History:

The area which is now Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site has been continuously occupied for more than 10,000 years. Homesteaded in 1884 by Byron F. Wickwire; Medicine Lodge was originally a working cattle ranch. The ranch was purchased in 1972 by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department which created the 12,000 acre Medicine Lodge Wildlife Habitat Management Area.

In 1973, a portion of the habitat management area was developed into Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site where cultural history and recreational access continues today.

General Site Information:

No day use fee's are required

Camping fees per night and per vehicle are as follows: 

      Wyoming Resident: $11.00          Non-Resident: $19.80   (taxes included)

      Must camp in a designated campsite.  Two (2) vehicle maximum per site.

Camping reservations are required from May 1 - September 30.  To make a reservation, please call 877-WYO-PARK (877-996-7275) or go online to reserve.wyoming.gov. 

Public Horse Corrals are available and free of charge. Certified weed seed free hay is required inside the park. Please be courteous and scoop manure to the alley ways of the corrals for easy cleanup by site staff. 

Vehicles in the park after 10:00PM shall have a valid camping permit displayed

GROUP SHELTER RESERVATIONS

Year-Round Reservations & Booking Window
The shelter is reservable year-round. Each year, booking for the upcoming season opens on the second Friday of January. For this upcoming year, reservations will open on January 9th, 2026.
Reservations must be made at least 7 days in advance, and there is a 7-day consecutive stay limit.

Cancellation Policy
To receive a refund, cancellations must be made 30 days prior to your arrival date. Failure to do so will result in no refund.

Overnight Facility & Updated Fee Structure
Although the shelter has often been used as a day-use space, it is officially designated as an overnight group facility. To simplify the process and provide consistency, we are transitioning to a single flat fee of $200 per night for your whole group, regardless of whether guests stay overnight or only use the shelter during the day.

New Capacity Limits
The group area has a maximum capacity of:

• 20 vehicles

• 10 trailers/RVs

These updates help ensure fair access, clear expectations, and an improved experience for all users of the Medicine Lodge Group Shelter.

If you have any questions about these changes or need assistance with a reservation, please feel free to contact us. 

To make reservations, please go to reserve.wyoming.gov or call our call center at 877-996-7275, from 7 am - 7 pm, 7 days a week.