Plan Now For a Winter Adventure in Cody Yellowstone

CODY, Wyo., October 20, 2025 – Winter travelers who prefer destinations packed with adventures but not crowds should consider Cody Yellowstone in northwestern Wyoming. With some 7,000 square miles of barely touched wilderness, three welcoming classic Western towns and an array of things to do by day and by night, Cody Yellowstone offers affordable and authentic choices for every style of traveler.

“With plenty of year-round amenities and complete winter playground at their disposal, visitors to Cody Yellowstone feel like they have the place practically to themselves,” said Katrina Southern, marketing manager for Cody Yellowstone. “Here, our visitors can play outside all day long and then be treated to a memorable meal and the cozy accommodations of their choice, all without busting their winter travel budgets.”

The destination offers an array of accommodations choices, from budget inns to boutique hotels along with a surprisingly eclectic selection of restaurants. Outdoor adventures include cross country skiing, ice climbing, snowmobiling, ice fishing and wildlife watching.

Here’s everything you need to know about planning a Cody Yellowstone vacation this winter:

Travel Here

Cody Yellowstone is serviced by the Yellowstone Regional Airport (COD) located just five minutes from downtown Cody. The airport features daily service with connections at Denver International Airport (DEN). Cody is also a popular drive-to destination. For example, the drive to Cody from Denver is about 7 hours and 30 minutes, and drive-time from Salt Lake City is 6 hours and 50 minutes.

Stay Here

With a selection of motels, hotels, boutique inns, historic hotels and luxury hotels, there are accommodations suitable for every type of traveler. Travelers on a budget can consider A Western Rose Motel, Comfort Inn at Buffalo Bill Village Resort, Moose Creek Lodge & Suites or the Scout Inn. Travelers with an interest in history should look at Buffalo Bill’s Irma Hotel or the Chamberlin Inn. And travelers who prefer a luxury stay should try Best Western Premier Ivy Inn & Suites or The Cody.

Eat Here

The three towns that comprise Cody Yellowstone – Cody, Powell and Meeteetse – feature a surprising array of restaurant choices, including buffets, steakhouses, pizza places, burger joints and ethnic restaurants. Some not-to-miss restaurants include:

Irma Hotel Dining Room for a prime rib buffet that has been called the best in Wyoming.

Sitti’s Table, a James Beard-nominated restaurant that features Lebanese-inspired cuisine.

Cody Steakhouse, a centrally located steakhouse with outstanding beef, salmon and more.

The Blanka Tatanka, offering an inventive lunch and dinner menu and music on selected evenings.

The Elkhorn Bar & Grill, situated on an old-fashioned boardwalk in Meeteetse and open for lunch and dinner.

Skyline Café, a Powell restaurant known for its homestyle offerings.

Trailhead Bar-Grill-Wood-Fired Pizza – Reservations are recommended for this restaurant serving Northern Italian-inspired cuisine.

For a complete list of eateries in Cody Yellowstone visit the website.

Play Here

There are numerous ways to fill a winter day with fun and surprises. Here are some ideas:

Observe frosty critters at sunrise. Pack binoculars and drive the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway to the East Gate of Yellowstone. The early-morning hours and dusk are two of the best times to see animals like bison, elk, deer, bighorn sheep and even moose.

Snowmobile inside and outside Yellowstone National Park. Snowmobiling enthusiasts can take a snowmobile tour in the park as well as on public lands outside the park, where there are more than 1,000 trails. One of the most popular snowmobile areas in the country is in the Beartooth Mountains, known for its stunning beauty all year, but powdery backcountry snow in the winter.

Cross country ski through the forest. The region offers classic tracks and skate lanes along the Shoshone River at Pahaska Tepee near the East Gate of Yellowstone National Park. Or head to the remote Wood River Valley Ski Touring Park. Skis as well as snowshoes can be rented at Sunlight Sports on Sheridan Ave. There’s also skiing inside the park with Yellowstone National Park Lodges.

Climb a frozen waterfall. With more than 200 climbable pitches, Cody Yellowstone is a celebrated ice climbing destination. Visitors can join a commercially guided ice climbing tour throughout the winter. The destination also will host the Wyoming Ice Fest January 1-4, with a variety of guided climbs and clinics.

Go Ice Skating inside or outside. The Victor J. Riley Arena and Community Events Center is a hub for ice skating. When the local Yellowstone Quake and Park County Youth Hockey Association hockey clubs and the Absaroka Figure Skating Club aren’t practicing, locals enjoy leisurely laps around the rink. Visitors can also skate outside at the Homesteader Park outdoor rink in Powell, featuring night lighting, sideboards, warming hut and concessions.

Stroll along the Cody Yellowstone Sippin’ Trail. The Sippin’ Trail is a great way for visitors to experience some of the town’s most popular restaurants and bars. The trail includes breweries, restaurants and unique venues such as a cigar lounge and a historic hotel built by town founder Buffalo Bill Cody. Visitors who download the free app and make a purchase at the participating businesses can earn points for rewards like Sippin Trail T-shirts, pint glasses and stickers.

Shop for art, Western attire and more. Cody Yellowstone is home to numerous art galleries, museum stores and shops with an array of Western-themed gift items. Pick up a pair of classic cowboy boots at the Irma Hotel gift shop or Wayne’s Boots. Take home some sweet treats from the Cowtown Candy Company or Meeteetse Chocolatier. Or choose locally made artwork on display at Cody Arts.

See the cultural side of Cody. There are numerous cultural attractions like the five-museum Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Heart Mountain WWII Interpretive Center and By Western Hands. Winter travelers can explore lauded locations at leisure since there are far fewer visitors than there are in the summer.

Improve your aim. The Cody Firearms Experience is an inspired attraction for visitors who want to test their shooting skills at the indoor shooting range. The facility features dozens of replica guns that showcase the history of firearms in the West.

###

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:

#YellowstoneCountry

#CodyWyoming

#CenteroftheWest

#BuffaloBill

#Yellowstone

#ThatsWY

Media contact:

Mesereau Travel Public Relations

720-284-1512

[email protected]