Connecting Lusk to Sheridan, this 250.6-mile journey through the Wyoming Mountain West typically takes about 3 hours and 54 minutes of driving time. Because the route is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight interstate shot, it is best suited as a single-day trip. You should budget approximately $40 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Navigating through West 8th Street, Highway 20, and Highway 18 requires your full attention, making it a more engaging experience than a simple highway cruise. While it is manageable in one day, having the flexibility to stop once along the way will keep you fresh behind the wheel.
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
125.3 miles from Lusk, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 25
174.3 mi
2h 51m
US 87
31.5 mi
33m
US Highway 20
23.3 mi
25m
US Highway 18/20
18.1 mi
19m
Coffeen Avenue
1.8 mi
2m
South Main Street
0.6 mi
1m
I 90
0.4 mi
<1m
East Brundage Lane
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 174.3 mi, about 2h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lusk, WY and Sheridan, WY.
1
Start on US 18; US 20; US 85
0.5 mi·1 min·South Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 18; US 20
0.2 mi·25 sec·West 8th Street
3
Continue on US 18; US 20
23 mi·25 min·US Highway 20
4
Continue on US 18; US 20
18 mi·19 min·US Highway 18/20
5
Take the exit onto I 25; US 20
63 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 25; US 20
6
Continue on I 25; US 87
112 mi·1 hr 45 min·I 25; US 87
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 87
31 mi·33 min·US 87
Toward I 90 West, US 87 North: Sheridan
8
Take the exit onto I 90
0.4 mi·57 sec·I 90
Toward Brundage Lane
9
Turn left onto I 90 Business; US 14; US 87
0.3 mi·36 sec·East Brundage Lane
10
Turn right onto I 90 Business; US 14 Business; US 87 Business
1.8 mi·2 min·Coffeen Avenue
11
Turn right onto I 90 Business; US 14 Business; US 87 Business
0.1 mi·18 sec·South Main Street
12
Turn left onto West Loucks Street
80 ft·1 sec·West Loucks Street
13
Arrive at destination
West Loucks Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a roughly four-hour drive, try to depart in the morning to ensure you reach Sheridan before dark, especially given the turn-heavy nature of the route. Plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel, keeping that $40 budget in mind for your gas expenses. Because you are navigating local roads rather than major interstates, watch for changing speed limits and local traffic patterns that might fluctuate more than you'd expect on a standard highway. My best advice for this specific trip is to keep a physical or offline map handy, as the reliance on local roads like Highway 18 can sometimes lead to spotty navigation signals in more remote sections of the Mountain West.
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 125.3 miles from Lusk, WY, or about 2h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 174.3 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 55 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.3 miles or 2h 12m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sheridan, WY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lusk, 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 Lusk, WY
This is one driving day of about 250.5 miles and 4h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Lusk, 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 I 25 for about 174.3 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 250.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|US 18; US 20 / West 8th Street
Turn right onto US 18; US 20 / West 8th Street
Navigation decision point
6
216.4 mi into trip|~3h 37m in|US 87
Keep slight left at fork onto US 87 toward I 90 West, US 87 North: Sheridan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 West, US 87 North: Sheridan
4
247.9 mi into trip|~4h 11m in|I 90
Take the exit onto I 90 toward Brundage Lane
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Brundage Lane
4
248.3 mi into trip|~4h 12m in|I 90 Business; US 14; US 87 / East Brundage Lane
Turn left onto I 90 Business; US 14; US 87 / East Brundage Lane
Navigation decision point
5
250.5 mi into trip|~4h 16m in|West Loucks Street
Turn left onto West Loucks Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.70 one way
$79.39 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$41.61
$83.22
premium
$4.53
$44.69
$89.37
diesel
$5.61
$55.31
$110.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.6 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
75.1
0
$26.30
$12.02
Efficient EV
62.6
0
$21.92
$10.02
EV Truck/SUV
100.2
1
$35.07
$16.03
Gas CO2
88 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
Lusk, WY
Evening
in Lusk on Saturday
Local time
8:51 PM
MDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sheridan, WY
Evening
in Sheridan on Saturday
Local time
8:51 PM
MDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Buffalo, WY
125 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
26 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 16m 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 hands-on driving experience as you navigate this route, which features zero percent interstate highway travel. The roads are characterized by frequent turns and local transitions, requiring you to stay alert and active throughout the journey. Because it is a local drive, you won't encounter the monotonous, long-distance highway stretches found on major interstates. Instead, the road profile shifts constantly, demanding steady focus as you transition between Highway 20, Highway 18, and local streets. This is an ideal path for drivers who prefer a dynamic, winding environment over the predictable pace of a high-speed expressway.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 174.3 mi on I 25.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 25 and US 87. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near US 18; US 20 / West 8th 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 16m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (US 18; US 20 / West 8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 216.4 miles (US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 247.9 miles (I 90): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 16m. Total distance: 250.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 174.3 miles on I 25. 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: at 0.5 miles (US 18; US 20 / West 8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 216.4 miles (US 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 247.9 miles (I 90): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Sheridan, WY, but most travelers stay overnight.
