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Plan Your Trip

Free digital trip 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!

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Fanned out visitors guide

Why should I 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. 

Need a charge? We have an EV charging station with room for 2 vehicles at a time! 

See what awaits your visit to the Center of the West!

Are the museums and activities family-friendly?

Kids looking at bear skulls

Yes! There’s plenty for kids of all ages to do at here at the Center. Our five museum galleries have plenty of videos, interactives, and engaging exhibits to inspire them. Our live raptor program is another great activity for kids; they can see live birds of prey like owls, eagles, hawks, and vultures up close. Kids can also enjoy our ADA-compliant playground area located in the Cashman Greever Garden.

The Center of the West's western-themed playground.

Hours and Rates

Hours

May 1 through Sept. 15 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sept. 16 through Oct. 31 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Nov. 1 through Nov. 30 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Dec. 1 through Feb. 28 Thu. - Sun., 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Mar. 1 through Apr. 30 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Closed NYD, Thanksgiving, Christmas. *Note: we close at 3 p.m. Christmas Eve

Rates

Adults $23
Seniors $22
Students $21
Kids 6-17 $16
Kids 5 and under Free
Tour Groups Call: 307-578-4000
Buffalo Bill Center of the West Members Free
Active US Military Free
Youth from Park County, Wyoming: FREE! Click here to learn more.

Group Tour Operators

If you are a Commercial Tour Operator, please visit our Group Tours page for more information and rates. 

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 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. 

Pet Policy

The Center allows service animals inside the museum. There are a couple of places in town that have day care for pets. Click here for locations in Cody, WY:

https://goo.gl/maps/SzU8ztHYaW2apzSh8

Dining at the Center

Burger on grill with flame

The Center of the West has a full cafeteria serving sandwiches, burgers, bison brats, salads, desserts, and more. We also have a full coffee bar that serves lattes and other espresso beverages. We host bi-weekly cowboy chuckwagon dinners in the evenings, subject to availability. Enjoy a cowboy cut of beef, beans, and cobbler, just like they made it out on the range. 

How much time do I need?

The Center of the West can be enjoyed for two hours or two days! Our general admission tickets are good for two days, but the average casual visitor with kids could easily enjoy our museums over the course of a morning or afternoon. There’s certainly a lot to see across five museums, so if you can spare an entire day and you love museums, it would certainly be worth it!  

For those who can’t spend that much time with us, we offer a variety of after-hours programs so you can get a Wild West experience when it’s most convenient for you and your loved ones. 

Things to Do

There are plenty of attractions in Cody. Check out some of the best ones here.

We invite you to explore our Business Directory. These business members of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West support our operations while providing a wide range of products and services to our community.

Outside Yellowstone you’ll discover more, do more, experience more, year-round. It’s what makes Park County, Wyoming, wonderful! 

Outside Yellowstone has great ideas for your visit to Park County, Wyoming. Click here to see their YouTube channel: Outside Yellowstone – YouTube

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.  

Other solid 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 for you. 

Photo of the Irma Hotel

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. 

BUFFALO BILL CENTER OF THE WEST ◦ 720 Sheridan Avenue ◦ Cody, WY 82414 ◦ 307-587-4771Contact Us
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