Lyman, WY to Cheyenne, WY is 323.5 miles and takes about 5 hours 23 minutes via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $56 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Mountain West region, primarily traversing Wyoming. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface roads as you make your way across the state. With just one recommended stop and a relatively short drive time, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip.
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
161.7 miles from Lyman, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
318.3 mi
5h 13m
WY 413
2.7 mi
4m
West 24th Street
0.9 mi
2m
Purple Heart Trail
0.3 mi
<1m
North Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Missile Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
East Owen Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 318.3 mi, about 5h 13m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 64 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~537 veh/hr typical
· worst 791
Quietest
2 AM
~85 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Lyman, WY and Cheyenne, WY.
1
Start on East Owen Street
9 ft·2 sec·East Owen Street
2
Turn right onto I 80 Bus
0.3 mi·27 sec·North Main Street
3
Turn left onto WY 413
2.7 mi·4 min·WY 413
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
5
Merge onto I 80
317 mi·5 hr 11 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
6
Continue on I 80
0.3 mi·18 sec·Purple Heart Trail
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 359CToward I 25 North, US 87 North: Casper
8
Merge onto I 25; US 87
1.6 mi·1 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward Missile Drive, Warren Gate 2
10
Turn right onto Missile Drive
0.2 mi·32 sec·Missile Drive
11
Turn left onto West 24th Street
0.9 mi·2 min·West 24th Street
12
Arrive at destination
West 24th Street
Trip Plan
Consider an early morning departure from Lyman to maximize your daylight hours for the 5 hour 23 minute drive. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your trip, but it's wise to plan for a mid-drive break. The fuel cost is estimated at $56, so ensure your tank is full before leaving Lyman. Pay attention to the transition from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway to surface roads, as this is where traffic density will likely increase.
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 161.7 miles from Lyman, WY, or about 2h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 318.3 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 71 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 161.7 miles or 2h 41m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cheyenne, WY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lyman, 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 Lyman, WY
This is one driving day of about 323.5 miles and 5h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Lyman, 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 318.3 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 322.4 — 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|I 80 Bus / North Main Street
Turn right onto I 80 Bus / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|WY 413
Turn left onto WY 413
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
320.3 mi into trip|~5h 17m in
Take the exit toward I 25 North, US 87 North: Casper
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 359C
Toward I 25 North, US 87 North: Casper
5
322.2 mi into trip|~5h 20m in
Take the exit toward Missile Drive, Warren Gate 2
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Missile Drive, Warren Gate 2
5
322.4 mi into trip|~5h 20m in|Missile Drive
Turn right onto Missile Drive
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.27 one way
$114.55 round trip
$4.50/gal25.4 MPG avg113 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.79
$60.96
$121.91
premium
$5.07
$64.62
$129.25
diesel
$6.29
$80.14
$160.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
97.1
1
$33.97
$15.53
Efficient EV
80.9
0
$28.31
$12.94
EV Truck/SUV
129.4
1
$45.29
$20.70
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Lyman, WY
Morning
in Lyman on Saturday
Local time
10:33 AM
MDT
Current temp
31°F
Clear
SW 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
High Wind Warning
High Wind Warning issued October 17 at 1:30AM MDT until October 17 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY
Destination
Cheyenne, WY
Morning
in Cheyenne on Saturday
Local time
10:33 AM
MDT
Current temp
36°F
Clear
WSW 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
High Wind Warning
High Wind Warning issued October 17 at 1:30AM MDT until October 17 at 7:00PM 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
5 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 23m 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?
You'll spend most of your time on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, covering 318.3 miles on this main artery. After that, you'll transition to surface roads, including WY 413 and West 24th Street, for the final stretch. The profile is mostly surface roads, indicating you'll encounter more local traffic and intersections as you approach your destination. Be prepared for a change in driving pace from open highway to more developed areas.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 318.3 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 I 80 Bus / North Main 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 23m drive. You will face about 9 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 (I 80 Bus / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (WY 413): Lane positioning matters here; at 320.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Cheyenne is the state capital and largest city (approximate 2020 population 64,000) of Wyoming. Cheyenne is a place that celebrates its history and "true Western" culture. It is not uncommon to see cowboy hats, boots, and the belt as daily attire. It is host to the annual Frontier Days, one of the largest rodeos in North America.
Top landmarks
•Wyoming State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Wyoming
•Cheyenne Depot Museum — former railroad station and current museum in Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States
•Boeing/United Airlines Terminal Building, Hangar and Fountain
The longest stretch is about 318.3 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 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.
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. There are 18 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: near the start (I 80 Bus / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (WY 413): Lane positioning matters here; at 320.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Cheyenne, WY before the return drive.
