National parks near Cody, Wyoming
Yellowstone National Park is the closest national park to Cody, Wyoming — 71.2 mi (115 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 8 min behind the wheel.
Yellowstone and Grand Teton make a full day trip — leave early.
Nothing near Cody gates the entrance itself, but 4 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Cody has a population of about 9,792.
National parks near Cody
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone National Park | 71.2 mi (115 km) | 2 hr 8 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Grand Teton National Park | 95.2 mi (153 km) | 2 hr 42 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Wind Cave National Park | 285 mi (458 km) | 7 hr 11 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Theodore Roosevelt National Park | 319 mi (513 km) | 7 hr 59 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Grasslands National Park | 329 mi (530 km) | 8 hr 14 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Badlands National Park | 329 mi (530 km) | 8 hr 15 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Rocky Mountain National Park | 337 mi (542 km) | 8 hr 25 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Glacier National Park | 369 mi (593 km) | 9 hr 10 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Waterton Lakes National Park | 388 mi (624 km) | 9 hr 38 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Arches National Park | 405 mi (651 km) | 10 hr 2 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Cody
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountain | Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry | Park entry | Timed reservation |
| Glacier | Logan Pass Shuttle Tickets | One road or area | Timed reservation |
| Yellowstone | Yellowstone National Park Backcountry Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Grand Teton | Grand Teton National Park Backcountry Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Arches | Arches National Park Canyoneering Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
Camping near Cody
Within reach of Cody, 36 campgrounds across 8 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 9 at Grand Teton, 9 at Glacier, 5 at Yellowstone, and 5 at Theodore Roosevelt, plus 4 more parks with fewer sites.
Recreation.gov releases most national park campsites six months before the arrival date, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Windows are set per campground, so confirm yours on the Seasons and Fees tab on that campground page.
Once a date is gone, cancellations are the real supply, and they get taken within minutes of appearing.
When to make this trip
Yellowstone National Park is generally best July through mid-September, once the high country is clear of snow, with late June and late September as the quieter shoulder either side.
High passes and trails hold snow from October into June, and some roads close entirely for the winter.
Afternoon thunderstorms build fast above treeline in summer. Start early and be off exposed ridges by early afternoon.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Cody are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.
| Pair | Apart | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone → Grand Teton | 56.7 mi (91.2 km) | 1 hr 48 min |
Planning a trip from Cody
Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.
Other towns in Park County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Cody?
Yellowstone National Park. It is about 71.2 mi (115 km) from Cody, roughly 2 hr 8 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Cody?
Yes — Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park are within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Cody?
10 parks are within reach of Cody, 2 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Cody?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 4 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Yellowstone National Park Backcountry Permits, Grand Teton National Park Backcountry Permits, and Logan Pass Shuttle Tickets at Glacier. Farther than a day trip, Rocky Mountain National Park still needs a timed-entry permit to drive in. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Cody?
Recreation.gov lists 36 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Cody. They are spread across 8 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Cody?
For Yellowstone National Park, the closest one, generally July through mid-September, once the high country is clear of snow. Either side of that, late June and late September stays quieter.