Cheyenne to Wilson is 436.9 miles and takes about 7h 52m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $77 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wyoming, moving you from the Mountain West region to another part of the same region. The route primarily uses major highways before transitioning to more surface roads as you approach your destination. It's a solid day's drive if you're looking to cover ground efficiently within the state.
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
218.5 miles from Cheyenne, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
253.1 mi
4h 9m
US 191
85.9 mi
1h 35m
United States Highway 191
73 mi
1h 24m
South Highway 89
11.8 mi
17m
West Highway 22
5.6 mi
9m
West Lincolnway
2.5 mi
4m
South Pine Street
2.2 mi
5m
Elk Street
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 253.1 mi, about 4h 9m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~445 veh/hr typical
· worst 685
Quietest
2 AM
~82 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 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 Wilson, WY.
1
Start on West 24th Street
401 ft·15 sec·West 24th Street
2
Turn right onto I 25 BUS; US 85; US 87 BUS
0.5 mi·49 sec·Central Avenue
3
Turn right onto I 80 Business; US 30
2.5 mi·4 min·West Lincolnway
4
Take the ramp onto US 30
0.7 mi·1 min·US 30
5
Merge onto I 80; US 30
253 mi·4 hr 9 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto US 191
0.4 mi·50 sec·US 191
Toward US 191 North
7
Turn right onto US 191
0.9 mi·1 min·Elk Street
8
Continue on US 191
86 mi·1 hr 34 min·US 191
9
Continue on US 191
11 mi·12 min·United States Highway 191
10
Continue on US 191
0.4 mi·42 sec·US Highway 191
11
Continue on US 191
2.2 mi·5 min·South Pine Street
12
Continue on US 191
62 mi·1 hr 11 min·United States Highway 191
13
Enter roundabout onto US 26; US 89; US 189; US 191
19 ft·0 sec·South Highway 89
14
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 189; US 191
12 mi·17 min·South Highway 89
15
Turn left onto WY 22
3.9 mi·6 min·West Highway 22
16
Continue on WY 22
1.7 mi·3 min·West Highway 22
17
Turn right onto West Street
0.2 mi·51 sec·West Street
18
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7 hour 52 minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Cheyenne to allow ample time for stops. With 2 planned stops, you can break up the 436.9 miles into manageable segments. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you move away from the main highway stretches, and plan your fuel stops accordingly. The $77 fuel estimate is based on current averages, so adjust as needed. Given the duration, completing this drive in one day is feasible, but don't hesitate to adjust your pace.
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 218.5 miles from Cheyenne, WY, or about 3h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 253.1 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 96 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 218.5 miles or 3h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wilson, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cheyenne, WY
This is one driving day of about 436.9 miles and 7h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 96 miles from Cheyenne, 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 253.1 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 257.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|I 25 BUS; US 85; US 87 BUS / Central Avenue
Turn right onto I 25 BUS; US 85; US 87 BUS / Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|I 80 Business; US 30 / West Lincolnway
Turn right onto I 80 Business; US 30 / West Lincolnway
Navigation decision point
5
3.8 mi into trip|~6m in|I 80; US 30 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Merge onto I 80; US 30 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
257 mi into trip|~4h 16m in|US 191
Take the exit onto US 191 toward US 191 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 191 North
4
257.3 mi into trip|~4h 17m in|US 191 / Elk Street
Turn right onto US 191 / Elk Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$76.80 one way
$153.60 round trip
$4.47/gal25.4 MPG avg153 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.67
$80.31
$160.62
premium
$4.99
$85.83
$171.66
diesel
$5.35
$92.02
$184.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$77
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$102–$127
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 152.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $46 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
131.1
1
$45.87
$20.97
Efficient EV
109.2
1
$38.23
$17.48
EV Truck/SUV
174.8
2
$61.17
$27.96
Gas CO2
153 kg
EV CO2
51 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Cheyenne, WY
Afternoon
in Cheyenne on Wednesday
Local time
2:36 PM
MDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Cloudy
NW 5 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Wilson, WY
Afternoon
in Wilson on Wednesday
Local time
2:36 PM
MDT
Current temp
31°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive 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
17 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 52m 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...
24 mi from route
~59 min detour
$35
near mile 436.9
Park Closure: Construction in the south end of the park
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 41% highway driving, with the longest continuous stretch on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway measuring 253.1 miles. You'll experience substantial highway cruising for a significant portion of the trip before transitioning to more varied surface roads. Expect to notice the shift from high-speed highway travel to more rural driving conditions as you get closer to Wilson.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 253.1 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
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 around 0.1 miles in near I 25 BUS; US 85; US 87 BUS / Central Avenue.
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 52m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 8 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (I 25 BUS; US 85; US 87 BUS / Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (I 80 Business; US 30 / West Lincolnway): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (I 80; US 30 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
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
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 253.1 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 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.
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 Wilson, 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. There are 15 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 (I 25 BUS; US 85; US 87 BUS / Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (I 80 Business; US 30 / West Lincolnway): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (I 80; US 30 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Grand Teton National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.9 hours each way, a round trip means 15.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Wilson, WY before the return drive.
