Spanning 247.2 miles across Wyoming, this drive from Riverton to Gillette is a straightforward journey typically taking 4 hours and 41 minutes. You will primarily navigate via US 20, WY 387, and North Federal Boulevard, making this a highly efficient route for those looking to traverse the Mountain West region in a single day. Budgeting approximately $39 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. Since the drive is manageable within a single day, you likely won't need an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. It serves as a practical connection between these two Wyoming hubs without requiring complex navigation or multiple days of travel.
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
123.6 miles from Riverton, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
79.9 mi
1h 30m
WY 387
51.3 mi
58m
North Federal Boulevard
39 mi
44m
State Highway 59 South
32.8 mi
35m
I 25
20.1 mi
18m
Horseshoe Road
17.9 mi
20m
South Douglas Highway
5 mi
9m
East 4th Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 79.9 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverton, WY and Gillette, WY.
1
Start on US 26; WY 789
39 mi·44 min·North Federal Boulevard
2
Continue on US 20; US 26
77 mi·1 hr 27 min·US 20; US 26
3
Turn left onto US 20; US 26
3.0 mi·3 min·US 20; US 26
4
Turn left
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 25 North, US 87 North: Midwest
5
Merge onto I 25; US 87
20 mi·18 min·I 25; US 87
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward Horse Ranch Creek Road
7
Turn right onto WY 259
18 mi·20 min·Horseshoe Road
8
Turn right onto WY 387
51 mi·58 min·WY 387
9
Turn left onto WY 59
33 mi·35 min·State Highway 59 South
10
Continue on WY 59
5.0 mi·9 min·South Douglas Highway
11
Turn left onto East 4th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East 4th Street
12
Arrive at destination
East 4th Street
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel during the 247.2-mile trek. Departing early in the day is your best bet to ensure you reach Gillette before evening, especially since the route involves long stretches of highway where services may be spaced out. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge when you hit the longest 79.9-mile segment on US 20 to avoid any unnecessary stress in more remote areas. Since this is a one-day trip, the flexibility of your schedule is a major advantage; use it to pace your single stop according to your own energy levels. Always double-check your vehicle's fuel levels before leaving Riverton to stay within your $39 estimated 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 123.6 miles from Riverton, WY, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.9 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 54 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.6 miles or 2h 20m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gillette, WY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Riverton, 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 Riverton, WY
This is one driving day of about 247.2 miles and 4h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Riverton, 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 US 20 for about 79.9 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 118.8 and 208.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
118.8 mi into trip|~2h 15m in
Turn left toward I 25 North, US 87 North: Midwest
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 25 North, US 87 North: Midwest
4
139.3 mi into trip|~2h 35m in
Take the exit toward Horse Ranch Creek Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Horse Ranch Creek Road
4
139.7 mi into trip|~2h 35m in|WY 259 / Horseshoe Road
Turn right onto WY 259 / Horseshoe Road
Navigation decision point
4
157.6 mi into trip|~2h 56m in|WY 387
Turn right onto WY 387
Navigation decision point
4
208.9 mi into trip|~3h 55m in|WY 59 / State Highway 59 South
Turn left onto WY 59 / State Highway 59 South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.17 one way
$78.34 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$41.06
$82.12
premium
$4.53
$44.10
$88.19
diesel
$5.61
$54.58
$109.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.2
0
$25.96
$11.87
Efficient EV
61.8
0
$21.63
$9.89
EV Truck/SUV
98.9
1
$34.61
$15.82
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Riverton, WY
Night
in Riverton on Saturday
Local time
10:16 PM
MDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Gillette, WY
Night
in Gillette on Saturday
Local time
10:16 PM
MDT
Current temp
73°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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 41m 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 trip is a highway-focused drive, with 74% of your time spent on major routes. You should prepare for a consistent rhythm behind the wheel, punctuated by a significant 79.9-mile stretch on US 20. The road feels open and functional, transitioning through the landscape with few interruptions to your momentum. Because the route relies heavily on major highways, you can expect a predictable experience that favors steady speeds over technical, winding local roads. It is a no-nonsense path that prioritizes distance and directness, allowing you to settle into a comfortable driving cadence for the duration of the 4-hour-plus journey.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.9 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and WY 387. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 118.8 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 4h 41m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 118.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 139.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 139.7 miles (WY 259 / Horseshoe Road): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 41m. Total distance: 247.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 79.9 miles on US 20. 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: at 118.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 139.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 139.7 miles (WY 259 / Horseshoe Road): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Gillette, WY, but most travelers stay overnight.
