Moorcroft to Cody is 278.5 miles and takes about 5h 11m via I 90 and US 14, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, moving from eastern Wyoming to the area near Yellowstone. Expect a straightforward drive that's mostly on major highways, making it a convenient option for a single-day trip. It's a practical route for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
139.2 miles from Moorcroft, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
145.1 mi
2h 24m
US 14
79 mi
1h 43m
North 6th Street
52.3 mi
58m
East Converse Street
1.2 mi
1m
17th Street
0.7 mi
2m
Sheridan Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
16th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
South Yellowstone Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 145.1 mi, about 2h 24m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~237 veh/hr typical
· worst 357
Quietest
2 AM
~11 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 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 Moorcroft, WY and Cody, WY.
1
Start on South Yellowstone Avenue
82 ft·7 sec·South Yellowstone Avenue
2
Turn left onto I 90 Business; US 14; US 16
1.2 mi·1 min·East Converse Street
3
Take the ramp onto I 90
145 mi·2 hr 23 min·I 90
4
Take the exit onto I 90; US 87
0.4 mi·1 min·I 90; US 87
Toward US 14 West: Ranchester-Dayton, Greybull-Lovell, Yellowstone-Teton National Parks
5
Turn left onto US 14
79 mi·1 hr 43 min·US 14
6
Turn right onto US 14; US 16; US 20; WY 789
52 mi·58 min·North 6th Street
7
Continue on US 14; US 16; US 20; WY 120
0.7 mi·2 min·17th Street
8
Continue on US 14; US 16; US 20; WY 120
413 ft·18 sec·Sheridan Avenue
9
Turn right onto US 14A; WY 120
98 ft·3 sec·16th Street
10
Arrive at destination
US 14A; WY 120
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 11m estimated drive time, leaving Moorcroft in the morning should allow you to reach Cody with plenty of daylight remaining. The route has one recommended stop, so plan for a break roughly halfway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 145.1-mile stretch on I 90, as services might be more spread out. Since this is a single-day drive, you have the flexibility to depart when you're ready, but an early start is always recommended for longer trips.
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 139.2 miles from Moorcroft, WY, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.1 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 61 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.2 miles or 2h 19m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cody, WY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Moorcroft, 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 Moorcroft, WY
This is one driving day of about 278.5 miles and 5h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Moorcroft, 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 90 for about 145.1 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
5 of 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 278.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|I 90 Business; US 14; US 16 / East Converse Street
Turn left onto I 90 Business; US 14; US 16 / East Converse Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in|I 90
Take the ramp onto I 90
Navigation decision point
5
145.9 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|I 90; US 87
Take the exit onto I 90; US 87 toward US 14 West: Ranchester-Dayton, Greybull-Lovell, Yellowstone-Teton National Parks
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 14 West: Ranchester-Dayton, Greybull-...
4
146.3 mi into trip|~2h 26m in|US 14
Turn left onto US 14
Navigation decision point
5
278.4 mi into trip|~5h 11m in|US 14A; WY 120 / 16th Street
Turn right onto US 14A; WY 120 / 16th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.41 one way
$86.82 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$45.76
$91.51
premium
$4.47
$49.06
$98.11
diesel
$4.80
$52.59
$105.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.6
1
$29.24
$13.37
Efficient EV
69.6
0
$24.37
$11.14
EV Truck/SUV
111.4
1
$38.99
$17.82
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
33 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Moorcroft, WY
Late night
in Moorcroft on Sunday
Local time
2:16 AM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Partly Cloudy then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 6 to 10 mph23% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 3:07PM MDT until July 19 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:12PM MDT until July 20 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY
Destination
Cody, WY
Late night
in Cody on Sunday
Local time
2:16 AM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
W 1 to 8 mph24% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 3:07PM MDT until July 19 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:12PM MDT until July 20 at 6:00PM 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
2 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
5h 11m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Devils Tower National Monument
National Monument
The Tower is an astounding geologic feature that protrudes out of the prairie surrounding the Black Hills. It is considered sacred by Northern Plains Indians and indigenous people. Hundreds of paralle...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
With 80% of this route on highways, you'll spend most of your time on I 90 and US 14. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 145.1 miles on I 90, offering a solid period of uninterrupted cruising. You'll transition to surface roads for the final segment, indicated by the shift from the highway percentage. Expect a rural feel for much of the drive.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 145.1 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and US 14. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near I 90 Business; US 14; US 16 / East Converse 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 11m drive. You will face about 6 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 90 Business; US 14; US 16 / East Converse Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 90): Navigation decision point; at 145.9 miles (I 90; US 87): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
8,155 ft3,736 ft
Total Climb
6,490 ft
Total Descent
5,718 ft
Highest Point
8,155 ft
~178.9 mi in
Elevation Range
4,419 ft
Notable High Points
4,767 ft at ~39.8 miles+377 ft prominence
4,646 ft at ~99.4 miles+115 ft prominence
8,155 ft at ~178.9 miles+1,833 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Moorcroft, WY and Cody, WY, road signs point toward Greybull-Lovell and Yellowstone-Teton National Parks.
Cody is in Northwest Wyoming, close to the east side Yellowstone National Park. Unlike Jackson, with its pet spas and high-end shopping, Cody is more authentically cowboy. Cody is famous for its rodeo, which occurs nightly during the summer, and for its proximity to fantastic wilderness adventures in Yellowstone and in the national forests surrounding the park.
The longest stretch is about 145.1 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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 7 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 90 Business; US 14; US 16 / East Converse Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (I 90): Navigation decision point; at 145.9 miles (I 90; US 87): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Devils Tower National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Cody, WY before the return drive.
