Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 23m
Distance
278.7 mi
449 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Washakie, WY
Tom Fisk
Gillette, WY
Wikimedia Commons
Fort Washakie to Gillette is 278.7 miles and takes about 5h 23m via US 20, WY 387, and WY 789, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, offering a straightforward drive across Wyoming. It's a one-day trip, primarily on highways, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B without extensive detours. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground in 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
139.4 miles from Fort Washakie, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 44m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 79.9 mi | 1h 30m |
| WY 387 | 51.3 mi | 58m |
| WY 789 | 40.7 mi | 46m |
| State Highway 59 South | 32.8 mi | 35m |
| I 25 | 20.1 mi | 18m |
| Horseshoe Road | 17.9 mi | 20m |
| 17 Mile Road | 17.9 mi | 20m |
| Ethete Road | 5.6 mi | 9m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~237 veh/hr typical · worst 371
Quietest
2 AM
~20 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 86 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Washakie, WY and Gillette, WY.
Start on 2nd Street
Turn left onto Norkok Street
Turn right onto US 287
Turn left onto Ethete Road
Turn right onto WY 132
Turn left onto 17 Mile Road
Continue on Rendezvous Road
Turn left onto WY 789
Continue on US 20; US 26
Turn left onto US 20; US 26
Turn left
Merge onto I 25; US 87
Take the exit
Turn right onto WY 259
Turn right onto WY 387
Turn left onto WY 59
Continue on WY 59
Turn left onto East 4th Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 5h 23m estimated drive time, leaving Fort Washakie in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Gillette with plenty of daylight. The route is straightforward and can comfortably be completed in a single day. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $43, planning your fuel and rest stops should be simple. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 79.9-mile stretch on US 20, as services might be spaced out.
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.
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 61 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.4 miles or 2h 44m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gillette, WY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Fort Washakie, 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 Fort Washakie, WY
This is one driving day of about 278.7 miles and 5h 23m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
139 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 139.4 miles from Fort Washakie, WY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 150.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Norkok Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Ethete Road
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto WY 132 / Blue Sky Highway
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto WY 789
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left toward I 25 North, US 87 North: Midwest
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$48.33 one way
$96.67 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $50.55 | $101.10 |
| premium | $4.95 | $54.31 | $108.63 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $61.43 | $122.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 83.6 | 1 | $29.26 | $13.38 |
| Efficient EV | 69.7 | 0 | $24.39 | $11.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 111.5 | 1 | $39.02 | $17.84 |
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Fort Washakie on Wednesday
Local time
1:25 AM
MDT
Current temp
63°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Gillette on Wednesday
Local time
1:25 AM
MDT
Current temp
63°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
This route is mostly highway, with 81% of the drive on paved roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 79.9 miles on US 20 before transitioning to other main roads. Expect predominantly highway cruising for the majority of this trip, with the landscape likely opening up as you travel.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and WY 387. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Norkok Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 23m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Norkok Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (Ethete Road): Navigation decision point; at 7 miles (WY 132 / Blue Sky Highway): Navigation decision point.
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
Total Climb
1,465 ft
Total Descent
2,483 ft
Highest Point
6,181 ft
~97.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,629 ft
Notable High Points
Founded 1892
Gillette is a city in Northeast Wyoming halfway between Sundance and Sheridan on I-90. Gillette is a coal mining town with a population of about 33,000 (2020). Because of the coal, oil, and natural gas production, the city calls itself the energy capital of the nation.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 23m. Total distance: 278.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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