Wyoming
Arriving in Cody, WY with a rented RV
Cody is engineered around one thing: gateway access to Yellowstone's East Entrance via the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway (US-14/16/20).
Sourced to municipal code, park-service and operator pages · last reviewed 2026-06-04
Arrival briefing · WY
Your Cody arrival, on one dashboard
Every figure below is counted straight from this guide's sourced entries — parking rules that bite, where to dump and refill, and the campgrounds that actually take a rig. Nothing invented; a dash means we haven't sourced one yet.
RV campgrounds
5
Dump stations
3
Propane / diesel
3
Parking rules
3
14 field-sourced facts · last reviewed 2026-06-04
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.
Cody RV basecamp at a glance
Real local logistics for renters
- City population
- 10,028
- RV parks in area
- 6
- Typical nightly rate
- $150–$235
- Best window to visit
- Late May–mid-September (East Gate + Sylvan Pass + Beartooth all open; rodeo runs Jun 1–Aug 31)
U.S. Census Bureau
Flagship: Buffalo Bill State Park (North Shore Bay)
Class C, host-set
Buffalo Bill State Park (North Shore Bay): ~9mi W on the reservoir; electric/water hookups, dump station, no sewer
Pickup & fuel: Pickup via local vendor partner near Yellowstone Regional Airport, ~2mi from downtown. Cody is remote — top off fuel in town before the park; gasoline runs at or slightly above the national average in Wyoming, and stations thin out west toward the gate.
Wyoming scenery
Timing your trip
When should I plan my trip to Cody?
Best season to come
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.
Season to 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.
Read before you park
Parking ordinances that bite RVs
Continuous on-street parking in Cody's downtown commercial core is limited to 24 hours; residential blocks limited to 72 hours.
Citation: Cody Municipal Code Title 10 (Vehicles and Traffic)
What this means for you: Move every 24 hours downtown or every 72 hours residential. Sheridan Ave (Cody's main strip) is not legal RV overnight territory.
Recreational vehicles cannot be occupied as a dwelling on private residential lots inside Cody city limits without a permit.
Citation: Cody Municipal Code Title 11 (Land Use)
What this means for you: Staying more than a few nights in a friend's driveway in town invites Code Enforcement on complaint.
Vehicles parked in violation of posted signs in Cody public lots (including the Buffalo Bill Center of the West lot) may be towed.
Citation: Cody Municipal Code §10.16
What this means for you: Buffalo Bill Center of the West parking is day-use only; no overnight RV stays. Use Ponderosa Campground or Buffalo Bill State Park.
Tanks + water
Where can I dump tanks in Cody?
Ponderosa Campground Dump
1815 8th St, Cody, WY 82414
Cody KOA Dump
5561 Greybull Hwy, Cody, WY 82414
Buffalo Bill State Park Dump (North Shore Bay)
47 Lakeside Rd, Cody, WY 82414
Fuel + propane
Where do I top up propane and diesel?
AmeriGas Propane (Cody)
2002 Pioneer Ave, Cody, WY 82414
Offers: Propane refill + tank exchange + bulk delivery
RV access: Industrial yard; phone ahead — walk-in service limited Mon-Fri
Cody Lube Express + Propane
1925 Big Horn Ave, Cody, WY 82414
Offers: Propane refill RV onboard tanks; oil and fluids
RV access: Workable for rigs to 35 ft; pull-through from Big Horn Ave eastbound
Maverik (Cody)
1936 17th St, Cody, WY 82414
Offers: Diesel + DEF at the pump
RV access: Full pull-through diesel; cleanest big-rig fuel access in Cody
Where to sleep
Which campgrounds actually take RVs?
Ponderosa Campground
Private
Full hookup; walking distance to downtown Sheridan Ave; closest hookup park to Cody Nite Rodeo
Operator siteCody KOA
KOA Holiday
Full hookup; pool; pancake breakfast; long-pull-through 80 ft+
Operator siteBuffalo Bill State Park - North Shore Bay
Wyoming State Parks
Partial hookup (W/E on select sites); dump station on site; lake views
Operator siteBuffalo Bill State Park - Northfork
Wyoming State Parks
No hookups; deeper in North Fork canyon; closer to Yellowstone East Entrance
Operator sitePahaska Tepee (US-14/16/20 mile 51)
Private (Buffalo Bill historic lodge)
Partial hookup; closest commercial campground to Yellowstone East Entrance
Operator sitePublic-land hubs near this city
State parks, National Forests, and NPS units around the city are the anchors for an RV or boat trip — check each unit's official site for current access, fees, and seasonal rules before you go.
On the road in Wyoming
Plan around the crowds
Which local events will move Cody RV supply?
Cody Nite Rodeo (nightly summer)
Ponderosa Campground fills 90+ days ahead; downtown Sheridan Ave congested 6-10 p.m. nightly.
Event sourceCody Stampede (Independence Day)
All Cody campgrounds book out 6+ months ahead; Buffalo Bill State Park sites scarce; expect 2-3x rate.
Event sourceYellowstone East Entrance / Sylvan Pass Seasonal Opening
First wave of RV traffic crests over Sylvan Pass; Pahaska Tepee opens; expect snow tire/chain advisory through mid-May.
Event sourceBeartooth Highway (US-212) Seasonal Opening
Alternate route to Yellowstone Northeast Entrance via Red Lodge opens; rigs over 30 ft should avoid Beartooth switchbacks regardless of season.
Event sourceArrival playbook
Your first hour in Cody
Before you leave the lot
- Confirm Ponderosa, KOA, or Buffalo Bill SP reservation BEFORE arrival; Stampede weekend (Jul 1-4) fills 6 months ahead.
- Top off propane at AmeriGas (2002 Pioneer Ave) or Cody Lube Express before pushing west to Yellowstone — no propane in the North Fork canyon.
Within the first hour
- Fuel diesel + DEF at Maverik (1936 17th St) — last reliable diesel before Yellowstone West Thumb (98 mi).
- Time East Entrance crossing for before 9 a.m. — wildlife jams in Hayden Valley and Sylvan Pass start mid-morning.
Before bed
- Do not park overnight on Sheridan Ave (downtown) — 24-hour rule strictly enforced.
- Check the NPS Yellowstone road status page for Sylvan Pass conditions in May and October shoulder weeks.
Before departure
- Buy a Yellowstone 7-day vehicle pass ($35) or America the Beautiful pass at the East Entrance — saves time vs Old Faithful queue.
The mistake renters make
Avoid this trap
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.
Read the sourceWeekend escapes from Cody
No flight needed. These trips are all within a few hours of downtown Cody — rent a rig Friday, be back by Sunday. Real routes locals run for a weekend away or a quick day trip.
Day trip
Cody → Buffalo Bill Dam → Yellowstone East Entrance → back
Sylvan Pass + first geyser basins day
Rent a rig for this trip →Weekend escape
Cody → Chief Joseph Byway → Beartooth Hwy → Red Lodge MT → back
Two-byway high-country loop (~100mi of scenic driving)
Rent a rig for this trip →Full week
Cody → Yellowstone (East to West) → Grand Teton → Jackson → back
Two-park Greater Yellowstone 7-day
Rent a rig for this trip →
Ready to roll
See what's available in Cody
Make it a trip
Rent an RV or boat in Wyoming
The rigs here are owned by local hosts. Browse what fits your Cody trip, or reach Wyoming owners directly.
Browse Wyoming rigsEditorial sourcing
How we know — the sources we checked
- Cody Municipal Code Title 10 — Vehicles and Traffic(opens in new tab)
- Wyoming State Parks — Buffalo Bill(opens in new tab)
- NPS Yellowstone Park Roads(opens in new tab)
- Montana DOT — Beartooth Highway(opens in new tab)
- Cody Stampede Rodeo(opens in new tab)
Last reviewed 2026-06-04
For RV owners in Cody
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Before you arrive
Wyoming state guide
OpenWhat's happening
Wyoming events calendar
OpenStay legal
Wyoming RV laws
OpenWyoming rules · last verified 2026-05-10
- Rental tax
- 7.00%
- Min driver age
- 16+ std · 21+ Class A
- Gravel roads
- Allowed — no restriction
- Generator quiet
- 22:00-08:00
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