Origin
Lander, WY
Evening in Lander on Saturday
Local time
8:45 PM
MDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lander, WY to Rawlins, WY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 48m
Distance
125.1 mi
201 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 38m
★
6 AM
2h 48m
8 AM
3h 10m
10 AM
2h 56m
12 PM
2h 54m
3 PM
2h 57m
5 PM
3h 9m
8 PM
2h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lander, WY
Wikimedia Commons
Rawlins, WY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Lander to Rawlins is 125.1 miles and takes about 2h 48m via US 287, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Wyoming, connecting two points in the Mountain West region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip, ideal for a single day of travel. You'll find this route to be efficient, with minimal time spent navigating local streets. Plan for a quick journey that gets you from point A to point B with ease.
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
62.6 miles from Lander, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 287 | 116.3 mi | 2h 38m |
| Main Street | 8.8 mi | 10m |
| West Spruce Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 287
— 116.3 mi, about 2h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lander, WY and Rawlins, WY.
1
Start on US 287
8.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 287; WY 789
72 mi
·
1 hr 47 min
·
US 287; WY 789
3
Turn right onto US 287; WY 789
44 mi
·
50 min
·
US 287; WY 789
4
Turn left onto West Spruce Street
50 ft
·
1 sec
·
West Spruce Street
5
Arrive at destination
West Spruce Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time under 3 hours, this is a perfect same-day trip, offering flexibility in your departure time. You can easily leave Lander in the morning and arrive in Rawlins by lunchtime. The longest stretch is over 116 miles, so be sure to top off your fuel tank before leaving Lander, as there are limited services for extended periods on US 287. Given the short duration, you won't need to plan for multiple stops, but keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is the most critical preparation.
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 62.6 miles from Lander, WY, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 116.3 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 28 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.6 miles or 1h 30m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rawlins, 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 125.1 miles and 2h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 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 287 for about 116.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
63 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 62.6 miles from Lander, WY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 287 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 116.3 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
3 of 33 decision points cluster between mile 8.8 and 125.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
8.8 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
US 287; WY 789
Turn left onto US 287; WY 789
Navigation decision point
3
81 mi into trip
|
~1h 57m in
|
US 287; WY 789
Turn right onto US 287; WY 789
Navigation decision point
3
125.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 48m in
|
West Spruce Street
Turn left onto West Spruce Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.82 one way
$39.65 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
44 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $20.78 | $41.56 |
| premium | $4.53 | $22.32 | $44.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.62 | $55.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.5 | 0 | $13.14 | $6.00 |
| Efficient EV | 31.3 | 0 | $10.95 | $5.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50 | 0 | $17.51 | $8.01 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Rawlins, WY
Evening in Rawlins on Saturday
Local time
8:45 PM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Riverton, WY
63 mi in
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
2h 48m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 93% of your journey on major roads like US 287. Expect long stretches of open highway, including one uninterrupted segment of 116.3 miles on US 287. The road primarily consists of high-speed driving, allowing you to cover ground quickly. You'll experience the feel of a classic American highway, with the landscape unfolding at a steady pace.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
5 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 116.3 mi on US 287.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 287 and Main Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 8.8 miles in near US 287; WY 789.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Lander, WY to Rawlins, WY is easy. At 2h 48m with 93% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.8 miles (US 287; WY 789): Navigation decision point; at 81 miles (US 287; WY 789): Navigation decision point; at 125.1 miles (West Spruce Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 48m. Total distance: 125.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 116.3 miles on US 287. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 8.8 miles (US 287; WY 789): Navigation decision point; at 81 miles (US 287; WY 789): Navigation decision point; at 125.1 miles (West Spruce Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Rawlins, WY before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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