Plan Your Trip to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West
Plan Your Trip to the Center of the West
Hours & Rates
| Hours | |
|---|---|
| May 1 – Sept. 15 | 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. |
| Sept. 16 – Oct. 31 | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
| Nov. 1 – Nov. 30 | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
| Dec. 1 – Feb. 28 | Thu.–Sun., 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
| Mar. 1 – Apr. 30 | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
Closed New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
We close at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
Rates
| Adults | $23 |
| Seniors | $22 |
| Kids 6–17 | $16 |
| Members | Free |
| Active Military | Free |
Note: Park County WYO Youth Enter for Free, plus one accompanying adult
Our Address: 720 Sheridan Ave, Cody, WY 82414
Free Admission for Park County Wyoming Youth
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West now offers free admission for all youth in Park County, Wyoming—from toddlers through high school students! This ongoing program opens the door to rich museum experiences and hands-on learning for young people across the region. One accompanying adult per group also receives free admission to support and guide the visiting youth. The program runs throughout the year and encourages curiosity, discovery, and connection to the West’s stories and heritage.
Generous support from the Frère family makes this program possible.
Why Visit the Center of the West?
It’s the largest, most acclaimed museum (ahem, five museums!) in the vicinity of Yellowstone. There’s something for everyone, including special exhibits, family-friendly activities, after-hours cowboy dining experiences, live birds of prey, and more. Most people will need to stay at least one night outside of Yellowstone before or after they spend time there. Spend that night in Cody and take advantage of our museums and everything else the area has to offer.
Accessibility
Our entire campus is ADA wheelchair accessible including marked parking spaces, ramps, and elevators. Additional details:
• Elevators are available in Rendezvous Hall (central lobby), Plains Indian Museum, Cody Firearms Museum, and Draper Natural History Museum.
• Family / unisex restrooms are located on the lower level of the Cody Firearms Museum.
• An ADA-compliant Outdoor Play Area for children is located in the Cashman Greever Garden.
• Manual wheelchairs and a power wheelchair are available in the front admissions area on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• Tours for visitors with special needs are available upon request with advanced notice by contacting the education department at (307) 578-4061.
• A variety of audio visual and tactile opportunities can be found in the galleries, including an audio tour of the Whitney Western Art Museum.
• Sensory Kits are available for visitors who need help managing sensory overload in the museum. These bags include noise-cancelling headphones, fidgets, and sunglasses, and more. The Sensory Kits can be found in our main lobby.
Questions or suggestions to improve our accessibility? Please email [email protected].
Prohibited Items
The Center of the West strickly prohibits the following items on our premises:
• Firearms (see policy below)
• Weapons, knives, with a 4-in. or longer blade
• Bear spray, pepper spray, mace of any size
• Large backpacks; kid frame packs
• Coolers
Firearms Policy
Firearms and weapons are not permitted to be carried on one’s person on Buffalo Bill Center of the West property or in Buffalo Bill Center of the West buildings, with the exception of firearms and weapons carried by on-duty law enforcement or at the discretion of the Center. Whether an item is considered to be a firearm or weapon shall be determined at the sole and absolute discretion of Center security and administration.
Pet Policy
The Center allows service animals inside the museum. There are some places in town that have day care for pets. Click below for locations in Cody, Wyoming:
Dining at the Center of the West
The Center of the West has a full cafeteria serving sandwiches, burgers, salads, muffins, cookies, and more. We also have a full coffee bar that serves lattes and other espresso beverages.
How Much Time Will I Need to Tour the Museums?
Visitors can enjoy the Center of the West for two hours or two days! General admission tickets allow entry for two days, but the average casual visitor with kids can easily explore the museums over a morning or afternoon. Five museums offer plenty to see, so anyone who can dedicate an entire day and loves museums will find it well worth the visit. For those with limited time, a variety of after-hours programs let guests experience the Wild West at the most convenient times for themselves and their families.
Need to Charge Your Electric Vehicle?
We have an EV charging station with room for two vehicles at a time.
Cody, Wyoming Travel Info
Driving to Cody
Cody sits less than an hour outside Yellowstone and is easily accessible via major roadways. In fact, Yellowstone National Park’s East Entrance is just 50 miles from the Buffalo Bill Center of the West! The Park’s East Entrance opens early May and closes early November, so please plan your route accordingly. For electric vehicles, we have an EV charging station with room for 2 vehicles at a time! Below are a few ways to get here.
Via Denver I-25N
Those coming from the south or the east can easily link up with I-25 North via I-70 or I-80. Head north to Casper then take WY-26 to Shoshoni, WY-20 to Thermopolis (home to some amazing natural hot springs) and then WY-120 into Cody. This route is known for its wide-open spaces, interesting geology, and smooth driving.
Via Salt Lake City I-80
This is an easygoing trip with a breathtaking mountain pass drive in the middle. Take I-80 east past Evanston to WY-189, make a stop in Farson at Farson Mercantile (home of the biggest ice cream cones you can imagine), head over South Pass to Riverton, take WY-26 to Shoshoni, then make your way to Cody via Thermopolis.
Via Rapid City I-90
I-90 is the main interstate corridor leading to Cody, especially for those travelling from the Mount Rushmore/Badlands/Black Hills area on their way to Yellowstone. Travelers can take I-90 West to Ranchester then take Highway 14 through the Bighorn National Forest through Burgess Junction, Shell, Greybull, and into Cody.
Via Bozeman I-90E
If you’re driving from the Pacific Northwest to the Yellowstone area, you have a big decision to make outside of Butte, Montana: take I-15 down to West Yellowstone or continue on I-90 through Bozeman and into Cody. West Yellowstone looks closer to the Park, but what’s closer to the best scenery, wildlife, and landmarks?
Driving into the park from West Yellowstone is a double-edged sword. You get to be in the park sooner, but you must drive through dense forests for about 2.5 hours until you get the classic Yellowstone views and wildlife you’re looking for. It’s been a big regret for many a road-tripper.
Let us offer you two alternative routes that are twice as scenic:
1. Take I-90 through Bozeman (Montana’s good food capital with awesome mountain views) and Livingston to get to Columbus. Then take MT-78 to Red Lodge (a quaint mountain ski town with awesome breweries and restaurants), through Belfry, and into Cody via WY-120. This route is peppered with historical sites and roadside stops, and it’s a less-traveled road in the summer months.
2. Hop off I-90 at Livingston, Montana, and head toward the north entrance of Yellowstone and Gardiner, Montana. Once you’re in Mammoth, head east through Tower and the Lamar Valley (the best place to see wildlife in Yellowstone) and out the Northeast Gate. Cruise down the Beartooth Scenic Highway and Dead Indian Pass — two of the most acclaimed mountain drives in the U.S. — before you land in Cody.
Via Billings, MT
And for our those of you traveling from Billings, Montana, Cody is just a short trip to the south—you could even make it a fun day trip. Head west on I-90 to Laurel, Montana, where you’ll exit and head south on highway 212. At Rockvale, take highway 310, and just south of Bridger, highway 72. That’ll take you across the Wyoming border (where it becomes highway 120) and on into Cody. It’s about 110 miles, and roughly an hour and 45 minute drive.
Flying to Cody
Jump right into the action and fly straight into Cody! It’s a laid-back airport with easy access to Cody’s hotels and amenities. Direct flights from Denver through United Airlines. Didn’t rent a car? Call Cody Cab at (307) 272-8364
Other options:
Billings Logan International Airport (Billings, MT)
An affordable airport with a less-than-two-hour drive to Cody. Direct flights from numerous major cities with easy car rentals and other amenities.
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (Bozeman, MT)
The biggest and busiest airport in the area. 3 beautiful hours to Cody.
Jackson Hole Airport (Jackson, WY)
In the summer months you can travel from Jackson to Cody via Yellowstone’s South Entrance (National Park entry fee or pass required). The trip is about 3 1/2 to 4 hours, but you’ll want stop along the way to experience the sites and sounds of Yellowstone, which can add enjoyable time to your trip.
Lodging in Cody
There are plenty of lodging options in Cody for a comfortable stay — just make sure you book in the spring to get the best availability and rates! Here’s a complete lodging directory.
Museum Info
If you have questions and can’t find the info on this page, call us at 307-587-4771, e-mail us at [email protected], or message us on Facebook.
How the Lodging Tax Helps Support the Center
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West receives valuable support from grants provided by the Park County Travel Council, funded through a tax paid by visitors lodging in Park County. This tax is voted on for renewal every four years and helps fund marketing initiatives and grants aimed at boosting tourism in Park County, Wyoming. The Center is one of several local attractions to receive funding, contributing to the overall effort to bring more visitors to the area and support local businesses.
Download our Free Digital Planning Guide
Free Digital Planning Guide
Make your all-American vacation full of art and culture, western experiences, jaw-dropping scenery, and one-of-a-kind memories. Schedule your trip from start to finish using our free digital trip planning guide and the wealth of travel resources below. Now is the perfect time to plan for a Yellowstone area adventure!
