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Cody, Wyoming, known as the “Rodeo Capital of the World,” is a historic frontier town founded in 1896 by the legendary Buffalo Bill Cody. Nestled in the Bighorn Basin at an elevation of approximately 5,000 feet, Cody serves as the eastern gateway to Yellowstone National Park and welcomes visitors with authentic western hospitality, world-class museums, and stunning mountain scenery. With a population of approximately 10,000, Cody retains its small-town charm while offering cultural attractions that rival much larger cities.
The town is situated along the Shoshone River, framed by the Absaroka Mountains to the west and the Bighorn Mountains to the east. Cody’s location along the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway provides travelers with one of the most dramatic approaches to Yellowstone, winding through the breathtaking Shoshone Canyon. The combination of Old West heritage and access to extraordinary natural landscapes makes Cody a destination unlike any other in the American West.
Cody’s history is inseparable from its founder, William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody, the famed scout, showman, and entrepreneur who envisioned a thriving community in the Bighorn Basin. Buffalo Bill passed through the region in the 1870s and recognized its potential for irrigation, ranching, and tourism. He returned in the 1890s with investors and established the town that would bear his name, personally overseeing the construction of the Irma Hotel, named after his daughter, which opened in 1902 and still operates today.
The Shoshone Project, one of the first federal irrigation projects in the United States, was instrumental in Cody’s early development. Completed in 1910 with the construction of the Buffalo Bill Dam, the project transformed the arid basin into productive farmland, attracting ranchers, farmers, and settlers to the region. At the time of its completion, the dam was the tallest dam in the world at 325 feet.
Buffalo Bill Cody was a showman to his core, and he understood the draw of the American West. He promoted the town relentlessly, bringing visitors by railroad and automobile to experience the Yellowstone region. The arrival of the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad in 1901 connected Cody to the national rail network, cementing its place as a gateway to Yellowstone.
The community preserves its western heritage through daily rodeos, reenactments, and living history programs. The Cody Nite Rodeo, held every night during the summer months, is the longest-running nightly rodeo in the world, operating continuously since 1938. The town also hosts the annual Cody Stampede, one of the largest rodeos in the country, drawing competitors and spectators from across the nation.
| Activity | Type | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bill Center of the West | Museum | Five museums, western art, firearms collection |
| Cody Nite Rodeo | Experience | Nightly rodeo, bull riding, barrel racing |
| Buffalo Bill Dam | Sightseeing | Scenic views, visitor center, Shoshone Canyon |
| Yellowstone East Entrance | Outdoor | Wildlife viewing, geothermal features, hiking |
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is the crown jewel of Cody’s attractions and one of the most comprehensive museum complexes in the country. The center houses five distinct museums under one roof: the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Whitney Western Art Museum, the Cody Firearms Museum, the Plains Indian Museum, and the Draper Natural History Museum. Visitors can explore western art galleries, an unparalleled firearms collection, Native American artifacts, and exhibits on Greater Yellowstone ecology within a single visit.
The Cody Nite Rodeo offers visitors a genuine rodeo experience in the town that proudly calls itself the Rodeo Capital of the World. From June through August, the gates open nightly at the Stampede Park arena, where professional cowboys and cowgirls compete in bronc riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, barrel racing, and bull riding. The rodeo welcomes families and offers a true taste of western culture.
The Buffalo Bill Dam and Visitor Center provides insight into the engineering marvel that made the Bighorn Basin habitable. Located just west of town, the dam offers spectacular views of Shoshone Canyon and exhibits detailing the construction of this early irrigation project that helped establish Cody as a viable community.
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is an essential stop for any visitor, with five world-class museums exploring the art, history, firearms, Native American cultures, and natural history of the American West. The Whitney Western Art Museum features masterpieces by Frederic Remington, Charles M. Russell, and Albert Bierstadt, while the Cody Firearms Museum houses a collection of over 7,000 firearms spanning centuries. The Plains Indian Museum presents one of the finest collections of Plains Indian artifacts in existence, with exhibits on beadwork, clothing, and ceremonial objects.
The Old Trail Town is an authentic collection of historic frontier buildings relocated to Cody from sites across Wyoming and Montana. The attraction includes the actual cabin used by Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, and the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang, along with a saloon, blacksmith shop, schoolhouse, and numerous other structures that bring the Old West to life. The on-site cemetery includes the grave of Jeremiah “Liver-Eating” Johnson, the mountain man whose life inspired the famous film.
Downtown Cody offers the Irma Hotel, Buffalo Bill’s namesake hotel built in 1902. The hotel features a grand dining room with a majestic cherrywood bar gifted by Queen Victoria, and continues to serve guests in historic rooms overlooking Sheridan Avenue. The nightly Old West gunfight reenactment takes place just outside the hotel during summer evenings, delighting visitors with a dose of frontier theater.
Cody’s position between the Absaroka Range and the Bighorn Mountains creates unparalleled outdoor recreation opportunities. The Shoshone National Forest, established in 1891 as the country’s first national forest, borders town and provides access to millions of acres of wilderness, alpine lakes, and rugged peaks.
Hiking options range from short nature walks to challenging backcountry treks. The Shoshone Canyon Trail offers a moderately easy route with views of the river, canyon walls, and the dam. For serious hikers, the North Fork of the Shoshone provides access to the Washakie Wilderness and routes into the heart of the Absarokas, where grizzly bears, wolves, and bighorn sheep roam.
The Shoshone River is a premier destination for fly fishing, with its blue ribbon trout waters supporting healthy populations of rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout. The river flows directly through town, and local outfitters can arrange guided trips to the best stretches both upstream and downstream from Cody.
Wildlife viewing is exceptional throughout the Shoshone Valley. The scenic drive along the North Fork Highway toward Yellowstone’s East Entrance offers frequent sightings of elk, moose, bison, bighorn sheep, and sometimes grizzly bears. The Bighorn Sheep Viewing Area along the North Fork provides reliable sightings during winter and spring months.
Winter recreation includes cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling in the surrounding national forests. Sleeping Giant Ski Area, located just west of town, offers downhill skiing with views of the Absaroka Mountains on a community-operated mountain.
Cody offers distinct experiences across all four seasons. Summer is the peak tourist season, when the Cody Nite Rodeo runs nightly, all attractions are open with full hours, and the Yellowstone East Entrance is fully accessible. Daytime temperatures average in the 80s Fahrenheit, with cool mountain evenings perfect for rodeo spectating and outdoor dining along Sheridan Avenue.
Fall provides a quieter experience with fewer crowds and spectacular autumn foliage in the surrounding mountains. September brings the Cody Septemberfest, and the cooler temperatures create ideal conditions for hiking and wildlife viewing. The elk rut in September and October offers remarkable opportunities to see and hear elk bugling in the Shoshone Valley.
Winter transforms Cody into a peaceful mountain town with access to downhill skiing at Sleeping Giant, snowmobiling in the national forests, and cross-country skiing on groomed trails. Many attractions operate on reduced schedules, but the Buffalo Bill Center of the West remains open, offering a warm and enriching indoor experience. The quiet season provides an intimate look at a western community at rest.
Spring brings wildflower blooms to the lower elevations and gradually thawing conditions in the high country. The Yellowstone East Entrance typically opens for vehicle access in early May, and late spring offers a window between seasons with moderate crowds and improving weather. Bird watching peaks in spring as migratory species return to the Bighorn Basin.
Cody is served by the Yellowstone Regional Airport, making it an accessible destination for travelers flying into the region. Whether exploring the world-class museums, attending a nightly rodeo, or venturing into Yellowstone National Park through its most scenic entrance, Cody delivers an authentic Wyoming experience rooted in the vision of its legendary founder.
Here are some of our favorite things to do near Cody. Choose away!
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