If you’re looking for a town that gives you a well-rounded experience of the old west, you don’t need to look any further than Cody, Wyoming. Founded by Buffalo Bill Cody, the small town is located on the ShoShone River, two miles east of the Buffalo Bill Dam. While the town of Cody is pretty small, it serves as the last town before the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park and has more entertainment options than you can imagine. We stumbled through Cody by chance, but we quickly fell in love with the area. Our original plan was to stay in the area for a few days, but we extended our stay to 12 days just so we could take advantage of everything Cody has to offer.
Below is a list of things to see and do while visiting Cody Wyoming. If you have any additional suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments.
1. Buffalo Bill State Park
Cody has a lot of campgrounds and a few hotels, but the one we recommend is Buffalo Bill State Park. It’s located about 10 miles east of Cody, along the shoreline of Buffalo Bill Reservoir. Overnight camping costs $21 ($15 camping fee plus $6 non-resident day use fee). For that price, you get a campsite with water and electric (30/50 AMP), all the free firewood you can burn while you’re there, and well-maintained toilets. Showers cost $2, but you’ll likely want to use a few extra quarters if you want a shower that’s longer than 3 minutes.
The State Park has a few trails you can hike, but the main attraction is the Buffalo Bill Reservoir and the North Fork ShoShone River.
2. Buffalo Bill Dam
Two miles from the heart of Cody is Buffalo Bill Dam & Visitor Center. The dam was built to help manage the yearly flooding of the ShoShone River while also creating a local power source allowing the surrounding residents to use the river’s water for irrigation to grow crops. The Visitor Center at the Buffalo Bill Dam offers a detailed history of the surrounding area and the construction of the dam. It’s a great free attraction and you’ll want to make sure to capture a picture or two from the top of the dam.
3. Cody Night Rodeo
One attraction that’s hard to miss while driving through Cody is the Cody Night Rodeo. As the name implies, the Cody Night Rodeo is a nightly event (June through August) and has given the city of Cody the “Rodeo Capital of the World”. The rodeo has been running since 1938.
We really loved the whole experience and got to see bareback horse and bull riding, barrel racing (our girls enjoyed this event the most), saddle bronc riding, and steer wrestling. Ticket prices are $20 for adults (13 and up), $10 for kids (7-12) and free for kids under 6.
4. Old Town Trail
If you want a taste for the old west, Old Town Trail is a must-see attraction. The 26 historic frontier buildings are not native to Cody, but they are authentic structures which were relocated to Cody from other towns in Wyoming and Montana. Many of the structures house Native American artifacts, but the buildings and the western town setup is the main attraction. The entrance fee will set you back $9.
5. Buffalo Bill Center of the West Museum
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is the biggest attraction in Cody. The Buffalo Bill Center houses the Buffalo Bill Museum, Plains Indian Museum, Whitney Western Art Museum, Draper Natural History Museum, Cody Firearms Museum, and the Harold McCracken Research Library. While the entrance fee ($19 for adults, $12 for children) is a bit steep, you do get access to all five museums for two consecutive days. You’ll probably want to spend at least half a day exploring the Buffalo Bill Center to take in all the history of the city, the Native Americans and Buffalo Bill.
6. Western Shootout at Buffalo Bill’s Irma Hotel
Another free attraction in Cody is the Western Shootout at Buffalo Bill’s Irma Hotel. The shootout takes place six nights a week (Monday through Saturday) from June through September. While the attraction is free, you have the option of reserving a seat for $2 or grabbing a table at Irma’s Hotel Bar to catch the thrilling gunfight re-enactment.
7. Heart Mountain Internment Camp & Interpretive Center
The Heart Mountain Interpretive Center is located just 15 miles northeast of Cody. At the Interpretive Center, you’ll learn about the Heart Mountain Japanese Internment Camp which held 13,997 Japanese (most of them US citizens) during World War II. Just north of the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center, you’ll also find the last remaining structures from the Heart Mountain Internment Camp. If you only have time to see one thing while visiting Cody, this should be at the top of your list.
8. Hiking, Horseback Riding, Rafting and more
Since the city of Cody is located on the ShoShone River and only a few miles from Heart Mountain, outdoor adventures are plentiful. In town you’ll find multiple options for rafting trips, horseback riding and dozens of different trails to hike.
