📷 Photo by Judy Beth Morris on UnsplashFort Phil Kearny State Historic Site
Story, WY
The site of an 1866 army fort on the Bozeman Trail, with the nearby Fetterman and Wagon Box fight sites. A visitor center and the outline of the stockade are a few minutes from I-90 exit 44.
Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site lies on the eastern flank of the Bighorn Mountains in northern Wyoming, near Story and about 15 miles (24 km) north of Buffalo; access is via US Highway 87. The fort was founded in 1866 by the US Army under Colonel Henry B. Carrington to protect the Bozeman Trail, which led gold seekers to Montana. It played a central role in Red Cloud's War (1866 to 1868) and was abandoned in 1868 and then burned by the Cheyenne.
The site covers about 1,000 acres (400 hectares) with the fort and two major battlefields: the Fetterman Fight (1866) and the Wagon Box Fight (1867). At the Fetterman Fight, Arapaho, Cheyenne and Lakota surprised the soldiers; 81 men were buried. Until the Battle of the Little Bighorn ten years later, it was the US Army's biggest loss against Native fighters. A reconstructed stockade shows life in the 1860s.
For your route planning: according to Wikipedia there is a visitor center with exhibits and videos, plus self-guided walks to the outlying sites. Opening hours and season are not documented; check beforehand (as of October 2026).
- Nearest town
- Story, WY
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 44.5344, -106.8278
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. Cold, short days in December–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
© Forest Service Photography · Public domainShell Falls
© brewbooks from near Seattle, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark
© Carolschmidt333 · CC BY-SA 4.0Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
Photo by Trevor Vannoy on UnsplashDevil Canyon Overlook, Bighorn Canyon
Campsites nearby
- Buffalo KOA JourneyMotorhome stopover14 mi from Fort Phil Kearny State Historic SiteMotorhomes
- Bighorn overnight areaCampsite15 mi from Fort Phil Kearny State Historic SiteFree
- Little Goose CampgroundCampsite15 mi from Fort Phil Kearny State Historic SiteFree
- Tie Hack CampgroundMotorhome stopover18 mi from Fort Phil Kearny State Historic SiteMotorhomes
- South Fork CampgroundMotorhome stopover19 mi from Fort Phil Kearny State Historic SiteMotorhomes
- Peter D'sMotorhome stopover20 mi from Fort Phil Kearny State Historic SiteMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposal
All campsites in Wyoming · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site?
Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site is in Story, WY, at GPS 44.5344, -106.8278. It is about 14 mi from Buffalo.
Can you camp near Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Mikesell-Potts Recreation Area Campground, about 7 mi away; within 25 mi there are 19 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site?
Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Bighorn Mountains: Medicine Wheel and Bighorn Canyon.
What is there to see near Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site?
Places worth a stop nearby: Shell Falls (39 mi), Medicine Wheel National Historic Landmark (57 mi), Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument (77 mi) and Devil Canyon Overlook, Bighorn Canyon (78 mi).
When is the best time to visit Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)