Overview
Cody is in Northwest Wyoming, close to the east side Yellowstone National Park. Unlike Jackson, with its pet spas and high-end shopping, Cody is more authentically cowboy. Cody is famous for its rodeo, which occurs nightly during the summer, and for its proximity to fantastic wilderness adventures in Yellowstone and in the national forests surrounding the park.
6 sights · 2 things to do · 5 places to eat · 6 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Cody
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
Cody - Five full museums in one location. The museum does a good job of moving beyond the clichéd myths of cowboys, Indians and the "wild west", taking on a more critical and interesting look at the meanings of frontier …
Smith Mansion
Ruins of an extraordinary wooden structure located on a hill visible from the road in Wapiti between Cody and Yellowstone National Park. Do not attempt to enter the property - it is dangerous and the owners do not welcom…
Old Trail Town
Heart Mountain Interpretive Center
Buffalo Bill State Park
Located along Buffalo Bill reservoir, this campground has walking trails and picnic areas. Stop and walk along the rocky shore, skip rocks, or delight in the scenery and wildlife.
Yellowstone Quake
Enjoy an ice-hockey game at the Victor J. Riley Arena. The Quake play in the North American Tier III hockey league.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jun–Sep. Summer highs reach about 81°F; winter lows dip to about 12°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and May. (climate data from nearby Yellowstone National Park)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- COD Yellowstone Regional Airport, Cody — 2 mi away. Directions
- BIL Billings Logan International Airport, Billings — 92 mi away. Directions
- SLC Salt Lake City International Airport, Salt Lake City — 298 mi away (major hub). Directions
Car trips to Cody are a bit long, but you're rewarded with beautiful scenery.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Historic Cody Mural and Museum, Yellowstone Quake
- Lunch Shiki Japanese Restaurant
- Afternoon Old Trail Town, Heart Mountain Interpretive Center
- Dinner Zapata's
Day 2
- Morning Smith Mansion
- Lunch Proud Cut Saloon
- Afternoon Buffalo Bill State Park
- Dinner Silver Dollar Bar
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Get in
By plane
By car
Car trips to Cody are a bit long, but you're rewarded with beautiful scenery.
- From the north - MT 310 connects I-90 with WYO 120 from Billings, Montana. Or, for a prettier alternative, drive from Red Lodge, Montana take the Beartooth Scenic Byway - US-212 is one of the top 20 drives in the country. The highway is open summer months only. US-212, the Beartooth Highway, leads to WY 296 - the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway. Here take US-212 to the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park, or take WY 296 to WY 120 and on to Cody.
- From the northeast - Over the Big Horn Mountains via Powell and Lovell on the Medicine Wheel Passage on US-14A. Open summer months only.
- From the south - I-25 to Casper, US-20 to Thermopolis, and WYO 120 to the hamlet of Meeteetse and then Cody.
- From the east - Across the Big Horn Scenic Byway on WYO 14 from Sheridan, Wyoming to Greybull on WYO 14-16-20. Through Buffalo, Wyoming on WYO 16 the Cloud Peak Skyway through Ten Sleep and Worland to WYO 16-20 to Greybull and on to Cody.
- From the west - Through Jackson, Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park on WY 191 to WY 14-16-20, the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway to Cody.
Get around
Given Cody's rather remote location and the activities you've come to Cody to enjoy, you will want a car to get around.
See
See Cody Stampede Rodeo and Cody Nite Rodeo
From June 1 to August 31, the Cody Nite Rodeo runs every evening with bull riding, steer wrestling and more. Right around the 4th of July, the Cody Stampede Rodeo occurs, which is the biggest event in the summer in Cody. Cowboys from all over the nation and the world compete in seven different events.
See Smith Mansion
Ruins of an extraordinary wooden structure located on a hill visible from the road in Wapiti between Cody and Yellowstone National Park. Do not attempt to enter the property - it is dangerous and the owners do not welcome trespassers.
Do
- Hike. Cody is one of the jumping-off points for Yellowstone National Park. You don't have to go that far though to find beautiful trails, particularly in the Shoshone National Forest.
- Dude ranches. There are several ranches in and around Cody that offer horseback riding and ranching experiences. Many of them are close to Yellowstone National Park, so you can piece together two different types of trips. One of the many ranches is K3 Guest Ranch.
Buy
There are a large number of excellent outfitters and merchants in Cody appealing to the visitor and resident alike. These include the Yellowstone Gift Shop, Legends Bookstore, the Chamber of Commerce local artists co-op, and many more, mostly along Sheridan, which is the main drag through town.
Cody also offers the only Walgreens and Wal-Mart within 90 miles, both of them very well stocked and staffed.
Albertsons is the grocery store where the locals shop, and it has wonderful selection. The daily fresh-made guacamole is to die for.
Wyoming is a 24/7 alcohol sales zone. Libations near Walgreens is open every day of the year and has good selection of bottled goods and slushy machines full of frosted cocktails.
Eat
Eat Proud Cut Saloon
This is one of Cody's most famous restaurants. Don't be surprised to find yourself eating a great cut of meat out on a patio with plastic table coverings. Proud Cut is more about good food than fancy surroundings.
Eat Zapata's
Zapata's is located at the end of Cody's main drag. The Mexican food isn't bad, but the margaritas and beer are great after a long day's hike.
Eat Shiki Japanese Restaurant
Amazing Japanese food, and a great atmosphere.
Eat Silver Dollar Bar
Best burger in town. Must be 21 to eat inside, great place to eat & drink outside on the patio during the summer.
Eat Granny's
This non-foodie institution is too easy to pass by. An old-school establishment, it is a local reference for breakfast. Excellent value. Close to the Holliday Inn and Walgreens. Gets crowded sometimes. Junior and senior lunch and breakfast specials. Excellent cinnamon and caramel rolls. Known for pancakes. Bacon and link sausages are amazing. Service is great. If you are alone, try to get a spot at the community table on the left where the local news is traded daily.
Sleep
- This hotel is a favorite of tour groups. They have a great team. They have handled the gamut of customer situations and needs. It's vintage Holiday Inn (no free breakfast, but Granny's is practically across the street and another Cody institution). Not cheap. You can often get a better deal if you stay in one of their cabins (free standing units in back). The Cody Holiday Inn sits on old camp and rodeo grounds from before trees in Cody. Convenient to everything in the downtown.
Stay Green Creek Inn & RV Park
A nice motel in Wapiti between Cody and Yellowstone National Park. The rooms are clean and cosy. The owners are friendly, and seemed to be quite strict about the rules of their place, which some less disciplined guests might find uncomfortable. From the premises there is a prime view of the Smith Mansion.
Stay Chamberlin Inn
This is a lovely boutique hotel in the heart of the downtown area. Often used as a wedding venue, if Hemmingway ever stayed in Cody, it would have been here. Even if you do not spend the night, you should take the time to have a drink in the bar, especially during the warm season when you can enjoy the beautiful garden.
Go next
- Sleeping Giant Ski Area, 48 miles west of Cody
Nearby
Powell
City / town · 8 listings · 22 mi away
Lovell
City / town · 15 listings · 39 mi away
Red Lodge
City / town · 20 listings · 47 mi away
Greybull
City / town · 10 listings · 50 mi away
Basin
City / town · 16 listings · 51 mi away
Cooke City
City / town · 9 listings · 55 mi away
Worland
City / town · 12 listings · 65 mi away
Yellowstone National Park
Park · 177 listings · 74 mi away
My experience
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