Laramie to Moorcroft is 274.6 miles and takes about 5h 10m via I 25 and WY 59, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wyoming, moving from the Mountain West region to the same region. The route is primarily highway driving, making it a straightforward option for a single-day trip. You'll find it to be a practical choice for covering ground efficiently between these two points in the state.
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
137.3 miles from Laramie, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
WY 59
108.3 mi
1h 58m
I 25
62.1 mi
59m
State Highway 34
51.8 mi
1h 4m
I 90
24.4 mi
23m
US Highway 30
14.4 mi
20m
South Garner Lake Road
4 mi
6m
South 4th Street
2.9 mi
5m
East Richards Street
2.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
WY 59
— 108.3 mi, about 1h 58m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
1 PM
~275 veh/hr typical
· worst 435
Quietest
2 AM
~23 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laramie, WY and Moorcroft, 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
108 mi·1 hr 58 min·WY 59
15
Take the exit
436 ft·13 sec
16
Turn straight onto South Garner Lake Road
4.0 mi·6 min·South Garner Lake Road
17
Take the ramp onto I 90; US 14; US 16
24 mi·23 min·I 90; US 14; US 16
18
Take the exit onto I 90
0.3 mi·35 sec·I 90
19
Turn right onto I 90 Business; US 14; US 16
1.1 mi·1 min·West Converse Street
20
Turn right onto South Yellowstone Avenue
82 ft·2 sec·South Yellowstone Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
South Yellowstone Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a single-day drive of about 5 hours, you can leave anytime in the morning and still arrive with daylight to spare. You'll only need one planned stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch on WY 59 is over 100 miles, so it's wise to refuel before reaching that point if needed. The overall fuel cost is estimated at $44, which is a good budget to plan around.
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 137.3 miles from Laramie, WY, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 108.3 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 60 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.3 miles or 2h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Moorcroft, 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 274.6 miles and 5h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 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 108.3 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 16
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
$42.80 one way
$85.60 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg96 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$45.11
$90.23
premium
$4.47
$48.37
$96.74
diesel
$4.80
$51.85
$103.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82.4
1
$28.83
$13.18
Efficient EV
68.7
0
$24.03
$10.98
EV Truck/SUV
109.8
1
$38.44
$17.57
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Laramie, WY
Late night
in Laramie on Sunday
Local time
3:33 AM
MDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 10 to 15 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 3:07PM MDT until July 19 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:12PM MDT until July 20 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY
Destination
Moorcroft, WY
Late night
in Moorcroft on Sunday
Local time
3:33 AM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Partly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 6 to 10 mph23% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 3:07PM MDT until July 19 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:12PM MDT until July 20 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY
61°F
Guernsey, WY
137 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
11 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
5h 10m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Devils Tower National Monument
National Monument
The Tower is an astounding geologic feature that protrudes out of the prairie surrounding the Black Hills. It is considered sacred by Northern Plains Indians and indigenous people. Hundreds of paralle...
25 mi from route
~64 min detour
$25
near mile 274.6
Park Closure: Temporary closure of some rock climbing routes to protect falcon nesting sites.
Park Closure: The campground is closed for the season.
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is on highways for 95% of the way, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. The longest stretch without a significant break is 108.3 miles on WY 59. You'll experience mostly rural cruising on this route. The transition from higher-speed interstate to state highways will be smooth, with minimal time on surface roads.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 108.3 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 5h 10m drive. You will face about 16 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.
The longest stretch is about 108.3 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 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: 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.
Yes — Devils Tower National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Moorcroft, WY before the return drive.
