Black Diamond Trail Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Rafter J Ranch, WY to Sheridan, WY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 4m
Distance
389.6 mi
627 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$62
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 56m
★
6 AM
8h 4m
8 AM
8h 21m
10 AM
8h 10m
12 PM
8h 8m
3 PM
8h 11m
5 PM
8h 20m
8 PM
7h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rafter J Ranch, WY
Tom Fisk
Sheridan, WY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Rafter J Ranch, WY to Sheridan, WY covers 389.6 miles and takes about 8h 4m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Greybull Avenue, South 1st Street, East Highway 287 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 78.8 miles on Greybull Avenue. At current regular gas prices, budget about $61.74 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
194.8 miles from Rafter J Ranch, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Greybull Avenue | 78.8 mi | 1h 43m |
| South 1st Street | 77.9 mi | 1h 27m |
| East Highway 287 | 53.2 mi | 1h |
| North 10th Street | 37.5 mi | 42m |
| Park Street | 32.4 mi | 39m |
| Idaho Street | 31.9 mi | 38m |
| North Highway 89 | 29.3 mi | 40m |
| North Federal Boulevard | 22.1 mi | 25m |
Longest stretch:
Greybull Avenue
— 78.8 mi, about 1h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rafter J Ranch, WY and Sheridan, WY.
1
Start on South Park Ranch Road
0.8 mi
·
3 min
·
South Park Ranch Road
2
Turn sharp right onto South Park Loop Road
3.2 mi
·
7 min
·
South Park Loop Road
3
Continue on South Park Loop Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Park Loop Road
4
Turn left onto US 26; US 89; US 189; US 191
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Highway 89
5
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 189; US 191
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Broadway Avenue
6
Turn right onto West Pearl Avenue
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
West Pearl Avenue
7
Turn left onto South Cache Drive
392 ft
·
9 sec
·
South Cache Drive
8
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North Cache Street
9
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
North Highway 89
10
Enter roundabout onto US 26; US 89; US 191
110 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Highway 89
11
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191
23 mi
·
32 min
·
North Highway 89
12
Continue on US 26; US 287
53 mi
·
1 hr
·
East Highway 287
13
Continue on US 26; US 287
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Ramshorn Street
14
Turn right onto US 26; US 287
78 mi
·
1 hr 27 min
·
South 1st Street
Use the straight lane.
15
At end of road, turn left onto US 26; WY 789
22 mi
·
25 min
·
North Federal Boulevard
16
Turn left onto US 20; WY 789
32 mi
·
38 min
·
Idaho Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto US 20; WY 789
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South 6th Street
Use the slight left / right lanes.
18
Continue on US 20; WY 789
32 mi
·
39 min
·
Park Street
Use the left / slight right lanes.
19
Turn left onto North Railway Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Railway Avenue
20
Continue on Russell Avenue
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Russell Avenue
21
Turn left onto US 16; US 20; WY 789
37 mi
·
42 min
·
North 10th Street
22
Turn right onto US 14
79 mi
·
1 hr 43 min
·
Greybull Avenue
23
Take the ramp onto I 90; US 87
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
I 90; US 87
24
Continue on I 90; US 14; US 87
11 mi
·
10 min
·
I 90; US 14; US 87
25
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 14 Business; US 87 Business
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
I 90 Business; US 14 Business; US 87 Business
26
Turn right onto I 90 Business; US 14 Business; US 87 Business
3.2 mi
·
6 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
27
Turn right onto West Loucks Street
80 ft
·
1 sec
·
West Loucks Street
28
Arrive at destination
West Loucks Street
Trip Plan
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 194.8 miles from Rafter J Ranch, WY, or about 4h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.8 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 86 miles or 1h 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 194.8 miles or 4h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 194.8 miles or 4h
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sheridan, WY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Rafter J Ranch, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Rafter J Ranch, WY
Aim for roughly 195 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Sheridan, WY
Aim for roughly 195 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 86 miles from Rafter J Ranch, WY.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Greybull Avenue for about 78.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
195 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Thermopolis, WYOvernight Options
Night 1
195 mi · about 4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Thermopolis, WY after about 195 miles or 4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 86 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 194.8 miles from Rafter J Ranch, WY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Greybull Avenue if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.8 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 195 miles or 4 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Diversion Dam Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.5 mi from route
Wyoming information Rest Area
1.1 mi from route
Rest Area
2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 386.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
South Park Loop Road
Turn sharp right onto South Park Loop Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
4
7 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
South Cache Drive
Turn left onto South Cache Drive
Navigation decision point
5
92.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 4m in
|
US 26; US 287 / South 1st Street
Turn right onto US 26; US 287 / South 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
192.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 58m in
|
US 20; WY 789 / Idaho Street
Turn left onto US 20; WY 789 / Idaho Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
386.4 mi into trip
|
~7h 57m in
|
I 90 Business; US 14 Business; US 87 Business / North Main Street
Turn right onto I 90 Business; US 14 Business; US 87 Business / North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$61.74 one way
$123.48 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
136 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $64.71 | $129.43 |
| premium | $4.53 | $69.50 | $139.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $86.02 | $172.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$62
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$192–$302
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 136.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 116.9 | 1 | $40.91 | $18.70 |
| Efficient EV | 97.4 | 1 | $34.09 | $15.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 155.8 | 1 | $54.54 | $24.93 |
Gas CO2
136 kg
EV CO2
46 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.
Origin
Rafter J Ranch, WY
Morning in Rafter J Ranch on Sunday
Local time
8:38 AM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sheridan, WY
Morning in Sheridan on Sunday
Local time
8:38 AM
MDT
Current temp
71°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
7 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
8h 4m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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.
Grand Teton National Park
National Park
Soaring over a landscape rich with wildlife, pristine lakes, and majestic alpine vistas, the Teton Range stands as a testament to generations of stewards. For over 11,000 years, communities have thriv...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
$35
near mile 26.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
389.6 mi in 8h 4m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.8 mi on Greybull Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 around 0.8 miles in near South Park Loop Road.
Driving Effort
4/10
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 8h 4m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 16 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (South Park Loop Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 7 miles (South Cache Drive): Navigation decision point; at 92.7 miles (US 26; US 287 / South 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
8h 4m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 78.8 miles on Greybull Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 195 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 6 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.
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 Sheridan, 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. There are 6 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: at 0.8 miles (South Park Loop Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 7 miles (South Cache Drive): Navigation decision point; at 92.7 miles (US 26; US 287 / South 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Grand Teton National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.1 hours each way, a round trip means 16.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sheridan, WY before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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