This 436.7-mile journey from Buffalo, WY to Evanston, WY will take approximately 7 hours and 7 minutes of driving time. Primarily utilizing I-25 South and US 20 West, with a segment on the Casper West Belt, this route offers a straightforward drive within the Mountain West region. With a fuel cost estimated at $69 and two recommended stops, it's well-suited as a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight break. The overall feel is a turn-heavy local drive, so be prepared for a more engaged driving experience than a pure interstate cruise.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
218.4 miles from Buffalo, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
205.5 mi
3h 20m
I 25
108.1 mi
1h 41m
County Road 308
63.7 mi
1h 12m
US 287
44.1 mi
50m
Casper West Belt
7.3 mi
8m
US 20
2.7 mi
3m
West Spruce Street
1.5 mi
2m
North Main Street
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 205.5 mi, about 3h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, WY and Evanston, WY.
1
Start on I 25 Bus; US 16; US 87 Bus
1.2 mi·1 min·North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 25 South, US 87 South: Casper
3
Merge onto I 25; US 87
108 mi·1 hr 41 min·I 25; US 87
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward US 20 West, US 26 West, WY 220 West: Shoshoni, Port of Entry
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
6
Turn right onto US 20; US 26
2.7 mi·3 min·US 20; US 26
7
Continue on WY 257
7.3 mi·8 min·Casper West Belt
8
Turn right onto WY 220
64 mi·1 hr 12 min·County Road 308
9
Continue on US 287; WY 789
44 mi·50 min·US 287; WY 789
10
Turn right onto I 80 Bus; US 30 Bus; WY 789
1.5 mi·2 min·West Spruce Street
11
Take the ramp onto WY 789
0.6 mi·1 min·WY 789
12
Merge onto I 80; US 30; WY 789
206 mi·3 hr 20 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 5Toward WY 89 North, WY 150: Front Street
14
Turn right onto WY 89
0.6 mi·1 min·Front Street
15
Turn right onto Bear River Drive
351 ft·10 sec·Bear River Drive
16
Arrive at destination
Bear River Drive
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour drive, aim for an early morning departure from Buffalo, WY, to maximize daylight hours and allow ample time for your two planned stops. Since the route is characterized as 'turn-heavy local drive,' stay alert and mindful of changing road conditions and speed limits. The estimated fuel cost of $69 is helpful for budgeting, but ensure your tank is full before heading out, as services might be less frequent on these local roads compared to major interstates. Pacing your stops will be key to avoiding fatigue during this single-day trip.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 218.4 miles from Buffalo, WY, or about 3h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 205.5 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 96 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 218.4 miles or 3h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Evanston, WY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Buffalo, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Buffalo, WY
This is one driving day of about 436.8 miles and 7h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 96 miles from Buffalo, WY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 205.5 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 435.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|I 25 Bus; US 16; US 87 Bus / North Main Street
Depart onto I 25 Bus; US 16; US 87 Bus / North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
1.2 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 25 South, US 87 South: Casper
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 25 South, US 87 South: Casper
5
109.9 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Take the exit toward US 20 West, US 26 West, WY 220 West: Shoshoni, Port of Entry
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 20 West, US 26 West, WY 220 West: Sho...
4
110.2 mi into trip|~1h 45m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
435.8 mi into trip|~7h 24m in
Take the exit toward WY 89 North, WY 150: Front Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 5
Toward WY 89 North, WY 150: Front Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$69.22 one way
$138.43 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg153 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$72.55
$145.11
premium
$4.53
$77.92
$155.84
diesel
$5.61
$96.44
$192.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$69
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$94–$119
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 152.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $46 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
131
1
$45.86
$20.97
Efficient EV
109.2
1
$38.22
$17.47
EV Truck/SUV
174.7
2
$61.15
$27.96
Gas CO2
153 kg
EV CO2
51 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Buffalo, WY
Evening
in Buffalo on Saturday
Local time
7:10 PM
MDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Evanston, WY
Evening
in Evanston on Saturday
Local time
7:10 PM
MDT
Current temp
64°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
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 27m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a driving experience that's more hands-on than a typical interstate haul, as indicated by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile. With a 0% highway share, you won't be covering long distances on high-speed interstates. Instead, this route is characterized by its local road nature, meaning you'll likely encounter more varied speed limits and frequent turns. While there's no longest uninterrupted stretch specified, the emphasis on local roads suggests a journey where you'll be more connected to the changing terrain and potentially smaller communities along the way.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 205.5 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near I 25 Bus; US 16; US 87 Bus / North Main Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 27m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 13 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (I 25 Bus; US 16; US 87 Bus / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 109.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Buffalo, WY to Evanston, WY, road signs begin pointing toward Port Of Entry along the way.
Port Of Entry
109.9 mi in|~1h 44m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 27m. Total distance: 436.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 205.5 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Evanston, WY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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: near the start (I 25 Bus; US 16; US 87 Bus / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 109.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.5 hours each way, a round trip means 14.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Evanston, WY before the return drive.
