Origin
Casper, WY
Late night in Casper on Tuesday
Local time
2:54 AM
MDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Casper, WY to Pinedale, WY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 25m
Distance
282.3 mi
454 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 12m
★
6 AM
5h 26m
8 AM
5h 52m
10 AM
5h 35m
12 PM
5h 32m
3 PM
5h 36m
5 PM
5h 51m
8 PM
5h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Casper, WY
Taryn Elliott
Pinedale, WY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Casper to Pinedale is 282.3 miles and takes about 5h 25m via West Yellowstone Highway and Highway 28, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you across Wyoming's Mountain West region, offering a mixed drive experience. You'll spend a good portion of your time on highways, but expect some travel on surface roads as well. Given the drive time and distance, it's a manageable day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
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
141.2 miles from Casper, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 45m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Yellowstone Highway | 94.3 mi | 1h 47m |
| Highway 28 | 66.5 mi | 1h 15m |
| Farson Mercantile | 47.5 mi | 51m |
| US 26 | 36.6 mi | 41m |
| United States Highway 191 | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| South Main Street | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| East Main Street | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| US 20 | 5.1 mi | 6m |
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 Pinedale, 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
19 mi
·
21 min
·
US 26; WY 789
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on WY 789
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
South Main Street
14
Turn left onto US 287; WY 789
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
East Main Street
15
Continue on WY 28
66 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
Highway 28
16
Turn right onto US 191
47 mi
·
51 min
·
Farson Mercantile
17
Continue on US 191
11 mi
·
12 min
·
United States Highway 191
18
Continue on US 191
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
US Highway 191
19
Continue on US 191
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Pine Street
20
Arrive at destination
US 191
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 25m drive time, starting your trip from Casper in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight. With only one suggested stop, you have ample flexibility to pace yourself; consider a brief pause around the 94.3-mile mark on West Yellowstone Highway if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $45, and plan your refueling accordingly, especially before heading into longer stretches. The transition from highway to surface roads near Farson Mercantile means you'll want to be aware of your surroundings as you near Pinedale.
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 141.2 miles from Casper, WY, or about 2h 45m 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 62 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141.2 miles or 2h 45m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pinedale, 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 282.3 miles and 5h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
141 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 62 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 141.2 miles from Casper, WY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before West Yellowstone Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 94.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 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
$44.73 one way
$89.47 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
99 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $46.89 | $93.78 |
| premium | $4.53 | $50.36 | $100.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $62.33 | $124.66 |
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: 98.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 84.7 | 1 | $29.64 | $13.55 |
| Efficient EV | 70.6 | 0 | $24.70 | $11.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 112.9 | 1 | $39.52 | $18.07 |
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 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.
Destination
Pinedale, WY
Late night in Pinedale on Tuesday
Local time
2:54 AM
MDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Riverton, WY
141 mi in
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
5h 25m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
About 42% of this route is on highways, with the longest continuous stretch on West Yellowstone Highway covering 94.3 miles. You'll transition from highway cruising to surface roads, with the Farson Mercantile area marking a notable point in this change. Expect a mixed drive profile with stretches of open road and some more localized travel as you approach your destination.
42% 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 Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 25m drive. You will face about 8 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.
About the Cities
Starting in Casper, WY
Full guide →Casper is a city in Central Wyoming with a population of 59,000 people (2020). If you're passing through the state, Casper is a likely choice for an overnight stop or as a place to find food and supplies before heading to the national parks in the state's northwestern corner or to the forests located to the southeast or to the north. The city has a few attractions to entertain visitors for a day or so, but the real attraction lies in the surrounding areas, which include some of the state's most interesting historical and natural sites. Independence Rock, South Pass City, Ayre's Bridge, Castle Gardens and two national forests are within a 60-mile (100-km) drive of downtown Casper. The Oregon and California trails once passed through the city and visible signs of their presence can be found within a stone's throw of the city's boundaries.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 25m. Total distance: 282.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Pinedale, WY before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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