Ranchettes, WY to Riverton, WY is 294.4 miles and takes about 5h 11m via I 25 and US 26, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wyoming, connecting two points in the Mountain West region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey that's best suited for a single day of driving. Expect a consistent pace as you make your way across the state. This route is a practical choice if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently within Wyoming.
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
147.2 miles from Ranchettes, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 25
172.4 mi
2h 48m
West Yellowstone Highway
94.3 mi
1h 47m
US 26
21.6 mi
24m
US 20
3 mi
3m
Iron Mountain Road
2 mi
4m
Horse Creek Road
0.5 mi
<1m
North Federal Boulevard
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 172.4 mi, about 2h 48m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~319 veh/hr typical
· worst 488
Quietest
2 AM
~25 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Ranchettes, WY and Riverton, WY.
1
Start on Iron Mountain Road
2.0 mi·4 min·Iron Mountain Road
2
Continue on WY 211
0.5 mi·51 sec·Horse Creek Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
4
Merge onto I 25; US 85; US 87
0.4 mi·25 sec·I 25; US 85; US 87
5
Continue on I 25; US 87
76 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 25; US 87
6
Continue on I 25; US 26; US 87
34 mi·31 min·I 25; US 26; US 87
7
Continue on I 25; US 20; US 26; US 87
62 mi·1 hr 5 min·I 25; US 20; US 26; US 87
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward US 20 West, US 26 West, WY 220 West: Shoshoni, Port of Entry
9
Keep slight left at fork
350 ft·10 sec
10
Turn left onto US 20; US 26
3.0 mi·3 min·US 20; US 26
11
Turn right onto US 20; US 26
94 mi·1 hr 47 min·West Yellowstone Highway
12
Continue on US 26; WY 789
18 mi·20 min·US 26; WY 789
13
Continue on US 26; WY 789
3.9 mi·4 min·US 26; WY 789
Use the straight lane.
14
Arrive at destination
US 26; WY 789
Trip Plan
Given the 5 hour 11 minute duration, leaving in the morning will allow you to reach Riverton with plenty of daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop, you can choose to break up the drive as needed, perhaps after the longest stretch on I 25. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without a major town could be a consideration for some drivers. The $47 fuel cost estimate is helpful for budgeting your travel expenses for this single-day trip within 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 147.2 miles from Ranchettes, WY, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 172.4 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 65 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 147.2 miles or 2h 25m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Riverton, WY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ranchettes, 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 Ranchettes, WY
This is one driving day of about 294.4 miles and 5h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Ranchettes, 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 25 for about 172.4 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 178.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
2.5 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
3
2.7 mi into trip|~6m in|I 25; US 85; US 87
Merge onto I 25; US 85; US 87
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
175.1 mi into trip|~2h 54m 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
175.4 mi into trip|~2h 55m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
178.5 mi into trip|~2h 59m in|US 20; US 26 / West Yellowstone Highway
Turn right onto US 20; US 26 / West Yellowstone Highway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.89 one way
$91.77 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg103 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$48.37
$96.73
premium
$4.47
$51.86
$103.71
diesel
$4.80
$55.59
$111.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.3
1
$30.91
$14.13
Efficient EV
73.6
0
$25.76
$11.78
EV Truck/SUV
117.8
1
$41.22
$18.84
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
34 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Ranchettes, WY
Morning
in Ranchettes on Sunday
Local time
9:30 AM
MDT
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
SE 10 to 15 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:12PM MDT until July 20 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 10:33AM MDT until July 17 at 10:00PM MDT by NWS Riverton WY
Destination
Riverton, WY
Morning
in Riverton on Sunday
Local time
9:30 AM
MDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
NE 2 to 7 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:12PM MDT until July 20 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 10:33AM MDT until July 17 at 10:00PM MDT by NWS Riverton WY
94°F
Evansville, WY
147 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
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
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive leans heavily towards highway travel, with 67% of the route on higher-speed roads like I 25. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of driving on I 25, covering 172.4 miles. While primarily highway, the route incorporates segments of West Yellowstone Highway and US 26, which may offer a slightly different driving experience. Overall, anticipate a steady and predictable journey with ample opportunity to maintain a good speed.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 172.4 mi on I 25.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 25 and West Yellowstone Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in.
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 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (I 25; US 85; US 87): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 175.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,198 ft4,769 ft
Total Climb
1,424 ft
Total Descent
2,668 ft
Highest Point
6,198 ft
Elevation Range
1,430 ft
Notable High Points
4,892 ft at ~84.1 miles+56 ft prominence
6,004 ft at ~231.3 miles+284 ft prominence
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 Ranchettes, WY to Riverton, WY, road signs begin pointing toward Port Of Entry along the way.
Port Of Entry
175.1 mi in|~2h 54m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
The longest stretch is about 172.4 miles on I 25. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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 5 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 2.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (I 25; US 85; US 87): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 175.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Riverton, WY before the return drive.
