Newcastle, WY to Rawlins, WY is 279.8 miles and takes about 5h 41m via County Road 308 and WY 387, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Mountain West region, offering a straightforward journey across Wyoming. It's primarily a highway-focused trip, making it a solid option for a single-day excursion. You'll experience a consistent driving pace for most of the 5h 41m trip. Plan for this to be a practical, no-fuss drive across the state.
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
139.9 miles from Newcastle, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
County Road 308
63.7 mi
1h 12m
WY 387
51.3 mi
58m
Highway 450
45.6 mi
1h 7m
US 287
44.1 mi
50m
Clareton Highway
20.6 mi
30m
I 25
20.1 mi
18m
WY 259
18.1 mi
20m
Casper West Belt
7.3 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
County Road 308
— 63.7 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newcastle, WY and Rawlins, WY.
1
Start on US 16
2.1 mi·3 min·West Main Street
2
Continue on US 16
0.7 mi·1 min·US Highway 16
3
Turn left onto WY 450
46 mi·1 hr 7 min·Highway 450
4
Continue on WY 450
21 mi·30 min·Clareton Highway
5
Turn right onto WY 59
2.7 mi·3 min·State Highway 59 South
6
Turn left onto WY 387
51 mi·58 min·WY 387
7
Turn left onto WY 259
18 mi·20 min·WY 259
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 25 South: Casper
9
Merge onto I 25; US 87
20 mi·18 min·I 25; US 87
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward US 20 West, US 26 West, WY 220 West: Shoshoni, Port of Entry
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
12
Turn right onto US 20; US 26
2.7 mi·3 min·US 20; US 26
13
Continue on WY 257
7.3 mi·8 min·Casper West Belt
14
Turn right onto WY 220
64 mi·1 hr 12 min·County Road 308
15
Continue on US 287; WY 789
44 mi·50 min·US 287; WY 789
16
Turn left onto West Spruce Street
50 ft·1 sec·West Spruce Street
17
Arrive at destination
West Spruce Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 41m drive time and 279.8-mile distance, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Departing in the morning allows ample time to reach Rawlins before evening. While there's only one recommended stop, you'll want to be mindful of fuel. The longest stretch without a turn is over 63 miles, so consider refueling before embarking on that segment to ensure peace of mind. With a fuel cost estimated at $44, it's a budget-friendly trip, but always keep an eye on your gauge, especially in more remote sections of Wyoming.
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 139.9 miles from Newcastle, WY, or about 3h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.7 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 62 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.9 miles or 3h 4m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rawlins, WY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Newcastle, 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 Newcastle, WY
This is one driving day of about 279.8 miles and 5h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Newcastle, 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 County Road 308 for about 63.7 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.8 and 161.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
2.8 mi into trip|~4m in|WY 450 / Highway 450
Turn left onto WY 450 / Highway 450
Navigation decision point
4
122.9 mi into trip|~2h 44m in|WY 259
Turn left onto WY 259
Navigation decision point
6
141 mi into trip|~3h 5m in
Take the exit toward I 25 South: Casper
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 25 South: Casper
5
161.6 mi into trip|~3h 25m in
Take the exit toward US 20 West, US 26 West, WY 220 West: Shoshoni, Port of Entry
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 20 West, US 26 West, WY 220 West: Sho...
4
161.9 mi into trip|~3h 25m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.34 one way
$88.68 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg98 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$46.48
$92.95
premium
$4.53
$49.91
$99.82
diesel
$5.61
$61.78
$123.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.9
1
$29.38
$13.43
Efficient EV
70
0
$24.48
$11.19
EV Truck/SUV
111.9
1
$39.17
$17.91
Gas CO2
98 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Newcastle, WY
Evening
in Newcastle on Saturday
Local time
8:48 PM
MDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Rawlins, WY
Evening
in Rawlins on Saturday
Local time
8:48 PM
MDT
Current temp
64°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
12 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 41m 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?
This route is largely a highway-focused drive, with 66% of the journey on main roads like County Road 308, WY 387, and Highway 450. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 63.7 miles on County Road 308, which means extended periods of consistent driving without frequent turns. Expect a steady pace for much of the 5h 41m duration, making it feel like a continuous journey rather than a winding, scenic tour. The road character remains fairly consistent, prioritizing direct travel over varied terrain.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63.7 mi on County Road 308.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on County Road 308 and WY 387. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in near WY 450 / Highway 450.
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 41m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles (WY 450 / Highway 450): Navigation decision point; at 122.9 miles (WY 259): Navigation decision point; at 141 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Newcastle, WY to Rawlins, WY, road signs begin pointing toward Port Of Entry along the way.
Port Of Entry
161.6 mi in|~3h 25m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 41m. Total distance: 279.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 63.7 miles on County Road 308. 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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 2.8 miles (WY 450 / Highway 450): Navigation decision point; at 122.9 miles (WY 259): Navigation decision point; at 141 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Rawlins, WY before the return drive.
