Some of the first people to visit the area now known as Cody, Wyoming were fur traders such as John Colter and George Drouillard. They came to the region in the early 1800s with the intention of trading. However, they quickly discovered that the lack of water routes would make success in that venture challenging. Several decades later, in 1878, more people came to Cody when non-Indian settlement restrictions were eradicated, and the region became one of the area's fastest-growing frontier towns, especially for people who loved hunting, fishing, and enjoying the vast, untouched expanse of land. As of 2021, approximately 10,174 called Cody home.
The city got its name from William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody. He was one of several businesspeople who founded the Cody community. If you want to learn the history of Cody and the surrounding areas, make it a point to explore the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. There are five museums (Draper Natural History Museum, the Plains Indian Museum, the Cody Firearms Museum, the Whitney Western Art Museum, and the Buffalo Bill Museum) that give visitors more information about Cody's history and the city's abundant natural resources.
Whether you're exploring museums or spending time in nature, one attraction to include on your must-do list is the Cody Cattle Company. You can get an authentic chuckwagon dinner while listening to a live country music show each night. If you prefer something more modern, head to The Trailhead Bar and order a wood-fired oven pizza or to Proud Cut Sirloins for bison burgers.
Campgrounds Near Cody, Wyoming
The Ponderosa Campground near Cody gets you close to Yellowstone National Park. Every site at this campground includes cable television and a rodeo every night. The RV sites are large and level gravel sites and include full hookups, as well as 20-, 30-, 50-amp electric. The sites accommodate pull-through and back-in preferences and have plenty of space for RVs with multiple slide-outs. RV sites start at $55 per night.
Another great campground near Cody is the Yellowstone Valley Inn, which calls itself the Yellowstone National Park Base Camp. This RV park has on-site laundry facilities, a coffee shop, a full-service restaurant, a heated pool, a hot tub, and a fitness center. There are over 60 sites available that accommodate RVs of all sizes, including large rigs. Guests enjoy 20/30-amp and 30/50-amp hookups, pull-thru sites, picnic tables, and fire rings. The campground even has electric car charging stations.
Norris Campground is located near Cody inside Yellowstone National Park. The campground is a no-frills campground near the Norris Geyser Basin. One thing to know about this campground is that its RV sites are limited, and spots fill up quickly. You can't reserve ahead of time, and sometimes the campground is closed due to weather conditions. If you want to stay at this campground, it's first come, first served, so a backup plan is recommended.
State Parks Near Cody, Wyoming
To learn more about the history of the Wild West, check out Buffalo Bill State Park. The visitor center has interpretive exhibits to help you learn more about the area's history. The park is also home to the Absaroka Mountains and offers visitors endless opportunities to hike, fish, or relax under the tree canopies. If wildlife viewing is something you enjoy, moose, sheep, antelope, bears, and elk call this state park home. For visitors who need accessible trails, check out the park's first phase of its planned trail system. The trail's name is Eagle Point Trail, and it is located along the north shoreline in the Eagle Point Day Use Area.
Boysen State Park, Wyoming's largest state park, is the ideal getaway for water lovers! With 76 miles of shoreline, you'll have plenty of opportunities to swim, sunbathe, water ski, paddleboard, and more! Boating is allowed on the reservoir, with several put-in options located throughout the park. The most popular water activity is fishing, and the area is known for being an excellent place to fish for trout and walleye. If you visit during the winter, you can even go ice fishing! Visitors who want to explore the park on foot will enjoy the trail system. There are even a few handicapped-accessible trails on paved paths.
Located 233 miles northwest of Cody via 1-90E is Missouri Headwaters State Park in Three Forks, Montana. This state park is where the Missouri River starts. Visitors to the park enjoy many activities, including fishing, hiking, and picnicking. There are also plenty of opportunities for kayaking and boating. During the off-season, the park allows visitors to hunt for waterfowl, mule deer, moose, and white-tailed deer. You have to have a license to hunt and the required safety training.
National Sites Near Cody, Wyoming
Not your usual national site, but still significant in American history, is Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, which is located between Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park. The recreation area is remote and rugged, the epitome of the Wild West. Visitors will find several historic structures, like the Mason-Lovel Ranch, the Henry Clay Lovell House, and the Caroline Lockhart Ranch, home of the first cattlewoman in the west. Park rangers offer guided tours of these national sites during the summer.
One of the most pivotal battles in United States history happened at Little Bighorn. Today, this site is home to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. It is here where Lieutenant Colonel Custer's famous last stand occurred and the location where the Northern Plains' Native Americans had their last significant victory. When you visit the national monument, you'll learn more about the battle and how the area's landscape played an essential role in the battle's outcome.
Devil's Tower National Monument is a sacred Native American site in northeastern Wyoming. High above the area's farmlands is a tall rock tower, a popular rock-climbing spot. It's also a nesting site for the area's falcons. You don't have to be a rock climber to enjoy this national monument site. You can hike the trails, walk around the tower's base, or bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the view. If you want to avoid dealing with the crowds visiting the rock tower, plan a visit from late September to early May. During this time, the crowds are significantly less.
National Forests Near Cody, Wyoming
Shoshone National Forest is in northeastern Wyoming. It's named for the Native American Shoshone tribe and was established in 1891. The forest consists of 2.4 million acres with an abundance of white-peaked mountains, valleys, and towering ridges. Cody is one of the nearest communities to the forest. It's an excellent location for hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping for a few days or weeks. A popular trail in the park is the Glacier Trail. It's not for everyone since it's 25 miles long, but many visitors hike sections of the trail to take in the magnificent mountain views and explore the lakes and forest.
Bridger-Teton National Forest consists of 3.4 million acres between the National Elk Refuse and Grand Teton National Park. If you enjoy outdoor adventure activities like backpacking, hiking, biking, and fishing, you must spend a few days camping in this forest. For people who want to hike but don't want to partake in back-country hiking, there are plenty of trails for the casual hiker, like the History Trail and the Shoal Falls Trail. Winter visitors enjoy the park's cross-country skiing, sledding, and ice-fishing opportunities.
Located 147 miles east of Cody via US-14 W is Bighorn National Forest, consisting of 1.1 million acres. The forest has over 1,500 trails, making this a hiker's and biker's paradise. The trails that meander through the forest take you alongside bubbling creeks and limestone cliffs with fantastic views. For those who like rock climbing, the forest is home to Tensleep Canyon. Although the forest is a popular destination during the summer because of its fishing, boating, and other water activities, it's also popular in the winter with skiers and those who enjoy ice fishing. If you're planning a drive from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone or vice versa, consider stopping at Bighorn National Forest since it lies between the two destinations.
