USA Today readers place Cody in top 10 summer destinations

CODY (WNE) — For the second consecutive year, Cody Yellowstone was named one of the top summer destinations in the country in a USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice contest.

The results of the contest were announced May 23.

Cody was the only destination in the Mountain Time Zone voted into the top 10. The list also included destinations in California, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Georgia, Rhode Island, Minnesota and Florida.

“With summer just around the corner, now is the time to plan a trip to one of the top summer destinations in the U.S. – Cody Yellowstone,” said Ryan Hauck, executive director of the Park County Travel Council and its marketing arm, Cody Yellowstone.

“With abundant wildlife, classic Western attractions and endless outdoor adventures, it’s apparent why so many people voted for Cody Yellowstone as a top summer destination,” he said. Its popularity is partly due to the variety of outdoor activities.

Those activities include fishing, riding off-road in ATVs, hiking in the Shoshone National Forest and Yellowstone National Park, rafting on the Shoshone River, rock climbing and mountain biking.

The destination is also popular among travelers interested in the history of the American West, told at such sites as the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, By Western Hands, the Irma Hotel and the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center. Plus, Cody offers a variety of restaurants, shops, galleries, breweries and distilleries.

This story was published on May 28, 2025.