Bar Nunn to Gillette is 125.8 miles and takes about 2 hours 25 minutes via WY 387 and State Highway 59 South, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Wyoming's Mountain West region, offering a straightforward, highway-focused journey. You'll primarily be on well-maintained state highways, making it a practical option for a quick trip or as part of a larger exploration of the state. Given its manageable distance and duration, it's well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
62.9 miles from Bar Nunn, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
WY 387
51.3 mi
58m
State Highway 59 South
32.8 mi
35m
Horseshoe Road
17.9 mi
20m
I 25
15.3 mi
14m
South Douglas Highway
5 mi
9m
Salt Creek Highway
1.6 mi
2m
East 4th Street
0.4 mi
1m
Westwinds Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
WY 387
— 51.3 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bar Nunn, WY and Gillette, WY.
1
Start on Sunset Boulevard
0.3 mi·40 sec·Sunset Boulevard
2
At end of road, turn left onto Salt Creek Highway
1.6 mi·2 min·Salt Creek Highway
3
Turn right onto Westwinds Road
0.4 mi·42 sec·Westwinds Road
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward Midwest
5
Merge onto I 25; US 87
15 mi·14 min·I 25; US 87
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward Horse Ranch Creek Road
7
Turn right onto WY 259
18 mi·20 min·Horseshoe Road
8
Turn right onto WY 387
51 mi·58 min·WY 387
9
Turn left onto WY 59
33 mi·35 min·State Highway 59 South
10
Continue on WY 59
5.0 mi·9 min·South Douglas Highway
11
Turn left onto East 4th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East 4th Street
12
Arrive at destination
East 4th Street
Trip Plan
With a total drive time of around 2 hours and 25 minutes, you have the flexibility to leave anytime. Consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight and avoid any potential late-day weather changes. There are no specific recommended stops noted, so you can decide if you'd like to break up the 125.8 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 51.3 miles on WY 387, as services might be spread out. The estimated fuel cost is approximately $19, so plan accordingly before you set off.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 62.9 miles from Bar Nunn, WY, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 28 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.9 miles or 1h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gillette, WY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bar Nunn, WY so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bar Nunn, WY
This is one driving day of about 125.8 miles and 2h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Bar Nunn, WY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on WY 387 for about 51.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 18.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|Salt Creek Highway
At end of road, turn left onto Salt Creek Highway
Navigation decision point
4
1.8 mi into trip|~3m in|Westwinds Road
Turn right onto Westwinds Road
Navigation decision point
5
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward Midwest
Navigation decision point
Toward Midwest
4
18 mi into trip|~19m in
Take the exit toward Horse Ranch Creek Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Horse Ranch Creek Road
4
18.4 mi into trip|~20m in|WY 259 / Horseshoe Road
Turn right onto WY 259 / Horseshoe Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.93 one way
$39.87 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$20.90
$41.79
premium
$4.53
$22.44
$44.88
diesel
$5.61
$27.78
$55.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.7
0
$13.21
$6.04
Efficient EV
31.5
0
$11.01
$5.03
EV Truck/SUV
50.3
0
$17.61
$8.05
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Bar Nunn, WY
Afternoon
in Bar Nunn on Sunday
Local time
2:23 PM
MDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Gillette, WY
Afternoon
in Gillette on Sunday
Local time
2:23 PM
MDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 25m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route leans heavily towards highway driving, with 79% of the journey on these faster roads. Expect long, open stretches, including a continuous 51.3-mile segment on WY 387. The profile is largely highway-focused, meaning you'll experience consistent speeds and minimal interruptions. As you progress, the roads remain primarily state highways, maintaining a predictable driving experience throughout. The use of Horseshoe Road towards the end introduces a slight variation before reaching Gillette.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.3 mi on WY 387.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WY 387 and State Highway 59 South. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Salt Creek Highway.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Bar Nunn, WY to Gillette, WY is easy. At 2h 25m with 79% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Salt Creek Highway): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (Westwinds Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
Gillette is a city in Northeast Wyoming halfway between Sundance and Sheridan on I-90. Gillette is a coal mining town with a population of about 33,000 (2020). Because of the coal, oil, and natural gas production, the city calls itself the energy capital of the nation.
The longest stretch is about 51.3 miles on WY 387. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through WY can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Salt Creek Highway): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles (Westwinds Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Gillette, WY before heading back.
