Connecting Worland to Rawlins covers 210.7 miles of Wyoming’s high desert landscape, a journey that typically takes 4 hours and 34 minutes behind the wheel. Because this trek is manageable within a single day, you don't need to worry about overnight logistics, though planning for one strategic stop is recommended to keep your energy up. You should budget approximately $33 for fuel to complete the trip. Traveling through the heart of the Mountain West, you will primarily navigate via US 287, US 20, and Sand Draw Road. This route is best viewed as a straightforward transit between two distinct Wyoming hubs, offering a consistent driving experience rather than a series of tourist-heavy diversions.
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 Worland, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 287
86.2 mi
1h 53m
US 20
56.9 mi
1h 7m
Sand Draw Road
34.6 mi
51m
West 2nd Street
18.2 mi
20m
Big Horn Avenue
6.8 mi
8m
US 26
5.3 mi
6m
Gas Hills Road
1 mi
1m
Shoshoni Street
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 287
— 86.2 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Worland, WY and Rawlins, WY.
1
Start on US 16
6.8 mi·8 min·Big Horn Avenue
2
Continue on US 20; WY 789
26 mi·31 min·US 20; WY 789
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
3
Continue on US 20; WY 789
0.8 mi·2 min·North 6th Street
Use the slight left / right lanes.
4
Turn right onto US 20; WY 789
0.9 mi·2 min·Shoshoni Street
Use the left / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on US 20; WY 789
31 mi·36 min·US 20; WY 789
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn right onto US 26; WY 789
18 mi·20 min·West 2nd Street
7
Continue on US 26; WY 789
5.3 mi·6 min·US 26; WY 789
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto WY 135
1.0 mi·1 min·Gas Hills Road
9
Turn straight onto WY 135
35 mi·51 min·Sand Draw Road
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 287; WY 789
42 mi·1 hr 2 min·US 287; WY 789
11
Turn right onto US 287; WY 789
44 mi·50 min·US 287; WY 789
12
Turn left onto West Spruce Street
50 ft·1 sec·West Spruce Street
13
Arrive at destination
West Spruce Street
Trip Plan
For the most comfortable experience, aim to depart early in the morning to avoid midday sun and ensure you have plenty of daylight for the full 4.5-hour duration. Since the route includes a significant 86.2-mile stretch without major intersections, verify your fuel levels before leaving Worland to avoid unnecessary stress in remote areas. Given the single-stop recommendation, look for a convenient point roughly halfway through your journey to stretch your legs and refresh your supplies. Flexibility is your biggest advantage on this trip, so don't feel pressured to rush the drive if weather conditions change. Most importantly, keep a close eye on your odometer while on US 287, as the long, straight segments can make it easy to lose track of your pace.
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 Worland, WY, or about 2h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.2 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 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.3 miles or 2h 12m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rawlins, WY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Worland, 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 Worland, WY
This is one driving day of about 210.7 miles and 4h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Worland, 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 287 for about 86.2 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 33.6 and 166.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
33.6 mi into trip|~42m in|US 20; WY 789 / Shoshoni Street
Turn right onto US 20; WY 789 / Shoshoni Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / slight right lanes.
4
65.5 mi into trip|~1h 21m in|US 26; WY 789 / West 2nd Street
Turn right onto US 26; WY 789 / West 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
3
88.9 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|WY 135 / Gas Hills Road
Turn left onto WY 135 / Gas Hills Road
Navigation decision point
4
124.5 mi into trip|~2h 40m in|US 287; WY 789
At end of road, turn left onto US 287; WY 789
Navigation decision point
3
166.6 mi into trip|~3h 43m in|US 287; WY 789
Turn right onto US 287; WY 789
Navigation decision point
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
Worland, WY
Evening
in Worland on Saturday
Local time
8:49 PM
MDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Rawlins, WY
Evening
in Rawlins on Saturday
Local time
8:49 PM
MDT
Current temp
64°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 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 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?
Expect a highway-focused journey, as 70% of your time will be spent cruising on major routes. The road maintains a steady, functional pace, though you should prepare for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 86.2 miles along US 287. The drive transitions through varied terrain, shifting from the northern basin areas near Worland toward the more rugged, wind-swept geography approaching Rawlins. Because the path relies on a mix of US highways and secondary connectors like Sand Draw Road, the driving environment remains relatively consistent. You will find that the road demands steady focus, as the open stretches offer few distractions and require a reliable vehicle to handle the extended highway miles.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.2 mi on US 287.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 287 and US 20. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 33.6 miles in near US 20; WY 789 / Shoshoni 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: at 33.6 miles (US 20; WY 789 / Shoshoni Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 65.5 miles (US 26; WY 789 / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 88.9 miles (WY 135 / Gas Hills Road): Navigation decision point.
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 86.2 miles on US 287. 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 33.6 miles (US 20; WY 789 / Shoshoni Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 65.5 miles (US 26; WY 789 / West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 88.9 miles (WY 135 / Gas Hills Road): 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 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Rawlins, WY, but most travelers stay overnight.
