RV rental in Cody, Wyoming

That 53-mile corridor through the North Fork canyon is open year-round, but the East Entrance road through Yellowstone itself closes seasonally — typically the first Sunday in November and reopens the first Friday in May per the NPS Yellowstone road schedule. Cody Municipal Code Title 10 (Vehicles and Traffic) governs in-town parking, capping continuous on-street stays at 24 hours in the downtown commercial core; the Park County Sheriff handles unincorporated zones.

The town's elevation is 5,016 ft — propane appliances run rich, engines lose noticeable horsepower on the climb from Cody up to Sylvan Pass at 8,524 ft. Buffalo Bill State Park along the Buffalo Bill Reservoir is the closest serious campground option (15 mi west of Cody) with two distinct campgrounds: North Shore Bay (closer to Cody, more exposed) and Northfork (deeper into the canyon, closer to Yellowstone).

The Beartooth Highway (US-212) opens roughly the Friday before Memorial Day and closes mid-October, providing the alternate route via Red Lodge — rigs over 30 ft should avoid Beartooth switchbacks even when open. Plan dump and propane in Cody, time East Entrance crossings before 9 a.m. to avoid wildlife jams, and never attempt Sylvan Pass with a 40+ ft Class A in early-season snow.

When to come

Best: Late May through mid-September: East Entrance/Sylvan Pass open, Beartooth Highway open, Buffalo Bill State Park fully operational. Trade-off: peak rates and Yellowstone wildlife jams.

Skip: Mid-October through April: East Entrance closed at Yellowstone, Sylvan Pass closed, Beartooth closed, Buffalo Bill SP loops closed, Cody town accessible but no Yellowstone access via US-14/16/20.

Your first hour in Cody

The mistake renters make

Attempting Beartooth Highway (US-212) in a 35+ ft Class A or large 5th-wheel — even when posted open, the switchbacks at Vista Point and the 10,947 ft summit have minimal pull-out clearance. Recovery towing from Beartooth runs $1,800-$4,000 due to remote location and limited tow operator access. Most rental contracts exclude towing in excess of 35 ft posted advisory routes — renter pays out-of-pocket.

• Cody Municipal Code Title 10 — Vehicles and Traffic
• Wyoming State Parks — Buffalo Bill
• NPS Yellowstone Park Roads
• Montana DOT — Beartooth Highway
• Cody Stampede Rodeo