Connecting Laramie to Gillette, this 251.2-mile journey takes approximately 4 hours and 18 minutes to complete. Because this route relies on local navigation through South 5th Street, East Grand Avenue, and South 4th Street rather than major interstates, it is best approached as a single-day commitment. You should plan for a fuel budget of about $40 to cover the distance across the Mountain West region. While the drive is manageable in one go, the turn-heavy nature of these local roads requires your full attention. It serves as a direct, functional path between these two Wyoming hubs for travelers who prefer local thoroughfares over high-speed transit.
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
124.4 miles from Laramie, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
WY 59
111.6 mi
2h 6m
I 25
62.1 mi
59m
State Highway 34
51.8 mi
1h 4m
US Highway 30
14.4 mi
20m
South 4th Street
2.9 mi
5m
East Richards Street
2.4 mi
3m
North 3rd Street
2.1 mi
3m
Wyoming Highway 59 Connector
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
WY 59
— 111.6 mi, about 2h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laramie, WY and Gillette, WY.
1
Start on this road
45 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto South 5th Street
149 ft·8 sec·South 5th Street
3
Turn right onto I 80 Business; US 30
363 ft·14 sec·East Grand Avenue
4
Turn right onto South 4th Street
1.1 mi·2 min·South 4th Street
5
Turn left onto CR 322
411 ft·15 sec·East Curtis Street
6
Turn right onto US 30; US 287
2.1 mi·3 min·North 3rd Street
7
Continue on US 30; US 287
14 mi·20 min·US Highway 30
8
Turn right onto WY 34
52 mi·1 hr 4 min·State Highway 34
Use the right lane.
9
Take the ramp onto I 25
62 mi·59 min·I 25
10
Take the exit onto I 25 BUS; US 20 BUS; US 26 BUS; US 87 BUS
0.4 mi·55 sec·I 25 BUS; US 20 BUS; US 26 BUS; US 87 BUS
Toward US 20 Business, US 26 Business, US 87 Business, I 25 Business: Douglas
11
Turn left onto I 25 BUS; US 20 BUS; US 26 BUS; US 87 BUS
2.4 mi·3 min·East Richards Street
12
Turn right onto I 25 BUS; US 20 BUS; US 26 BUS; US 87 BUS
1.9 mi·3 min·South 4th Street
13
Turn straight onto Wyoming Highway 59 Connector
0.4 mi·46 sec·Wyoming Highway 59 Connector
14
Turn right onto WY 59
112 mi·2 hr 6 min·WY 59
15
Turn left onto East 4th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East 4th Street
16
Arrive at destination
East 4th Street
Trip Plan
For the smoothest experience, plan your departure for the morning to ensure you have plenty of daylight for the various turns along the route. Since you are limited to one recommended stop, choose a location that allows you to refuel and stretch comfortably, keeping your $40 gas budget in mind. Given the technical nature of the roads, stay alert for directional changes when transitioning between South 5th Street and the other local arteries. Taking advantage of the flexibility this shorter, non-highway route offers is key to a stress-free trip. If you find yourself needing a break, prioritize a stop midway to keep your energy levels consistent for the final stretch into Gillette.
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 124.4 miles from Laramie, WY, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.6 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 55 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 124.4 miles or 2h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gillette, WY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Laramie, 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 Laramie, WY
This is one driving day of about 248.7 miles and 4h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Laramie, 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 WY 59 for about 111.6 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 131.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|South 5th Street
Turn right onto South 5th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|I 80 Business; US 30 / East Grand Avenue
Turn right onto I 80 Business; US 30 / East Grand Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|South 4th Street
Turn right onto South 4th Street
Navigation decision point
5
17.8 mi into trip|~27m in|WY 34 / State Highway 34
Turn right onto WY 34 / State Highway 34
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
131.7 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|I 25 BUS; US 20 BUS; US 26 BUS; US 87 BUS
Take the exit onto I 25 BUS; US 20 BUS; US 26 BUS; US 87 BUS toward US 20 Business, US 26 Business, US 87 Business, I 25 Business: Douglas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 20 Business, US 26 Business, US 87 Bu...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.41 one way
$78.82 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$41.31
$82.62
premium
$4.53
$44.36
$88.73
diesel
$5.61
$54.91
$109.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.6
0
$26.11
$11.94
Efficient EV
62.2
0
$21.76
$9.95
EV Truck/SUV
99.5
1
$34.82
$15.92
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Laramie, WY
Night
in Laramie on Saturday
Local time
10:22 PM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Gillette, WY
Night
in Gillette on Saturday
Local time
10:22 PM
MDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Wheatland, WY
124 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
7 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
4h 46m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this 0% highway-share route demands consistent focus as you navigate through local surface streets. The path requires frequent adjustments rather than long, uninterrupted stretches of cruising. As you move from Laramie toward Gillette, the character of the road remains centered on local infrastructure, making it a distinct experience compared to standard cross-country highway driving. You will find that the lack of highway miles means your speed will be more variable throughout the four-hour journey.
97% 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: 111.6 mi on WY 59.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WY 59 and I 25. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 5th Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 46m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 5th Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (I 80 Business; US 30 / East Grand Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South 4th Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 46m. Total distance: 248.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 111.6 miles on WY 59. 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: near the start (South 5th Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (I 80 Business; US 30 / East Grand Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South 4th Street): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Gillette, WY, but most travelers stay overnight.
