This 432.1-mile journey from Evanston, WY to Lusk, WY will take approximately 7 hours and 36 minutes of driving time. It's a solid day trip, covering a significant distance within the Mountain West region. The route primarily utilizes local roads, with a considerable number of turns, suggesting a more involved driving experience than a simple interstate cruise. Budget around $68 for fuel, and plan for about 2 stops along the way to break up the drive. This trip offers a true taste of Wyoming's landscape without requiring an overnight stay.
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
216.1 miles from Evanston, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
205.8 mi
3h 20m
WY 220
63.7 mi
1h 12m
3rd Street
44.1 mi
50m
US Highway 20
23.3 mi
25m
US Highway 18/20
18.4 mi
20m
Casper West Belt
7.3 mi
8m
US 20
2.7 mi
3m
West Spruce Street
1.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 205.8 mi, about 3h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Evanston, WY and Lusk, WY.
1
Start on Bear River Drive
351 ft·17 sec·Bear River Drive
2
Turn left onto I 80 BUS; US 189 BUS
0.7 mi·1 min·Front Street
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 189 North
4
Merge onto I 80; US 189
206 mi·3 hr 20 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5
Take the exit onto WY 789
0.4 mi·52 sec·WY 789
Toward I 80 Business East, WY 789 North: Rawlins
6
Turn left onto I 80 Bus; US 30 Bus; WY 789
1.7 mi·2 min·West Spruce Street
7
Turn left onto US 287; WY 789
44 mi·50 min·3rd Street
8
Continue on WY 220
64 mi·1 hr 12 min·WY 220
9
Turn left onto WY 257
7.3 mi·8 min·Casper West Belt
10
Continue on US 20; US 26
2.7 mi·3 min·US 20; US 26
11
Take the exit
63 mi·1 hr 6 min
12
Take the exit onto I 25
0.3 mi·41 sec·I 25
Toward US 18 East, US 20 East: Lusk
13
Turn left onto US 18; US 20
18 mi·20 min·US Highway 18/20
14
Continue on US 18; US 20
23 mi·25 min·US Highway 20
15
Continue on US 18; US 20
0.2 mi·32 sec·West 8th Street
16
Turn left onto US 18; US 20; US 85
0.5 mi·1 min·South Main Street
17
Arrive at destination
US 18; US 20; US 85
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour and 36-minute duration and the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, starting early from Evanston, WY is advisable to maximize daylight. With 2 planned stops, you can easily break up the 432.1 miles into manageable segments, perhaps one mid-morning and another for lunch. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as local roads can sometimes have fewer services than major highways, and your estimated fuel cost is $68. A specific tip for this route: be prepared for frequent adjustments due to the numerous turns; have your navigation clearly set up before you depart.
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 216.1 miles from Evanston, WY, or about 3h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 205.8 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 95 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 216.1 miles or 3h 35m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lusk, WY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Evanston, 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 Evanston, WY
This is one driving day of about 432.1 miles and 7h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 95 miles from Evanston, 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 205.8 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 389.4 — 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 80 BUS; US 189 BUS / Front Street
Turn left onto I 80 BUS; US 189 BUS / Front Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East, US 189 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 East, US 189 North
5
206.8 mi into trip|~3h 23m in|WY 789
Take the exit onto WY 789 toward I 80 Business East, WY 789 North: Rawlins
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 Business East, WY 789 North: Rawlin...
4
326.7 mi into trip|~5h 42m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
389.4 mi into trip|~6h 48m in|I 25
Take the exit onto I 25 toward US 18 East, US 20 East: Lusk
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 18 East, US 20 East: Lusk
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$68.47 one way
$136.95 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg151 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$71.77
$143.55
premium
$4.53
$77.08
$154.16
diesel
$5.61
$95.40
$190.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$68
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$93–$118
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 151.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
14 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Hampton Inn - Tesla Supercharger
Evanston, WY
Tesla
8 DCFC
White Mountain Mall - Tesla Supercharger
Rock Springs, WY
Tesla
8 DCFC
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott - Tesla Supercharger
Rawlins, WY
Tesla
8 DCFC
Hat Six Travel Center - Tesla Supercharger
Evansville, WY
Tesla
8 DCFC
Kroger Smiths 182 (Rock Springs, WY)
Rock Springs, WY
Electrify America
6 DCFC
Flying J 761
Evanston, WY
eVgo Network
4 DCFC
Kroger Smiths 86 (Evanston, WY)
Evanston, WY
Electrify America
4 DCFC
Flying J 764
Rock Springs, WY
eVgo Network
4 DCFC
eVgo Network: 5
Tesla: 5
Electrify America: 4
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
129.6
1
$45.37
$20.74
Efficient EV
108
1
$37.81
$17.28
EV Truck/SUV
172.8
2
$60.49
$27.65
Gas CO2
151 kg
EV CO2
51 kg (66% 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
Evanston, WY
Evening
in Evanston on Saturday
Local time
7:10 PM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lusk, WY
Evening
in Lusk on Saturday
Local time
7:10 PM
MDT
Current temp
45°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
19 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 36m 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?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for most of this 432.1-mile route, as it has a 0% highway share. This means you'll be navigating a series of local roads, including Front Street, I 80 East, and Dwight D, rather than cruising on a continuous interstate. The absence of long highway stretches and a specified longest uninterrupted stretch indicates frequent changes in direction and speed. This type of driving requires consistent attention and can feel more engaging than monotonous highway travel.
Only 25% 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: 205.8 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 I 80 BUS; US 189 BUS / Front Street.
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 36m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 11 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (I 80 BUS; US 189 BUS / Front Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 206.8 miles (WY 789): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 36m. Total distance: 432.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 36m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 205.8 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower 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.
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 Lusk, 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. 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 (I 80 BUS; US 189 BUS / Front Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 206.8 miles (WY 789): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.6 hours each way, a round trip means 15.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lusk, WY before the return drive.
