South Park, WY to Gillette, WY is 417.7 miles and takes about 8h 10m via US 20, with a fuel budget near $70 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wyoming, moving from the Mountain West region to another part of the Mountain West. You'll spend most of your time on highways, making it a fairly straightforward drive. With a recommended two days for this route, you can plan for a relaxed pace. Consider this if you're looking for a direct path across the state with minimal complexity.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
208.8 miles from South Park, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
79.9 mi
1h 30m
South 1st Street
77.9 mi
1h 27m
East Highway 287
53.2 mi
1h
WY 387
51.3 mi
58m
North Federal Boulevard
39 mi
44m
State Highway 59 South
32.8 mi
35m
North Highway 89
29.3 mi
40m
I 25
20.1 mi
18m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 79.9 mi, about 1h 30m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~237 veh/hr typical
· worst 359
Quietest
2 AM
~20 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Park, WY and Gillette, WY.
1
Start on Melody Creek Lane
0.7 mi·2 min·Melody Creek Lane
2
At end of road, turn left onto South Park Loop Road
0.6 mi·1 min·South Park Loop Road
3
Turn left onto US 26; US 89; US 189; US 191
4.3 mi·6 min·South Highway 89
4
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 189; US 191
1.0 mi·2 min·West Broadway Avenue
5
Turn right onto West Pearl Avenue
0.4 mi·49 sec·West Pearl Avenue
6
Turn left onto South Cache Drive
392 ft·9 sec·South Cache Drive
7
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191
0.9 mi·2 min·North Cache Street
8
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191
6.0 mi·8 min·North Highway 89
9
Enter roundabout onto US 26; US 89; US 191
110 ft·6 sec·North Highway 89
10
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191
23 mi·32 min·North Highway 89
11
Continue on US 26; US 287
53 mi·1 hr·East Highway 287
12
Continue on US 26; US 287
2.2 mi·2 min·West Ramshorn Street
13
Turn right onto US 26; US 287
78 mi·1 hr 27 min·South 1st Street
Use the straight lane.
14
At end of road, turn left onto US 26; WY 789
39 mi·44 min·North Federal Boulevard
15
Continue on US 20; US 26
77 mi·1 hr 27 min·US 20; US 26
16
Turn left onto US 20; US 26
3.0 mi·3 min·US 20; US 26
17
Turn left
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 25 North, US 87 North: Midwest
18
Merge onto I 25; US 87
20 mi·18 min·I 25; US 87
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward Horse Ranch Creek Road
20
Turn right onto WY 259
18 mi·20 min·Horseshoe Road
21
Turn right onto WY 387
51 mi·58 min·WY 387
22
Turn left onto WY 59
33 mi·35 min·State Highway 59 South
23
Continue on WY 59
5.0 mi·9 min·South Douglas Highway
24
Turn left onto East 4th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East 4th Street
25
Arrive at destination
East 4th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 8h 10m estimated duration, splitting this trip over two days is recommended for a more comfortable experience. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight, especially if you plan to drive straight through. With two planned stops, you'll have opportunities to refuel and rest. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a break is nearly 80 miles on US 20. Planning your overnight stop around the halfway point, perhaps after about four hours of driving, would be a sensible approach.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 208.8 miles from South Park, WY, or about 4h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.9 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 92 miles or 2h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 208.8 miles or 4h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 208.8 miles or 4h 12m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 59m
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 South Park, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from South Park, WY
Aim for roughly 209 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Gillette, WY
Aim for roughly 209 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 92 miles from South Park, WY.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 289.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in|South Park Loop Road
At end of road, turn left onto South Park Loop Road
Navigation decision point
4
1.3 mi into trip|~4m in|US 26; US 89; US 189; US 191 / South Highway 89
Turn left onto US 26; US 89; US 189; US 191 / South Highway 89
Navigation decision point
4
7 mi into trip|~14m in|South Cache Drive
Turn left onto South Cache Drive
Navigation decision point
5
92.7 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|US 26; US 287 / South 1st Street
Turn right onto US 26; US 287 / South 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
289.4 mi into trip|~5h 44m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$65.11 one way
$130.21 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg146 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$68.62
$137.25
premium
$4.47
$73.57
$147.15
diesel
$4.80
$78.87
$157.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$65
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$195–$305
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 146.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
125.3
1
$43.86
$20.05
Efficient EV
104.4
1
$36.55
$16.71
EV Truck/SUV
167.1
2
$58.48
$26.73
Gas CO2
146 kg
EV CO2
49 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 17, 2026
Origin
South Park, WY
Evening
in South Park on Saturday
Local time
7:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
50°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
ENE 2 mph31% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 16 at 7:09PM MDT until July 19 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 16 at 2:56PM MDT until July 16 at 11:00PM MDT by NWS Riverton WY
Destination
Gillette, WY
Evening
in Gillette on Saturday
Local time
7:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
63°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
N 3 to 12 mph25% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 16 at 7:09PM MDT until July 19 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 16 at 2:56PM MDT until July 16 at 11:00PM MDT by NWS Riverton WY
87°F
Riverton, WY
209 mi in
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
13 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
8h 10m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Grand Teton National Park
National Park
Soaring over a landscape rich with wildlife, pristine lakes, and majestic alpine vistas, the Teton Range stands as a testament to generations of stewards. For over 11,000 years, communities have thriv...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
$35
near mile 28.8
Caution: Construction in the South End of the Park
Park Closure: Death Canyon Trailhead Construction Closure
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 65% of this 417.7-mile drive. The longest continuous stretch on US 20 will be 79.9 miles. Expect to transition from highway cruising onto surface roads, specifically South 1st Street and East Highway 287, as you approach your destination. The profile is mostly highway, so you'll notice a consistent driving pace for the majority of the trip.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 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?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and South 1st Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near South Park Loop Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 10m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 15 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (South Park Loop Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (US 26; US 89; US 189; US 191 / South Highway 89): Navigation decision point; at 7 miles (South Cache Drive): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
Gillette is a city in Northeast Wyoming halfway between Sundance and Sheridan on I-90. Gillette is a coal mining town with a population of about 33,000 (2020). Because of the coal, oil, and natural gas production, the city calls itself the energy capital of the nation.
The longest stretch is about 79.9 miles on US 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 209 miles on day one.
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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Gillette, WY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 0.7 miles (South Park Loop Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (US 26; US 89; US 189; US 191 / South Highway 89): Navigation decision point; at 7 miles (South Cache Drive): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Grand Teton National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.2 hours each way, a round trip means 16.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Gillette, WY before the return drive.
