Cody, WY to Jackson, WY is 177.2 miles and takes about 4h 49m via North Fork Highway, North Highway 89, and East Entrance Road, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day drive will take you across Wyoming's Mountain West region, offering a classic Western feel. It's a manageable distance for a single day's travel, making it a straightforward option if you're looking to connect these two points efficiently. You won't need an overnight stop, but plan for the duration to include any brief pauses you might want along the way.
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
88.6 miles from Cody, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Fork Highway
48.1 mi
1h 6m
North Highway 89
29.3 mi
40m
East Entrance Road
25.9 mi
49m
South Entrance Road
21.5 mi
38m
Grand Loop Road
20.6 mi
34m
North Park Road
20.5 mi
36m
John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway
6.4 mi
11m
Yellowstone Avenue
2.7 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
North Fork Highway
— 48.1 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cody, WY and Jackson, WY.
1
Start on US 14A; WY 120
504 ft·18 sec·16th Street
2
Turn right onto Beck Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Beck Avenue
3
Turn left onto 11th Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·11th Street
4
Turn right onto Canyon Avenue
0.3 mi·50 sec·Canyon Avenue
5
Turn left onto US 14; US 16; US 20
0.2 mi·43 sec·8th Street
6
Continue on US 14; US 16; US 20
2.7 mi·5 min·Yellowstone Avenue
7
Continue on US 14; US 16; US 20
48 mi·1 hr 6 min·North Fork Highway
8
Continue on East Entrance Road
26 mi·49 min·East Entrance Road
9
At end of road, turn left onto Grand Loop Road
21 mi·34 min·Grand Loop Road
10
At end of road, turn left onto South Entrance Road
22 mi·38 min·South Entrance Road
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 89; US 191; US 287
6.4 mi·11 min·John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway
12
Continue on US 89; US 191; US 287
21 mi·36 min·North Park Road
13
At end of road, turn right onto US 26; US 89; US 191
23 mi·32 min·North Highway 89
14
Enter roundabout onto US 26; US 89; US 191
97 ft·5 sec·North Highway 89
15
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191
6.0 mi·8 min·North Highway 89
16
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191
0.8 mi·2 min·North Cache Street
17
Arrive at destination
US 26; US 89; US 191
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour and 49 minute estimated drive time, leaving Cody, WY in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. While there's only one recommended stop, consider breaking up the 48.1-mile longest stretch on North Fork Highway for a quick stretch or to refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $28 estimate is based on current prices and distances, and services can be spaced out. This is a route where flexibility is key; you can depart when it suits you best and make spontaneous, brief pauses as needed.
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 88.6 miles from Cody, WY, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.1 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 39 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.6 miles or 2h 22m 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 2m
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 Cody, 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 Cody, WY
This is one driving day of about 177.2 miles and 4h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Cody, 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 North Fork Highway for about 48.1 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 98.6 — 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|Beck Avenue
Turn right onto Beck Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|Canyon Avenue
Turn right onto Canyon Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|US 14; US 16; US 20 / 8th Street
Turn left onto US 14; US 16; US 20 / 8th Street
Navigation decision point
4
78 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|Grand Loop Road
At end of road, turn left onto Grand Loop Road
Navigation decision point
7
98.6 mi into trip|~2h 39m in|South Entrance Road
At end of road, turn left onto South Entrance Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.08 one way
$56.16 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$29.43
$58.87
premium
$4.53
$31.61
$63.22
diesel
$5.61
$39.12
$78.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.2
0
$18.61
$8.51
Efficient EV
44.3
0
$15.50
$7.09
EV Truck/SUV
70.9
0
$24.81
$11.34
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Cody, WY
Evening
in Cody on Saturday
Local time
8:45 PM
MDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jackson, WY
Evening
in Jackson on Saturday
Local time
8:45 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
6 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
4h 49m 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.
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
$35
near mile 158.8
On March 1, 1872, Yellowstone became the first national park for all to enjoy the unique hydrothermal wonders. Today, millions of people come here each year to camp, hike, and enjoy the majesty of the...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized by its turn-heavy local feel, with a highway share of only 20%. Expect a dynamic driving experience rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. The longest stretch without a significant turn or change in road type is 48.1 miles on North Fork Highway. As you progress, the route will shift between different local roads, requiring your attention and offering a varied journey through the landscape.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.1 mi on North Fork Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Beck 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 4h 49m 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 0.1 miles (Beck Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (Canyon Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 14; US 16; US 20 / 8th Street): Navigation decision point.
Cody is in Northwest Wyoming, close to the east side Yellowstone National Park. Unlike Jackson, with its pet spas and high-end shopping, Cody is more authentically cowboy. Cody is famous for its rodeo, which occurs nightly during the summer, and for its proximity to fantastic wilderness adventures in Yellowstone and in the national forests surrounding the park.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48.1 miles on North Fork 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 (Beck Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (Canyon Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 14; US 16; US 20 / 8th Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Jackson, WY, but most travelers stay overnight.
