This 251.2-mile journey from Gillette to Cody, Wyoming, is a solid day trip, taking approximately 4 hours and 46 minutes. The route is primarily highway-focused, with about 78% of the drive on interstates and major roads like I-90 and US 14. You can expect a fuel cost of around $40 for this stretch. With only one recommended stop, it's manageable to complete in a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight split. This drive stays within the Mountain West region, offering a consistent feel throughout.
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
125.6 miles from Gillette, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
118 mi
1h 58m
US 14
79 mi
1h 43m
North 6th Street
52.3 mi
58m
17th Street
0.7 mi
2m
South Douglas Highway
0.7 mi
2m
East 4th Street
0.4 mi
1m
Sheridan Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
16th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 118 mi, about 1h 58m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~222 veh/hr typical
· worst 325
Quietest
2 AM
~12 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 49 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gillette, WY and Cody, WY.
1
Start on East 4th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East 4th Street
2
Turn right onto WY 59
0.7 mi·2 min·South Douglas Highway
3
Take the ramp onto I 90
118 mi·1 hr 57 min·I 90
4
Take the exit onto I 90; US 87
0.4 mi·1 min·I 90; US 87
Toward US 14 West: Ranchester-Dayton, Greybull-Lovell, Yellowstone-Teton National Parks
5
Turn left onto US 14
79 mi·1 hr 43 min·US 14
6
Turn right onto US 14; US 16; US 20; WY 789
52 mi·58 min·North 6th Street
7
Continue on US 14; US 16; US 20; WY 120
0.7 mi·2 min·17th Street
8
Continue on US 14; US 16; US 20; WY 120
413 ft·18 sec·Sheridan Avenue
9
Turn right onto US 14A; WY 120
98 ft·3 sec·16th Street
10
Arrive at destination
US 14A; WY 120
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour 46 minute duration, starting your trip in Gillette early in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight. While the drive is manageable in one day, plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refuel. The longest stretch without a planned stop is 118 miles on I-90, so ensure you have adequate fuel before embarking on this segment. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing, but be mindful of the fuel cost estimate of $40 and budget accordingly.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 125.6 miles from Gillette, WY, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118 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 55 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.6 miles or 2h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cody, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Gillette, WY
This is one driving day of about 251.2 miles and 4h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Gillette, 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 I 90 for about 118 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 251.2 — 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
5
118.7 mi into trip|~2h in|I 90; US 87
Take the exit onto I 90; US 87 toward US 14 West: Ranchester-Dayton, Greybull-Lovell, Yellowstone-Teton National Parks
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 14 West: Ranchester-Dayton, Greybull-...
4
119.1 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|US 14
Turn left onto US 14
Navigation decision point
4
198.1 mi into trip|~3h 45m in|US 14; US 16; US 20; WY 789 / North 6th Street
Turn right onto US 14; US 16; US 20; WY 789 / North 6th Street
Navigation decision point
5
251.2 mi into trip|~4h 46m in|US 14A; WY 120 / 16th Street
Turn right onto US 14A; WY 120 / 16th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.15 one way
$78.31 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$41.27
$82.54
premium
$4.47
$44.25
$88.49
diesel
$4.80
$47.43
$94.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.4
0
$26.38
$12.06
Efficient EV
62.8
0
$21.98
$10.05
EV Truck/SUV
100.5
1
$35.17
$16.08
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Gillette, WY
Late night
in Gillette on Sunday
Local time
1:04 AM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 12 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 18 at 2:37AM MDT until July 18 at 10:00PM MDT by NWS Riverton WY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:23AM MDT until July 19 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
Destination
Cody, WY
Late night
in Cody on Sunday
Local time
1:04 AM
MDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Cloudy
W 2 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 18 at 2:37AM MDT until July 18 at 10:00PM MDT by NWS Riverton WY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:23AM MDT until July 19 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
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
3 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
4h 46m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Your drive will largely be on high-speed highways, accounting for 78% of the total mileage. You'll experience an uninterrupted stretch of 118 miles on I-90, offering a chance to make good time. The transition to US 14 will likely change the character of the road, potentially offering a different driving experience as you approach your destination. This route is designed for efficient travel, prioritizing steady progress over winding, scenic byways.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 118 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and US 14. 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 Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 46m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (WY 59 / South Douglas Highway): Navigation decision point; at 118.7 miles (I 90; US 87): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 119.1 miles (US 14): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
8,914 ft3,754 ft
Total Climb
7,194 ft
Total Descent
6,747 ft
Highest Point
8,914 ft
~161.5 mi in
Elevation Range
5,160 ft
Notable High Points
4,820 ft at ~17.9 miles+268 ft prominence
4,664 ft at ~71.8 miles+195 ft prominence
8,914 ft at ~161.5 miles+646 ft prominence
5,025 ft at ~233.3 miles+26 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Gillette, WY and Cody, WY, road signs point toward Greybull-Lovell and Yellowstone-Teton National Parks.
Greybull-Lovell
118.7 mi in|~2h|via I 90; US 87
Yellowstone-Teton National Parks
118.7 mi in|~2h|via I 90; US 87
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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.
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 118 miles on I 90. 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.
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: at 0.4 miles (WY 59 / South Douglas Highway): Navigation decision point; at 118.7 miles (I 90; US 87): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 119.1 miles (US 14): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Cody, WY, but most travelers stay overnight.
