The spirit of the American frontier is alive and well in Cody Yellowstone. Once the stomping ground of mavericks, outlaws, and gunslingers, the namesake town of legendary "Buffalo Bill" Cody is still teeming with Wild West adventure more than a century on — from Smithsonian Affiliate museums and scenic byways to the world's oldest national park.

Cody is one of those rare places where the mythology of the American West and the reality of it are actually the same thing. The rodeo is real. The history is real. The wildlife is real. And the landscape — the Absaroka Range rising above the Shoshone River canyon — is as dramatic as anything you'll find in the American West.

William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody founded the town that bears his name in 1896, envisioning it as a gateway to Yellowstone National Park. His vision proved prescient — Cody remains the eastern gateway to Yellowstone, and the town's Wild West heritage is celebrated with enthusiasm and authenticity.

The Buffalo Bill Center of the West — a complex of five Smithsonian Affiliate museums — is one of the finest museum complexes in the American West. The center includes:

• Buffalo Bill Museum — the life and legend of William Cody, from Pony Express rider to international showman
• Whitney Western Art Museum — one of the finest collections of Western American art in the world
• Draper Natural History Museum — the ecology and natural history of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
• Plains Indian Museum — the cultures and histories of the Plains Indian peoples
• Cody Firearms Museum — the most comprehensive collection of American firearms in the world

Plan at least half a day — most visitors find themselves staying longer.

From June through August, the Cody Nightly Rodeo brings the Wild West to life every evening. The rodeo features bull riding, barrel racing, roping, and other classic rodeo events, performed by professional cowboys and cowgirls in an authentic Western setting. It's billed as the "Rodeo Capital of the World," and the nightly performances live up to the title.

The Cody Stampede Rodeo — held every July 4th weekend — is one of the premier rodeos in the country, drawing top competitors and thousands of spectators for four days of world-class rodeo action. If you're visiting in early July, plan your trip around the Stampede.

Cody's position as the eastern gateway to Yellowstone National Park makes it an ideal base for exploring the world's first national park. The 52-mile drive from Cody to Yellowstone's East Entrance passes through the spectacular Wapiti Valley, with the Shoshone River canyon providing dramatic scenery throughout.

Inside the park, the highlights are legendary:

• Old Faithful — the world's most famous geyser, erupting approximately every 90 minutes
• Grand Prismatic Spring — the largest hot spring in the United States, with vivid rainbow colors visible from the overlook trail
• Lamar Valley — the best wildlife watching in the park, with bison, wolves, bears, and elk regularly visible from the road
• Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone — the dramatic yellow-walled canyon with two spectacular waterfalls

Practical tip: Enter Yellowstone from the East Entrance (via Cody) to avoid the crowds that concentrate at the West and South entrances. The East Entrance road through the Wapiti Valley is one of the most scenic approaches to the park.

The Shoshone River — which flows through Cody and the Wapiti Valley — is one of Wyoming's premier fly fishing destinations. Brown trout and rainbow trout are abundant, and the river's varied character — from fast riffles to deep pools — provides excellent fishing throughout the season.

Several outfitters in Cody offer guided fly fishing trips on the Shoshone and the nearby North Fork, with options ranging from half-day introductory floats to multi-day expeditions into the backcountry. The season runs from late May through October, with the best fishing typically in late summer and early fall.

The Chief Joseph Scenic Byway is one of Wyoming's most spectacular drives, connecting Cody to the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park through some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the American West.

The byway climbs over Dead Indian Pass — elevation 8,060 feet — offering panoramic views of the Absaroka Range and the Clark's Fork Valley below. The drive passes through the Shoshone National Forest, the oldest national forest in the United States, and provides access to exceptional hiking, fishing, and wildlife watching.

Cody's restaurant scene reflects its Western character — hearty, unpretentious, and genuinely good.

• The Irma Hotel Restaurant — built by Buffalo Bill himself in 1902 and named for his daughter, the Irma is a Cody institution. The cherrywood bar — a gift from Queen Victoria — is worth seeing even if you're not eating.
• Wyoming's Rib & Chop House — the go-to for prime rib and steaks in a classic Western setting
• Cassie's Supper Club — a Cody landmark since 1922, with live country music and a menu that celebrates Wyoming's ranching heritage

• The Chamberlin Inn — a beautifully restored historic inn in downtown Cody, with rooms named for notable guests (Ernest Hemingway stayed here)
• Cody Legacy Inn & Suites — comfortable, well-located, and reasonably priced
• Buffalo Bill Village — a collection of historic cabins and a modern hotel, all within walking distance of downtown

Summer (June–August): Peak season. The Cody Nightly Rodeo runs every evening. Yellowstone is fully open. Book accommodations well in advance.

Fall (September–October): Excellent wildlife watching in Yellowstone (elk rut in September). Smaller crowds. Cooler temperatures. The fall colors in the Wapiti Valley are spectacular.

Winter (November–March): Yellowstone's interior is accessible only by snowcoach or snowmobile. Cody itself is quiet but open, with excellent cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the surrounding mountains.

Spring (April–May): Yellowstone reopens progressively. Wildlife is active. Wildflowers bloom in the valleys. Fewer crowds than summer.

How far is Cody from Yellowstone? The East Entrance of Yellowstone is 52 miles west of Cody — about a 1-hour drive through the spectacular Wapiti Valley.

Do I need to buy Yellowstone tickets in advance? Yes — timed entry reservations are required during peak season (late May through early September). Book through recreation.gov well in advance.

What is the best time to visit Cody? Summer offers the full experience — rodeo, Yellowstone, and warm weather. Fall is excellent for wildlife watching and smaller crowds. Spring and winter have their own rewards for the adventurous traveler.

Is Cody family-friendly? Absolutely. The Buffalo Bill Center of the West, the Cody Nightly Rodeo, and the Yellowstone day trips are all excellent family experiences.

For more information, visit codyyellowstone.org. Also explore our guide to the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway and Cody's wildlife calendar and dude ranch vacations in Wyoming and Montana.