Thousands of viewers from across the globe could be watching Wyoming’s roads at any given time.
The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) maintains 226 web cameras set up to monitor major roadways across the state on a 24/7 basis. They monitor roads near 52 Wyoming cities as well as stretches of Interstate-80, I-90 and other U.S. highways.
WYDOT’s Wyoming 511 travel website, which includes access to webcams, received as many as 2.2 billion online views in 2022, according to the most recent cumulative information available from the agency.
The surge in traffic prompted the department to overhaul its servers and cameras in 2024 to better accommodate the viewers, WYDOT spokesperson Doug McGee told Cowboy State Daily on Wednesday.
The cameras shoot a new photo once every five minutes and upload the image to WYDOT’s website, where it becomes publicly available.
In an instant, people anywhere with an internet connection can get a live look at the entire state by scrolling through the list of available webcams on the site.
Mcgee said Wyomingites often use the cameras as a helpful tool when planning outdoor activities in the wintertime.
“It’s not only kind of scenic, they are quite scenic, but also for the folks that want to monitor it for skiing opportunities and other outdoor activities,” McGee said.
Wyoming Office of Tourism spokesperson Haley Mach said the cameras give travelers “confidence to explore Wyoming safely and more comfortably.”
The cameras have also attracted a different audience far beyond the borders of Wyoming, McGee said.
Viewers from across the world tune into the camera feeds hoping to catch a glimpse of the action taking place on roadways across the Cowboy State.
“We have known for quite some time that our web cameras are often getting international attention in different locations,” he said.
International Acclaim
Vince Garcia, WYDOT Intelligent Transportation Systems program manager, said that while he did not have analytics showing viewers’ specific countries, he knows there are hundreds of countries outside the United States watching Wyoming’s road cameras every day.
“I can't even tell you how many, but hundreds of countries have used the cameras,” he said. “Lots of them have told us that they are maybe someone who has been deployed, and so they're looking at what it looks like back home.
“Our new processes don't permit us to see where those countries are coming from,” he added. “Right now, we'll have to work on that.”
McGee said that throughout his 20-year career, he’s received feedback from countless viewers from across the world regarding the cameras.
The WYO 22 camera on Teton Pass in Jackson gets the most views by far, he said. McGee suspected this is due to the combined scenic appeal of Jackson and a local desire to monitor traffic.
“That Jackson web camera, there are a lot of folks who commute over that pass, or who work in Jackson and live elsewhere,” he said.
It’s expensive to live in Jackson, so many people who work there commute from other nearby communities, often in treacherous weather conditions.
“That camera is vital for them,” McGee said. “They aren't looking for beauty or for skiing or whatnot. So that one is a real interesting mix of tourist, locals, recreationists.”
McGee said members of the military who leave Wyoming to go abroad often view the cameras while on deployment to remind them of common roads they used to drive while they were home.
“Members of the military, for example, who are from Wyoming and maybe in the guard or the full-time military stationed overseas, they like to visit our web cameras,” McGee said. “They feel a little homesick, and they just want to get a look back at Wyoming and see what's going on.”
The cameras also draw attention from international travelers who are either planning a visit or have already been to Wyoming. WYDOT’s cameras can help these globetrotters more accurately guess weather patterns to accommodate a winter ski trip or a summer rodeo tour.
“They use our web cameras to see the sort of scenery and environment that they're going to encounter,” McGee said of international tourists. “As far as all our road and travel and information tools with various websites, the web cameras are probably our most visited tool, so we're pretty proud of that.”
Nature’s Mona Lisa
Michael Scheller lives in Alta, Wyoming, where he is separated from Jackson by the Grand Tetons. He told Cowboy State Daily the Teton Pass camera becomes especially useful for him in the wintertime when traveling to the airport.
“Also, when they close the pass, I'm checking all the cameras along the way to see who's stuck,” he wrote via text message. “Winter is long and hard and part of the fun is not being stuck in line, waiting for the pass to open.
“With that said, we are amazed at how good a job WYDOT does in keeping it open, informed on closures, and openings,” he added.
Scheller said he has no idea why the Teton Pass camera is so popular internationally, but appreciates the interest from viewers abroad.
“To be honest, I have no clue why an international group is interested, other than a view unlike one they have at ‘home,’” he wrote. “If they are coming from a city, especially smog laden, places like the Tetons… are sufficiently exotic, that it's a nice break from their 'normal.’”
The camera feed could even be considered a form of modern art, Scheller suggested.
“Think of it as a modern Mona Lisa,” he said. “You go to Paris, wait in line, to see a painting, that's fairly plain, but has such unique features when the light changes, the crowd shifts, and you still come out a bit in awe.”
“Whereas, you go to the webcams around here, you see seasons change, weather, cars, and sometimes, an animal,” he added. “And it's picturesque in its own way, a nature’s Mona Lisa.”
A brand new webcam can set WYDOT back about $5,600, McGee said. The cost of removing an old camera and installing a new one costs about an additional $2,000.
Total costs for installing a camera in a new location can vary based on several factors, McGee said. These include the availability of internet and power connectivity.
Jackson Walker can be reached at walker@cowboystatedaily.com.