Rawlins to Evanston is 208.7 miles and takes about 3 hours 26 minutes via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and WY 789, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wyoming, moving from the Mountain West region to the same region. Expect a drive that largely stays on surface roads, offering a straightforward connection between these two Wyoming communities. It's a manageable one-day trip, making it a practical option for getting from point A to point B without extensive planning.
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
104.3 miles from Rawlins, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
205.5 mi
3h 20m
West Spruce Street
1.5 mi
2m
WY 789
0.6 mi
1m
Front Street
0.6 mi
1m
Bear River Drive
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 205.5 mi, about 3h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rawlins, WY and Evanston, WY.
1
Start on West Spruce Street
1.5 mi·2 min·West Spruce Street
2
Take the ramp onto WY 789
0.6 mi·1 min·WY 789
3
Merge onto I 80; US 30; WY 789
206 mi·3 hr 20 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 5Toward WY 89 North, WY 150: Front Street
5
Turn right onto WY 89
0.6 mi·1 min·Front Street
6
Turn right onto Bear River Drive
351 ft·10 sec·Bear River Drive
7
Arrive at destination
Bear River Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour 26 minute duration, leaving Rawlins in the morning is ideal, allowing ample time to reach Evanston well before sunset. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short drive, you have flexibility in your schedule. The fuel cost is estimated at $33, so ensure your tank is full before departing Rawlins. Pay attention to the transition from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway to surface roads as you approach Evanston; this is where you'll need to adjust your 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 104.3 miles from Rawlins, WY, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 205.5 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 46 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.3 miles or 1h 43m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Evanston, 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 208.7 miles and 3h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 205.5 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 208.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
1.5 mi into trip|~2m in|WY 789
Take the ramp onto WY 789
Navigation decision point
3
2.2 mi into trip|~3m in|I 80; US 30; WY 789 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Merge onto I 80; US 30; WY 789 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
207.7 mi into trip|~3h 24m in
Take the exit toward WY 89 North, WY 150: Front Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 5
Toward WY 89 North, WY 150: Front Street
3
208 mi into trip|~3h 24m in|WY 89 / Front Street
Turn right onto WY 89 / Front Street
Navigation decision point
4
208.6 mi into trip|~3h 26m in|Bear River Drive
Turn right onto Bear River Drive
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.07 one way
$66.14 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$34.67
$69.33
premium
$4.53
$37.23
$74.46
diesel
$5.61
$46.08
$92.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.6
0
$21.91
$10.02
Efficient EV
52.2
0
$18.26
$8.35
EV Truck/SUV
83.5
1
$29.22
$13.36
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% 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
12:03 AM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Evanston, WY
Late night
in Evanston on Sunday
Local time
12:03 AM
MDT
Current temp
64°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 26m 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?
This drive involves 205.5 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, which is nearly the entire route, before transitioning to surface roads. You'll experience extensive highway cruising for the vast majority of the trip. The highway portion means consistent speeds and straightforward navigation for most of the 208.7 miles. Once off the highway, expect a change in driving conditions as you navigate local streets.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
7 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 205.5 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
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 1.5 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 3h 26m 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 1.5 miles (WY 789): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (I 80; US 30; WY 789 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 207.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 26m. Total distance: 208.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 205.5 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 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.
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: at 1.5 miles (WY 789): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (I 80; US 30; WY 789 / Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 207.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Evanston, WY, but most travelers stay overnight.
