Gillette, WY

Gillette sits in the rolling high plains of northeastern Wyoming as the seat of Campbell County, home to roughly 33,000 residents. The city has long carried the nickname "Energy Capital of the Nation" because of its position at the heart of the Powder River Basin, one of the largest coal-producing regions in the United States. Beyond the energy industry, Gillette carries a practical, working-town character shaped by ranching, oil and gas, and a growing service sector. Travelers passing through on Interstate 90 often stop here as a base for exploring the surrounding country, and the city lies about 130 miles southeast of Billings, Montana, and roughly 220 miles northeast of Casper, the nearest larger Wyoming city.

Perhaps the most iconic nearby draw is Devils Tower National Monument, the nation's first established national monument, rising some 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River. The tower, a striking columnar basalt formation sacred to several Northern Plains tribes, draws hikers, rock climbers, and visitors simply curious to stand in its shadow. From Gillette, the drive northeast to the monument takes a little over an hour, making it a comfortable day trip for visitors staying in town.

Just a short drive southwest of Gillette lies Keyhole State Park, a reservoir-centered recreation area popular for boating, fishing, water-skiing, and camping along the shores of Keyhole Reservoir. The park offers a welcome change of pace from the open plains, with tree-shaded coves and a marina that draw both locals and travelers during the warmer months. It sits roughly an hour from the city and makes an easy excursion for families looking to spend a day on the water.

Within the city itself, the Campbell County Rockpile Museum offers a window into the region's heritage, from the prehistoric fossils and Plains Indian artifacts to the homesteading era and the twentieth-century development of the coal industry that defines modern Gillette. Its location just off the main thoroughfare makes it a convenient stop for visitors who want to understand the history behind the landscapes they are driving through.

Gillette makes a compelling base for short-term rentals because it sits at a crossroads of the northern plains, with several marquee western destinations within a few hours' drive. Visitors who stay here can pair the relative affordability and easy highway access of a mid-sized Wyoming city with day trips to Devils Tower, the Bighorn Mountains, and the wide-open Powder River Basin, making it a practical launchpad for travelers charting a broader Wyoming or Black Hills itinerary.