Gene Kilgore's Ranchweb brings incredible ranch vacation destinations together in one place for travelers from all walks of life to find and book their dream dude ranch. Here we show you what you can expect from a dude ranch vacation if you're yet to take the plunge!
Where are the best dude ranches in the world?
Ranchweb showcases ranch vacations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Argentina.
Explore amazing guest ranches, working ranches, luxury ranches, resort ranches and more, in some the most famous of the U.S. cowboy states, including dude ranches in Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, California, Virginia.
Rancho Las Cascadas, Mexico
Ranches in Mexico and Argentina often offer traditional cultural experiences, that allow you to immerse in the true spirit of the countries and they have fantastic horses bred for the vast lands over which you'll ride.
Read more here on where to find the best dude ranches in the world.
What to expect on a dude ranch vacation
Ranch vacations offer individuals, families and groups a chance to embrace the lifestyle of authentic working ranch cowboys and cowgirls. Cowgirl getaways are very popular!
Ranch vacations for kids are also very popular as they give the little ones a chance to enjoy some activities and meals with others their age.
Dude ranch vacations offer an opportunity to experience the outdoors in some of the most breathtaking locations on the planet and you can participate in various ranch activities like horseback riding, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, and even go on overnight pack trips and camping expeditions.
During a ranch vacation, you'll stay at the (often very remote!) ranch property and, along with gettin' hands-on with the adventure activities, will eat and drink with other guests, and enjoy gazing up at billions of stars around the campfire.
Do I have to ride horses on a dude ranch vacation?
Not at all! However all ranch vacations on Ranchweb offer horseback riding catering to people of all skill levels, from beginners to experienced riders.
Darwin Ranch, Wyoming
The ranches usually have well-trained horses and experienced wranglers who provide instruction and guidance, and guests interested in horse riding holidays can learn about horsemanship and experience the thrill of riding in spectacular nature.
Can I relax on a dude ranch vacation?
In addition to the activities, some dude ranch vacations also offer a chance to unwind, and connect with yourself and nature.
Wellness ranch vacations are becoming more and more popular post-Pandemic, with people choosing to take time on their vacations to truly pamper and restore.
These ranches with spas, like most dude ranches, are usually situated in scenic locations, such as mountains, prairies, or deserts, providing breathtaking views and abundant opportunities for relaxation.
Wellness ranch accommodations vary from rustic cabins or sleeping out under the stars, to five-star luxury ranches, or Ultra Ranches, depending on the type of ranch and the level of comfort desired.
Primland Resort by Auberge Resorts Collection, Virginia
How to choose a ranch for a dude ranch vacation
So now you know the basics of what's involved in a ranch vacation, it's time to take the plunge and choose your dream destination!
Ranchweb is here to help take the stress out of finding your dream ranch – our featured ranches have all been hand-selected and visited by us so you can be sure you're in safe hands.
Here are four ways you can find the dude ranch of your dreams:
1) Search and filter all our ranches
Searching for and filtering our ranches has never been easier with our Ranchweb advanced search and filters tool.
Need a ranch with a spa? Check. Want to try fly fishing? Check. Not sure which country to choose? No problem!
2) Use this handy ranch availability checker
The Ranchweb Availabilty Checker is a super-fast way to 'blanket contact' all of our dude ranches in minutes with all your ranch holiday requests.
Just fill out the form with as much information as you can and you will hear direct from ranches on the same day/next day, and be able to begin your selection process from there. So easy!
3) Use these other handy ranch vacation websites
Along with Ranchweb, we bring you:
4) Talk with our travel planning Concierge
Our dedicated Ranchweb Concierge is here to talk about all your ranch vacation travel plans.
Sometimes, when planning a ranch vacation, you just want to speak to or email a real person. We get it!
So we created our Concierge, a handy ranch vacations travel planning service to assist those who need a little extra help in trying to choose the right dude ranch.
There is no fee to talk to us, our only goal is to give you ideas that hopefully will assist you in finding your 'home on the range'.
If you'd like to take advantage of this service, simply call 707-217-5205 or email happytrails@ranchweb.com
Original article by CEO Gene Kilgore; co-written, edited and created by Kate Hammaren; luxury and adventure travel writer, editor and world traveler.
Thank you to The Darwin Ranch, Wyoming for the beautiful banner image