If you’re itching for a true Wild West adventure—or a perfect gateway to Yellowstone—I’d point you straight to Cody, Wyoming. Cody doesn’t just invite you to learn about the Old West—it drops you in the middle of it. From sweeping national forests to dusty cowboy towns preserved in amber, this place felt like a movie I’d accidentally wandered into... and didn’t want to leave.
Best Things to Do in Cody, WY
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
I started big—with the sprawling Buffalo Bill Center of the West, which is actually five museums in one. It’s the kind of place you could spend a whole day in and still miss a wing. The main hall greeted me with taxidermy bison, vintage rodeo posters, and the faint scent of old wood and leather. It set the tone for everything that followed: rugged, mythic, larger than life.
Plains Indian Museum
The Plains Indian Museum stopped me in my tracks. The beadwork alone—intricate, glowing with color and care—told stories that felt deeply alive. I moved slowly through each exhibit, taking in the feathered headdresses, the ceremonial objects, the audio of spoken Lakota and Cheyenne. It didn’t feel like a museum so much as a space for honoring. “This is what remembering with respect looks like,” I thought.
Cody Firearms Museum
Just down the hall, the Cody Firearms Museum was a sharp shift in mood but equally fascinating. Row after row of historic guns—some used in wars, others in films, many in the settling of the West. I’m not usually drawn to weaponry, but even I could appreciate the craftsmanship here. The stories were in the details: worn handles, carved initials, clever innovations for survival.
Coffee at Rawhide Coffee
I needed a moment to decompress after the Firearms Museum, so I stopped at Rawhide Coffee nearby. I ordered a honey cinnamon latte and found a corner seat where the morning light hit just right. The drink was warm and comforting, with just enough spice to linger. Locals chatted over muffins and newspapers. I took a breath and thought, “Cody is the kind of place that invites big thoughts and strong coffee.”
Draper Natural History Museum
Back at the Center, the Draper Natural History Museum tied everything together. Designed in a spiral path that mimicked the descent from mountain to plains, it made me feel like I was hiking through time. The sound of wind echoed subtly through the exhibits. I touched a bison hide, listened to bird calls, and learned more about grizzlies than I ever thought I’d need to know. It was immersive and quiet, like the wild itself.
Cody Dug Up Gun Museum
Next, I stopped at the Cody Dug Up Gun Museum—a small, dark-paneled room off the main street, packed with relics that looked like they’d been exhumed straight from a Clint Eastwood movie. Rusted revolvers. Civil War pistols. Guns literally dug up from old battlefields and homesteads. Some were twisted with time, others frozen mid-story. It was odd, fascinating, and kind of beautiful in its decay. “These are ghosts you can hold,” I thought.
Bridger-Teton National Forest
For some fresh air, I drove out to Bridger-Teton National Forest. The pine scent was immediate and all-consuming. Trails twisted through alpine meadows, and the sun broke through the trees like stained glass. I saw more deer than people. The silence felt earned out there—big and clean. I sat on a rock overlooking a narrow gorge and let the quiet crack open something inside me.
Shoshone National Forest
On another day, I explored Shoshone National Forest, where the terrain felt wilder—more raw and untamed. Jagged cliffs loomed overhead, and the wind carried a chill even in summer. I took a short hike along the river, where the water was glacier-cold and fast. The trees creaked like they had stories to tell but didn’t trust me with them yet. “This is what real wilderness feels like,” I thought, both humbled and thrilled.
Buffalo Bill Dam
Buffalo Bill Dam was pure drama. Built into steep canyon walls, it was once the tallest concrete dam in the world. I stood at the overlook and felt the wind whip around me, strong enough to tilt my stance. Below, the water churned—violent and blue. The dam’s visitor center offered a quiet place to learn about the engineering behind it, but the real power was in the scale. You don’t look down from that height and feel nothing.
Cody Nite Rodeo
That night, I joined the cheering crowd at the Cody Nite Rodeo. There were bull riders, barrel racers, kids chasing calves, and one cowboy who nearly got trampled but bounced up grinning. The energy was all dust and adrenaline and grit. The announcer cracked jokes between events, and kids waved foam fingers in the stands. It was unapologetically Western—and completely captivating.
Old Trail Town
Before heading out of town, I walked through Old Trail Town, a cluster of authentic frontier cabins and grave markers relocated from across the region. Wooden walkways creaked beneath my feet. A blacksmith’s shop still smelled faintly of ash. Each building had a story—often violent, sometimes tender. It was the kind of place where history didn’t feel distant; it felt like it was still deciding what to do next.
Dinner at Proud Cut Saloon
I ended the night at Proud Cut Saloon, a downtown spot with taxidermy on the walls and comfort food on the menu. I ordered a bison burger with sweet potato fries. The burger was juicy and seasoned just right—smoky, a little gamey, and deeply satisfying. The fries came out hot and crispy, with a dusting of cinnamon sugar that surprised me in the best way. I ate slowly, letting the day settle into my bones.
Cody At a Glance
- Drive Time from Yellowstone East Entrance: ~1 hour
- Vibe: Gritty, bold, history-forward with a wild edge
- Highlights: Immersive museums, national forests, rodeo energy, preserved frontier town
- Best Time to Visit: Late spring through early fall for rodeo season and good weather
- Cost: Moderate; museum entrance and park permits apply
- Hours: Museums vary; Cody Nite Rodeo runs nightly in summer
- Starting Point: Start at Buffalo Bill Center of the West and let the West unfold from there
Best Time to Visit Cody, WY
After several trips, I’ve found May through September to be ideal. You’ll get warm days, lively rodeo nights, and stress-free access to Yellowstone. If you prefer quieter trails and golden aspens, you’ll love the colors and lighter crowds in early fall.
How to Get to Cody, WY
- Driving in? I’ve cruised U.S. 14/16/20 right into town—it’s only about 50 miles from Yellowstone’s East Gate and just two hours from Billings, so you’ll enjoy the scenery without a long haul.
- Flying feels effortless too – I’ve landed at Yellowstone Regional Airport (COD) via Denver or Salt Lake City, and you’ll be downtown in ten quick minutes.
- Joining a tour or seasonal shuttle? I’ve met travelers hopping off Yellowstone bus tours that pause in Cody, so you’ll find extra options if you’d rather let someone else do the driving.
Where to Stay in Cody, WY
- If you’re with the family, I recommend The Cody Hotel – I love the roomy suites and indoor pool, and you’ll be steps from both the rodeo grounds and the Buffalo Bill Center.
- For a romantic retreat, I choose the Chamberlin Inn – You’ll sip wine in the leafy courtyard, and I always appreciate the vintage touches right in the heart of downtown.
- Want that boutique ranch feel? I’ve stayed at K3 Guest Ranch where you’ll wake up in themed suites, sip cowboy coffee on the porch, and feel like you’ve got your own slice of Wyoming.
Final Thoughts
Cody wasn’t content to be remembered—it insisted on being experienced. Its museums spoke in full paragraphs, its forests in sweeping metaphors. Even its rodeos told stories in eight-second bursts. I came looking for a sense of the Old West and found something more honest—an ongoing conversation between myth and memory, wilderness and grit. It’s not a place that leaves you untouched. Cody throws dust on your boots, wind in your hair, and maybe—just maybe—history in your pocket.
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