Why should I drive the Atlantic City to South Pass Scenic Byway?
- South Pass City: Managed by the state as a State Historic Site and Museum. It is open from May 15th through October 15th and costs $1 to visit. Explore a couple dozen homes that are still filled with artifacts.
- Atlantic City: Established during a gold mining boom in 1868, Atlantic City became a ghost town in as little as ten years later. Stroll along the roads and check out old boarded up buildings, a church, and old store. Today there are a few residential houses, a store, and a restaurant.
Where does this scenic drive begin and end?
The drive begins at Atlantic City and ends only 4.5 miles down the road at South Pass. From Jackson, head southeast past Hoback Junction to Pinedale, Wyoming. Pinedale is a great basecamp for exploring the Wind River Mountains. From Pinedale, these two towns sit just off the south side of WY-28 on the way to Lander.
Take it further by completing an entire loop around the Wind Rivers. From Jackson head south through Hoback Canyon to Pinedale. Stop by Atlantic City and South Pass and then continue on to Lander. From Lander, drive north to Dubois and over Togwotee Pass. Follow the Grand Teton Park Road back to Jackson.
How long does it take to drive?
It only takes about 20 minutes to drive between the two ghost towns, but each town offers many sites to see. You might want to set aside a little over an hour for driving and exploring. It takes about 2 hours to get to from Pinedale and 1 hour to Lander.
The entire loop via Pinedale, Lander, and Dubois takes roughly 7 hours. You might want to plan an overnight along the way.
