5 Family / Budget Friendly Dude Ranches
Dreaming of living a life like Rip Wheeler, or Kayce, John, and Beth Dutton in the popular tv show Yellowstone, even if only for a short while? What if we told you, we have the answer… take a dude ranch vacation! While dude ranches don’t have “train stations”, they do have many of the romantic features highlighted in this series about the western way of life, wide-open spaces, and the cowboy lifestyle.
Not only that but dude ranches are also the ultimate family vacation. There is something for anyone at any age! Activities, accommodations, meals, and more are offered at dude ranches to accommodate infants to grandparents and everyone in between. Anyone is welcome to take a dude ranch vacation where you will ride the trails, work some cattle, fly fish in pristine rivers, and dress the part. Spend time riding, eating, and enjoying the ranch with your wranglers and truly learn what it means to be a cowboy. By choosing one of the 90+ Dude Ranchers’ Association member ranches for your dude ranch vacation, you are ensuring your trip will include beautiful views, stellar horseback riding, delicious food, and comfortable lodging options.
We have found 5 dude ranches that are not only family friendly but also budget friendly. Go live out your cowboy dreams at one of these fabulous dude ranches!
Wyoming
Shoshone Lodge and Guest Ranch - Located in a beautiful mountain valley three miles from the East Entrance to Yellowstone National Park, Shoshone Lodge and Guest Ranch has been serving guests for almost 100 years. With abundant wildlife, breathtaking vistas, and access to hundreds of miles of horseback riding and hiking trails in the Shoshone National Forest, Shoshone Lodge and Guest Ranch is the ideal place to reconnect with those closest to you, enjoy new friendships, and experience a truly relaxing western vacation.
Colorado
Sundance Trail Guest Ranch - Only 100 miles from Denver International Airport yet lost in the wide-open spaces of the mountains. Shared adventures include family rides, beginner rides, advanced and fast rides, half-day rides, all-day rides, hiking, seasonal white-water rafting, yoga, rock climbing & belaying instruction, 21 round disc golf, Golf Course nearby, trout fishing, shooting sports & archery, massages and so much more! Sundance Trail is also pet-friendly – guest horses and dogs welcome!
Montana
Parade Rest Ranch is a true Montana dude ranch offering that memorable Montana guest ranch experience, located just 15 minutes from the west entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Parade Rest Ranch is the closest of all the Montana guest ranches to Yellowstone National Park. The ranch also is located within 30 miles of world-renowned fly-fishing rivers and streams.
Arizona
Rancho de la Osa is Arizona’s most historic ranch. Ride the trails frequented by U.S. Presidents, movie stars, and other dignitaries. Learn to sort cattle as ranchers have for generations. Explore Native American ruins, the U.S.-Mexico border, or the neighboring 120,000 acres of National Wildlife Refuge. After a day spent adventuring, enjoy a cool drink in our Cantina, the oldest continually occupied building in the state of Arizona!
British Columbia
Sundance Guest Ranch is an easy four-hour drive from Vancouver, BC and is located in one of the warmest, sunniest spots in Canada with sweeping, panoramic views of the wide-open Thompson River Valley that are so beautiful. At the end of the day, when you’ve just got back from a ride, and you’re sitting on the deck, watching the herd gallop by and laughing with someone you’ve known ten minutes you’ll know why we say: “The first time, it’s a vacation – after that, it’s coming home.™”
To find additional dude ranches visit The Dude Ranchers’ Association.
The Dude Ranchers’ Association member ranches will provide working, traditional, and budget dude ranch vacations for all types of travelers and guests. Different activities, cuisine, and service will set the new standard for any vacation! For more information or assistance in selecting the right dude ranch for you, contact the Dude Ranchers’ Association! With almost 100 years of experience and over 90 ranches to choose from, they will help find the right ranch for you!