Gillette to Lovell is 203.8 miles and takes about 3h 53m via I 90 and US 14, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wyoming, connecting two points in the Mountain West region. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making for a straightforward drive. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two cities without a lengthy commitment. It's a solid option for a single-day transit.
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
101.9 miles from Gillette, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
118 mi
1h 58m
Medicine Wheel Passage
52.1 mi
1h 10m
US 14
31.8 mi
40m
South Douglas Highway
0.7 mi
2m
East Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
East 4th Street
0.4 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 Lovell, 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
32 mi·40 min·US 14
6
Turn right onto US 14 Alternate
52 mi·1 hr 10 min·Medicine Wheel Passage
7
At end of road, turn right onto US 310; US 14 Alternate; WY 789
0.6 mi·1 min·East Main Street
8
Continue on US 14A; US 310; WY 789
505 ft·20 sec·East Main Street
9
Arrive at destination
US 14A; US 310; WY 789
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 53m estimated drive time, you can easily complete this route in a single day. Aim to depart Gillette in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. With only one recommended stop, plan your breaks strategically, perhaps around the halfway point or just before transitioning off I 90. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 118-mile stretch on I 90, as services might be spaced out. This relatively short drive offers flexibility; you can adjust your departure time based on your schedule in Gillette.
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 101.9 miles from Gillette, WY, or about 1h 43m 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 45 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.9 miles or 1h 43m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lovell, 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 203.8 miles and 3h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 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 203.1 — 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
3
1.1 mi into trip|~3m in|I 90
Take the ramp onto I 90
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
5
203.1 mi into trip|~3h 52m in|US 310; US 14 Alternate; WY 789 / East Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 310; US 14 Alternate; WY 789 / East Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.77 one way
$63.53 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$33.48
$66.97
premium
$4.47
$35.90
$71.80
diesel
$4.80
$38.48
$76.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
EV Charging Along Route
6 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
Gillette, WY - South Douglas Highway - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.1
0
$21.40
$9.78
Efficient EV
51
0
$17.83
$8.15
EV Truck/SUV
81.5
1
$28.53
$13.04
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Gillette, WY
Late night
in Gillette on Sunday
Local time
2:16 AM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
SE 5 to 8 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:04PM MDT until July 19 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:17AM MDT until July 20 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY
Destination
Lovell, WY
Late night
in Lovell on Sunday
Local time
2:16 AM
MDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Cloudy
WNW 1 to 5 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:04PM MDT until July 19 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:17AM MDT until July 20 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY
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
3h 53m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
The vast, wild landscape of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area offers visitors unparalleled opportunities to immerse themselves in the natural world, and experience the wonders of this extraordin...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 196.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 74% of the 203.8 miles on main roads like I 90. You'll encounter one stretch of 118 miles on I 90 before transitioning to Medicine Wheel Passage and US 14. Expect a significant amount of rural cruising, with fewer exits for extended periods once you leave the interstate. The profile is mostly highway, so plan for consistent speeds for much of the trip.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 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 Medicine Wheel Passage. 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 3h 53m 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 1.1 miles (I 90): 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.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
8,587 ft3,751 ft
Total Climb
5,375 ft
Total Descent
6,096 ft
Highest Point
8,587 ft
~160.1 mi in
Elevation Range
4,836 ft
Notable High Points
4,605 ft at ~14.6 miles+53 ft prominence
4,564 ft at ~43.7 miles+65 ft prominence
4,666 ft at ~72.8 miles+35 ft prominence
8,587 ft at ~160.1 miles+463 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 Lovell, WY, road signs point toward Greybull-Lovell and Yellowstone-Teton National Parks.
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.
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 5 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 1.1 miles (I 90): 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.
Yes — Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Lovell, WY, but most travelers stay overnight.
