Wheatland, WY to Lander, WY is 254.2 miles and takes about 4h 37m via I 25 and US 26, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, connecting two points in Wyoming. The drive offers a mixed highway and surface road experience, suitable for a single day of travel. You'll encounter both interstate cruising and more rural driving as you make your way west. Plan for a straightforward drive with minimal complications.
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
127.1 miles from Wheatland, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 25
108.1 mi
1h 48m
West Yellowstone Highway
94.3 mi
1h 47m
US 26
36.6 mi
41m
South Main Street
9.7 mi
11m
US 20
3 mi
3m
9th Street
0.9 mi
1m
Swanson Road
0.8 mi
1m
East Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 25
— 108.1 mi, about 1h 48m
Traffic on I-25
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~309 veh/hr typical
· worst 451
Quietest
2 AM
~23 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.4×
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 Wheatland, WY and Lander, WY.
1
Start on I 25 Business; US 87 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·9th Street
2
Turn straight onto I 25 Business; US 87 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·Swanson Road
3
Take the ramp onto I 25; US 87
12 mi·11 min·I 25; US 87
4
Continue on I 25; US 26; US 87
34 mi·31 min·I 25; US 26; US 87
5
Continue on I 25; US 20; US 26; US 87
62 mi·1 hr 5 min·I 25; US 20; US 26; US 87
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward US 20 West, US 26 West, WY 220 West: Shoshoni, Port of Entry
7
Keep slight left at fork
350 ft·10 sec
8
Turn left onto US 20; US 26
3.0 mi·3 min·US 20; US 26
9
Turn right onto US 20; US 26
94 mi·1 hr 47 min·West Yellowstone Highway
10
Continue on US 26; WY 789
18 mi·20 min·US 26; WY 789
11
Continue on US 26; WY 789
19 mi·21 min·US 26; WY 789
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on WY 789
9.7 mi·11 min·South Main Street
13
Turn right onto US 287
0.4 mi·40 sec·East Main Street
14
Arrive at destination
US 287
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour 37 minute drive time, starting in the morning is advisable to ensure you reach Lander before dark. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. The longest stretch of highway is over 100 miles on I 25, so be sure to fuel up before leaving Wheatland. Consider breaking up the drive if you prefer a more relaxed pace, though it's easily manageable in one day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you transition from the interstate to US 26, as services might be more spread out.
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 127.1 miles from Wheatland, WY, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 108.1 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 56 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.1 miles or 2h 11m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lander, WY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wheatland, 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 Wheatland, WY
This is one driving day of about 254.2 miles and 4h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Wheatland, 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 I 25 for about 108.1 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
3 of 3
3 decision points cluster between mile 109.9 and 113.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
109.9 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Take the exit toward US 20 West, US 26 West, WY 220 West: Shoshoni, Port of Entry
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 20 West, US 26 West, WY 220 West: Sho...
4
110.2 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
113.2 mi into trip|~1h 56m in|US 20; US 26 / West Yellowstone Highway
Turn right onto US 20; US 26 / West Yellowstone Highway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.62 one way
$79.24 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$41.76
$83.53
premium
$4.47
$44.78
$89.55
diesel
$4.80
$48.00
$96.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.3
0
$26.69
$12.20
Efficient EV
63.6
0
$22.24
$10.17
EV Truck/SUV
101.7
1
$35.59
$16.27
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Wheatland, WY
Late night
in Wheatland on Sunday
Local time
1:20 AM
MDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 18 at 2:37AM MDT until July 18 at 10:00PM MDT by NWS Riverton WY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:23AM MDT until July 19 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
Destination
Lander, WY
Late night
in Lander on Sunday
Local time
1:20 AM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Partly Cloudy
W 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 18 at 2:37AM MDT until July 18 at 10:00PM MDT by NWS Riverton WY
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:23AM MDT until July 19 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
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
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
4h 37m 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 covers 254.2 miles with 58% on highways. You'll spend the first part of your drive on I 25, with the longest continuous stretch being 108.1 miles. After leaving the interstate, you'll transition to West Yellowstone Highway and US 26, which will feel more like surface road cruising. Expect a mix of faster highway speeds and potentially slower speeds on the latter half of the route.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 108.1 mi on I 25.
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 around 109.9 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 37m drive. You will face about 3 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 109.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 113.2 miles (US 20; US 26 / West Yellowstone Highway): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,177 ft4,681 ft
Total Climb
2,081 ft
Total Descent
1,478 ft
Highest Point
6,177 ft
~163.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,496 ft
Notable High Points
4,830 ft at ~18.1 miles+77 ft prominence
5,268 ft at ~72.6 miles+70 ft prominence
6,177 ft at ~163.3 miles+461 ft prominence
5,100 ft at ~217.8 miles+44 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Wheatland, WY to Lander, WY, road signs begin pointing toward Port Of Entry along the way.
The longest stretch is about 108.1 miles on I 25. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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 109.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 113.2 miles (US 20; US 26 / West Yellowstone Highway): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Lander, WY, but most travelers stay overnight.
