Spanning 143.4 miles, this trek from Mills to Lander takes you through the heart of the Mountain West in roughly 2 hours and 44 minutes. You will primarily navigate via Southwest Wyoming Boulevard, West Yellowstone Highway, and South Main Street, making this a straightforward journey that easily fits into a single day of travel. Budgeting approximately $23 for fuel should keep your tank covered for the duration of the trip. Because the route is relatively short, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. It is a practical, no-nonsense connection between these two Wyoming communities, perfect for travelers who prefer getting straight to their destination without unnecessary detours.
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
71.8 miles from Mills, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
88.1 mi
1h 39m
US 26
36.6 mi
41m
South Main Street
9.7 mi
11m
West Yellowstone Highway
7.8 mi
9m
Southwest Wyoming Boulevard
0.8 mi
1m
East Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
1st Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Main Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 88.1 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mills, WY and Lander, WY.
1
Start on 1st Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·1st Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto WY 258
0.8 mi·1 min·Southwest Wyoming Boulevard
3
Turn left onto US 20 Business; US 26 Business
7.8 mi·9 min·West Yellowstone Highway
4
Continue on US 20; US 26
88 mi·1 hr 39 min·US 20; US 26
5
Continue on US 26; WY 789
18 mi·20 min·US 26; WY 789
6
Continue on US 26; WY 789
19 mi·21 min·US 26; WY 789
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on WY 789
9.7 mi·11 min·South Main Street
8
Turn right onto US 287
0.4 mi·40 sec·East Main Street
9
Arrive at destination
US 287
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable 2-hour and 44-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your personal schedule. With only one recommended stop planned, try to pick a spot that allows you to stretch your legs effectively, as the technical nature of the road can be a bit more taxing than a standard highway cruise. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Mills, as you should budget about $23 to ensure you reach Lander without stress. A pro tip for this specific route is to stay alert on the turns, as the local road configuration requires more active steering than you might expect on wider, faster thoroughfares.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71.8 miles from Mills, WY, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.1 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 32 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.8 miles or 1h 22m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lander, WY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mills, 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 Mills, WY
This is one driving day of about 143.5 miles and 2h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Mills, 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 US 20 for about 88.1 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
2 of 2
2 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|WY 258 / Southwest Wyoming Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto WY 258 / Southwest Wyoming Boulevard
Navigation decision point
3
1 mi into trip|~1m in|US 20 Business; US 26 Business / West Yellowstone Highway
Turn left onto US 20 Business; US 26 Business / West Yellowstone Highway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.74 one way
$45.48 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$23.84
$47.67
premium
$4.53
$25.60
$51.20
diesel
$5.61
$31.68
$63.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.1
0
$15.07
$6.89
Efficient EV
35.9
0
$12.56
$5.74
EV Truck/SUV
57.4
0
$20.09
$9.18
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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
Mills, WY
Night
in Mills on Saturday
Local time
10:16 PM
MDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lander, WY
Night
in Lander on Saturday
Local time
10:16 PM
MDT
Current temp
67°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
22 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
2h 45m 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 driving experience that feels far removed from the monotonous grind of an interstate. With zero percent of the route on major highways, your focus will be on navigating local roads that demand a bit more attention behind the wheel. The path is characterized by frequent changes in direction, ensuring that the drive remains engaging from start to finish. You won't find long, uninterrupted stretches of pavement here, so settle in for a more hands-on drive that requires constant navigation through the local landscape. It is the kind of trip where the journey is defined by the road's personality rather than high-speed cruising.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 88.1 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and US 26. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near WY 258 / Southwest Wyoming Boulevard.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Mills, WY to Lander, WY is easy. At 2h 45m with 87% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (WY 258 / Southwest Wyoming Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 20 Business; US 26 Business / West Yellowstone Highway): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,209 ft4,806 ft
Total Climb
1,636 ft
Total Descent
1,403 ft
Highest Point
6,209 ft
~51.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,403 ft
Notable High Points
6,209 ft at ~51.3 miles+204 ft prominence
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 45m. Total distance: 143.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 88.1 miles on US 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.2 miles (WY 258 / Southwest Wyoming Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 20 Business; US 26 Business / West Yellowstone Highway): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lander, WY before heading back.
