Cody, Wyoming is more than the eastern gateway to Yellowstone. This 'Old West' town on the flank of America's first National Park is a great place to introduce the kids to Buffalo Bill and western art. Tour the Buffalo Bill Historical Center and visit 5 museums in one. Take in a rodeo and watch cowboys rope calves, ride bulls and barrel race. Enjoy a laugh or two at a mock shout-out (daily June - September) staged by the Cody gunslingers. And if this small town catches your fancy make it your base for visiting points north and south but think twice before booking here and trekking to Yellowstone on more than one morning. It's 53 miles (83 km) one way on a winding scenic byway.
Cody is a 1.5-hour drive from Red Lodge, Montana and Thermopolis, Wyoming and 2-hour drive from Yellowstone's east entrance. There is no direct route to Jackson, Wyoming and Denver is a 7-hour drive. Delta Connection and United Express service Cody's Yellowstone Regional Airport with connections through Salt Lake City and Denver respectively.
Several Cody attractions are accessible by foot from Sheridan Avenue, the town's main street. A bus shuttles tourists between the Irma Hotel and rodeo nightly June through September. To reach attractions further a field, such as Yellowstone, renting a car is a must.
While the Buffalo Bill Historical Center is open year round both the mock shout-out and rodeo are held from June to September only. Summer days are hot and dry; summer nights are cool. Snow is possible in winter but the daytime high rarely falls below freezing.