Buffalo Bill Center of the West
Five museums; tickets last two days.
Cody and the Buffalo Bill Center
Buffalo Bill's town: five great museums under one roof, a nightly summer rodeo, and the eastern road to Yellowstone.
William Cody founded the town, and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West is the best museum in the West, with Plains Indian, firearms, art and natural history wings. The Cody Nite Rodeo runs all summer. Theodore Roosevelt called the road west of town the most scenic 50 miles in America.
- Best Time
- June–September
- Time Needed
- 1–2 days
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Check before you go; hours vary by season
- Getting There
- About an hour's drive to Yellowstone's East Entrance; flights go to Cody (COD).
What to See
1 of 3 are freeCody Nite Rodeo
Every summer night.
Wapiti Valley
Dramatic rocks on the way to Yellowstone.
Know Before You Go
- Summer is busy. Book rooms ahead, particularly for July 4.
Where to Stay
Stay in town, at the Irma Hotel if you can.
Where to Eat
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Half the world's geysers, plus bison and wolves you can actually see.
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If You're NearbyBeartooth Highway
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A 68-mile road climbing to nearly 11,000 feet between Montana and Yellowstone, called the most beautiful drive in America by Charles Kuralt.
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Worth a DetourLittle Bighorn Battlefield
Montana
Where Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho warriors destroyed Custer's 7th Cavalry in 1876. It's a solemn place on the open plains.
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Last checked 2026-11-02. Part of the Rocky Mountains list.