Rawlins to Worland is 210.7 miles and takes about 4h 34m via US 287, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, offering a straightforward drive through Wyoming. Expect a mixed driving profile, meaning you'll encounter different types of roads, not just continuous interstate. With a recommended one-day duration, this route is ideal for those looking for a direct connection between these two Wyoming communities without a significant time commitment. Plan for a budget-friendly journey with a manageable fuel cost.
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
105.3 miles from Rawlins, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
3rd Street
44.1 mi
50m
US 287
42.1 mi
1h 2m
Sand Draw Road
34.6 mi
51m
Park Street
32.8 mi
40m
Idaho Street
31.9 mi
38m
WY 789
23.5 mi
26m
Gas Hills Road
1 mi
1m
South 6th Street
0.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
3rd Street
— 44.1 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rawlins, WY and Worland, 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
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
8
Turn left onto US 20; WY 789
0.8 mi·2 min·South 6th Street
Use the slight left / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 20; WY 789
33 mi·40 min·Park Street
Use the left / slight right lanes.
10
Arrive at destination
US 16
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 34m drive time and 210.7 miles, leaving Rawlins in the morning allows ample time to reach Worland well before evening. The single recommended stop suggests you can complete this trip with minimal interruptions, but it’s wise to take advantage of the longest stretch of 44.1 miles to gauge your need for a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $33, and it’s always better to top off before heading into longer, potentially less serviced, stretches. Pay attention to road conditions on US 287, as it's a primary artery for this journey.
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 105.3 miles from Rawlins, WY, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.1 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 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.3 miles or 2h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Worland, 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 210.7 miles and 4h 34m.
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 3rd Street for about 44.1 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 177.1 — 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
44.1 mi into trip|~50m in|US 287; WY 789
Turn left onto US 287; WY 789
Navigation decision point
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.
6
145.2 mi into trip|~3h 13m 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.
4
177.1 mi into trip|~3h 51m in|US 20; WY 789 / South 6th Street
Turn left onto US 20; WY 789 / South 6th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.39 one way
$66.78 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$35.00
$70.00
premium
$4.53
$37.59
$75.17
diesel
$5.61
$46.52
$93.04
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: 73.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.2
0
$22.12
$10.11
Efficient EV
52.7
0
$18.44
$8.43
EV Truck/SUV
84.3
1
$29.50
$13.48
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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
Evening
in Rawlins on Saturday
Local time
8:49 PM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Worland, WY
Evening
in Worland on Saturday
Local time
8:49 PM
MDT
Current temp
76°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
12 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
4h 34m 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 offers a mixed experience, with about 31% of the journey on highways. You'll navigate through sections of 3rd Street, US 287, and Sand Draw Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 44.1 miles on 3rd Street, so be prepared for a sustained period on this particular road. The road's character shifts throughout the 4h 34m journey, moving from potentially more urban or local roads at the start to more open highway driving as you progress toward Worland. It’s not a constant interstate pace, but rather a varied route.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.1 mi on 3rd Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 287; WY 789 / 3rd Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 34m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 287; WY 789 / 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 44.1 miles (US 287; WY 789): Navigation decision point; at 121.8 miles (WY 789): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 34m. Total distance: 210.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 44.1 miles on 3rd Street. 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 44.1 miles (US 287; WY 789): Navigation decision point; at 121.8 miles (WY 789): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Worland, WY, but most travelers stay overnight.
