Gillette, WY to Afton, WY is 480.1 miles and takes about 9h 31m via West Yellowstone Highway and US 26 / US 287, with a fuel budget near $76 and best done over 2 days. This trip stays within Wyoming, traversing the Mountain West region. Expect a mixed drive that offers a good balance of open highway and more winding sections, making it a solid choice for an overnight journey rather than a rushed same-day endeavor. With a recommended two-day pace, you'll have ample time to enjoy the drive without feeling excessively fatigued.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
240 miles from Gillette, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
West Yellowstone Highway
94.3 mi
1h 47m
East Main Street
77.9 mi
1h 27m
US 26 / US 287
53.2 mi
1h
WY 387
51.3 mi
58m
US 26
44.5 mi
56m
State Highway 59 South
32.8 mi
35m
North Highway 89
29.3 mi
40m
I 25
20.1 mi
18m
Longest stretch:
West Yellowstone Highway
— 94.3 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gillette, WY and Afton, WY.
1
Start on East 4th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East 4th Street
2
Turn right onto WY 59
5.0 mi·9 min·South Douglas Highway
3
Continue on WY 59
33 mi·35 min·State Highway 59 South
4
Turn right onto WY 387
51 mi·58 min·WY 387
5
Turn left onto WY 259
18 mi·20 min·WY 259
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 25 South: Casper
7
Merge onto I 25; US 87
20 mi·18 min·I 25; US 87
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward US 20 West, US 26 West, WY 220 West: Shoshoni, Port of Entry
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
10
Turn right onto US 20; US 26
2.7 mi·3 min·US 20; US 26
11
Turn right onto US 20; US 26
94 mi·1 hr 47 min·West Yellowstone Highway
12
Continue on US 26; WY 789
18 mi·20 min·US 26; WY 789
13
Continue on US 26; WY 789
4.0 mi·4 min·US 26; WY 789
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn right onto US 26
78 mi·1 hr 27 min·East Main Street
15
Turn left onto US 26; US 287
2.2 mi·2 min·East Ramshorn Street
16
Continue on US 26; US 287
53 mi·1 hr·US 26 / US 287
17
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191
23 mi·32 min·North Highway 89
18
Enter roundabout onto US 26; US 89; US 191
97 ft·5 sec·North Highway 89
19
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191
6.0 mi·8 min·North Highway 89
20
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191
0.9 mi·2 min·North Cache Street
21
Continue on South Cache Drive
392 ft·12 sec·South Cache Drive
22
Turn right onto West Pearl Avenue
0.4 mi·45 sec·West Pearl Avenue
23
At end of road, turn left onto US 26; US 89; US 189; US 191
1.0 mi·2 min·West Broadway Avenue
24
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 189; US 191
12 mi·17 min·South Highway 89
25
Enter roundabout onto US 26; US 89
61 ft·1 sec·US 26; US 89
26
Continue on US 26; US 89
23 mi·31 min·US 26; US 89
27
Turn left onto US 89
0.5 mi·56 sec·US Highway 89
Use the left lane.
28
Continue on US 89
17 mi·21 min·Main Street
29
Continue on US 89
14 mi·17 min·North Main Street
30
Continue on US 89
1.8 mi·3 min·North Washington Street
31
Turn left onto East 4th Avenue
442 ft·21 sec·East 4th Avenue
32
Turn right
108 ft·7 sec
33
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 9h 31m duration, this trip is best tackled over two days to make it enjoyable. Plan to start your first day from Gillette relatively early to maximize daylight hours. With only two recommended stops, consider breaking the drive roughly in half to avoid fatigue. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a stop is over 94 miles. A practical tip for this route: familiarize yourself with the towns along US 26 / US 287, as these will likely be your best options for refueling and rest stops.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 240 miles from Gillette, WY, or about 4h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.3 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 106 miles or 2h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 240 miles or 4h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 240 miles or 4h 33m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Afton, WY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gillette, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Gillette, WY
Aim for roughly 240 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Afton, WY
Aim for roughly 240 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 106 miles from Gillette, WY.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on West Yellowstone Highway for about 94.3 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 480 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|WY 59 / South Douglas Highway
Turn right onto WY 59 / South Douglas Highway
Navigation decision point
6
107.6 mi into trip|~2h 5m in
Take the exit toward I 25 South: Casper
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 25 South: Casper
5
128.2 mi into trip|~2h 25m in
Take the exit toward US 20 West, US 26 West, WY 220 West: Shoshoni, Port of Entry
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 20 West, US 26 West, WY 220 West: Sho...
5
446.9 mi into trip|~8h 48m in|US 89 / US Highway 89
Turn left onto US 89 / US Highway 89
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
480 mi into trip|~9h 31m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$76.08 one way
$152.16 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg168 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$79.75
$159.49
premium
$4.53
$85.64
$171.29
diesel
$5.61
$106.00
$212.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$76
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$206–$316
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 168 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $50 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
144
1
$50.41
$23.04
Efficient EV
120
1
$42.01
$19.20
EV Truck/SUV
192
2
$67.21
$30.73
Gas CO2
168 kg
EV CO2
56 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Gillette, WY
Evening
in Gillette on Saturday
Local time
7:08 PM
MDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Afton, WY
Evening
in Afton on Saturday
Local time
7:08 PM
MDT
Current temp
58°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
15 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
9h 31m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
$35
near mile 380.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a varied driving experience, with 55% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a 94.3-mile stretch on West Yellowstone Highway, which sets a good pace for covering distance. The profile is described as a 'mixed drive,' suggesting a blend of faster-paced highway travel and potentially more scenic, slower two-lane segments as you progress. This variation means you won't be stuck in monotonous driving for the entire trip, keeping things interesting behind the wheel.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 94.3 mi on West Yellowstone Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near WY 59 / South Douglas Highway.
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 9h 31m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 18 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (WY 59 / South Douglas Highway): Navigation decision point; at 107.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 128.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Gillette, WY to Afton, WY, road signs begin pointing toward Port Of Entry along the way.
Port Of Entry
128.2 mi in|~2h 25m
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 94.3 miles on West Yellowstone Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 240 miles on day one.
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 Afton, 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 0.4 miles (WY 59 / South Douglas Highway): Navigation decision point; at 107.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 128.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Grand Teton National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.5 hours each way, a round trip means 19.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Afton, WY before the return drive.
