PPP Section 1: Buffalo, WY to Gillette, WY: 95 miles with No Services

[harveyrd]

The 95 mile PPP Main route between Buffalo, WY to Gillette, WY is 95 miles long with no services.   Fortunately, it is relatively flat climbing 3600 ft in that 95 miles (not too bad).
Does anyone have an experience to share on that section?   I'm relatively confident I can cover that distance, however it may depend on heat in the summer as I'll be riding in late July.

Alternatives are taking a Greyhound bus from Buffalo to Gillette:  https://www.greyhound.com/bus-routes/buffalo-wy-gillette-wy

There is also an alternate route suggested by Google maps, that follows along I-90 more closely (although not on I-90).

https://maps.app.goo.gl/2qQYuQ4Bd2eaJZyy7

I'd welcome any suggestions and guidance.  Thank you in advance.

[John Nettles]

When I rode it around 2020 give or take, there were services in Clearmont (CS and I think informal camping if you asked at the CS), Leiter (cafe, camping, hotel all at the Lieter Bar), Arvada (off route but has a bar/grill and maybe informal camping if you ask), Spotted Horse has a Bar & Grill but the owner told me they have had rude cyclists in the past so be polite and you might be able to camp there, and then nothing until Gillett.  Of course, things open & close so I would call to confirm they are still open (wait until June when all things are open) and to see what days/times they are open.   

I really enjoyed that section.  Not much traffic and I had a great tailwind.  I camped in Leiter. 

Since you are doing the PPP, I would recommend taking the Mickelson Trail as it is wonderful.  And plan on a few extra days riding around the Custer area, one of my favorite in the USA.   

Also, if you are not opposed to riding on relatively low-traffic interstate with full shoulders for a few miles, you can check out this collection of routes https://ridewithgps.com/collections/54989 which will get you more services than the official route and is much shorter if you are going to Michigan.  Plus across Wisconsin, it is mostly on rail trails. I came up with this route about 5 years or so before the PPP came out and rode it back in 2019 or 2020 and enjoyed it. 

Tailwinds, John 

[John Nelson]

As John said, there are services. Maybe not many, but some. I rode it in 2023. There's a pretty good convenience store in Clearmont. And then you can get a full meal (typical bar food) at the bar in Leiter, and camp there too (like John, I did too). Leiter has some cabins, but they may or may not be open. They were still renovating them in 2023. There's the Spotted Horse Bar 23 miles past Leiter, but it only seems to be open on odd Tuesdays between 3:05 and 3:17 on days with a full moon (i.e., don't count on it). If the Spotted Horse is closed, then you will have 60 miles from Leiter to Gillette without services.

I've read about cyclists who just rode the interstate from Buffalo to Gillette. That probably would not be my choice. I don't like riding interstates. See this for more of a description: https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=3d2&page_id=606808&v=1h

[harveyrd]

Thank you -- both Johns!   That helps immensely. 

[jamawani]

I live in Buffalo and helped develop the PPP route.

The US 16 route via Clearmont and Leiter is one of the most beautiful rides in the U.S.
Probably a bit better westbound with spectacular views of the approaching Bighorn Mountains.
But eastbound has lovely bluffs and ranches - plus low traffic and about 50% with shoulders.

Yes, I-90 allows bicycles and is about 30 miles shorter - but why? Why ride on an interstate?

For your purposes -

There is the Ucross Foundation at the junction of US 14 & US 16.
Just off the highway but not that far from Buffalo.
Lovely trees, excellent bathrooms, water, artists' shows.

https://www.ucrossfoundation.org/

The Clearmont store is in the process of shutting down.  Not sure of the exact date.
The couple who ran it were not able to sell it and plan to retire.
This is the case of small stores throughout rural America.
It is no longer possible to make a living with a mortgage and low sales.
(Often it is impossible even to get a loan.)

https://sheridanwyoming.com/2025/04/14/clear-creek-stop-closes-after-25-years-in-clearmont/

The Leiter Bar & Cafe continues to improve and expand its services.
When the PPP was under development it was not a going concern.
They are very accommodating to cyclists and are aware how important their location is.
As a family-run business, they may be closed at times.
Contact them in advance to make sure they are open.

https://www.facebook.com/p/Leiter-Wy-Bar-Cafe-100055148364516/

The Spotted Horse Bar is a bit funkier. They can be gruff with cyclists.
They have to truck in all their drinking water - so water isn't free.
They also have to do most their own shopping - no Sysco deliveries.
So there are times when they are closed - usually early in the week.
Contact them in advance to make sure they are open.

https://www.facebook.com/p/Spotted-Horse-Bar-and-Grill-100063743456003/

Both Leiter and Spotted Horse depend on motorcyclists for much of their business.
The Harley crowd tends to drop more money - but cyclists should do their part, too.
That way we can get the Spotted Horse owners to be a little more chill with us.

Just before you reach Gillette is the Gillette/Campbell County Airport.
If you are parched or need to use the bathroom, you use the facilities.
It's only 5 miles north of Gillette.

<<<>>>

The Arvada Bar is about 3.5 miles off route, 8 miles east of Leiter.
There's not much savings since you have 7 miles of extra riding.
But the bar is about as Western as you can get and you can pitch a tent out back.

<<<>>>

The US 16 route from Buffalo to Gillette makes a big "U".
Northeast, then East, then almost due South.
Summer winds are prevailing southerly, often fairly strong.
(There are NO guarantees with wind direction or force.)
Winds are almost always lightest in the morning and strongest in late afternoon.
I suggest leaving Buffalo after lunch and catching the wind to Leiter.
The leaving Leiter as early as possible, so the stretch into Gillette isn't brutal.
In the latter case, Spotted Horse will probably be closed.

Pic - Red Hills along the route

[John Nettles]

Yes, it truly is a shame that rural America is slowly drying up.  I enjoyed my stop at the Clearmont CS.

When I first started touring in the very late 70s, I could count on a town of 500 to have a grocery store and maybe a cafe.  A town of 1000 had at least 1 grocery, a couple of cafes, and maybe a campground/motel. A town of 2500 had most anything a cyclist needed except for a bike shop. 

Now, a town below 1000 might have a CS with Hunt Brothers Pizza and if lucky a dollar store.  Otherwise, not much. 

When I stopped in Spotted Horse, the owner told me she was tired of the bicyclists complaining about having to pay for water.  The natural water had a lot of minerals (sulphur??) that made the water not good to drink.  I told her I was very glad she offered water and thanked her for do so.  As you said, the water had to be trucked in.  I had no issues paying for a couple bottles of water for the road and a Pepsi or two for lunch.  I just hope word gets out to be grateful for small town services so we don't lose access them. 

Tailwinds, John

[harveyrd]

One of my goals for this trip is to see more of rural America (perhaps before it degrades further).  🥺

[tjdale]

I rode that section 2 yeas ago on my cross US.  I had a broken spoke on the drive side rear wheel with no way to remove the cassette, so needed to get to  bike shop as soon as possible.  I used i90 to get to Gillette.  It was also a bad weather day with rain, hail, lightning, wind.  I was lucky in that the entire right lane of 90 was closed for construction so had no traffic.  I used i90 3 times on my ride.  I had always thought riding on the internet was crazy, but in reality the shoulders are typically very wide.  If you can stand to noise of passing vehicles it is not so bad assuming you just need to get someplace fast and are not interested in smelling the roses.

[DonKahn1]

Three years ago I was follwing this route on my way back to Minnesota.  I rode the Interstate the entire way, and really it wasnt that bad, and I think I even had a nice tailwind.  Nice shoulder the entire way, and really moderate traffic.  There is a pretty nice rest area about half way on the route with water

[tjdale]

Yes. Water and rest rooms. I stopped there and made my lunch. Had conversations with some folks traveling with a camper and others on motorcycles. And I agree with interstate cycling.

[jamawani]

Yes, the I-90 route from Buffalo to Gillette is 30 miles shorter.
And yes there is a rest area at the halfway point, usually with drinking water.

But, the US 16 route is some of the nicest riding anywhere to be found.
And - with planning - there are sufficient services. With very little traffic.

Westbound - If you stay overnight in Leiter,
you have stunning mountain vistas as you approach the Bighorns, the first of the Rockies.

Eastbound - As you reach the Great Plains,
you have 40 miles of the Clear Creek valley, then vast rolling expanses.

If you are just trying to get from A to B . . . then drive.

[harveyrd]

We just attempted to ride this section from Ucross to Gillette, and were stopped by weather at Leiter, as we seemed it unwise to subject ourselves to severe headwinds, thunder & lightning in the remote 60 miles from Leiter to Gillette.  So we reversed course back to Ucross and onwards to Buffalo.

Here’s some observations for those interested in this route:

Clearmont:  the store appears permanently closed although there is an unconvincing “for sale” sign out front.   There is a little public park in Clearmont that has two clean restrooms and a water fountain.

Leiter:  we spent the night camping and hanging out in The Leiter Bar & Cafe with Melonie and her family.  The are trying hard to make a “go” of it.  The bar and cafe has a funky but cozy vibe.  The fare is typical bar food along with cold beer.   

Melonie allows cyclists to camp on a “donation” basis and even allowed us the use of cabin #1 to shower and use the toilet.

In my opinion, this route is totally viable with the right weather conditions and provisions, and the scenery is top notch.  The road surface and shoulder are very good throughout.  The section from Sheridan to UCross also affords great cycling.

[jamawani]

Do you need a place to stay in Buffalo?

[jamawani]

307-684-5284

[ray b]

J - What a resource you are.

I usually stop in Buffalo about once a year on some sort of 2-wheeled contraption.

I'll remind any fans of the Longmire novels of Craig Johnson that they center on a fictional town based on Buffalo. Recommend reading one of those novels while on the PPP.

Recently ran this route on the motorcycle in early June.
 
Will also point out the UCross Foundation in UCross as an interesting stop that includes a gallery, excellent cafe (on-site chef), restrooms, and will accept donations to support their artist-in-residence programs. https://www.ucrossfoundation.org/  If you hit it at the right time, they put on some nice events.

Never asked them about throwing my sleeping bag down someplace on their 20,000 acre spread or whether any of the rooms in the school house can be rented by donors/travellers..., but perhaps Jamawani knows these folks and has a thought.