Buffalo Bill State Park in Wyoming, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-11-01. Check linked official notices before travel.

Buffalo Bill State Park is the reservoir park west of Cody, Wyoming, managed by Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites and Trails. It offers mountain-framed shoreline visits and camping. Winter planning matters: from October through April, North Fork and Stagecoach campgrounds and the Sheep Mountain day-use area close, and all park water systems are turned off.

Reservoir scenery and campground choices

Shoshone Canyon lies between Rattlesnake Mountain and Cedar Mountain near the dam. Farther west, the reservoir reaches toward the North and South Forks of the Shoshone River. The shoreline setting makes a picnic or a stay beside the water the center of a visit.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Current safety notices

The park posts a harmful cyanobacterial bloom advisory for Buffalo Bill Reservoir. Keep people, pets and livestock out of green water, floating scum and clumps. After contact, rinse with clean water. Seek medical or veterinary advice if symptoms develop. Stage 1 fire restrictions also apply. Check the current park notices before using a fire.

Visit responsibly

Keep dogs on leashes. Camping is limited to 14 days in any rolling 30-day period at one park, and the person named on a reservation must occupy the site nightly. Observe posted construction closures around day-use areas.

Reservations and permits

The official reservation information gives Buffalo Bill’s reservation season as May 1–September 30. Off-season camping uses available first-come sites, with the North Fork and Stagecoach closures still applying. Wyoming residents can book 120 days ahead and nonresidents 113 days ahead. Reservation fees are USD 4 and USD 8 respectively, and are nonrefundable.

A reservation covers one vehicle. Additional vehicles pay upon arrival. The Wyoming fee schedule separates day use, camping, taxes and electric hookups so you can price the stay for your party.

Location and road access

The park is about eight miles west of Cody on US 14/16/20, the Yellowstone Highway. Headquarters uses 4192 North Fork Highway, Cody, WY 82414. Choose the actual recreation area for your visit rather than treating headquarters as the entrance to every campground.

Nearby parks

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area’s South District is reached through Lovell. NPS gives a 47-mile route from Cody via US Alt 14 and US 310 to the visitor center. Its North District is a separate destination without a direct connecting park road. Hot Springs State Park is another regional road trip, at 51 US Highway 20 North in Thermopolis. It is a day-use park without overnight camping.

Things to do

Use the developed shoreline areas for a picnic and mountain views, subject to the winter closures above. The park’s campground descriptions help separate a busier Lake Shore stay from North Fork’s riparian setting. Reserve North Fork for its operating season rather than planning around its summer facilities in winter.

Camping and accessibility

Lake Shore has a day-use area and boat ramp. In season, North Fork has a playground and showers with flush toilets. Winter water shutdowns apply throughout the park. The Bureau of Reclamation lists accessible campsites and restrooms. Ask headquarters about the specific area and route needed before selecting a site.

About the park

Dam and recreation development

The park opened in 1957. Enlargement of the dam, completed in 1993, inundated the original recreation facilities and led to redevelopment. Its name commemorates William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody, whose land contributed to the reservoir project.

Riparian habitat

North Fork includes a riparian area beside the river. It offers a different setting from the more exposed Lake Shore campground, but its seasonal closure governs access to the campground amenities.

Contact

Official Buffalo Bill State Park page. Headquarters: (307) 587-9227. Address: 4192 North Fork Highway, Cody, WY 82414.