Few towns can proudly boast the western spirit of Cody, cowboy haven and rodeo capital of the world (at least that’s what its residents like to call it). Founded by none other than Buffalo Bill, whose first name was William Frederick Cody, the town never misses a chance to pay homage to him, and has dedicated dams, museums and natural areas to him, perfectly embodying the “mythology of the West” that Buffalo Bill himself helped shape. There are several advantages to visiting this town: first of all its proximity to Yellowstone, a real gem of the Rocky Mountains, the beautiful natural environment in which the town is immersed, full of magnificent mountain peaks and scenic roads, and some very surprising attractions that you can find in the city. Have I intrigued you? Let’s find out all the things to do in Cody, Wyoming.
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Cody, Wyoming: where is and how to get there
The town of Cody is located about an hour from the eastern entrance of Yellowstone, joined to the park by the beautiful Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway (US 14, 16 and 20), which we will talk about shortly. You can usually reach the Rodeo town from two directions: the one just described (from the West) and from the East, after visiting Devils Tower (about 300 miles away). Cody is a must-see place for those who plan a trip to Wyoming or for those who opt for a longer tour that usually includes Montana, South Dakota, Colorado, and, more rarely, North Dakota, to discover the regions of the so-called “Rodeo” Great American West.
Cody can also be easily reached on an internal flight, often from the international airports of Denver and Salt Lake City. Yellowstone Regional Airport is in fact located in the southeast of the city, just 5 minutes drive from downtown, and has the main car rental agency offices so you can move around independently. If you opt for this solution take a look at our tips on how to rent a car in USA.
How to include Cody in a Yellowstone itinerary
Not everyone who visits Yellowstone is able to pass through this town; the western region of the park, in fact, the best known, can be visited even without staying in Cody and, even if it’s a pity to miss Rodeo town, days available to you don’t always allow you to go as far as Buffalo Bill’s lands.
However, Cody is an excellent base for visiting Yellowstone Lake and can also be a good place to visit Lamar Valley. For information on how to include Buffalo Bill in your tour of the park, I suggest you read my suggested itinerary for Yellowstone, or you can take some ideas from my nature trail from Jackson to Cody and from the section of this article dedicated to the Beartooth Highway. If, on the other hand, you want information about Jackson, read the article what to see in Jackson.
The best things to do in Cody WY
Cody has several interesting attractions to offer, both within its boundaries and in the immediate vicinity. Here’s what I recommend you don’t miss out on:
Cody Old Trail Town
In my opinion, this is the real highlight of Cody, the attraction that makes it worthwhile including this town in your itinerary (don’t worry, if you can’t make it, you can always make up for it with Virginia City and Nevada City). Here, where the town was originally founded in 1895, a series of historic buildings taken from various regions of Montana and Wyoming have been gathered and carefully reassembled. What emerges is a western town that never actually existed, but whose buildings are all authentic and original.
The visit is made easier thanks to a booklet (also available in Italian) that explains the origin and function of each building. Lovers of stories of the Old West will not be able to help themselves from jumping in front of the beautiful saloon frequented by the gang of Butch Cassidy (there are still bullet holes in the door), the shelter that he used with the Sundance Kid to plan his raids, or the house of Curley, the Indian who helped General Custer in the Battle of Little Big Horn.
The site also contains thousands of historical artifacts from the Old West, as well as the graves of several important people, including Buffalo Bill’s grandson, set apart from all the others. The site takes about an hour to visit, and admission, which you can buy at the gift shop just outside the entrance, costs $10 per person ($5 for children ages 6-12).
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
If you think you’ve exhausted the reasons for your interest in Cody, be prepared to think again. The Buffalo Bill Center of the West museum is truly a pleasant surprise and a visit is highly recommended. The entire complex includes as many as 5 really well-curated museums:
- Buffalo Bill Museum, dedicated to the life of Buffalo Bill, which, as you may have guessed, is a character of some importance here
- Plains Indians Museum, one of the most important centers dedicated to Indian culture and art, with insights into the dramatic history of these people. In my opinion the most interesting museum to visit
- Whitney Western Art Museum the purpose of this museum is to allow you to experience the spirit of the American West through art. It boasts an extensive collection of works depicting events, characters and natural landscapes of the Rocky Mountain region. The works range from the early 19th Century to the present day.
- Draper Natural History Museum, dedicated entirely to learning more about the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, one of the most important natural areas for observing landscape ecology and geology.
- Cody Firearms Museum, the most comprehensive collection of American firearms in the world, with over 7000 firearms and more than 30,000 artifacts.
Visiting the museum with due care could take you even a full day, but spend at least half a day there.
Rodeo
Arriving in the city from Yellowstone, you’ll notice the large city Rodeo stadium on your left, which is a real institution here. In the summer, rodeos are held almost every night around 8 pm and are another opportunity to experience the cowboy culture of the area. Most of the performances focus on lassoing animals or the ability to ride them when it gets mad, all interspersed with various comic gags. To buy tickets, there are hotels that sell them directly, such as the Kings Inn, or you can get them in advance online but it is not really necessary (I bought them in the middle of summer on the same day and during the show there were still many seats available in the stands). The cost is around $20.
Sheridan Avenue: Cody’s Main Street
Every city in America has its main street, and in Cody this is Sheridan Avenue, a portion of the street a few blocks long with various stores, clubs and hotels. The most interesting attraction is the legendary Irma, a historic inn built in 1902 by Buffalo Bill, who named it after his daughter (the cherry wood bar is said to be a gift from the Queen of England). Here in the past personalities such as Frederic Remington, Annie Oakley and Calamity Jane have stayed here, and you can also sleep in Buffalo Bill’s private suite.
Right in front of the hotel, there are often, live concerts and western shows (with lots of shooting), making Irma the real center of attraction on Sheridan Avenue. The shows are organized by the Cody Gunfighters and are usually held from Monday to Saturday at 6 pm (check the official website for any changes).
Things to do near Cody WY
The natural area that surrounds Cody is remarkable and is sometimes neglected because of its proximity to Yellowstone Park, which diminishes it a bit. Let’s take a closer look at it:
Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway
The Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway is about 27 miles long and begins shortly after the eastern entrance of Yellowstone, running along the north branch of the Shoshone River and crossing the canyon with the same name, and the Wapiti Valley. Its official conclusion is still before reaching the Buffalo Bill State Park, located about 9 miles west of Cody. This is a particularly suggestive road, especially due to the rocky formations that surround it: imposing, dark red, rocky pinnacles that remind us a bit of the hoodoos at Bryce Canyon. Along the road you’ll also find Pahaska Tepee, Buffalo Bill’s hunting lodge, where you can stop for a snack and admire a historic site, and Smith Mansion, an unlikely home we’ve already mentioned.
The Pahaska Tepee is also worth considering as an overnight opportunity, especially because of its location, as it is not even a 5-minute drive from the East entrance to Yellowstone, thus allowing you to cut your commute time from Cody to the park in half.
Buffalo Bill State Park and Buffalo Bill Dam
After the Scenic Byway, the beautiful landscapes to admire don’t end and in fact after a few miles you will meet the Buffalo Bill Reservoir, a beautiful lake part of the larger Buffalo Bill State Park, which borders the dam of the same name (Buffalo Bill Dam), where you should enjoy a short and pleasant stop. A free shuttle will pick you up at the small parking lot and take you to the Visitor Center, where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the canyon. The site is about 15 minutes from Cody and can be easily visited.
Big Horn Mountains: Medicine Wheel and Devil’s Canyon
The Big Horn Mountains, named after the Rocky Mountain Sheep (Bighorn Sheep), are located on the border of Wyoming and Montana and offer beautiful views. A great idea is to plan a day hike from Cody. Here are 2 interesting destinations (among many) to add to your itinerary:
- Medicine Wheel: a mysterious monument composed of flat stones arranged in a circle to form a wheel of 28 spokes. To reach it you will have to drive for a little more than 2 hours from Cody and then walk along a very easy scenic trail of a little more than 1.2 miles (each way). The hike is probably more worthwhile than seeing the monument, thanks to the views.
- Devil’s Canyon Overlook: another remarkable panoramic view is reached after crossing the Montana border, after driving about 1 hour and 20 minutes from Cody. The view of the canyon is stunning and can be reached directly by car. Maximum results with minimum effort. For more information on this viewpoint and the surrounding area check out our guide on Bighorn Canyon.
Beartooth Highway
For those who go back and forth to Yellowstone and don’t want to drive the same road twice (Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway), there is another scenic route you can consider, if you are willing to extend your trip a bit. This is the Beartooth Highway, the 70-mile stretch of road that runs along US 212 to the northeast entrance of Yellowstone (in Cooke City). There are essentially 2 good reasons for driving it: the beauty of the road and the possibility of visiting one of the most beautiful valleys in Yellowstone, Lamar Valley.
There are 2 ways to travel along it from Cody:
- Complete route: Take 120 north and then 308 to the town of Red Lodge, where the scenic route begins and ends in Cooke City. The whole trip takes at least 3 hours
- Partial route: after taking the 120, at the junction with the 296 turn left following the 296. This road will take you to intersect the Beartooth Highway. You will only cover the last third of it but you will save at least 1 hour. Although you will miss most of the scenic route (including the wonderful Rock Creek Vista Point 1 hour 30 from Cody), you can make up for it with the Dead Indian Summit Overlook, another viewpoint you will encounter along the way.
Where to eat in Cody
If you are not staying at Irma you might still consider it for an informal dinner. The environment is certainly picturesque and the idea of eating in a historic building has a certain charm. The quality of the food is average, but if you are looking for a good burger or American cuisine you will not be disappointed.
If you are looking for something a little more refined, there is an interesting place on 13th Street, 900 feet from Irma; it is called The Local, a restaurant that makes organic and local products that are its main strengths , and where they dare to use exciting pairings (such as fish with ice cream!!!).
Another interesting possibility is the Cody Cattle Company, an activity that combines dinner and entertainment: you can enjoy a buffet with typical western dishes, a country concert and, if you want, you can add a rodeo to the package, for a full immersion in the world of cowboys.
Where to stay in Cody
Cody offers many options for overnight accommodations, and given the many attractions available in and around the city, it is advisable to stay more than one night. For a list of recommended accommodations, please refer to our tips on where to stay in town, which you can find by clicking the button below.
