Buffalo Bill Center of the West

The basics

Cody’s Buffalo Bill Center of the West is home to five museums: The Buffalo Bill Museum, Plains Indian Museum, Cody Firearms Museum, Draper Natural History Museum, and the Whitney Western Art Museum. If you’ve prebooked your admission ticket, that grants you access to the center for two full days; most visitors spend at least half a day, if not more, exploring the exhibits.

Things to know before you go

• There is plenty of free parking offered at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.

• If your little ones need a break from the museum, you can take them to the cowboy-themed playground at the Cashman Greever Garden onsite.

• There is an onsite café and coffee bar to grab food and drinks.

How to get there

The best way to get around Wyoming, especially in the Cody area, is to drive. If you’re driving from Yellowstone National Park, it’s best to take the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. The center features a free parking lot, as well as free street parking around it.

When to get there

Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody opens earlier than most other museums, and because of this, you can visit early at 8am and avoid the crowds of the day, which usually come later in the morning or afternoon. Because there are five museum galleries, many visitors end up spending a whole day here, but you can also enjoy it in as little as two hours if you’re speeding through.

Dive deep into the 1850s while in Cody

If you’re visiting Cody from May through September, make time to visit Old Trail Town. History buffs and Wild West enthusiasts will get a kick out of this popular attraction that showcases authentic, historical frontier buildings complete with furnishings, set up in a town that you can explore on foot.