Lander to Evansville is 148.6 miles and takes about 2 hours 52 minutes via US 20 and WY 789, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Mountain West region, traveling between two points in Wyoming. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey that's perfect for a single day of travel. Expect mostly highway driving, making it an efficient way to cover the distance between these two communities.
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
74.3 miles from Lander, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
79.6 mi
1h 30m
WY 789
63.7 mi
1h 13m
Curtis Street
0.4 mi
1m
Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
1st Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Southeast Wyoming Boulevard
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 79.6 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lander, WY and Evansville, WY.
1
Start on US 287
0.4 mi·40 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto WY 789
64 mi·1 hr 13 min·WY 789
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Continue on US 20; US 26
77 mi·1 hr 27 min·US 20; US 26
4
Turn left onto US 20; US 26
2.7 mi·3 min·US 20; US 26
5
Take the exit
4.0 mi·5 min
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward Wyoming Boulevard, Evansville
7
Turn left onto WY 258
390 ft·6 sec·Southeast Wyoming Boulevard
8
Continue on WY 258
0.4 mi·1 min·Curtis Street
9
Turn right onto 1st Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·1st Street
10
Arrive at destination
3 ft·0 sec·1st Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 52 minutes, this trip is ideal for a single-day adventure, allowing you to depart Lander at your convenience. With a fuel cost estimated at $24, ensure your tank is full before leaving Lander, as there's only one noted stop point and the longest stretch is nearly 80 miles. Keeping an eye on your fuel gauge will be wise. You'll be on US 20 and WY 789 for the majority of the trip, so look for services when you transition between these highways or at any towns along the way.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.3 miles from Lander, WY, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.6 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 33 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.3 miles or 1h 25m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Evansville, WY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lander, 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 Lander, WY
This is one driving day of about 148.6 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Lander, 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 20 for about 79.6 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 148.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|WY 789
Turn left onto WY 789
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
143.7 mi into trip|~2h 44m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
147.7 mi into trip|~2h 49m in
Take the exit toward Wyoming Boulevard, Evansville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Wyoming Boulevard, Evansville
5
148 mi into trip|~2h 50m in|WY 258 / Southeast Wyoming Boulevard
Turn left onto WY 258 / Southeast Wyoming Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
148.5 mi into trip|~2h 51m in|1st Street
Turn right onto 1st Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.55 one way
$47.10 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$24.68
$49.37
premium
$4.53
$26.51
$53.02
diesel
$5.61
$32.81
$65.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.6
0
$15.60
$7.13
Efficient EV
37.2
0
$13.00
$5.94
EV Truck/SUV
59.4
0
$20.80
$9.51
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Lander, WY
Late night
in Lander on Tuesday
Local time
2:11 AM
MDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Evansville, WY
Late night
in Evansville on Tuesday
Local time
2:11 AM
MDT
Current temp
30°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
18 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
2h 52m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the journey on well-maintained roads. You'll spend most of your time on US 20 and WY 789, which are designed for consistent travel. The longest stretch without a significant change in road number is 79.6 miles on US 20, offering an extended period of steady driving. While the specific terrain details aren't provided, this type of highway profile generally suggests a smooth and predictable experience behind the wheel, allowing for a comfortable pace.
96% 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: 79.6 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and WY 789. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near WY 789.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Lander, WY to Evansville, WY is easy. At 2h 52m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (WY 789): Lane positioning matters here; at 143.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 147.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The longest stretch is about 79.6 miles on US 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 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 789): Lane positioning matters here; at 143.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 147.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Evansville, WY before heading back.
