Adventures in the Cody Area
Cody is packed with events and activities to delight visitors to the area. In this article, we’ll cover the wide variety of attractions and adventures available. If you’re looking to plan your Yellowstone vacation, or are a local with guests to entertain, it’s good to have a go-to list at your fingertips.
For visitors: To fully see the Cody and Yellowstone areas using Cody as a basecamp, you’ll need a minimum of a week, but two would make for a more relaxed pace. For locals: We know there are infinite ways to enjoy this area that can last a lifetime.
Ways to stay in the area
Here in Cody, we celebrate the Wild West and you’ll find it’s alive and well. There are immersive experiences on working ranches, or you can enjoy all-inclusive stays through outfitters, or dude ranches.
For a historic stay in town, try the Irma Hotel or the Chamberlin Inn. Unfortunately, what would have been a third historic hotel was never built. Cody also has other great lodging for a place to lay your head each night after days full of Western adventures including some lovely Bed & Breakfasts. Learn more about the difference between B&Bs and AirB&Bs.
No matter where you land in Cody, you can dip a toe in this Western lifestyle in a variety of ways.
Tours
The best way to start your Cody stay is with an overview through Cody Trolley Tours. The one-hour tours start and end in the heart of downtown Cody at the Irma Hotel and give you a great orientation of all that’s Cody.
If you want to explore the area more – including Yellowstone – the easiest and most effective way to do this is with a local tour company.
Give yourself two days for Yellowstone, one for the upper loop and one for the lower loop. Know that these will be longer days for you whether you hire a guide or head in on your own. Generally, you’ll need 10-12 hours to see the main sights.
Hiring a guide to see Yellowstone (and staying in Cody) eliminates the need to figure out what’s open in Yellowstone and what’s not as there are only about two months of the year that everything is open. Cody is open year-round.
In addition, there are tours to see Dinosaur Tracks, explore the American Indian influence in the area, and wild horses that live not far outside Cody. These areas allow you to experience the wide open spaces that make up Wyoming.
Don’t Miss Activities
If you only have a short time in Cody, these are the top attractions to catch to make your time here memorable:
- Buffalo Bill Center of the West – Sometimes referred to as the Smithsonian of the West, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West is five museums in one. Your entry fee covers two days because there is that much to explore.
- Cody Nite Rodeo – Cody IS Rodeo. Nowhere else in the country can you find three solid months of rodeo every night. The Cody Nite Rodeo is a must for your visit to Cody.
- Cody Firearms Experience – If you are a firearms enthusiast or just curious, this is place to actually shoot guns in a safe environment with expert guidance even if you’ve never shot a gun in your life. There are many firearms to choose from including a gatling gun. Want to shoot a model that was used in a movie? You can do that here.
For a list of all current events in Cody (from nightlife to things to do with kids), check out the regularly updated Cody Calendar right here at Cody Journal.
Have More Time?
Museums
- Buffalo Bill Center of the West
- Dug up Gun Museum
- Cody Heritage Museum
- Heart Mountain Interpretive Center
- By Western Hands
- Meeteetse Musuems
Western Experiences & Shows
- Old Trail Town
- Cody Firearms Experience
- Pair-A-Dice Stagecoach Rides
- Authentic Chuckwagon Dinner
- Cody Nite Rodeo
- Wild West Spectacular – The Musical
- Wild Bunch Gunfighters Show
- Cody Cattle Company Dinner and Show
- Dan Miller’s Cowboy Review
Outdoor Adventures
Cody also has guides to help you experience other outdoor Western adventures or advice on where to head out there on your own.
For Families
- Mini Golf – Located in City Park
- Splash Pad – Located in Mentock Park
- Paul Stock Aquatic and Recreation Center
- Riley Ice Arena (closed for much of July)
- Draper Museum at Buffalo Bill Center of the West
- Raptor Experience

Janet Jones
Owner, Publisher, Editor
Janet has a rich history in Cody with her grandparents moving here in the late 1930s. Her grandfather started Wyoming Well Service. Janet is a writer, photographer, graphic designer and webmaster. Cody Journal and Cody Calendar blends her skills and talents with her love of the area.