Origin
Upton, WY
Late night in Upton on Tuesday
Local time
3:08 AM
MDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Upton, WY to Gillette, WY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
48.6 mi
78 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Upton, WY
Wikimedia Commons
Gillette, WY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 48.6 miles across the Mountain West, this straightforward journey between Upton and Gillette typically takes about one hour to complete. You will primarily navigate via I-90, 2nd Street, and I-90 Business, making this a highly efficient trip that easily fits into a single day. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $8, it is a cost-effective excursion for those traveling within Wyoming. Because the duration is so short, you likely won't need an overnight stay, offering you maximum flexibility in your schedule. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick regional visit, this route serves as a reliable link between the two towns.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 26.6 mi | 25m |
| 2nd Street | 19.3 mi | 28m |
| I 90 Business | 1 mi | 2m |
| East 4th Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| East Converse Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| I-90 Access Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Stanley Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Ash Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 26.6 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Upton, WY and Gillette, WY.
1
Start on WY 116
55 ft
·
3 sec
·
Ash Street
2
Turn right onto US 16
19 mi
·
28 min
·
2nd Street
3
Continue on US 16
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Converse Street
4
Turn right onto I 90 Business
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
I-90 Access Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
6
Merge onto I 90
27 mi
·
25 min
·
I 90
7
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 14; US 16
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
I 90 Business; US 14; US 16
Exit 128
Toward I 90, US 14 West, US 16 West: Gillette
8
Continue on I 90 Business; US 14; US 16; WY 51
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 90 Business; US 14; US 16; WY 51
9
Turn left onto Stanley Avenue
208 ft
·
9 sec
·
Stanley Avenue
10
Turn right onto East 4th Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East 4th Street
11
Arrive at destination
East 4th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.3 miles from Upton, WY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 47.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 16 / 2nd Street
Turn right onto US 16 / 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
5
19.9 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
6
46.7 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
I 90 Business; US 14; US 16
Take the exit onto I 90 Business; US 14; US 16 toward I 90, US 14 West, US 16 West: Gillette
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 128
Toward I 90, US 14 West, US 16 West: Gillette
4
47.7 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
Stanley Avenue
Turn left onto Stanley Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
47.7 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
East 4th Street
Turn right onto East 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.70 one way
$15.40 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $8.07 | $16.15 |
| premium | $4.53 | $8.67 | $17.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.73 | $21.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.10 | $2.33 |
| Efficient EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.25 | $1.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.80 | $3.11 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Gillette, WY
Late night in Gillette on Tuesday
Local time
3:08 AM
MDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
1h 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience that balances highway efficiency with local access. Roughly 57% of your trip is spent on the highway, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 26.6 miles on I-90. The transition between the open interstate and the local roads of 2nd Street and I-90 Business keeps the drive from feeling like a monotonous grind. You will find that the character of the road changes as you move from the interstate speed of the open plains into the more controlled environment of the town centers. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that allows you to cover the distance quickly while staying focused on the road ahead.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.6 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
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 16 / 2nd Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Upton, WY to Gillette, WY is easy. At 1h with 57% 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 16 / 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 19.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 46.7 miles (I 90 Business; US 14; US 16): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Gillette, WY
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 48.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.6 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 16 / 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 19.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 46.7 miles (I 90 Business; US 14; US 16): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Devils Tower National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Gillette, WY before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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