Spanning 405.9 miles across the Mountain West, this trip from Pinedale to Gillette is a significant trek that takes approximately 7 hours and 41 minutes of driving time. While it is technically possible to complete the journey in a single day, be prepared for a long stint behind the wheel. You will rely primarily on US 20, Highway 28, and WY 789 to navigate through the Wyoming landscape. With an estimated fuel cost of $64, it is a straightforward drive that prioritizes efficiency over detours. If you prefer a relaxed pace, consider whether one day of travel fits your schedule or if you would rather break the journey into two segments.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
203 miles from Pinedale, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
79.9 mi
1h 30m
Highway 28
66.5 mi
1h 15m
WY 789
63.7 mi
1h 13m
WY 387
51.3 mi
58m
US Highway 191
47.8 mi
52m
State Highway 59 South
32.8 mi
35m
I 25
20.1 mi
18m
Horseshoe Road
17.9 mi
20m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 79.9 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pinedale, WY and Gillette, WY.
1
Start on US 191
0.7 mi·1 min·East Pine Street
2
Continue on US 191
0.4 mi·42 sec·US Highway 191
3
Continue on US 191
11 mi·12 min·United States Highway 191
4
Continue on US 191
47 mi·51 min·US Highway 191
5
Turn left onto WY 28
66 mi·1 hr 15 min·Highway 28
6
Continue on US 287; WY 789
8.4 mi·9 min·US 287; WY 789
7
Turn right onto WY 789
64 mi·1 hr 13 min·WY 789
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
Continue on US 20; US 26
77 mi·1 hr 27 min·US 20; US 26
9
Turn left onto US 20; US 26
3.0 mi·3 min·US 20; US 26
10
Turn left
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 25 North, US 87 North: Midwest
11
Merge onto I 25; US 87
20 mi·18 min·I 25; US 87
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward Horse Ranch Creek Road
13
Turn right onto WY 259
18 mi·20 min·Horseshoe Road
14
Turn right onto WY 387
51 mi·58 min·WY 387
15
Turn left onto WY 59
33 mi·35 min·State Highway 59 South
16
Continue on WY 59
5.0 mi·9 min·South Douglas Highway
17
Turn left onto East 4th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East 4th Street
18
Arrive at destination
East 4th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour and 41-minute duration, plan to depart early in the morning to ensure you reach Gillette before dark. You should account for at least two dedicated stops to stretch your legs and refuel, keeping your $64 fuel budget in mind as you monitor your gauge between stretches. Since the longest segment reaches nearly 80 miles, keep a close eye on your tank when traversing the US 20 portion to avoid unnecessary anxiety. Staying flexible with your timing is a major advantage on this route, as the highway-heavy nature of the trip makes it easy to adjust your pace if you encounter unexpected traffic.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 203 miles from Pinedale, WY, or about 3h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.9 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 89 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 203 miles or 3h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gillette, WY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pinedale, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Pinedale, WY
This is one driving day of about 405.9 miles and 7h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 89 miles from Pinedale, WY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 20 for about 79.9 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 59.2 and 298.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
59.2 mi into trip|~1h 6m in|WY 28 / Highway 28
Turn left onto WY 28 / Highway 28
Navigation decision point
5
134 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|WY 789
Turn right onto WY 789
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
277.6 mi into trip|~5h 15m in
Turn left toward I 25 North, US 87 North: Midwest
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 25 North, US 87 North: Midwest
4
298.1 mi into trip|~5h 35m in
Take the exit toward Horse Ranch Creek Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Horse Ranch Creek Road
4
298.5 mi into trip|~5h 36m in|WY 259 / Horseshoe Road
Turn right onto WY 259 / Horseshoe Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$64.32 one way
$128.64 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg142 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$67.42
$134.84
premium
$4.53
$72.41
$144.81
diesel
$5.61
$89.62
$179.24
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$64
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$89–$114
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 142 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
121.8
1
$42.62
$19.48
Efficient EV
101.5
1
$35.52
$16.24
EV Truck/SUV
162.4
2
$56.83
$25.98
Gas CO2
142 kg
EV CO2
47 kg (67% 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
Pinedale, WY
Evening
in Pinedale on Saturday
Local time
7:11 PM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Gillette, WY
Evening
in Gillette on Saturday
Local time
7:11 PM
MDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Riverton, WY
203 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
9 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
7h 41m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 highway-focused experience, as 94% of your journey takes place on high-speed roads designed for steady progress. The route moves away from the local feel of Pinedale and settles into a consistent rhythm, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 79.9 miles along US 20. You will find that the character of the drive is built for utility rather than technical maneuvering, allowing you to cover ground quickly across the state. Because the path remains largely on major thoroughfares, you can anticipate a predictable driving environment that remains stable from start to finish.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.9 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and Highway 28. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 59.2 miles in near WY 28 / Highway 28.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 41m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 10 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 59.2 miles (WY 28 / Highway 28): Navigation decision point; at 134 miles (WY 789): Lane positioning matters here; at 277.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 41m. Total distance: 405.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 79.9 miles on US 20. 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Gillette, WY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 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 59.2 miles (WY 28 / Highway 28): Navigation decision point; at 134 miles (WY 789): Lane positioning matters here; at 277.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.7 hours each way, a round trip means 15.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Gillette, WY before the return drive.
