Origin
Jackson, WY
Night in Jackson on Saturday
Local time
10:23 PM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jackson, WY to Rock Springs, WY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 34m
Distance
178.3 mi
287 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 23m
★
6 AM
3h 35m
8 AM
4h 0m
10 AM
3h 44m
12 PM
3h 41m
3 PM
3h 45m
5 PM
3h 59m
8 PM
3h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jackson, WY
Wikimedia Commons
Rock Springs, WY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Jackson, WY to Rock Springs, WY is 178.3 miles and takes about 3h 34m via US 26, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, traversing the state of Wyoming. It’s a straightforward drive that primarily uses major highways. Given its manageable distance and duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll find it to be a practical option for connecting these two Wyoming locales without extensive planning.
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
89.1 miles from Jackson, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 49m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 26 | 163.4 mi | 3h 10m |
| South Highway 89 | 11.8 mi | 17m |
| West Broadway Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Edgar Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Pearl Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Bridger Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| M Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 26
— 163.4 mi, about 3h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jackson, WY and Rock Springs, 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
163 mi
·
3 hr 10 min
·
US 26; US 89; US 189; US 191
8
Turn left onto I 80 Business; US 30 Business
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Bridger Avenue
9
Turn right onto M Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
M Street
10
Continue on Broadway Street
401 ft
·
16 sec
·
Broadway Street
11
Turn left onto F Street
230 ft
·
11 sec
·
F Street
12
Turn left onto 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
2nd Street
13
Turn right onto Edgar Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Edgar Street
14
At end of road, turn right onto Agate Street
422 ft
·
23 sec
·
Agate Street
15
Turn left onto Collins Street
84 ft
·
3 sec
·
Collins Street
16
Arrive at destination
Collins Street
Trip Plan
For this 178.3-mile drive, departing Jackson, WY anytime in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach Rock Springs, WY. With a total duration of just over 3.5 hours, you can easily complete this in one day. There's only one suggested stop, so consider fueling up before you leave Jackson to ensure you have enough gas for the 163.4-mile stretch on US 26. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services might be spread out during that long segment.
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 89.1 miles from Jackson, WY, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 163.4 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 39 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.1 miles or 1h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 55m
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 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Jackson, WY
This is one driving day of about 178.3 miles and 3h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Jackson, 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 US 26 for about 163.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
89 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 89.1 miles from Jackson, WY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 26 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 163.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 178.3 — 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
4
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 26; US 89; US 189; US 191 / West Broadway Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto US 26; US 89; US 189; US 191 / West Broadway Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
177 mi into trip
|
~3h 31m in
|
M Street
Turn right onto M Street
Navigation decision point
5
177.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 32m in
|
2nd Street
Turn left onto 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
5
178.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 34m in
|
Collins Street
Turn left onto Collins Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.25 one way
$56.51 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
62 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $29.62 | $59.23 |
| premium | $4.53 | $31.81 | $63.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.37 | $78.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53.5 | 0 | $18.72 | $8.56 |
| Efficient EV | 44.6 | 0 | $15.60 | $7.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 71.3 | 0 | $24.96 | $11.41 |
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Destination
Rock Springs, WY
Night in Rock Springs on Saturday
Local time
10:23 PM
MDT
Current temp
63°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
1 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
3h 34m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
24 mi from route
~59 min detour
$35
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for this journey, with 98% of the route utilizing established highways. The majority of your time will be spent on US 26, which forms the longest uninterrupted stretch of 163.4 miles. This means you'll experience a consistent pace for most of the trip. The road is predominantly a well-maintained highway, offering a smooth and efficient driving experience as you transition from the Jackson area towards Rock Springs.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 163.4 mi on US 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 26 and South Highway 89. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Pearl Avenue.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Jackson, WY to Rock Springs, WY is easy. At 3h 34m with 98% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West Pearl Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (US 26; US 89; US 189; US 191 / West Broadway Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 177 miles (M Street): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Arriving in Rock Springs, WY
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 34m. Total distance: 178.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 163.4 miles on US 26. 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.
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 0.1 miles (West Pearl Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (US 26; US 89; US 189; US 191 / West Broadway Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 177 miles (M Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Grand Teton National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Rock Springs, WY, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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