How to Navigate Cody Yellowstone If It’s Your Very First Time

Planning your first visit to Cody Yellowstone can be daunting, especially when you only have a few vacation days to experience all that this heavenly chunk of

It’s 52 miles from Cody to Yellowstone’s East Gate via the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway.

northwestern Wyoming has to offer.

In this 4.4 million-acre playground, there are endless things to see and do. From early-morning wildlife-watching in the park to the summer season Cody Nite Rodeo, visitors can easily fill every hour of every day with an adventure. But that could be exhausting. And by overplanning, visitors could set themselves up to miss some of the magic, such as bighorn sheep hanging out in red rock canyons or enjoying a cold brew at one of the watering holes on the Cody Yellowstone Sippin’ Trail and see why USA Today says Cody has the Best Small Town Beer Scene in the U.S.

“In a destination this vast and with such a wide array of adventure options, first-time visitors tend to want to see and do it all,” said Ryan Hauck, executive director of Cody Yellowstone, the marketing arm for the area that includes the towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse as well as the Shoshone National Forest and about half of Yellowstone National Park. “That’s understandable, but also impossible no matter how much time you have for exploring. Scheduling too tightly means that you might miss the magic of an epic sunset or a stellar wildlife sighting.”

Hauck recommends a mix of scheduled adventures and experiences as well as time to explore without a set plan.

The 80-mile trip from Cody to the park’s Northeast Gate includes a stretch on the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway.

Where should you start? Fortunately, there are a few tricks for planning a trip with a balanced pace and a solid mix of planned adventures and meandering. Here are some ideas as well as some essential information for visiting Cody Yellowstone for the very first time.”

What to know about Yellowstone:

Yellowstone is the world’s first national park, established in 1872.

Yellowstone occupies 2.2 million acres in northwestern Wyoming and small slivers of Montana and Idaho. Only about 3 percent of that acreage is developed with a road or building.

The park has five entrance/exit gates. Cody is the only Yellowstone National Park gateway with access to two of the park’s five gates. From downtown Cody, it is 52 miles to the East Gate via the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway and 80 miles to the Northeast Gate following the Chief Joseph and Beartooth Scenic Byways.

Most park roads are open to private vehicles throughout the spring, summer and fall and closed during the winter. The exception is the road from the North
The Cody Nite Rodeo is held from June 1 to August 31.
Gate to the Northeast Gate, which is open year-round. Open/close dates can be found on the Yellowstone National Park website.

Yellowstone National Park roads form a figure 8 pattern with an Upper Loop and Lower Loop.

Yellowstone is home to dozens of free-roaming wildlife species including bison, bears, wolves, elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep and moose.

What to know about Cody:

Cody was founded in 1896 by famed performer and visionary Buffalo Bill Cody.

Cody and the neighboring towns of Powell and Meeteetse comprise a destination known for its authentic and classic Western attractions including museums, music, rodeo and more.
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West contains five separate museums.

Cody offers a huge array of restaurants, shops and galleries, and strolling the town’s highly walkable main street, Sheridan Ave., is a great way to discover all of the town’s gems.

Many visitors stay in Cody for the duration of their trip and plan park days in addition to and outdoor recreation and other adventures outside of the park.

More than 80 percent of the land in Cody Yellowstone (Park County, Wyoming) is public land, and there are abundant outdoor recreation opportunities such as hiking, trail rides, fishing and trails for off-highway vehicles (OHV). There also numerous dude and guest ranches that dot the Shoshone National Forest. The ranches vary in their offerings from all-inclusive week-long stays to family-friendly trail rides.

Pro tips for a maiden voyage to Cody Yellowstone:

Download or order free planning guides. Visitor guides are available from Cody Yellowstone, Yellowstone National Park and some attractions such as Buffalo Bill Center of the West.
Know where you’re going. Download maps of Cody and Yellowstone National Park before setting out. Also be sure to download free TravelStorys audio tours that tell the stories of Cody Yellowstone as you drive the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway to the East Gate or Chief Joseph Scenic Byway to the Northeast Gate.
Or leave the driving to an expert. Cody’s many tour companies such as Covered Ground Tours, Cody Wyoming Adventures, Experience Yellowstone Tours and Grub Steak Expeditions offer a variety of tour options for exploring Greater Yellowstone.
Take the Yellowstone Pledge. Vow to be a responsible and safe visitor by reviewing these easy tips from the National Park Service.
Find the perfect place to lay your head. Cody Yellowstone is full of accommodations options like dude and guest ranches, RV parks, Bed & Breakfasts and hotels and motels to suit any budget.
On park days, set out early, stay late and avoid the midday rush. The National Park Service suggests arriving before the morning rush, which begins around 9 a.m. and staying until sunset, when wildlife watching is at its peak. Also, avoid peak visitor times by seeing popular attractions like Old Faithful Geyser and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone before 10 a.m. or after 3 p.m.
Stock up and pack smart. In the summer, in-park restaurants can be crowded and cut into vacationers’ adventure time. There are plenty of places to lay out an old-fashioned picnic and enjoy the scenery. Visitors should also have snacks and beverages no matter how long they plan to be out and about. Vacationers should also stay hydrated, especially since the destination is at altitude. Also pack the car with physical maps, binoculars and plenty of clothing layers.
Visit the Draper Natural History Museum before heading to the park. This acclaimed museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West introduces visitors to the sights, sounds and even smells of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which provides them with more insights about what they will experience in the park.
On Cody days, follow a trail and earn points for prizes. The Wild West Trail includes stops at some of Cody’s celebrated museums, dude and guest ranches and other attractions. If there are kids (or a fan of scavenger hunts), a good option is the Bears in the Basin trail, a scavenger hunt for bear statues hidden throughout Cody, Powell and Meeteetse. There’s also the Cody Yellowstone Sippin’ Trail, which prompted USA Today to name Cody the best small town beer scene in the U.S.
Talk with the experts. Staffers at the Cody Country Visitor Center can offer tips about attractions to visit. Another good resource is the Sunlight Sports Outdoor Concierge staff, who can provide recommendations about hiking trails, current conditions and insider tips.
Try some adventures. Tour companies like Out West Adventures offer guided and self-guided UTVs for exploring some of the region’s backcountry sites like the Kirwin Ghost Town. Or explore the region on foot with a knowledgeable expert and hiking pro from Hiking Buddy.
Experience the classics. The Cody Nite Rodeo is the only summer-season nightly rodeo in the U.S., and it is a not-to-be-missed event. The prime rib dinner at the Irma Hotel has been described as the best prime rib in Wyoming. Or explore Old Trail Town and its authentic Old West frontier buildings.
Enjoy the nightlife. Cody is full of unusual shopping, dining and entertainment options. For example, 2 Mules Chuckwagon at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West offers an authentic, fresh-cooked chuckwagon dinner. Cody Cattle Company also features a Western-style dinner along with musical entertainment throughout the summer season. Anyone wanting to try some authentic Western line-dancing should head to Cassie’s Steakhouse. Or seek out some of the top food in town at places like the Cody Steakhouse and Trailhead Bar & Grill.

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Home of the Great American Adventure, Cody Yellowstone is comprised of the northwestern Wyoming towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse as well as the valley east of Yellowstone National Park. The region is known for rodeos, authentic guest and dude ranches, world-class museums and recreational adventures that reflect the adventurous spirit of the visionaries and explorers who brought the remote region to the world’s attention.

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#CenteroftheWest

#BuffaloBill

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Mesereau Travel Public Relations

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