How Far Do Some Wyomingites Travel To See A Movie

In today's world, going to the movies is reserved for date night or for seeing something that needs to be experienced on the big screen.

That's easy if you live in a town that has a movie theater. But many Wyoming towns don't even have a traffic light, much less a theater. So how far do some people need to drive to see a movie on the big silver screen?

In the most rural parts of Wyoming, some residents must drive 80 to over 100 miles each way (a 1.5- to 2-hour drive) to reach the nearest operating cinema.

Rural areas like parts of Sublette County, Niobrara County, or remote stretches near the borders lack local year-round theaters, requiring long trips to regional hubs like Casper, Cheyenne, or Laramie.

Photo By Tim Madese

So if the movie is 2 hours long, and the theater is 2 hours away, plus maybe stopping for dinner, would it make more sense to get a hotel or just tough it out and drive back?

Now let's take a look at how much all of this is going to cost.

The average price of a movie ticket in Wyoming is about $9.08 to $9.10, making it the least expensive state for movie tickets in the entire country. Standard adult evening tickets usually range from $9.00 to $11.00, while matinees and children's tickets are often cheaper.

The average cost for driving 2 hours is between $12 and $22 in gas alone, or between $50 and $90 in total vehicle wear-and-tear.

Were you going to eat out while there? Were you going to buy snacks at the theater?

This is getting expensive and taking a lot of time. This is also going to be hard for teenagers on a date.