Spanning 222.9 miles across the Mountain West, this trip from Laramie to Riverton typically takes about 4 hours and 1 minute to complete. Since the total duration is quite manageable, it works perfectly as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $35 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly way to navigate between these two Wyoming hubs. Departing from Laramie, you will navigate through South 5th Street, East Grand Avenue, and South 4th Street to get underway. Because this is a straightforward trek within the same region, it offers a consistent, practical experience for travelers looking to move efficiently between cities without the hassle of a multi-day itinerary.
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
110.5 miles from Laramie, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
94.1 mi
1h 34m
US 287
85.1 mi
1h 52m
Sand Draw Road
34.6 mi
51m
Higley Boulevard
1.5 mi
1m
WY 789
1.4 mi
1m
East Curtis Street
1.3 mi
2m
South 4th Street
1.1 mi
2m
Gas Hills Road
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 94.1 mi, about 1h 34m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~427 veh/hr typical
· worst 662
Quietest
2 AM
~85 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 50 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 Riverton, 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
1.3 mi·2 min·East Curtis Street
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 80
94 mi·1 hr 34 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto US 287
0.7 mi·1 min·US 287
Toward I 80 Business East, US 287 North, WY 76: RawlinsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 80 Bus; US 30 Bus; US 287
0.5 mi·39 sec·East Cedar Street
10
Turn right onto US 287 BYP
1.5 mi·1 min·Higley Boulevard
11
At end of road, turn right onto US 287; WY 789
42 mi·48 min·US 287; WY 789
12
Turn left onto US 287; WY 789
42 mi·1 hr 2 min·US 287; WY 789
13
Turn right onto WY 135
35 mi·51 min·Sand Draw Road
14
Continue on WY 135
1.0 mi·1 min·Gas Hills Road
15
At end of road, turn right onto WY 789
1.4 mi·1 min·WY 789
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Arrive at destination
US 26; WY 789
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is simple given the 4-hour duration, but aiming for an early morning start will give you maximum flexibility for your arrival in Riverton. Since you have only one planned stop along the way, use that time to stretch and refuel before finishing the final leg of the drive. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $35 estimate is a baseline; having a little extra padding in your budget is always a smart move for local road travel. Because you are navigating local streets like South 5th Street and East Grand Avenue, stay alert for changing speed limits as you transition out of Laramie. This route’s primary advantage is its simplicity, so pack a few snacks and enjoy the direct, turn-heavy path at your own pace.
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 110.5 miles from Laramie, WY, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.1 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 49 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.5 miles or 1h 56m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Riverton, 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 220.9 miles and 4h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 94.1 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 219.6 — 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
5
2.4 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
96.8 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|US 287
Take the exit onto US 287 toward I 80 Business East, US 287 North, WY 76: Rawlins
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 Business East, US 287 North, WY 76:...
6
219.6 mi into trip|~4h 28m in|WY 789
At end of road, turn right onto WY 789
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.43 one way
$68.86 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$36.29
$72.58
premium
$4.47
$38.91
$77.82
diesel
$4.80
$41.71
$83.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.3
0
$23.19
$10.60
Efficient EV
55.2
0
$19.33
$8.84
EV Truck/SUV
88.4
1
$30.93
$14.14
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Laramie, WY
Late night
in Laramie on Sunday
Local time
1:06 AM
MDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
SE 15 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:04PM MDT until July 19 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:17AM MDT until July 20 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY
Destination
Riverton, WY
Late night
in Riverton on Sunday
Local time
1:06 AM
MDT
Current temp
96°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 6 to 12 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:04PM MDT until July 19 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 10:17AM MDT until July 20 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY
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
4h 29m 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 demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features zero highway miles, forcing you to navigate local roads for the entirety of the 222.9-mile trip. The path shifts away from high-speed transit, favoring technical navigation that keeps you engaged with the road surface. Because the route relies on local streets rather than wide-open highway stretches, you should prepare for a more hands-on driving experience that requires careful pacing. It is a unique way to traverse the landscape, prioritizing local connectivity over the fast-paced, straight-line travel found on major thoroughfares.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 94.1 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 5th Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 29m drive. You will face about 13 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 2.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 94.1 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 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: near the start (South 5th Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (I 80 Business; US 30 / East Grand Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Riverton, WY, but most travelers stay overnight.
