This 169-mile drive from Rawlins to Douglas, Wyoming, is a manageable one-day trip, estimated to take just under 3 hours. You'll navigate through local streets and a brief stretch of highway before reaching your destination. With a fuel cost estimated at $27, this route is an economical choice for a quick journey within the Mountain West region. The drive's character suggests it's best suited for a single day, allowing ample time for exploration upon arrival in Douglas. Consider this for a straightforward transit between these two Wyoming locales.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
84.5 miles from Rawlins, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
WY 220
63.7 mi
1h 12m
3rd Street
44.1 mi
50m
Casper West Belt
7.3 mi
8m
US 20
2.7 mi
3m
I 25 BUS
2.2 mi
4m
West Spruce Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
WY 220
— 63.7 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rawlins, WY and Douglas, 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
Continue on WY 220
64 mi·1 hr 12 min·WY 220
4
Turn left onto WY 257
7.3 mi·8 min·Casper West Belt
5
Continue on US 20; US 26
2.7 mi·3 min·US 20; US 26
6
Take the exit
49 mi·51 min
7
Take the exit onto I 25 BUS; US 20 BUS; US 26 BUS; US 87 BUS
2.2 mi·4 min·I 25 BUS; US 20 BUS; US 26 BUS; US 87 BUS
Toward I 25, WY 59: Douglas, Gillette
8
Turn left
68 ft·4 sec
9
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given its short duration of under 3 hours, this 169-mile drive from Rawlins to Douglas offers flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, perhaps after a morning coffee, and still arrive with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of freedom to decide when and where to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated $27 cost suggests a relatively efficient trip, but it's always wise to top off before leaving Rawlins, especially if you plan any detours. The turn-heavy nature of the route means you'll want to stay focused on navigation.
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 84.5 miles from Rawlins, WY, or about 1h 36m 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 37 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.5 miles or 1h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Douglas, 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 169.1 miles and 3h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 WY 220 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 169 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 287; WY 789 / 3rd Street
Turn right onto US 287; WY 789 / 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
3
107.8 mi into trip|~2h 3m in|WY 257 / Casper West Belt
Turn left onto WY 257 / Casper West Belt
Navigation decision point
4
117.8 mi into trip|~2h 15m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
166.8 mi into trip|~3h 7m in|I 25 BUS; US 20 BUS; US 26 BUS; US 87 BUS
Take the exit onto I 25 BUS; US 20 BUS; US 26 BUS; US 87 BUS toward I 25, WY 59: Douglas, Gillette
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 25, WY 59: Douglas, Gillette
3
169 mi into trip|~3h 11m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.80 one way
$53.59 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$28.09
$56.18
premium
$4.53
$30.17
$60.33
diesel
$5.61
$37.34
$74.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.7
0
$17.76
$8.12
Efficient EV
42.3
0
$14.80
$6.76
EV Truck/SUV
67.6
0
$23.67
$10.82
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Rawlins, WY
Late night
in Rawlins on Sunday
Local time
1:47 AM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Douglas, WY
Late night
in Douglas on Sunday
Local time
1:47 AM
MDT
Current temp
75°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
11 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
3h 11m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 rather turn-heavy local drive for much of this 169-mile journey. While the route does incorporate some highway sections, a significant portion involves navigating local roads. The profile indicates a less monotonous experience than a pure interstate cruise, potentially offering more varied driving conditions. With a 0% highway share, you'll be engaging with the local road network throughout the 2 hour and 58 minute trip, making it a hands-on driving experience.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63.7 mi on WY 220.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 287; WY 789 / 3rd Street.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Rawlins, WY to Douglas, WY is easy. At 3h 11m with 41% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 287; WY 789 / 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 107.8 miles (WY 257 / Casper West Belt): Navigation decision point; at 117.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 11m. Total distance: 169.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 63.7 miles on WY 220. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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: near the start (US 287; WY 789 / 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 107.8 miles (WY 257 / Casper West Belt): Navigation decision point; at 117.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Douglas, WY, but most travelers stay overnight.
