Lovell, WY to Laramie, WY is 378.8 miles and takes about 7h 35m via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and US 287, with a fuel budget near $61 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wyoming, traversing the Mountain West region from start to finish. You'll experience a mix of highway cruising and surface road driving on this route. It's a manageable one-day drive, perfect if you're looking for a straightforward connection between these two points without needing an overnight stop.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
189.4 miles from Lovell, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
93.9 mi
1h 33m
US 287
84.8 mi
1h 51m
US 14
42.5 mi
48m
Sand Draw Road
34.6 mi
51m
West Big Horn Avenue
32.4 mi
39m
US 20
31 mi
36m
East Main Street
27.5 mi
30m
West 2nd Street
18.2 mi
20m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 93.9 mi, about 1h 33m
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 Lovell, WY and Laramie, WY.
1
Start on US 14A; US 310; WY 789
28 mi·30 min·East Main Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 14; US 16; US 20; WY 789
42 mi·48 min·US 14; US 16; US 20; WY 789
3
Turn right onto Russell Avenue
0.1 mi·16 sec·Russell Avenue
4
Continue on North Railway Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·North Railway Avenue
5
Turn right onto US 20; WY 789
32 mi·39 min·West Big Horn Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
6
Continue on US 20; WY 789
0.8 mi·2 min·North 6th Street
Use the slight left / right lanes.
7
Turn right onto US 20; WY 789
0.9 mi·2 min·Shoshoni Street
Use the left / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 20; WY 789
31 mi·36 min·US 20; WY 789
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn right onto US 26; WY 789
18 mi·20 min·West 2nd Street
10
Continue on US 26; WY 789
5.3 mi·6 min·US 26; WY 789
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left onto WY 135
1.0 mi·1 min·Gas Hills Road
12
Turn straight onto WY 135
35 mi·51 min·Sand Draw Road
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 287; WY 789
42 mi·1 hr 2 min·US 287; WY 789
14
Turn right onto US 287; WY 789
42 mi·48 min·US 287; WY 789
15
Turn left onto US 287 BYP
1.5 mi·1 min·US 287 BYP
16
At end of road, turn left onto I 80 Bus; US 30 Bus; US 287
1.0 mi·1 min·East Cedar Street
17
Take the exit onto US 287
0.4 mi·51 sec·US 287
18
Merge onto I 80; US 30; US 287
94 mi·1 hr 33 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Toward I 80 Business East: West Curtis Street
20
Turn left onto I 80 Business
1.4 mi·2 min·West Curtis Street
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn right onto North 4th Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North 4th Street
22
Turn left onto East Ivinson Avenue
363 ft·12 sec·East Ivinson Avenue
23
Turn right onto South 5th Street
199 ft·10 sec·South 5th Street
24
Turn right
45 ft·3 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
This route is best tackled in a single day, so aim for an early morning departure from Lovell to maximize daylight. With 2 recommended stops and a 7.5-hour estimated drive time, you'll have opportunities to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 93.9-mile stretch on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, as services can be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost is around $61, so factor that into your budget. This drive is straightforward, but planning your fuel stops is the most critical element for a smooth trip.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 189.4 miles from Lovell, WY, or about 3h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.9 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 83 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 189.4 miles or 3h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laramie, WY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lovell, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lovell, WY
This is one driving day of about 378.8 miles and 7h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Lovell, WY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 93.9 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 27.5 and 378.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
27.5 mi into trip|~30m in|US 14; US 16; US 20; WY 789
At end of road, turn left onto US 14; US 16; US 20; WY 789
Navigation decision point
5
70.5 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|US 20; WY 789 / West Big Horn Avenue
Turn right onto US 20; WY 789 / West Big Horn Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
376.3 mi into trip|~7h 29m in|I 80 Business / West Curtis Street
Turn left onto I 80 Business / West Curtis Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
378.8 mi into trip|~7h 34m in|South 5th Street
Turn right onto South 5th Street
Navigation decision point
5
378.8 mi into trip|~7h 34m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$59.04 one way
$118.08 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg133 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$62.23
$124.47
premium
$4.47
$66.72
$133.44
diesel
$4.80
$71.52
$143.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$59
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 132.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
113.6
1
$39.77
$18.18
Efficient EV
94.7
1
$33.15
$15.15
EV Truck/SUV
151.5
1
$53.03
$24.24
Gas CO2
133 kg
EV CO2
44 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 17, 2026
Origin
Lovell, WY
Evening
in Lovell on Saturday
Local time
7:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Partly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 3 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 16 at 7:09PM MDT until July 19 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
Destination
Laramie, WY
Evening
in Laramie on Saturday
Local time
7:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 5 to 15 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 16 at 7:09PM MDT until July 19 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
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
9 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
7h 35m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
The vast, wild landscape of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area offers visitors unparalleled opportunities to immerse themselves in the natural world, and experience the wonders of this extraordin...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 44% of this drive is on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, offering a more open cruising experience. The longest continuous stretch on this highway is 93.9 miles. The remainder of the route transitions to US 287 and US 14, which are primarily surface roads. You'll notice the change from higher-speed highway to more rural driving as you progress.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93.9 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 around 27.5 miles in near US 14; US 16; US 20; WY 789.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 35m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 18 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 27.5 miles (US 14; US 16; US 20; WY 789): Navigation decision point; at 70.5 miles (US 20; WY 789 / West Big Horn Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 376.3 miles (I 80 Business / West Curtis Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 93.9 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Laramie, WY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. There are 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 27.5 miles (US 14; US 16; US 20; WY 789): Navigation decision point; at 70.5 miles (US 20; WY 789 / West Big Horn Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 376.3 miles (I 80 Business / West Curtis Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.6 hours each way, a round trip means 15.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Laramie, WY before the return drive.
