Traveling from Cheyenne to Sheridan covers 324.4 miles through the heart of the Mountain West, typically taking about 5 hours and 19 minutes of pure drive time. While you could technically complete this journey in a single day, it is a significant stretch that demands focus. Budgeting approximately $50 for fuel will get you from the southern edge of Wyoming to the northern reaches near the Bighorn Mountains. Because this is a highway-focused route, you will spend the vast majority of your time cruising through the expansive Wyoming landscape. It serves as a reliable transit path, though you should plan for at least one stop to keep yourself fresh behind the wheel.
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
162.2 miles from Cheyenne, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 25
288.9 mi
4h 39m
US 87
31.5 mi
33m
Coffeen Avenue
1.8 mi
2m
Randall Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
I 90
0.4 mi
<1m
East Brundage Lane
0.3 mi
<1m
South Main Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Carey Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 288.9 mi, about 4h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cheyenne, WY and Sheridan, WY.
1
Start on West 24th Street
292 ft·12 sec·West 24th Street
2
Turn right onto Carey Avenue
0.1 mi·13 sec·Carey Avenue
3
Turn slight left onto Randall Avenue
0.9 mi·1 min·Randall Avenue
4
Turn right onto Hynds Boulevard
338 ft·5 sec·Hynds Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
6
Merge onto I 25; US 87
1.5 mi·1 min·I 25; US 87
7
Continue on I 25; US 85; US 87
3.9 mi·4 min·I 25; US 85; US 87
8
Continue on I 25; US 87
76 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 25; US 87
9
Continue on I 25; US 26; US 87
34 mi·31 min·I 25; US 26; US 87
10
Continue on I 25; US 20; US 26; US 87
62 mi·1 hr 5 min·I 25; US 20; US 26; US 87
11
Continue on I 25; US 87
112 mi·1 hr 45 min·I 25; US 87
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 87
31 mi·33 min·US 87
Toward I 90 West, US 87 North: Sheridan
13
Take the exit onto I 90
0.4 mi·57 sec·I 90
Toward Brundage Lane
14
Turn left onto I 90 Business; US 14; US 87
0.3 mi·36 sec·East Brundage Lane
15
Turn right onto I 90 Business; US 14 Business; US 87 Business
1.8 mi·2 min·Coffeen Avenue
16
Turn right onto I 90 Business; US 14 Business; US 87 Business
0.1 mi·18 sec·South Main Street
17
Turn left onto West Loucks Street
80 ft·1 sec·West Loucks Street
18
Arrive at destination
West Loucks Street
Trip Plan
Because this drive is over five hours long, aim to depart early in the morning to avoid fatigue during the final approach to Sheridan. Since your longest stretch spans nearly 290 miles, make sure to top off your tank before leaving Cheyenne to comfortably stay within your $50 fuel budget. Plan for at least one deliberate stop to stretch your legs, as the continuous interstate driving can become monotonous. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during that long I-25 segment, as facilities can be spaced out. A flexible start time is your best asset, allowing you to bypass peak traffic periods and maintain a steady pace for the duration of the trip.
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 162.2 miles from Cheyenne, WY, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 288.9 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 71 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 162.2 miles or 2h 39m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sheridan, WY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cheyenne, 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 Cheyenne, WY
This is one driving day of about 324.4 miles and 5h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Cheyenne, 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 I 25 for about 288.9 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 324.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Carey Avenue
Turn right onto Carey Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
290.3 mi into trip|~4h 41m in|US 87
Keep slight left at fork onto US 87 toward I 90 West, US 87 North: Sheridan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 West, US 87 North: Sheridan
4
321.7 mi into trip|~5h 15m in|I 90
Take the exit onto I 90 toward Brundage Lane
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Brundage Lane
4
322.1 mi into trip|~5h 16m in|I 90 Business; US 14; US 87 / East Brundage Lane
Turn left onto I 90 Business; US 14; US 87 / East Brundage Lane
Navigation decision point
5
324.4 mi into trip|~5h 19m in|West Loucks Street
Turn left onto West Loucks Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.41 one way
$102.81 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg114 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$53.88
$107.77
premium
$4.53
$57.87
$115.74
diesel
$5.61
$71.62
$143.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
97.3
1
$34.06
$15.57
Efficient EV
81.1
0
$28.38
$12.98
EV Truck/SUV
129.8
1
$45.42
$20.76
Gas CO2
114 kg
EV CO2
38 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
Cheyenne, WY
Evening
in Cheyenne on Saturday
Local time
7:10 PM
MDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sheridan, WY
Evening
in Sheridan on Saturday
Local time
7:10 PM
MDT
Current temp
71°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 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 19m 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 straightforward, high-speed experience, as 99% of this trip takes place on highways. You will spend the bulk of your journey on I-25, which accounts for a massive 288.9-mile uninterrupted stretch. The road is consistent and efficient, moving you steadily north through the state's interior. As you approach your destination, the transition onto US-87 and Coffeen Avenue signals the final leg of your journey into Sheridan. This is a classic interstate grind designed for making miles quickly rather than navigating technical backroads.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 288.9 mi on I 25.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 25 and US 87. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Carey Avenue.
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 19m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Carey Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 290.3 miles (US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 321.7 miles (I 90): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 19m. Total distance: 324.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 288.9 miles on I 25. 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 0.1 miles (Carey Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 290.3 miles (US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 321.7 miles (I 90): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sheridan, WY before the return drive.
