Spanning 287 miles through the heart of the Mountain West, your trip from Casper to Jackson typically takes 5 hours and 39 minutes behind the wheel. Because this journey fits comfortably into a single day, it serves as an efficient connection between these two Wyoming hubs. You should budget approximately $45 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating via West Yellowstone Highway, East Main Street, and US 26 / US 287, you will experience a diverse transit across the state. While it is entirely possible to complete this drive in one go, planning for at least one stop will help you stay fresh. This route is straightforward and practical for travelers looking to move between the central plains and the western mountain regions.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
143.5 miles from Casper, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
West Yellowstone Highway
94.3 mi
1h 47m
East Main Street
77.9 mi
1h 27m
US 26 / US 287
53.2 mi
1h
North Highway 89
29.3 mi
40m
US 26
21.6 mi
24m
US 20
5.1 mi
6m
East Ramshorn Street
2.2 mi
2m
Bryan Stock Trail
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
West Yellowstone Highway
— 94.3 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Casper, WY and Jackson, WY.
1
Start on North Sunlight Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·North Sunlight Drive
2
Turn right
0.1 mi·33 sec
3
Turn right onto East Sunlight Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·East Sunlight Drive
4
At end of road, turn right onto Bryan Stock Trail
1.1 mi·1 min·Bryan Stock Trail
5
Turn right onto US 20; US 26; US 87
0.2 mi·16 sec·East F Street
6
Take the ramp onto US 20; US 26; US 87
2.1 mi·2 min·US 20; US 26; US 87
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward US 20 West, US 26 West, WY 220 West: Shoshoni, Port of Entry
8
Keep slight left at fork
350 ft·10 sec
9
Turn left onto US 20; US 26
3.0 mi·3 min·US 20; US 26
10
Turn right onto US 20; US 26
94 mi·1 hr 47 min·West Yellowstone Highway
11
Continue on US 26; WY 789
18 mi·20 min·US 26; WY 789
12
Continue on US 26; WY 789
4.0 mi·4 min·US 26; WY 789
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto US 26
78 mi·1 hr 27 min·East Main Street
14
Turn left onto US 26; US 287
2.2 mi·2 min·East Ramshorn Street
15
Continue on US 26; US 287
53 mi·1 hr·US 26 / US 287
16
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191
23 mi·32 min·North Highway 89
17
Enter roundabout onto US 26; US 89; US 191
97 ft·5 sec·North Highway 89
18
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191
6.0 mi·8 min·North Highway 89
19
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191
0.8 mi·2 min·North Cache Street
20
Arrive at destination
US 26; US 89; US 191
Trip Plan
To make the most of your journey, aim to depart early in the morning to avoid fatigue during the longer stretches of the drive. Since you have a planned stop built into this itinerary, use that time to refuel and stretch your legs, especially given the $45 fuel expenditure. Keep a close eye on your mileage during the 94.3-mile West Yellowstone Highway segment, as this is your longest stretch without a break. Because the route is categorized as a mixed drive, stay alert for changing road conditions as you transition between the major highways. Maintaining a steady pace will ensure you arrive in Jackson feeling ready for whatever activity you have planned next.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 143.5 miles from Casper, WY, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.3 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 63 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.5 miles or 2h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 31m
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 Casper, 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 Casper, WY
This is one driving day of about 287 miles and 5h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Casper, WY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on West Yellowstone Highway for about 94.3 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 7.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
0.9 mi into trip|~3m in|Bryan Stock Trail
At end of road, turn right onto Bryan Stock Trail
Navigation decision point
5
4.3 mi into trip|~8m 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
4.7 mi into trip|~9m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
7.7 mi into trip|~13m in|US 20; US 26 / West Yellowstone Highway
Turn right onto US 20; US 26 / West Yellowstone Highway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.48 one way
$90.96 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$47.67
$95.34
premium
$4.53
$51.20
$102.39
diesel
$5.61
$63.37
$126.73
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.1
1
$30.13
$13.78
Efficient EV
71.8
0
$25.11
$11.48
EV Truck/SUV
114.8
1
$40.18
$18.37
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
34 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
Casper, WY
Evening
in Casper on Saturday
Local time
7:08 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jackson, WY
Evening
in Jackson on Saturday
Local time
7:08 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
18 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
5h 39m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 mixed drive that transitions across different road types as you head west. With a highway share of 38 percent, you will spend a significant portion of your time on smaller or local stretches rather than just monotonous interstates. Your longest uninterrupted segment occurs on the West Yellowstone Highway, which spans 94.3 miles, requiring sustained attention. As you progress, the road environment shifts, keeping the experience varied rather than strictly uniform. Being prepared for these changes in road character is key to staying comfortable throughout the nearly six-hour duration.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 94.3 mi on West Yellowstone Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 around 0.3 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 39m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (Bryan Stock Trail): Navigation decision point; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 39m. Total distance: 287 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 94.3 miles on West Yellowstone 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 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: at 0.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (Bryan Stock Trail): Navigation decision point; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 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.
