Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway
Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway Tour

Departure: Cody, Wyoming, Wyoming
Destination: Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Time to allow: 1 day

Take the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway and step back in time to the untamed Wild West. Experience the unique geography of the Absaroka Mountains, enjoy the natural splendor of the Shoshone National Forest, and find adventure on the byway!

Day 1

  • Start: Cody, Wyoming

    Visit the Old West town of Cody. Go white-water rafting, attend a rodeo, or relax by fly-fishing on the Shoshone River.

  • Stop 1: Buffalo Bill Historical Center

    From previous stop: 1 minute / 0.8 mi (1.3 km)
    Directions:

    From the Eastgate Shopping Center in the heart of Cody, drive 0.6 miles west on Sheridan Ave. Next, turn right to stay on Sheridan Avenue.

    Suggested time at this stop: 2 hours

    Choose from one of five museums all housed under a single roof. Visit the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Whitney Gallery of Western Art, the Plains Indian Museum, the Cody Firearms Museum, or the Draper Museum of Natural History.

  • Stop 2: Colter's Hell

    From previous stop: 9 minutes / 4.7 mi (7.5 km)
    Directions:

    Head north on 16th Street to WYO 120. Cross the Shoshone River and turn left on CO Road 2ABW

    Suggested time at this stop: 1 hour

    Visit this inactive geyser region and learn about the man who it is named after. John Colter was a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, but he is best known for his exploration of Yellowstone and this once geo-thermally active region, his stories of which were ridiculed as preposterous at the time. This historically significant area is on the National Register of Historic Places.

  • Stop 3: Buffalo Bill State Park

    From previous stop: 12 minutes / 8.6 mi (13.8 km)
    Directions:

    Return to Cody on Rd 2ABW. Proceed west on US-14-16-20. Turn left at Park entrance on Lakeside Dr.

    Suggested time at this stop: 2 hours

    Relax at Buffalo Bill State Park. View wildlife, fish, hike, swim or just enjoy the beauties of Buffalo Bill Reservoir.

  • Stop 4: Wapiti Ranger Station

    From previous stop: 22 minutes / 16.7 mi (26.7 km)
    Directions:

    Head west on Hwy/US-14-16-20.

    Suggested time at this stop: 45 minutes

    Visit the first ranger station built by federal funds, the Wapiti Ranger Station. Learn about the natural qualities of Wapiti Valley.

  • Stop 5: Pahaska Tepee

    From previous stop: 33 minutes / 22 mi (35.2 km)
    Directions:

    Head west on Hwy/US-14-16-20

    Suggested time at this stop: 1 hour

    Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Pahaska Tepee was Buffalo Bill’s magnificent hunting lodge where he entertained heads of state and foreign dignitaries, and outfitted his many hunting trips into the mountains. Take a quick tour, or stay the night in a rustic cabin.

  • End: Yellowstone National Park

    From previous stop: 2 minutes / 2.2 mi (3.5 km)
    Directions:

    Head west on Hwy/US-14-16-20

    The byway ends just at the eastern border of Yellowstone National Park. Continue onto Yellowstone National Park, and sample its abundant wildlife. Continue further west and you can see mud pots, hot pools, and geysers.

Totals for Day 1

Total Distance Traveled: 55 miles / 88.0 km
Total Travel Time: 1 hour 19 minutes
Total Stopping Time: 6 hours 45 minutes