This 207.2-mile journey from Laramie, WY to Rock Springs, WY takes approximately 3 hours and 29 minutes, making it a very manageable day trip. You'll primarily be on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, though your route begins and ends with local streets like East Curtis Street and South 4th Street. With a fuel cost estimated at $33, this drive through Wyoming's Mountain West region is efficient and straightforward. Plan for a single stop along the way, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 202.4 miles.
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
103.6 miles from Laramie, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
202.4 mi
3h 19m
East Curtis Street
1.3 mi
2m
South 4th Street
1.1 mi
2m
9th Street
0.5 mi
<1m
South Side Belt Route
0.4 mi
<1m
James Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Virginia Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Edgar Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 202.4 mi, about 3h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laramie, WY and Rock Springs, 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
202 mi·3 hr 19 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·48 sec
Toward I 80 Business West, US 30 Business West
9
Turn left onto I 80 Business; US 30 Business
0.5 mi·51 sec·9th Street
10
Turn left onto WY 376
0.4 mi·40 sec·South Side Belt Route
11
Turn slight right onto James Drive
230 ft·10 sec·James Drive
12
Turn straight onto James Drive
0.2 mi·24 sec·James Drive
13
Turn left onto Virginia Street
0.2 mi·46 sec·Virginia Street
14
Turn left onto Edgar Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·Edgar Street
15
At end of road, turn right onto Agate Street
422 ft·23 sec·Agate Street
16
Turn left onto Collins Street
84 ft·3 sec·Collins Street
17
Arrive at destination
Collins Street
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 3-hour and 29-minute duration, this trip is ideal for a single day. Aim for an early start to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 202.4 miles, you can easily plan your fuel and rest breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the long 202.4-mile segment on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, to avoid any unexpected delays in this expansive Wyoming landscape.
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 103.6 miles from Laramie, WY, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 202.4 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 46 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.6 miles or 1h 45m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rock Springs, 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 207.2 miles and 3h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 202.4 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 205.2 — 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.
5
2.8 mi into trip|~6m in|I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Merge onto I 80 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
205.2 mi into trip|~3h 25m in
Take the exit toward I 80 Business West, US 30 Business West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 Business West, US 30 Business West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.83 one way
$65.67 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$34.42
$68.83
premium
$4.53
$36.96
$73.92
diesel
$5.61
$45.75
$91.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.2
0
$21.76
$9.95
Efficient EV
51.8
0
$18.13
$8.29
EV Truck/SUV
82.9
1
$29.01
$13.26
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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 15, 2026
Origin
Laramie, WY
Evening
in Laramie on Saturday
Local time
8:53 PM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Rock Springs, WY
Evening
in Rock Springs on Saturday
Local time
8:53 PM
MDT
Current temp
63°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
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
3h 29m 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?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' that transitions into a long stretch of highway. While the majority of your travel will be on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for 202.4 miles, the beginning and end involve navigating local city streets. The highway share is 0%, indicating it's not a traditional interstate experience for the entirety. This route offers a mix, starting with more frequent turns before opening up onto a sustained, relatively uninterrupted road segment.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 202.4 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 3h 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.
Rock Springs is the biggest city in Sweetwater County in Southwest Wyoming. It had a population of 23,000 in 2019. Rock Springs' nickname is: "Home of 56 Nationalities". The town has a rich western and coal mining history.
The longest stretch is about 202.4 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. 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 2.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Rock Springs, WY, but most travelers stay overnight.
