Some Wyomingites Are Ridiculously Far From Groceries

Wyoming has a lot of small towns that are out in the middle of nowhere. So much so that they don't even have a grocery store.

So what is the farthest someone has to drive to buy groceries? I can't give you an exact number, just an average for rural residents in isolated areas. There are parts of Fremont, Sublette, or Carbon counties drive 40 to 60 miles - or up to an hour or more one way - to reach a full-service supermarket.

For most who live far away from such conveniences, they have to plan their trips. Long lists are made, and money is set aside. There is no such thing as a quick trip up the road because someone forgot butter.

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Take Jeffrey City as an example. They have no local grocery options. Residents drive roughly 58 miles west to Lander or 23 miles east to Muddy Gap/Rawlins for provisions.

The tiny community of Hanna used to have a cute little, locally owned grocery store. But it went out of business. Now locals must commute to Rawlins or Laramie, which can be over an hour away.

For those who live in a town that has most everything, this is hard to imagine. But the folks who live way out there are right where they want to be. They will come into town, shop, and get out of town as fast as they can because of people; they don't like dealing with people.

Don't feel sorry for them. They live this way by choice, and they love it.