Plan your trip
Getting here, the weather month by month and what to know before you go.
Getting here
| From | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | About 8 miles | North on I-90 to Exit 51. [Johnson County] |
| Sheridan | About 26 miles | South on I-90. Measured between exit mileposts. [I-90] |
| Fort Phil Kearny | About 7 interstate miles plus 3 | Exit 44, then about 3 miles. [Wyoming State Parks, 2] |
| Gillette | About 73 interstate miles | East on I-90 to Exit 124. [I-90] |
| Billings, MT | About 165 miles to Buffalo | A few miles less to the lake. [Wanderlog] |
Flying in
- Sheridan County Airport (SHR): the closest, with United Express service to Denver. [Wikipedia]
- Casper (CPR): United Express to Denver. [Wikipedia]
- Gillette (GCC): United Express to Denver. [Wikipedia]
- Billings (BIL): the bigger airport, about 165 miles from Buffalo. [Wanderlog]
Plan on a car.
Weather by month in Buffalo
Normals for 1991 to 2020. The lake is a few miles north of town. [US Climate Data]
| Month | High | Low | Range | Precip | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 14°F | 0.44" | 6" | |
| Feb | 38°F | 15°F | 0.45" | 6" | |
| Mar | 46°F | 23°F | 0.86" | 7" | |
| Apr | 55°F | 31°F | 1.3" | 2" | |
| May | 64°F | 40°F | 2.4" | 1" | |
| Jun | 74°F | 50°F | 2.23" | 0" | |
| Jul | 83°F | 56°F | 1.52" | 0" | |
| Aug | 83°F | 55°F | 0.75" | 0" | |
| Sep | 71°F | 44°F | 1.34" | 0" | |
| Oct | 58°F | 33°F | 1.09" | 2" | |
| Nov | 44°F | 22°F | 0.47" | 4" | |
| Dec | 35°F | 13°F | 0.39" | 8" |
Year: high 57°F, low 33°F, 13.24" precipitation, 36" snow.
Lodging taxes
Wyoming's statewide lodging tax is 5%. Johnson County voters approved an additional 2% local lodging tax in November 2024. Johnson County sales tax is 5% (4% state, 1% county). State and county campgrounds are exempt from the state lodging tax. [Sources, 2, 3] Rates can change; the Wyoming Department of Revenue is the authority.
Know before you go
- County camping is first come, first served with no drinking water. Camping
- Out-of-state boats need an AIS inspection March 1 to November 30. Boating
- Summer algae advisories: check WyoHCBs.org. [Wyoming DEQ]
- Lake trout limits may change for 2027. Fishing
- July is peak season for Buffalo short-term rentals. [AirROI] Events
Questions about the lake itself: Johnson County Lake DeSmet Operating Department, (307) 425-6539. [Johnson County]
The lake, four times a year
Ice-on and ice-off notes, what Game and Fish is saying about the fishery, events worth the drive and new places to stay. One email a season.