Cody to Saratoga is 301.7 miles and takes about 6h 9m via US 287, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wyoming, connecting the Mountain West region to itself. Expect a highway-focused drive with minimal towns, making it a straightforward point-to-point journey. Given the duration and distance, it's best tackled as a single-day trip, especially if you depart early. Plan for a direct drive with limited services, so ensure you have what you need before heading out.
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
150.9 miles from Cody, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 287
84.8 mi
1h 51m
WY 120
81.5 mi
1h 29m
Sand Draw Road
34.6 mi
51m
US 20
31 mi
36m
State Highway 130
19.6 mi
21m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
18.6 mi
18m
West 2nd Street
18.2 mi
20m
US 26
5.3 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
US 287
— 84.8 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cody, WY and Saratoga, WY.
1
Start on US 14A; WY 120
504 ft·22 sec·16th Street
2
Turn left onto Beck Avenue
493 ft·17 sec·Beck Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 14; US 16; US 20; WY 120
0.7 mi·1 min·17th Street
4
Continue on US 14; US 16; US 20; WY 120
1.4 mi·1 min·Greybull Highway
5
Turn right onto WY 120
82 mi·1 hr 29 min·WY 120
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn right onto South 8th Street
0.5 mi·2 min·South 8th Street
7
Turn right onto US 20; WY 789
0.7 mi·1 min·Shoshoni Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on US 20; WY 789
31 mi·36 min·US 20; WY 789
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn right onto US 26; WY 789
18 mi·20 min·West 2nd Street
10
Continue on US 26; WY 789
5.3 mi·6 min·US 26; WY 789
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left onto WY 135
1.0 mi·1 min·Gas Hills Road
12
Turn straight onto WY 135
35 mi·51 min·Sand Draw Road
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 287; WY 789
42 mi·1 hr 2 min·US 287; WY 789
14
Turn right onto US 287; WY 789
42 mi·48 min·US 287; WY 789
15
Turn left onto US 287 BYP
1.5 mi·1 min·US 287 BYP
16
At end of road, turn left onto I 80 Bus; US 30 Bus; US 287
1.0 mi·1 min·East Cedar Street
17
Take the exit onto US 287
0.4 mi·51 sec·US 287
18
Merge onto I 80; US 30; US 287
19 mi·18 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
19
Take the exit onto US 30; US 287
0.5 mi·40 sec·US 30; US 287
Toward US 30 East, US 287 South, WY 130 East: Walcott, Medicine Bow National Forest, Saratoga
20
Turn right onto WY 130; WY 230
20 mi·21 min·State Highway 130
21
Continue on WY 130; WY 230
0.6 mi·1 min·North 1st Street
22
Turn left onto East Bridge Avenue
347 ft·9 sec·East Bridge Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
East Bridge Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour drive time and 301.7-mile distance, starting your day in Cody early is recommended to ensure you reach Saratoga comfortably before dark. There's one main road, US 287, that you'll follow for the longest stretch, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge as services can be sparse. With a fuel cost estimated at $48, it's a manageable expense for a single-day trip. Pack snacks and drinks, as stops are limited, and make sure your vehicle is in good condition before departing.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 150.9 miles from Cody, WY, or about 2h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.8 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 66 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.9 miles or 2h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saratoga, 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 301.7 miles and 6h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 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 US 287 for about 84.8 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 281 — 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|Beck Avenue
Turn left onto Beck Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 14; US 16; US 20; WY 120 / 17th Street
Turn right onto US 14; US 16; US 20; WY 120 / 17th Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in|WY 120
Turn right onto WY 120
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
84.3 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|US 20; WY 789 / Shoshoni Street
Turn right onto US 20; WY 789 / Shoshoni Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
281 mi into trip|~5h 46m in|US 30; US 287
Take the exit onto US 30; US 287 toward US 30 East, US 287 South, WY 130 East: Walcott, Medicine Bow National Forest, Saratoga
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 30 East, US 287 South, WY 130 East: W...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.04 one way
$106.07 round trip
$4.47/gal25.4 MPG avg106 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.67
$55.46
$110.92
premium
$4.99
$59.27
$118.54
diesel
$5.35
$63.55
$127.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.5
1
$31.68
$14.48
Efficient EV
75.4
0
$26.40
$12.07
EV Truck/SUV
120.7
1
$42.24
$19.31
Gas CO2
106 kg
EV CO2
35 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
Cody, WY
Afternoon
in Cody on Wednesday
Local time
2:07 PM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Patchy Fog
0 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Saratoga, WY
Afternoon
in Saratoga on Wednesday
Local time
2:07 PM
MDT
Current temp
41°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 5 mph3% 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
2 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
6h 9m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route leans heavily into highway driving, with 74% of it on main roads like US 287 and WY 120. You'll encounter long stretches of open road, including one segment of 84.8 miles on US 287 without needing to turn. The profile is primarily highway-focused, meaning you'll experience a consistent driving pace for much of the journey. While not overly technical, the road does involve some rural highway travel, so be prepared for the expansive landscapes typical of Wyoming.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 84.8 mi on US 287.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 287 and WY 120. 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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 9m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 16 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Beck Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 14; US 16; US 20; WY 120 / 17th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (WY 120): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,879 ft4,401 ft
Total Climb
3,687 ft
Total Descent
1,807 ft
Highest Point
6,879 ft
~258.6 mi in
Elevation Range
2,478 ft
Notable High Points
5,889 ft at ~21.6 miles+827 ft prominence
6,641 ft at ~172.4 miles+319 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 Cody, WY to Saratoga, WY, road signs begin pointing toward Medicine Bow National Forest along the way.
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.
The longest stretch is about 84.8 miles on US 287. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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 Saratoga, 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 6 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 (Beck Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 14; US 16; US 20; WY 120 / 17th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (WY 120): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Saratoga, WY before the return drive.
