Offset Pain at the Pump with These Money-Saving Vacation Ideas

Let’s face it: the high gas prices around the country are a bummer, and it looks like they’re not dropping anytime soon. The way we see it here at Cody Yellowstone is we all have two choices. We can hibernate for yet another summer (um…no). Or we can find ways to go outside and play this summer without wrecking our travel budgets.

If you’re choosing Option Two, we’re with you all the way.

Fortunately, when you visit Cody Yellowstone, you’ll find plenty to see and do, including a variety of free and moderately priced attractions and experiences, seemingly endless human-powered adventures, and guided park trips with someone else doing the driving (and paying for the gas). 

Here are some of the ways you can experience this Great American destination while keeping an eye on your budget. 

Try slow travel and human-powered adventures

With nearly 7,000 square miles of mostly pristine wilderness, Cody Yellowstone includes the Shoshone National Forest to the east of Yellowstone and about half of the park itself. That’s a lot of area just waiting to be explored, and the best way to do that is to get out of the car, grab your day pack and hiking poles, and set out on a hiking adventure. 

There are also numerous bridle trails, and many ranches that dot the Wapiti Valley between downtown Cody and the East Gate of Yellowstone National Park offer horseback trail rides. Other human-powered adventures include rock climbing, camping, rafting, kayaking, and cycling. 

Both inside and outside the park, hikers will be treated to the priceless experience of seeing the wilderness — valleys, forests, rivers, rock formations, and free-roaming wildlife — much like the early explorers did. 

Walk the town

Park the car and leave it. Cody is a highly walkable town, and it is easy to walk from one end to the other without breaking a sweat. Cody’s main street, Sheridan Avenue, features numerous restaurants, galleries, shops, hotels, museums, and historic buildings. In addition, walking enthusiasts can download a free TravelStorys Downtown Cody walking tour that tells the town’s story. 

Let someone else do the driving

Cody Yellowstone is home to several tour companies that offer day-long and multi-day guided park adventures. Experienced and knowledgeable driver guides navigate Cody Yellowstone’s Scenic Byways and the roads inside the park while telling passengers about the region’s human history, geothermal features, and wildlife. 

Find free and moderately priced things to do

Cody Yellowstone is home to many museums with free admission, including By Western Hands Museum & Gallery, Meeteetse Museums, Pahaska Tepee, Cody Heritage Museum, Dug Up Gun Museum, Historic Cody Mural & Museum, Homesteader Museum, and the Buffalo Bill Dam Visitor Center. Other free experiences include browsing the art at the Cody Country Art League and the many downtown Cody galleries. There are moderately priced attractions as well, including the acclaimed Buffalo Bill Center of the West, with five museums under one roof, Old Trail Town & Museum of the West, and Heart Mountain WWII Interpretive Center. 

Let Cody Yellowstone Fuel the Fun

This summer, you’ll find a full tank of adventure right here in Cody Yellowstone. Get your free 2022 Vacation Guide and start planning your getaway into the Wild West today.