One Way to Spend Three Days in Cody Yellowstone

CODY, Wyo., June 29, 2026 – Because there’s so much to do in Cody Yellowstone it’s important to know your options and balance out activities for all members of the family.

It is also common to see multiple generations visiting together with grandparents eager to show the rest of the family some of the attractions, activities and shops they experienced in their younger days.

“We have historical attractions for those in a more serious mood, lighthearted entertainment and classic Western activities,” said Michael Wambolt, executive director of Cody Yellowstone, the marketing arm for the region that includes the towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse, parts of the Shoshone National Forest and a large swath of Yellowstone National Park. “There’s something for all ages, and it’s only fair that everyone take their turns.”

Here is a three-day (optional) itinerary for a Cody Yellowstone family vacation:

Day 1

Morning

Getting a good overview is always a great way to start, and we have a couple of ideas that will appeal to young and old.

Take the one-hour Cody Trolley Tour for an entertaining and informative orientation to Cody Yellowstone. This one-hour tour takes guests around town and out to the Buffalo Bill Dam while the driver and the guide share facts and stories about the town and its characters in a funny but informative manner.

Next, head over to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West (BBCW). You could spend multiple days here, and the younger members of the family might have a kneejerk reaction to starting off at a museum, but it won’t be long before the whole family is won over. We suggest starting with the Draper Museum of Natural History where a tile floor map viewable from above provides an overview of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and displays showcase the sights, sounds and even the smells of the region with interactive, innovative exhibits. The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is actually five museums, and the Buffalo Bill Museum, Plains Indian Museum, Cody Firearms Museum and Whitney Western Art Museum are all worthy of your time.

Since you are on the west side of town, make the short drive to Old Trail Town/Museum of the Old West. This enclave of 27 authentic frontier buildings includes one used by Butch Cassidy and his infamous Hole-in-the-Wall Gang. One of the town’s many gravesites belongs to Jeremiah “Liver Eating” Johnston – portrayed by actor Robert Redford in the 1972 film. There is a built-in teaching moment too as young visitors are often heard commenting about how small the cabins were back then.

Lunch

Grab a bite to eat at Sitti’s Table. Nominated for a James Beard award and featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and PBS Hometowns, this welcoming restaurant is operated by a couple who developed their restaurant chops as caterers. Sitti’s Table serves Lebanese-inspired dishes.

Afternoon

Explore downtown Cody or some of the hundreds of hiking trails that surround the town. You don’t have to go far to find the right hike for your family.

Even though you thought you would never be hungry again, an ice cream cone sounds good. There are plenty of options at Big Chill on Sheridan Avenue.

Return to your hotel or campground to clean up, decompress and think about dinner.

Night

The heart of downtown Cody is a great place to find a seat, meet visitors and locals and watch a gunfight. Fortunately, the guns don’t have bullets and the gunfighters are only faking their wounds. The Cody Gunfighters convene at 6 p.m. in the summer outside the Irma Hotel to share a gun safety message, get their photos taken and take part in a lighthearted conflict.

While you’re there, head inside the Irma Hotel, built by Buffalo Bill and named for his daughter. The hotel’s famous room-long cherry wood bar – still in use today in what is now the hotel dining room – was presented to Buffalo Bill by England’s Queen Victoria.

Day 2

Morning

Take some time to learn about Heart Mountain WWII Interpretive Center on the site of a WWII Japanese-American internment camp. Children may still not fully understand why thousands of Japanese-Americans lived there during World War II, but they will remember how they lived after seeing this powerful, award-winning Smithsonian-affiliated museum. Designed to resemble the typical barracks-style accommodations that housed its internees, the center depicts how families lived in poorly lit rectangular buildings, slept on cots and endured a harsh climate and lack of privacy. There are also displays highlighting poignant stories of friendship, endurance and patriotism.

Noon

Make your way back to town and have an early lunch at The Breadboard Sub Shop. In operation for nearly 50 years, the Breadboard Sub Shop features sandwiches, soups, bagels and more, all prepped using freshly baked breads. There’s a drive-thru available for travelers who want their lunches and breakfasts to go.

Afternoon

Make multiple quick stops on Sheridan Avenue. Options include the Cody Dug Up Gun Museum displaying hundreds of relic guns and weapons used throughout American history, By Western Hands showcasing the region’s extraordinary functional art and furniture, art galleries, souvenir shops and fine Western art created by local artists at the Cody Arts.

Night

Let the younger members of the family choose a dinner spot. Don’t be surprised when they choose Tossers Pizza & Beer. With fresh dough and all the toppings, Tossers is the place for visitors to grab a slice or two when they are on the go.

Day 3

Morning

Go hunting for bear. Actually, you will be searching for bear sculptures. There are nine in Cody, six in Powell and four in Meeteetse that are part of a beautification/scavenger hunt project called Bears in the Basin. Using the app Bandwago on your smartphone, find the bears and record the locations to collect prizes.

Learn about the dam that was once the tallest arch dam in the world. The Buffalo Bill Dam & Visitor Center tells the story of the dam’s masterful engineering and emphasizes its impact on tourism and agriculture in the valley. Those with a penchant for science will learn how water was as much a concern in the days of Buffalo Bill Cody as it is in the West today.

Noon

Continue on the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway through the Wapiti Valley (Wapiti is a native American word for “elk”) to the world’s first national forest for lunch at Pahaska Tepee. Step inside Buffalo Bill’s hunting lodge where Buffalo Bill brought his hunting pals – including Theodore Roosevelt and the Prince of Monaco – to this rustic lodge just outside of the East entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Cody was nicknamed “Long Hair” by American Indians in the region, which in their tongue was pronounced “Pahaska.”

Afternoon

On your way back to town from Pahaska, stop at one of the dude or guest ranches and take a horseback ride. Cody Yellowstone is home to the Dude Ranch Association and close to 14 dude and guest ranches. Multiple outfitters and numerous horse-centric establishments offer pony rides, trail rides or multi-day horse-packing trips perfect for multi-generational equestrian fun.

Night

Sit down for dinner at the Cody Cattle Company where a popular chuckwagon dinner and musical show is the place to be if you love songs about the open range and authentic Western food.

The Cattle Company makes sure to finish its show in time for guests to mosey on over to the Cody Nite Rodeo. Cody is the Rodeo Capital of the World, and the Cody Nite Rodeo is the only nightly summer-season rodeo out there. Fun for the whole family, the Cody Nite Rodeo features a variety of rodeo contests and performances by enthusiastic cowboys and cowgirls.

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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.

Related hashtags:

#CodyYellowstone

#CodyWyoming

#CenteroftheWest

#BuffaloBill

#Yellowstone

#ThatsWY

Media contact:

Mesereau Travel Public Relations

720-284-1512

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