Cheyenne to Thermopolis is 308.3 miles and takes about 5h 27m via I 25 and West Yellowstone Highway, with a fuel budget near $53 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, moving from Wyoming's capital to a town known for its hot springs. The majority of this drive is on interstates, offering a straightforward path, but expect a shift to surface roads as you approach your destination. It's a solid choice for a single-day excursion if you're looking for a direct route through Wyoming.
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
154.1 miles from Cheyenne, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 25
177.3 mi
2h 53m
West Yellowstone Highway
93.8 mi
1h 46m
Idaho Street
31.9 mi
38m
US 20
3 mi
3m
Randall Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
South 6th Street
0.5 mi
1m
Carey Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Hynds Boulevard
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 177.3 mi, about 2h 53m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 56 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~378 veh/hr typical
· worst 559
Quietest
2 AM
~27 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 89 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cheyenne, WY and Thermopolis, 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
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward US 20 West, US 26 West, WY 220 West: Shoshoni, Port of Entry
12
Keep slight left at fork
350 ft·10 sec
13
Turn left onto US 20; US 26
3.0 mi·3 min·US 20; US 26
14
Turn right onto US 20; US 26
94 mi·1 hr 46 min·West Yellowstone Highway
15
Turn right onto US 20; WY 789
32 mi·38 min·Idaho Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto US 20; WY 789
0.5 mi·1 min·South 6th Street
Use the slight left / right lanes.
17
Arrive at destination
US 20; WY 789
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 27m drive time, leaving Cheyenne in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach Thermopolis. The 308.3-mile trip is manageable in one day, but plan for one stop to break up the drive and refuel. Since a significant portion is on I 25, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 177.3-mile stretch, as services can be spread out. The estimated fuel cost is $53, so budget accordingly. The shift from interstate to surface roads means you'll want to be more aware of posted speed limits and potential local traffic as you get closer to Thermopolis.
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 154.1 miles from Cheyenne, WY, or about 2h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 177.3 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 68 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 154.1 miles or 2h 30m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Thermopolis, 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 308.3 miles and 5h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 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 177.3 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 0.1 and 275.9 — 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
5
178.7 mi into trip|~2h 56m 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
179.1 mi into trip|~2h 57m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
182.1 mi into trip|~3h 1m in|US 20; US 26 / West Yellowstone Highway
Turn right onto US 20; US 26 / West Yellowstone Highway
Navigation decision point
5
275.9 mi into trip|~4h 47m in|US 20; WY 789 / Idaho Street
Turn right onto US 20; WY 789 / Idaho Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.53 one way
$111.06 round trip
$4.58/gal25.4 MPG avg108 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.78
$57.99
$115.99
premium
$5.11
$61.98
$123.95
diesel
$6.18
$75.00
$150.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 107.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
92.5
1
$32.37
$14.80
Efficient EV
77.1
0
$26.98
$12.33
EV Truck/SUV
123.3
1
$43.16
$19.73
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Cheyenne, WY
Morning
in Cheyenne on Saturday
Local time
11:27 AM
MDT
Current temp
36°F
Clear
WSW 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Thermopolis, WY
Morning
in Thermopolis on Saturday
Local time
11:27 AM
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
26 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 27m 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?
About 58% of this route is on highways, with the longest stretch of continuous highway driving covering 177.3 miles on I 25. You'll transition from the interstate environment to West Yellowstone Highway and Idaho Street, which are surface roads. Expect a mix of open highway cruising and potentially more local traffic as you near Thermopolis. The change from high-speed interstate to surface roads will be noticeable.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 177.3 mi on I 25.
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 0.1 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 27m 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 0.1 miles (Carey Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 178.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 179.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,089 ft4,328 ft
Total Climb
1,290 ft
Total Descent
3,051 ft
Highest Point
6,089 ft
Elevation Range
1,761 ft
Notable High Points
4,909 ft at ~88.1 miles+34 ft prominence
5,957 ft at ~220.2 miles+109 ft prominence
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 Cheyenne, WY to Thermopolis, WY, road signs begin pointing toward Port Of Entry along the way.
Cheyenne is the state capital and largest city (approximate 2020 population 64,000) of Wyoming. Cheyenne is a place that celebrates its history and "true Western" culture. It is not uncommon to see cowboy hats, boots, and the belt as daily attire. It is host to the annual Frontier Days, one of the largest rodeos in North America.
Top landmarks
•Wyoming State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Wyoming
•Cheyenne Depot Museum — former railroad station and current museum in Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States
•Boeing/United Airlines Terminal Building, Hangar and Fountain
Thermopolis is a town in Northwest Wyoming, USA, notable for the presence of one of the world's largest hot springs. There were 2,700 people living there in 2020.
The longest stretch is about 177.3 miles on I 25. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 178.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 179.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 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 Thermopolis, WY before the return drive.
