Spanning 433.3 miles, this journey from Jackson to Cheyenne takes you across the rugged Mountain West in approximately 6 hours and 42 minutes of driving time. While the trip is technically manageable in a single day, the duration makes it a substantial commitment that requires careful planning. You should budget about $69 for fuel to cover the distance, assuming standard vehicle efficiency. Because this route relies on local navigation rather than major interstates, you will need to stay focused on your surroundings. Whether you prefer a long, steady push or an overnight break, knowing your limits is key to enjoying this cross-state traverse.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
216.7 miles from Jackson, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
255.5 mi
4h 12m
US 26
162.2 mi
3h 7m
South Highway 89
11.8 mi
17m
West Broadway Avenue
1 mi
2m
West 24th Street
0.9 mi
2m
West Pearl Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Purple Heart Trail
0.3 mi
<1m
Missile Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 255.5 mi, about 4h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jackson, WY and Cheyenne, WY.
1
Start on US 26; US 89; US 191
127 ft·6 sec·North Cache Street
2
Continue on South Cache Drive
392 ft·12 sec·South Cache Drive
3
Turn right onto West Pearl Avenue
0.4 mi·45 sec·West Pearl Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 26; US 89; US 189; US 191
1.0 mi·2 min·West Broadway Avenue
5
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 189; US 191
12 mi·17 min·South Highway 89
6
Enter roundabout onto US 26; US 89; US 189; US 191
165 ft·4 sec·US 26; US 89; US 189; US 191
7
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 189; US 191
162 mi·3 hr 7 min·US 26; US 89; US 189; US 191
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
9
Merge onto I 80; US 30
254 mi·4 hr 10 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
10
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi·18 sec·Purple Heart Trail
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 359CToward I 25 North, US 87 North: Casper
12
Merge onto I 25; US 87
1.6 mi·1 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward Missile Drive, Warren Gate 2
14
Turn right onto Missile Drive
0.2 mi·32 sec·Missile Drive
15
Turn left onto West 24th Street
0.9 mi·2 min·West 24th Street
16
Arrive at destination
West 24th Street
Trip Plan
Planning a departure early in the morning is your best strategy for tackling this 6-hour and 42-minute trek comfortably. Since you have one planned stop along the way, use that time effectively to stretch and refuel before the next leg of the drive. Given the turn-heavy nature of the local roads, keep a close watch on your navigation to avoid missing critical turns on streets like West Pearl Avenue. Budgeting $69 for gas is a solid baseline, but keep a small buffer for price fluctuations between remote service points. Prioritizing your comfort on this non-highway route will ensure you reach Cheyenne feeling energized rather than exhausted by the technical demands of the road.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 216.7 miles from Jackson, WY, or about 4h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 255.5 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 95 miles or 1h 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 216.7 miles or 4h 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 6h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cheyenne, WY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jackson, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Jackson, WY
This is one driving day of about 433.4 miles and 7h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 95 miles from Jackson, WY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 255.5 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 432.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|West Pearl Avenue
Turn right onto West Pearl Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
175.6 mi into trip|~3h 28m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
7
430.2 mi into trip|~7h 40m in
Take the exit toward I 25 North, US 87 North: Casper
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 359C
Toward I 25 North, US 87 North: Casper
5
432.1 mi into trip|~7h 42m in
Take the exit toward Missile Drive, Warren Gate 2
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Missile Drive, Warren Gate 2
5
432.2 mi into trip|~7h 43m in|Missile Drive
Turn right onto Missile Drive
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$68.68 one way
$137.36 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg152 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$71.99
$143.98
premium
$4.53
$77.31
$154.62
diesel
$5.61
$95.69
$191.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$69
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$94–$119
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 151.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $46 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
130
1
$45.51
$20.80
Efficient EV
108.4
1
$37.92
$17.34
EV Truck/SUV
173.4
2
$60.68
$27.74
Gas CO2
152 kg
EV CO2
51 kg (66% 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
Jackson, WY
Evening
in Jackson on Saturday
Local time
7:08 PM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cheyenne, WY
Evening
in Cheyenne on Saturday
Local time
7:08 PM
MDT
Current temp
72°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.
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
10 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 45m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention from start to finish. You will navigate through town via South Cache Drive, West Pearl Avenue, and West Broadway Avenue before settling into the longer segments of the journey. With a highway share of 0%, this route avoids the monotony of high-speed interstates in favor of more technical, ground-level driving. The personality of the road changes as you transition through the local streets of Jackson toward the broader landscape of Wyoming. Be prepared for a hands-on experience behind the wheel, as the lack of highway miles keeps you engaged with the road's curves and turns throughout the 433.3-mile trip.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 255.5 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower 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 0.1 miles in near West Pearl Avenue.
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 7h 45m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 10 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West Pearl Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 175.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 430.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 45m. Total distance: 433.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 255.5 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Cheyenne, 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 0.1 miles (West Pearl Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 175.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 430.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.8 hours each way, a round trip means 15.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Cheyenne, WY before the return drive.
