*TravelWorld International Magazine Spring 2024

CODY, WYOMING
Beyond Yellowstone
Everything to Know for Extraordinary Spring and Summer Visits
Story and Photos by Jill Robbins
Rent a UTV with pre-programmed routes for stunning, unspoiled views of Cody Wyoming.
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The Lamar Valley inside Yellowstone National Park is one of the best places to catch views of abundant wildlife.
Credit: Cody Yellowstone Wyoming.
ellowstone National
Park is a place that
doesn’t need an
introduction and needs
no gimmicks or snazzy
catchphrases to entice
visitors to show up at the
park’s entrance every
year. Yellowstone is
iconic, a household name
worldwide. From the abundance
of wildlife sightings – bison,
moose, and bears, oh my! – to
the majesty of Old Faithful and
other active geysers shooting
water into the air and hot
springs, Yellowstone is the
epitome of natural wonder.
For many, Cody, Wyoming,
population 10,000, is the
gateway to Yellowstone.
Located 53 miles from the
park’s East Entrance, Cody is
both a basecamp to explore
Yellowstone and an exploreworthy
destination on its own.
This charmer of a city is a blend
of Old West history and modern
amenities nestled in the
intersection of three mountain
ranges: Absaroka Mountains to
the West, Bighorn Mountains
to the East, and Owl Creek
Mountains to the South.
From adventure activities that
fuel your adrenaline to walletfriendly
activities everyone
can enjoy, Cody should be a
don’t-miss part of any trip to
Yellowstone.
YELLOWSTONE
NATIONAL PARK IN THE
SPRING AND SUMMER
Cody is about 55 miles and a
gorgeous, scenic drive from the
East Entrance of Yellowstone.
Closed during winter, the East
Entrance typically opens to
visitors in mid-May, although
this is dependent on weather
and road conditions. Although
things start to get going in May
and early June, July and August
are the most popular months to
visit the park.
DAY TRIP
FROM CODY TO
YELLOWSTONE
Cody has plenty of lodging,
eateries, and things to do for
visitors who want to explore
the park but don’t plan to
camp there. Driving to and
from Yellowstone, plus driving
through the park, makes
for a sunrise-to-sundown
excursion, but the drive is a
scenic adventure of its own. An
early start and no fixed plans
for dinner make for a perfect
pairing and a long, fulfilling day.
Don’t-miss Yellowstone sights
include Old Faithful, hiking
1.5 miles to see the vivid
colors of the Grand Prismatic
Spring from above, and wildlife
watching in the Lamar Valley,
often called “America’s
Serengeti.” Day visitors can
pack a lot of sites in, but the
key is not lingering in any one
place.
Any day trip to the park merely
scratches the surface and will
open the floodgates of yearning
to plan subsequent trips. That’s
not a bad thing, and even if you’ve
only earmarked a day to see the
sights in the park, it is still very
much worth doing.
SCENIC DRIVE
EDUCATION
Take the scenic drive up a notch
by listening to the Chief Joseph
Scenic Byway segment on the
TravelStory app. This free onehour
episode was developed
in partnership with Cody
Yellowstone and will add some
historical context to the car ride
and is an educational alternative
to road trip games. No cell or
internet service is required, which
is a bonus. Cell service is good in
Cody, but reception is spotty once
you’re a few miles out.
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