Wife and I are planning to visit Yellowstone this year. Has anyone out there home based from Cody,Wy. Does Cody offer enough entertainment, dining, daytime activities? Hows the drive to Yellowstone? All opinions are appreciated. Thanks

This one interests me too. How about some good input!

We are staying in Cody for a few days- once we leave Yellowstone -because we've been told the Buffalo Bill Cody Museum is a must see, as is the rodeo. We are also doing a day trip(a long day trip) over the Beartooth.

Cody is about 50 miles from the East Entrance to Yellowstone. In Cody be sure to visit the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. For a list of other things to do: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g60442-Activities-Cody_Wyoming.htmlfor restaurants: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g60442-Cody_Wyoming.htmlsorry don't know how to do the clicky. We stayed at The Yellowstone Valley Inn on the Hwy between Cody and Yellowstone. "ok" park closer to Yellowstone but farther from Cody. About 30 miles to Yellowstone entrance. We drove to Yellowstone during the day and returned to the RV at night. They have a restaurant on site. There is also the Buffalo Bill State Park along the same road along the reservoir from the dam. No full hookups but beautiful area and more remote but closer to Yellowstone.

There are things to do and see in Cody, but to use as a home base to see Yellowstone is a bit far as the drive in to the grand loop is about 75 miles, going by the map I have.

The drive to Yellowstone from Cody is about one hour just to the entrance. Then you have to plan on about another hour drive to get anywhere within the park. Add on the drive back to Cody and you can see why Cody is not a good home base for Yellowstone. However I recommend a stay in Cody just to visit the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. Just the gun museum portion of the Center alone will take a full day. Then you can move on to yellowstone and stay in the park for your visit there.

Camping in Cody, WY | Good Sam Community

ksbowman
Explorer II
Apr 21, 2014
This one interests me too. How about some good input!
knshook
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
We are staying in Cody for a few days- once we leave Yellowstone -because we've been told the Buffalo Bill Cody Museum is a must see, as is the rodeo. We are also doing a day trip(a long day trip) over the Beartooth.
sdianel_-acct_c
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
Cody is about 50 miles from the East Entrance to Yellowstone. In Cody be sure to visit the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. For a list of other things to do: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g60442-Activities-Cody_Wyoming.html
for restaurants: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g60442-Cody_Wyoming.html
sorry don't know how to do the clicky.
We stayed at The Yellowstone Valley Inn on the Hwy between Cody and Yellowstone. "ok" park closer to Yellowstone but farther from Cody. About 30 miles to Yellowstone entrance. We drove to Yellowstone during the day and returned to the RV at night. They have a restaurant on site. There is also the Buffalo Bill State Park along the same road along the reservoir from the dam. No full hookups but beautiful area and more remote but closer to Yellowstone.
johntank
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
There are things to do and see in Cody, but to use as a home base to see Yellowstone is a bit far as the drive in to the grand loop is about 75 miles, going by the map I have.
twotoes
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
The drive to Yellowstone from Cody is about one hour just to the entrance. Then you have to plan on about another hour drive to get anywhere within the park. Add on the drive back to Cody and you can see why Cody is not a good home base for Yellowstone. However I recommend a stay in Cody just to visit the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. Just the gun museum portion of the Center alone will take a full day. Then you can move on to yellowstone and stay in the park for your visit there.
from_runnells_i
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
Good point....
hermy
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
I agree with "twotoes"- Cody is a bit far to use as a home base for Yellowstone- but there are several state and federal campgrounds near the base of Sylvan Pass that would be a lot closer. No hookups- but beautiful. Sylvan is a bit steep but not too long. Cody does have plenty of amenities for dining etc but I would use it as a seperate day or two and then move closer to the park. I also agree that the museum is really a "must see".
CloudDriver
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
We have used Cody as a base for visiting the Cody area, particularly the Buffalo Bill Center Museums. Ticket fees provide two days admission, which is needed to experience all five museums. In addition to the rodeo, a visit to the dam on the Buffalo Bill reservoir is also interesting. Cody is also a good base for a day trip over the Chief Joseph Highway and on to the top of the Beartooth Pass.

I agree with others that Cody is too far away for a base for Yellowstone. Camping inside the Park is best and camping in West Yellowstone is next best.

For Cody, we have used the Ponderosa Campground. IIRC less than a mile from the museum. For dry camping, we have also used Buffalo Bill State Park.
NCWriter
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
We enjoyed Cody for three nights. It is a touristy place, but hey - we're tourists, and we had a warm welcome everywhere. And the museums are world class, some of the best I've seen anywhere.

The trolley tour was fun, and picks up at Ponderosa CG where you can buy tickets, for an overview of the town and its history. We took the tour in the afternoon and got off at Buffalo Bill's Irma Hotel in town for the free Wild West shoot out program they put on each early evening. It was an easy, pleasant walk back to the campground. The museums are located between the CG and the Irma in town, so it's easy to get around, lots of parking.

North of Cody, the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center tells the story of the Japanese internment center there during WW II, well worth a visit. Another very well planned and executed museum.

We also visited the dam west of Cody on the way to Yellowstone. The drive from Cody to the NP is quite scenic, great rock formations. (But I would not base there either - too far to do several times round trip.)
lucy6194
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
Don't miss a trip out to see the wild horses. Take the tour as don't think you'll find them on your own. We got to be almost too close and enjoyed not only the trip the horses but the local info. Well worth a mornings entertainment.