Rawlins to Cody is 261 miles and takes about 5 hours 26 minutes via US 287, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, traversing the state of Wyoming. Expect a drive that transitions from city streets to more open road as you head north. With a recommended one-day duration, this route is a straightforward option for getting between these two Wyoming communities.
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
130.6 miles from Rawlins, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Broadway Street
81.5 mi
1h 29m
3rd Street
44.1 mi
50m
US 287
42.1 mi
1h 2m
Sand Draw Road
34.6 mi
51m
Idaho Street
31.7 mi
38m
WY 789
23.5 mi
26m
Greybull Highway
1.4 mi
1m
Gas Hills Road
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Broadway Street
— 81.5 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rawlins, WY and Cody, WY.
1
Start on West Spruce Street
50 ft·5 sec·West Spruce Street
2
Turn right onto US 287; WY 789
44 mi·50 min·3rd Street
3
Turn left onto US 287; WY 789
42 mi·1 hr 2 min·US 287; WY 789
4
Turn right onto WY 135
35 mi·51 min·Sand Draw Road
5
Continue on WY 135
1.0 mi·1 min·Gas Hills Road
6
At end of road, turn right onto WY 789
23 mi·26 min·WY 789
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Turn left onto US 20; WY 789
32 mi·38 min·Idaho Street
8
Turn left onto South 8th Street
0.5 mi·2 min·South 8th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Turn left onto WY 120
82 mi·1 hr 29 min·Broadway Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 14; US 16; US 20; WY 120
1.4 mi·1 min·Greybull Highway
11
Continue on US 14; US 16; US 20; WY 120
0.7 mi·2 min·17th Street
12
Continue on US 14; US 16; US 20; WY 120
413 ft·18 sec·Sheridan Avenue
13
Turn right onto US 14A; WY 120
98 ft·3 sec·16th Street
14
Arrive at destination
US 14A; WY 120
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour 26-minute drive time, departing Rawlins in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight. Since this is a single-day trip, you can afford to be flexible with stops, but plan for one main break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when you're on the longer stretches of US 287, as services can be spread out. The fuel cost estimate is around $46, so factor that into your budget.
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 130.6 miles from Rawlins, WY, or about 2h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.5 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 57 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.6 miles or 2h 56m 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 33m
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 Rawlins, 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 Rawlins, WY
This is one driving day of about 261.2 miles and 5h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Rawlins, 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 Broadway Street for about 81.5 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 121.8 and 261.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
121.8 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|WY 789
At end of road, turn right onto WY 789
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
145.2 mi into trip|~3h 13m in|US 20; WY 789 / Idaho Street
Turn left onto US 20; WY 789 / Idaho Street
Navigation decision point
5
176.9 mi into trip|~3h 51m in|South 8th Street
Turn left onto South 8th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
177.4 mi into trip|~3h 53m in|WY 120 / Broadway Street
Turn left onto WY 120 / Broadway Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
261.2 mi into trip|~5h 26m in|US 14A; WY 120 / 16th Street
Turn right onto US 14A; WY 120 / 16th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.71 one way
$81.42 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$42.91
$85.83
premium
$4.47
$46.01
$92.02
diesel
$4.80
$49.32
$98.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.4
0
$27.43
$12.54
Efficient EV
65.3
0
$22.86
$10.45
EV Truck/SUV
104.5
1
$36.57
$16.72
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Rawlins, WY
Late night
in Rawlins on Sunday
Local time
2:15 AM
MDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Clear
ESE 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:23AM MDT until July 19 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:53PM MDT until July 20 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY
Destination
Cody, WY
Late night
in Cody on Sunday
Local time
2:15 AM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
WSW 2 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:23AM MDT until July 19 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:53PM 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
5 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 26m 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 is primarily on surface roads, with highways making up only 25% of the route. You'll begin on Broadway Street and 3rd Street in Rawlins before transitioning to US 287. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 81.5 miles on Broadway Street. Drivers will notice the shift from urban merging to more rural cruising as they progress.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81.5 mi on Broadway Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 121.8 miles in near WY 789.
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 26m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 121.8 miles (WY 789): Lane positioning matters here; at 145.2 miles (US 20; WY 789 / Idaho Street): Navigation decision point; at 176.9 miles (South 8th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
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 81.5 miles on Broadway Street. 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 121.8 miles (WY 789): Lane positioning matters here; at 145.2 miles (US 20; WY 789 / Idaho Street): Navigation decision point; at 176.9 miles (South 8th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 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.
