This guide covers the best day trips from Cody Wyoming you can take right from your campsite at Old Faithful RV Park. Some of these are half day adventures you can squeeze in before or after Yellowstone. Others deserve a full dedicated day of their own. All of them are genuinely worth your time.
One of the best things about staying at Old Faithful RV Park is what you can reach in a single day. Yellowstone National Park is the obvious one and it deserves every bit of attention it gets. But there are so many incredible things to do near Yellowstone East Gate beyond the park itself that most visitors never discover. Whether you are looking for things to do near Cody Wyoming beyond Yellowstone or trying to plan a full week of adventures this guide has you covered.
Day Trip 1: Yellowstone National Park via the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway
The Calcite Springs overlook near Tower Junction is one of the extraordinary sights waiting for visitors on a Yellowstone day trip from Old Faithful RV Park just 32 miles from the East Gate.
Distance from Old Faithful RV Park: 32 miles to the East Gate
Drive time: About 45 minutes
Best for: Wildlife watching, geothermal features, hiking, all ages
This one is obvious but it is worth saying clearly. The best day trip from Cody Wyoming is and probably always will be Yellowstone National Park. And staying at Old Faithful RV Park gives you one of the most beautiful approaches to the park anywhere in the region.
The drive up the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway along the North Fork of the Shoshone River through the Wapiti Valley is genuinely spectacular. Wildlife watching starts before you even reach the gate. Pronghorn in the meadows, bighorn sheep on the canyon walls, eagles along the river. The Yellowstone experience begins the moment you leave camp.
Once inside the Yellowstone National Park East Gate you have direct access to Hayden Valley wildlife watching, Mud Volcano, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Yellowstone Lake, and the full western geyser basin corridor including Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring.
Read our complete Yellowstone Itinerary Guide for day by day plans covering every trip length from one day to seven days.
Day Trip 2: The Beartooth Highway Loop
The view from the top of the Beartooth Highway at nearly 11,000 feet above sea level, one of the most spectacular day trips from Cody Wyoming and widely called one of the most beautiful drives in America.
Distance from Old Faithful RV Park: About 90 miles to the start of Beartooth Highway
Drive time: Allow a full day — 4 to 6 hours of driving plus stops
Best for: Scenic drives, photography, high altitude adventure, experienced drivers
If you only take one non-Yellowstone day trip from Cody Wyoming make it this one.
The Beartooth Highway is widely described as one of the most beautiful drives in America and it earns that description every single mile. The highway climbs to 10,947 feet above sea level — the highest paved road in the northern Rockies — crossing the Beartooth Plateau through an extraordinary alpine landscape of glacial lakes, tundra meadows, and granite peaks stretching to the horizon in every direction.
The full Beartooth Loop from Cody covers about 195 miles and combines three of the most scenic roads in Wyoming and Montana. From Cody head north on Highway 120, turn onto the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway at the junction, drive to Cooke City, then take the Beartooth Highway to Red Lodge, Montana and back down to Cody.
This spectacular drive takes you from Cody, Wyoming to Red Lodge, Montana and back with stunning vistas of mountains, valleys, lakes, and Wyoming’s highest bridge.
Practical tips:
Allow a minimum of 6 to 8 hours for the full loop. Fill your gas tank completely before leaving Cody. Pack layers and rain gear regardless of the morning forecast — conditions at nearly 11,000 feet can change dramatically within an hour. The Beartooth Highway is typically open from late May through mid October depending on snowfall.
Day Trip 3: Chief Joseph Scenic Byway
The Chief Joseph Scenic Byway winds toward snow capped peaks, one of the most beautiful and least crowded Cody Wyoming day trips most visitors never discover.
Distance from Old Faithful RV Park: About 16 miles north of Cody to the start of the byway
Drive time: Allow 2 to 3 hours one way with stops
Best for: Scenic drives, history, wildlife watching, photography
The Chief Joseph Scenic Byway is one of the most beautiful and least crowded scenic drives in the entire region and most Yellowstone visitors never discover it.
Starting just 20 minutes from Cody on Highway 120, turn onto Highway 296 and enter a world that blends natural beauty with historical significance. The byway traces the path taken by the Nez Perce tribe, led by Chief Joseph, during their 1877 flight from the U.S. Cavalry.
The drive covers 46 miles from its start north of Cody to its junction with the Beartooth Highway near Cooke City. Along the way you pass through deep canyons, high mountain passes, and the extraordinary Sunlight Basin. Key stops include:
Dead Indian Pass Summit at 8,070 feet — panoramic views of the Absaroka Mountains and Sunlight Basin that will genuinely stop you in your tracks.
Sunlight Creek Bridge — the highest bridge in Wyoming at 1,200 feet above the canyon below. Pull into the overlook and look down. It is extraordinary.
Cathedral Cliffs — dramatic red and orange rock formations that look like something from another planet.
Wildlife watching throughout — pronghorn, mule deer, elk, and occasionally bears are spotted along the byway regularly.
The Chief Joseph Scenic Byway connects directly to the Beartooth Highway at its northern end making it a natural first half of the full Beartooth Loop. You can also drive it as a standalone out and back Cody Wyoming day trip in about half a day.
Day Trip 4: Red Canyon Wild Mustang Tour
Wild mustangs roam freely near Cody Wyoming, one of the most unique and memorable day trips from Cody Wyoming available right from Old Faithful RV Park.
Distance from Old Faithful RV Park: About 30 to 40 minutes from the park
Drive time: Half day tour
Best for: Wildlife watching, families, unique Wyoming experiences
One of the most unique day trips from Cody Wyoming you will find anywhere. The Red Canyon Wild Mustang Tours take you into the red canyon badlands south of Cody to find herds of wild mustangs roaming freely across one of the most visually striking landscapes in Wyoming.
These are genuinely wild horses living exactly as they have for generations. The Red Canyon country is striking on its own — vivid red and orange rock formations, vast sagebrush plains, and big open Wyoming sky. Add wild mustang herds moving freely across that landscape and you have an experience that most people never forget.
Book an early morning or late afternoon tour for the best light and the most active horses. Check current tour times and pricing directly with the operator.
This is one of the most talked about things to do near Cody Wyoming that visitors consistently say they wished they had known about before their trip.
Day Trip 5: Wyoming River Trips — Whitewater Rafting on the Shoshone River
Whitewater rafting on the Shoshone River with Wyoming River Trips is one of the most popular and exciting day trips from Cody Wyoming, rated the number one outdoor activity in Cody since 2012.
Distance from Old Faithful RV Park: About 30 minutes to downtown Cody
Drive time: Half day activity
Best for: Adventure, families, first timers, active travelers
Wyoming River Trips has been running the Shoshone River since 1978 and has been rated Cody’s number one outdoor activity since 2012. They offer trips for every skill level from a gentle one hour float to a full day adventure. It is one of the most popular things to do near Yellowstone East Gate for visitors looking for outdoor adventure beyond the park itself.
The half day trip through Red Rock Canyon and the Lower Canyon is the most popular option for families and first timers. Class I to III rapids, dramatic canyon walls on both sides, and a genuinely fun and memorable morning on the water.
A practical tip for guests staying at Old Faithful RV Park: book a morning river trip on a day when you want to be in Yellowstone by afternoon. The half day trips wrap up with plenty of time to drive up the North Fork and still catch the late afternoon wildlife window in Hayden Valley.
Day Trip 6: Buffalo Bill Dam and Visitor Center
The Buffalo Bill Dam sits right on the North Fork road between Old Faithful RV Park and the East Gate, making it the easiest free day trip from Cody Wyoming to add to any Yellowstone day.
Distance from Old Faithful RV Park: About 15 minutes toward Cody on the North Fork road
Drive time: 20 to 30 minute stop
Best for: All ages, easy add-on to any day, history and geology
The Buffalo Bill Dam Visitor Center is free and open May 1 through September 30. The dam is a striking concrete arch that holds back the Shoshone River and the visitor center has excellent exhibits on its construction and the geology of the canyon.
This is the easiest and most convenient Cody Wyoming day trip on the list because you pass right by it on the North Fork road on the way to and from the East Gate every single day. It adds maybe 20 minutes to your drive and the overlook view of the dam and the canyon is genuinely impressive.
Think of it as a free bonus stop and one of the simplest things to do near Yellowstone East Gate that you can add to any Yellowstone day without disrupting your itinerary.
Day Trip 7: Downtown Cody — Things to Do Near Cody Wyoming
The Irma Hotel at sunset, one of the most iconic landmarks in downtown Cody Wyoming and a great stop on any evening day trip from Old Faithful RV Park.
Distance from Old Faithful RV Park: About 30 to 35 minutes
Drive time: Half day to full day
Best for: Culture, history, families, evening entertainment
Cody itself is one of the best day trips from Cody Wyoming — or more accurately one of the best evening trips since the biggest draws all happen after dark.
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is five world class museums under one roof and deserves at least four to five hours. Go first thing in the morning so you are back at the East Gate by afternoon. The Cody Nite Rodeo runs every night June through August and is one of the most authentic rodeo experiences in the American West. The Cody Cattle Company delivers a Chuck Wagon dinner and live Western music show that ends right in time for the rodeo. And the Irma Hotel Gunfighters show is free every Monday through Saturday evening in summer.
There is genuinely no shortage of things to do near Cody Wyoming when you base yourself at Old Faithful RV Park. Every evening is as good as the day that came before it.
Read our complete Things to Do in Cody Wyoming Guide for everything worth doing in Cody during your stay.
How to Plan Your Cody Wyoming Day Trips from Old Faithful RV Park
The key to getting the most out of your Cody Wyoming day trips is mixing Yellowstone days with exploration days throughout your stay. Here is a simple framework:
Yellowstone days: Leave camp before sunrise, enter through the East Gate, spend the morning in Hayden Valley for wildlife watching, and plan your park activities from there. Read our Yellowstone Itinerary Guide for the best day by day approach.
Exploration days: Sleep in slightly, have a real breakfast at camp, and head out for one of the non-Yellowstone day trips above. The Beartooth Loop and Chief Joseph Byway deserve full dedicated exploration days. The river rafting, mustang tours, and dam are easy half day activities you can pair with an afternoon in Cody or a short Yellowstone visit.
Evening routine: Save Cody for evenings. The rodeo, the Cattle Company dinner show, the Gunfighters show, and dinner in town make every evening as good as the day that preceded it.
Things to Do Near Yellowstone East Gate: Your Perfect Basecamp
Old Faithful RV Park sits on the North Fork of the Shoshone River just 32 miles from the East Gate of Yellowstone National Park in Cody, Wyoming. It is the perfect basecamp for exploring everything this extraordinary corner of Wyoming has to offer and for discovering all the remarkable things to do near Yellowstone East Gate that most visitors never find.
Full hookup RV sites for big rigs of all sizes. Rustic cabins sleeping up to 6 guests with fresh bed and bath linens included. Bortle Class 1 dark skies every clear night. And the Cody Nite Rodeo, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, whitewater rafting, wild mustang tours, and the most beautiful scenic drives in America all within easy reach.
Before your trip check out these helpful guides:
- Things to Do in Cody Wyoming : the complete top 10 Cody attractions guide
- Fourth of July in Cody Wyoming : if your trip falls around the holiday
- Yellowstone Itinerary Guide : day by day plans from one day to seven days
- Best Yellowstone Entrance Guide : why the East Gate near Cody is the smart choice
- Yellowstone Wildlife Safety Guide : required reading before any park visit
- Perseid Meteor Shower Near Yellowstone : August nights at Old Faithful RV Park are extraordinary
👉 Book your RV site or cabin at OldFaithfulRVPark.com
Frequently Asked Questions: Day Trips from Cody Wyoming
What are the best day trips from Cody Wyoming?
The best day trips from Cody Wyoming include Yellowstone National Park via the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway, the Beartooth Highway Loop, the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, Red Canyon Wild Mustang Tours, whitewater rafting on the Shoshone River with Wyoming River Trips, the Buffalo Bill Dam, and an evening in downtown Cody for the rodeo and Western culture.
What are the best day trips from Old Faithful RV Park?
The best day trips from Old Faithful RV Park include Yellowstone National Park just 32 miles up the road, the Beartooth Highway Loop, the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, Red Canyon Wild Mustang Tours, and whitewater rafting with Wyoming River Trips on the Shoshone River. Every one of these is accessible within 30 to 90 minutes of the park.
What are the best things to do near Cody Wyoming?
There are so many great things to do near Cody Wyoming including the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, the Cody Nite Rodeo, whitewater rafting on the Shoshone River, the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, the Beartooth Highway, and of course Yellowstone National Park just 32 miles from Old Faithful RV Park via the East Gate.
What are the best things to do near Yellowstone East Gate?
The best things to do near Yellowstone East Gate include visiting Yellowstone itself via Hayden Valley and the East Entrance Road, the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway drive, the Buffalo Bill Dam, downtown Cody attractions, Red Canyon Wild Mustang Tours, and whitewater rafting with Wyoming River Trips. Old Faithful RV Park puts all of these within easy reach.
How far is Yellowstone from Cody Wyoming?
Yellowstone National Park is 32 miles from Old Faithful RV Park to the East Gate, about 45 minutes of beautiful driving along the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway. It is the single most popular Cody Wyoming day trip and one of the finest drives in America.
How long is the Beartooth Highway Loop from Cody?
The full Beartooth Loop from Cody covers about 195 miles and takes 6 to 8 hours including stops. Allow a full dedicated day and fill your gas tank completely before leaving. The highway is typically open late May through mid October.
Is the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway worth doing?
Absolutely. The Chief Joseph Scenic Byway is one of the most beautiful and least crowded scenic drives in Wyoming and one of the most overlooked things to do near Cody Wyoming. Dead Indian Pass Summit, Sunlight Creek Bridge, and Cathedral Cliffs are all genuinely extraordinary stops. Allow 2 to 3 hours one way and consider combining it with the Beartooth Highway for a full day loop.
Where is the best place to stay for day trips from Cody Wyoming?
Old Faithful RV Park on the North Fork of the Shoshone River in Cody, Wyoming. Full hookup RV sites and rustic cabins sleeping up to 6 guests just 32 miles from the East Gate of Yellowstone National Park, with Cody’s world class attractions 30 minutes down the road.
Rest. Explore. Repeat.