Spanning 336.3 miles across the heart of the Mountain West, this journey from Buffalo to Jackson typically takes about 6 hours and 16 minutes behind the wheel. Given the duration, you can comfortably tackle this as a single-day trip, though you should budget approximately $53 for fuel to complete the trek. Your path navigates away from Buffalo via Fort Street, North 6th Street, and Shoshoni Street. Since both cities are located within the same region, you will experience a consistent western atmosphere throughout the transit. It is a straightforward, manageable drive for those looking to reach their destination without needing an overnight split.
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
170.5 miles from Buffalo, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Fort Street
96.9 mi
2h 21m
East Main Street
77.9 mi
1h 27m
US 20
56.9 mi
1h 7m
US 26 / US 287
53.2 mi
1h
North Highway 89
29.3 mi
40m
West 2nd Street
18.2 mi
20m
US 26
4 mi
4m
East Ramshorn Street
2.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Fort Street
— 96.9 mi, about 2h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, WY and Jackson, WY.
1
Start on I 25 Bus; US 16; US 87 Bus
30 ft·4 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 16
97 mi·2 hr 21 min·Fort Street
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on US 20; WY 789
26 mi·31 min·US 20; WY 789
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
4
Continue on US 20; WY 789
0.8 mi·2 min·North 6th Street
Use the slight left / right lanes.
5
Turn right onto US 20; WY 789
0.9 mi·2 min·Shoshoni Street
Use the left / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 20; WY 789
31 mi·36 min·US 20; WY 789
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn right onto US 26; WY 789
18 mi·20 min·West 2nd Street
8
Continue on US 26; WY 789
4.0 mi·4 min·US 26; WY 789
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto US 26
78 mi·1 hr 27 min·East Main Street
10
Turn left onto US 26; US 287
2.2 mi·2 min·East Ramshorn Street
11
Continue on US 26; US 287
53 mi·1 hr·US 26 / US 287
12
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191
23 mi·32 min·North Highway 89
13
Enter roundabout onto US 26; US 89; US 191
97 ft·5 sec·North Highway 89
14
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191
6.0 mi·8 min·North Highway 89
15
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191
0.8 mi·2 min·North Cache Street
16
Arrive at destination
US 26; US 89; US 191
Trip Plan
For the smoothest experience, plan your departure early in the morning to maximize daylight hours for navigating the local turns. Since you have one planned stop along the way, use that time to stretch your legs and ensure your fuel levels stay consistent with your $53 budget. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition between Fort Street, North 6th Street, and Shoshoni Street, as the lack of highway stretches means you will encounter more intersections and turns than a typical interstate route. Flexibility is a major advantage here, so adjust your pace based on the local road conditions you encounter. Always double-check your vehicle's fluid levels before departing, as the turn-heavy nature of this 336.3-mile route can be more demanding on your car than straight-line travel.
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 170.5 miles from Buffalo, WY, or about 3h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 96.9 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 75 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 170.5 miles or 3h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jackson, 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 341 miles and 7h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 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 Fort Street for about 96.9 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 334.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 16 / Fort Street
Turn right onto US 16 / Fort Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
123.6 mi into trip|~2h 55m in|US 20; WY 789 / Shoshoni Street
Turn right onto US 20; WY 789 / Shoshoni Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / slight right lanes.
4
155.5 mi into trip|~3h 34m in|US 26; WY 789 / West 2nd Street
Turn right onto US 26; WY 789 / West 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
3
177.6 mi into trip|~3h 59m in|US 26 / East Main Street
Turn right onto US 26 / East Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
334.2 mi into trip|~7h 2m in|US 26; US 89; US 191 / North Highway 89
Enter roundabout onto US 26; US 89; US 191 / North Highway 89
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.04 one way
$108.07 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg119 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$56.64
$113.28
premium
$4.53
$60.83
$121.66
diesel
$5.61
$75.29
$150.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 119.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
102.3
1
$35.81
$16.37
Efficient EV
85.3
0
$29.84
$13.64
EV Truck/SUV
136.4
1
$47.74
$21.82
Gas CO2
119 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (66% 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
7:09 PM
MDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jackson, WY
Evening
in Jackson on Saturday
Local time
7:09 PM
MDT
Current temp
62°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
7 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 13m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Grand Teton National Park
National Park
Soaring over a landscape rich with wildlife, pristine lakes, and majestic alpine vistas, the Teton Range stands as a testament to generations of stewards. For over 11,000 years, communities have thriv...
7 mi from route
~19 min detour
$35
near mile 317.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will find yourself navigating local roads that demand your full attention, providing a more engaged driving experience than a standard high-speed corridor. Because the path relies entirely on local thoroughfares, the pace is dictated by the road's layout rather than cruise control settings. This technical, winding character makes the journey feel more deliberate and connected to the landscape. Prepare for a drive where your hands stay busy on the wheel, navigating the specific turns required to traverse the interior of Wyoming.
42% 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: 96.9 mi on Fort Street.
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 US 16 / Fort 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 13m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 6 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 16 / Fort Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 123.6 miles (US 20; WY 789 / Shoshoni Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 155.5 miles (US 26; WY 789 / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 13m. Total distance: 341 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 96.9 miles on Fort Street. 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 Jackson, 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 (US 16 / Fort Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 123.6 miles (US 20; WY 789 / Shoshoni Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 155.5 miles (US 26; WY 789 / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Grand Teton National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.2 hours each way, a round trip means 14.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Jackson, WY before the return drive.
