Dispersed camping near Cody, Wyoming gives visitors access to the eastern gateway of Yellowstone National Park. The area sits at elevations ranging from 5,000 to 9,000 feet, creating variable camping conditions throughout the season. Summer temperatures typically reach 85°F during the day but can drop to 45°F at night even in July, requiring campers to pack accordingly.
What to do
Fish at the trout pond: Cody Trout Ranch Camp offers on-site fishing opportunities for families. "My littles (6&8) loved the playground, the fishing pond, it's far enough from the road to be quiet and safe," notes one visitor to Cody Trout Ranch Camp.
Attend the nightly rodeo: The Cody Nite Rodeo runs all summer and some campgrounds provide transportation. "The campground serves pancakes in the morning for free. You buy extras like sausage juice etc. reasonable price. Roadeo in town every night and campground shuttles to it and back," explains a camper at Cody KOA.
Explore mountain trails: The Beartooth Mountains offer hiking opportunities with alpine lakes and meadows. "We stayed here for 2 nights in July. It was a great campground. Within walking distance to the lake, which made it great to go paddle boarding," shares a visitor to Island Lake Campground.
What campers like
Peaceful riverside spots: Newton Creek Campground provides sites along the Shoshone River. "This was one of our favorite spots around Yellowstone. The sites seemed pretty spread out and it is along the beautiful Shoshone River," reports one camper at Newton Creek Campground.
Glamping close to Cody, Wyoming: Unique accommodations include tipis, sheep wagons, and yurts. "Stayed in teepee for 2 nights. Has fan and heater. must bring own sheets blankets and pillows. Overall good night sleep," notes a visitor about the glamping options.
Convenient base for Yellowstone: Campgrounds along North Fork Highway provide access to the park's east entrance. "The campground is right on the Shoshone river and wildlife sightings are common. It's about 20 miles from the east entrance to Yellowstone," explains a camper.
What you should know
Hard-sided requirements: Some campgrounds prohibit tent camping due to bear activity. "Hard sided camping only, grizzly bear activity, no tents or pop up campers allowed. Might want to buy or rent some bear spray," warns a camper at Newton Creek Campground.
Site spacing varies significantly: Some campgrounds offer privacy while others place sites close together. "Sites are extremely close. There are no trees. Hook ups for RVs are adequate," notes one candid review about Cody KOA.
Seasonal operation: Most campgrounds operate from May through September. "As we were leaving they said they were going to close the campground after last weekend in August," reports a visitor to Island Lake Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Free activities: Some campgrounds offer complimentary recreation. "Very nice and very clean campgrounds. We stayed in a tent and had a great time. Although we weren't traveling with kids, this campground had lots of activities for anyone who is traveling with them," shares a visitor at Cody KOA.
Farm experiences: Big Quiet Farm Stay & Campground provides agricultural activities. "There's so much to do here! My littles (6&8) loved the playground, the fishing pond, it's far enough from the road to be quiet and safe," reports a family who visited Big Quiet Farm Stay & Campground.
Amenity-rich options: Some campgrounds offer extensive facilities for children. "The pool area is the highlight with 2 pools (one kiddie) and a hot tub. All very clean. The basketball area is very nice too but too hot to play for us today. There's a playground, large outdoor chess and scrabble."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for rigs: Some campgrounds offer pull-through sites. "The site was also very long allowing us to keep our Jeep hooked up for the night. I will say the sites are close together, but not unusually close for a KOA," explains an RVer at Cody KOA.
Accessibility considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging terrain. "Stayed here for three nights and had an absolute blast. My only reason for it not being 5 stars is when looking for our in-laws campsite we went on loop and almost tipped our camper with how bad the dips in the road were."
Connectivity reports: Cell service varies by location. "Connectivity was good. T-Mobile was the winner on speed with about 6 Mbps, but Verizon and AT&T also had a strong signal," notes an RV camper at Yellowstone Valley Inn & RV.
