THE RUSTY SPUR SALOON – Scottsdale, Ariz.
Cowboys were said to water their horses here with buckets of beer—an old twist on drunk driving. Since 1951. 480-425-7787
THE CRYSTAL PALACE SALOON – Tombstone, Ariz.
A landmark original (it was born a brew house in 1879) in the West’s most famous outlaw town. 520-457-3611
RANCHMAN’S COOKHOUSE & DANCEHALL – Calgary, Alberta
Cowboy central during the Calgary Stampede, Ranchman’s is the place to dance, dine, or watch a fight in the parking lot. 403-253-1100
DIAMOND BELLE SALOON – Durango, Colo.
With can-can girls and costumed bartenders, the Strater Hotel’s bar helped author Louis L’Amour (who often stayed here) to step back in time. 800-247-4431
LITTLE COWBOY BAR & MUSEUM – Fromberg, Mont.
Some might call this collection of cowboy memorabilia kitschy were it not for the sincerity of owner Shirley Smith (a ringer for Joan Collins), who runs this beer-and-shot homage to Montana’s cowboys. 406-668-9502
NO SCUM ALLOWED SALOON – White Oaks, N.M.
People (but no scum) come from miles and miles around to drink and hear cowboy music in this 100 year-old brick building. 575-648-5583
LET ‘ER BUCK ROOM – Pendleton, Ore.
Hidden under the rodeo’s south grandstand and only open for the rodeo, the bar is known as “Cowboy Mardi Gras.” 800-457-6336 (Alternate: The Rainbow Cafe Bar)
THE TACK ROOM – St. Paul, Ore.
It’s butts to buckles and loud as a jet fighter during take off here throughout the annual St. Paul Rodeo. 503-633-2011
SALOON NO. 10 – Deadwood, S.D.
Wild Bill Hickok met his fate playing cards here, making it one of the most famous cowboy bars in America. 800-952-9398
THE CRYSTAL BAR – Alpine, Texas
This is the best (perhaps the only) reason to visit a dusty, hot cowtown in the barrens of west Texas, where cows outnumber humans by far. 432-837-2819
BILLY BOB’S TEXAS – Fort Worth, Texas
At 127,000 square feet, with an indoor bull-riding ring and 42 bar stations, it’s the biggest honky-tonk in the world. 817-624-7117
11TH STREET COWBOY BAR – Bandera, Texas
The so-called “biggest little bar in Texas,” 11th Street features cowboy music and lively Texas two-steppin’. 830-796-4849
NO NAME SALOON – Park City, Utah
Utah may be famously anti-alcohol, but the No Name serves ’em strong and keeps ’em coming. 435-649-6667
THE MINT – Sheridan, Wyo.
A bronc-riding neon cowboy leads you to this burlwood den, considered by most to be the ultimate cowboy bar in the cowboy state. 307-674-9696
MILLION DOLLAR COWBOY BAR – Jackson, Wyo.
Saddles for bar stools, Western murals, and a bar studded with silver coins—what more do you want? 307-733-2207
THE BUCKHORN BAR – Laramie, Wyo.
Generations of University of Wyoming Cowboys have made the pilgrimage here. “The Buck” features mounted racks and a bullet hole in the back mirror. 307-742-3554
The White Horse Saloon – Austin, Texas
Located just off the corner of East 6th and Comal in East Austin (behind Cisco’s & The Eastern) which is about a ten minute walk from 1-35 and across the tracks from the Austin MetroRail Plaza Saltillo. 512-553-6756