Gillette to Rock Springs is 354.2 miles and takes about 6h 30m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and WY 387, with a fuel budget near $58 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wyoming, connecting two points in the Mountain West region. Expect a mix of driving experiences, with a significant portion on major highways before transitioning to more rural roads. With a recommended one-day drive time, it's a feasible trip for those looking to cover ground efficiently between these two cities.
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
177.1 miles from Gillette, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
103.6 mi
1h 40m
County Road 308
63.7 mi
1h 12m
WY 387
51.3 mi
58m
US 287
44.1 mi
50m
State Highway 59 South
32.8 mi
35m
I 25
20.1 mi
18m
WY 259
18.1 mi
20m
Casper West Belt
7.3 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 103.6 mi, about 1h 40m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~480 veh/hr typical
· worst 725
Quietest
2 AM
~91 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.3×
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 Rock Springs, 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
Continue on WY 257
7.3 mi·8 min·Casper West Belt
12
Turn right onto WY 220
64 mi·1 hr 12 min·County Road 308
13
Continue on US 287; WY 789
44 mi·50 min·US 287; WY 789
14
Turn right onto I 80 Bus; US 30 Bus; WY 789
1.5 mi·2 min·West Spruce Street
15
Take the ramp onto WY 789
0.6 mi·1 min·WY 789
16
Merge onto I 80; US 30; WY 789
104 mi·1 hr 40 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi·48 sec
Toward I 80 Business West, US 30 Business West
18
Turn left onto I 80 Business; US 30 Business
0.5 mi·51 sec·9th Street
19
Turn left onto WY 376
0.4 mi·40 sec·South Side Belt Route
20
Turn slight right onto James Drive
230 ft·10 sec·James Drive
21
Turn straight onto James Drive
0.2 mi·24 sec·James Drive
22
Turn left onto Virginia Street
0.2 mi·46 sec·Virginia Street
23
Turn left onto Edgar Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·Edgar Street
24
At end of road, turn right onto Agate Street
422 ft·23 sec·Agate Street
25
Turn left onto Collins Street
84 ft·3 sec·Collins Street
26
Arrive at destination
Collins Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6.5-hour estimated drive time, starting in the morning is advisable to allow for a comfortable pace and potential brief stops. The route is manageable in a single day, so you have flexibility on when to depart. Keep an eye on fuel levels, especially after leaving the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, as services might be more spread out on County Road 308 and WY 387. Plan for a stop around the halfway point to stretch your legs and refuel if necessary, as the longest unbroken stretch on the highway is over 100 miles.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 177.1 miles from Gillette, WY, or about 3h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.6 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 78 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 177.1 miles or 3h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rock Springs, 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 354.2 miles and 6h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 103.6 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 107.6 and 354.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
352.2 mi into trip|~6h 25m in
Take the exit toward I 80 Business West, US 30 Business West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 Business West, US 30 Business West
5
354 mi into trip|~6h 29m in|Edgar Street
Turn left onto Edgar Street
Navigation decision point
5
354.1 mi into trip|~6h 29m in|Agate Street
At end of road, turn right onto Agate Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.21 one way
$110.42 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg124 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$58.19
$116.38
premium
$4.47
$62.39
$124.78
diesel
$4.80
$66.88
$133.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
106.3
1
$37.19
$17.00
Efficient EV
88.6
1
$30.99
$14.17
EV Truck/SUV
141.7
1
$49.59
$22.67
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
41 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Gillette, WY
Evening
in Gillette on Saturday
Local time
7:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 7 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:55AM MDT until July 17 at 10:00PM MDT by NWS Riverton WY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 1:49AM MDT until July 19 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
Destination
Rock Springs, WY
Evening
in Rock Springs on Saturday
Local time
7:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
57°F
Partly Cloudy
S 6 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:55AM MDT until July 17 at 10:00PM MDT by NWS Riverton WY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 1:49AM 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
6 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
6h 30m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 48% of this 354.2-mile route is on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 103.6 miles on this highway before transitioning to County Road 308 and WY 387. This means you'll experience a period of consistent, high-speed cruising followed by a change to surface roads, likely with more varied conditions and potentially fewer services. Watch for the shift from the open highway to the more rural feel of the state highways.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.6 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 107.6 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 354.2 miles you will encounter 19 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 352.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,966 ft4,552 ft
Total Climb
2,550 ft
Total Descent
705 ft
Highest Point
6,966 ft
~253 mi in
Elevation Range
2,414 ft
Notable High Points
5,310 ft at ~75.9 miles+65 ft prominence
6,966 ft at ~253 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.
On the drive from Gillette, WY to Rock Springs, WY, road signs begin pointing toward Port Of Entry along the way.
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.
Rock Springs is the biggest city in Sweetwater County in Southwest Wyoming. It had a population of 23,000 in 2019. Rock Springs' nickname is: "Home of 56 Nationalities". The town has a rich western and coal mining history.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 30m. Total distance: 354.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 30m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.6 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 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.
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 Rock Springs, 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 8 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 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; at 352.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 13.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Rock Springs, WY before the return drive.
