Welcome to Cody! Saddle up for rodeo nights under open skies, trace outlaw legends through dusty saloons, and hear real cowboy ballads echo off red rock buttes — this is where the Wild West still rides.
☑️ Cody Checklist
- Book your Flight: Fly into Yellowstone Regional Airport (COD), just 5 minutes from downtown Cody
- Reserve your Hotel: Stay along Sheridan Avenue to be close to rodeos, museums, and western charm
- Join your Tour: Reserve a spot at the Cody Nite Rodeo or sign up for a horseback ride through the high desert
🤠 Day 1: Rodeo & Outlaws
- Buffalo Bill Center of the West: Wander five museums under one roof — rifles, Plains art, bison dioramas, and Buffalo Bill himself all share space in this treasure chest of frontier stories
- Old Trail Town: Step inside weathered cabins and outlaw hideouts moved here from across Wyoming — Butch Cassidy’s actual hole-in-the-wall cabin is just the start
- Cody Trolley Tour: Hop aboard for a rolling tale of Buffalo Bill, bandits, and big bison energy as you cruise past historic buildings and dramatic landscapes
- Lunch on Sheridan Ave: Pull up a seat at a rustic café for elk burgers or bison chili with a view of horse traffic clopping past
- Cody Dug Up Gun Museum: Look over glass cases packed with rusted six-shooters and frontier firearms unearthed from prairie soil and barn walls
- Dinner at a Steakhouse: Sink your fork into a sizzling ribeye while cowboy hats hang on the walls and the baked beans come with a kick
- Cody Nite Rodeo: Sit in the grandstands under the stars as broncs buck, bulls spin, and rodeo clowns dodge with flair — it’s been running nightly all summer since 1938
🐴 Day 2: Horses & History
- Horseback Trail Ride: Start your morning in the saddle, trotting past sagebrush and sandstone ledges while a wrangler shares stories from the trail
- Buffalo Bill Dam: Stand high above the roaring Shoshone River and feel the wind off the canyon walls — it was once the tallest dam in the world
- Tecumseh’s Old West Miniature Village: Thousands of tiny figures and detailed dioramas recreate battles, towns, and life across the old frontier in intricate detail
- Lunch at a Chuckwagon Grill: Chow down on pulled pork and cornbread while sitting at a picnic table under the wide Wyoming sky
- By Western Hands Museum: Admire hand-tooled saddles, furniture, and leatherwork made by local artisans — cowboy craftsmanship on full display
- Historic Irma Hotel: Step through swinging doors into a saloon built by Buffalo Bill himself — the cherry wood bar was a gift from Queen Victoria
- Gunfight on the Porch: Gather outside the Irma around dusk as local actors reenact a good ol’ fashioned showdown with theatrics, smoke, and plenty of laughter
🏞️ Day 3: Scenery & Send-Off
- Chief Joseph Scenic Byway: Take a slow drive through golden cliffs and sweeping valleys on a road that hugs the edges of the Absaroka Range
- Buffalo Bill State Park: Skip stones on the reservoir or stretch your legs along lakeside trails with views of rugged mountain silhouettes
- Heart Mountain Interpretive Center: Walk through exhibits that share the lives of Japanese Americans imprisoned here during WWII — a powerful, often overlooked chapter of Wyoming history
- Midday Ice Cream Stop: Cool off with a huckleberry cone from a walk-up window as wranglers tie horses just down the street
- Souvenir Stop Downtown: Grab a belt buckle, a tooled leather wallet, or a jar of Wyoming chokecherry jam from one of the western shops
- Old West Photo Session: Dress up like a saloon queen or outlaw with your crew and get a sepia-toned keepsake worthy of a wanted poster
- Farewell Cowboy Dinner: End the trip around a firepit with smoky brisket, coleslaw, and live guitar twang floating across the prairie breeze
💡 Cody Tips
- Wear Layers: Mornings are crisp, afternoons warm, and nights can cool fast — cowboy boots optional, flannel ideal
- Rodeo Starts at 8 PM: Get there early to grab snacks, meet the clowns, and hear the national anthem from the bleachers
- Keep Cash Handy: Smaller shops and roadside stands may not take cards
- Sunscreen is Essential: That Wyoming sun hits different — even on cloudy days
- Look Up After Dark: Clear skies mean incredible stargazing, especially outside town
- Ask Locals for Trails: Rangers and outfitters always know which rides or views are best that week
- Museum Tickets Last All Day: Leave and return to the Buffalo Bill Center as many times as you want in a single day
📅 Cody Calendar
- Cody Ice Festival (Feb): Ice climbers scale frozen waterfalls just outside town in this chilly annual event
- Cody Wild West River Fest (June): Raft races, food trucks, and family fun along the Shoshone River
- Cody Stampede Rodeo (July 1–4): One of the biggest Independence Day rodeos in the country, with fireworks and four days of cowboy grit
- Fourth of July Parade (July 4): Horses, floats, and flags line Sheridan Ave for a small-town spectacle
- Plains Indian Museum Powwow (July): Colorful regalia, drumming, and traditional dancing bring Native heritage to life
- Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale (Sept): Western artists display and auction paintings, sculptures, and gear
- Cody Halloween Spooktacular (Oct): Family-friendly hayrides and costumes take over the town’s historic spots
🍖 Cody Menu
- Bison Burger: Lean, flavorful, and grilled just right — often topped with cheddar and fried onions
- Huckleberry Ice Cream: Tart and sweet mountain berries swirled into creamy scoops
- Elk Chili: Hearty and rich, usually slow-simmered with smoky spice and beans
- Wyoming Ribeye: Charred outside, juicy inside — often served with baked potato and cowboy beans
- Cornbread & Honey Butter: Soft, crumbly squares paired with whipped butter and Wyoming honey
- Fry Bread Tacos: Puffy fry bread piled with seasoned meat, lettuce, and salsa — local powwow style
- Sarsaparilla Float: Old-fashioned root beer’s wild cousin, poured over vanilla ice cream in a frosty mug