Traveling from Fort Washakie to Jackson covers 144.5 miles through the Mountain West, a trip that typically takes just under three hours. You will spend the vast majority of your journey on US 26, US 287, and North Highway 89. Because this is a highway-focused drive, it works perfectly as a straightforward day trip, allowing you to reach your destination in one go without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget about $23 for fuel to complete the trek. This route is ideal if you are looking to transition from the interior plains toward the heart of the Rockies while maintaining a steady pace.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
72.2 miles from Fort Washakie, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 26 / US 287
53.2 mi
1h
US 26
43.1 mi
47m
North Highway 89
29.3 mi
40m
US 287
15.6 mi
23m
East Ramshorn Street
2.2 mi
2m
North Cache Street
0.8 mi
2m
Norkok Street
0.2 mi
<1m
2nd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 26 / US 287
— 53.2 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Washakie, WY and Jackson, WY.
1
Start on 2nd Street
152 ft·7 sec·2nd Street
2
Turn left onto Norkok Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·Norkok Street
3
Turn left onto US 287
16 mi·23 min·US 287
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 26; US 287
43 mi·47 min·US 26; US 287
5
Turn left onto US 26; US 287
2.2 mi·2 min·East Ramshorn Street
6
Continue on US 26; US 287
53 mi·1 hr·US 26 / US 287
7
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191
23 mi·32 min·North Highway 89
8
Enter roundabout onto US 26; US 89; US 191
97 ft·5 sec·North Highway 89
9
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191
6.0 mi·8 min·North Highway 89
10
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191
0.8 mi·2 min·North Cache Street
11
Arrive at destination
US 26; US 89; US 191
Trip Plan
Since the trip takes approximately 2 hours and 57 minutes, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time to avoid the heaviest traffic. You should account for at least one planned stop to stretch your legs and break up the drive. Given the highway-heavy nature of the route, check your fuel levels before leaving Fort Washakie to ensure you stay within your $23 budget throughout the 144.5-mile journey. Keep a close watch on your speedometer during the highway stretches, as speed limits can fluctuate as you approach the Jackson area. Using your single allotted stop to refuel midway will help you maintain a smooth, stress-free arrival.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 72.2 miles from Fort Washakie, WY, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.2 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 32 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.2 miles or 1h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 20m
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 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 144.5 miles and 2h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Fort Washakie, 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 26 / US 287 for about 53.2 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 137.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Norkok Street
Turn left onto Norkok Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 287
Turn left onto US 287
Navigation decision point
4
15.8 mi into trip|~24m in|US 26; US 287
At end of road, turn left onto US 26; US 287
Navigation decision point
3
59 mi into trip|~1h 11m in|US 26; US 287 / East Ramshorn Street
Turn left onto US 26; US 287 / East Ramshorn Street
Navigation decision point
4
137.6 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|US 26; US 89; US 191 / North Highway 89
Enter roundabout onto US 26; US 89; US 191 / North Highway 89
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.90 one way
$45.80 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$24.00
$48.00
premium
$4.53
$25.78
$51.55
diesel
$5.61
$31.90
$63.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.4
0
$15.17
$6.94
Efficient EV
36.1
0
$12.64
$5.78
EV Truck/SUV
57.8
0
$20.23
$9.25
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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 13, 2026
Origin
Fort Washakie, WY
Late night
in Fort Washakie on Sunday
Local time
4:26 AM
MDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jackson, WY
Late night
in Jackson on Sunday
Local time
4:26 AM
MDT
Current temp
31°F
Slight Chance T-storms
SSW 8 mph69% chanceLive forecast
23°F
Dubois, WY
72 mi in
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
39 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
2h 57m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 dedicated highway-focused experience, as 98% of this journey is spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a mix of stretches that keep you moving efficiently, with a longest uninterrupted segment of 53.2 miles on US 26 and US 287. The road maintains a consistent, high-speed personality that prioritizes travel time over technical maneuvering. While you are behind the wheel, you will notice the transition from the flatter regions near Fort Washakie to the more mountainous terrain closer to Jackson. It is a reliable, predictable drive that requires minimal navigation adjustments.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.2 mi on US 26 / US 287.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 26 / US 287 and US 26. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Norkok Street.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Fort Washakie, WY to Jackson, WY is easy. At 2h 57m with 98% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Norkok Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 287): Navigation decision point; at 15.8 miles (US 26; US 287): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
8,976 ft5,569 ft
Total Climb
3,502 ft
Total Descent
2,832 ft
Highest Point
8,976 ft
~92.9 mi in
Elevation Range
3,408 ft
Notable High Points
8,976 ft at ~92.9 miles+536 ft prominence
6,904 ft at ~123.9 miles+95 ft prominence
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 57m. Total distance: 144.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 53.2 miles on US 26 / US 287. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (Norkok Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 287): Navigation decision point; at 15.8 miles (US 26; US 287): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jackson, WY before heading back.
