Elk Mountain, WY

Elk Mountain sits right along the Medicine Bow River in the shadow of the towering peak that shares its name. It started out as a stage stop along the Overland Trail and has held onto that western character, centered around spots like the Historic Elk Mountain Hotel and Centennial Park. Life here is quiet and close-knit, where neighbors genuinely know each other and wide-open mountain landscapes are right outside your front door. Younger kids attend the local elementary school in town, while nearby Interstate 80 gives residents an easy route into Rawlins or Laramie for shopping, dining, and work.