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Trip from Basin, WY to Jackson, WY

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

5h 33m

Distance

281 mi

452 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$45

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 20m ★
6 AM
5h 33m
8 AM
6h 0m
10 AM
5h 42m
12 PM
5h 40m
3 PM
5h 44m
5 PM
5h 58m
8 PM
5h 25m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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town and county seat of Big Horn County, Wyoming, United States

Basin, WY

Wikimedia Commons

town in the Jackson Hole valley of Teton County, Wyoming, United States

Jackson, WY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Basin, WY to Jackson, WY covers 281 miles and takes about 5h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on East Main Street, US 26 / US 287, West Big Horn Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 77.9 miles on East Main Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.53 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

140.5 miles from Basin, WY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 44m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from Basin, WY to Jackson, WY covers 281 miles and takes about 5h 33m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Main Street is the longest continuous segment at about 77.9 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mountain driving with significant elevation changes

8,758 ft 3,872 ft

Total Climb

4,886 ft

Total Descent

2,520 ft

Highest Point

8,758 ft

~220.8 mi in

Elevation Range

4,886 ft

Notable High Points

8,758 ft at ~220.8 miles +1,498 ft prominence

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 29.8 miles in near Russell Avenue.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 5h 33m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 29.8 miles (Russell Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 30.3 miles (US 20; WY 789 / West Big Horn Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 63.6 miles (US 20; WY 789 / Shoshoni Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

3
29.8 mi into trip | ~32m in | Russell Avenue

Turn right onto Russell Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
30.3 mi into trip | ~33m in | US 20; WY 789 / West Big Horn Avenue

Turn right onto US 20; WY 789 / West Big Horn Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left / right lanes.
4
63.6 mi into trip | ~1h 15m 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
95.4 mi into trip | ~1h 53m in | US 26; WY 789 / West 2nd Street

Turn right onto US 26; WY 789 / West 2nd Street

Navigation decision point

4
274.1 mi into trip | ~5h 21m in | US 26; US 89; US 191 / North Highway 89

Enter roundabout onto US 26; US 89; US 191 / North Highway 89

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East Main Street 77.9 mi 1h 27m
US 26 / US 287 53.2 mi 1h
West Big Horn Avenue 32.4 mi 39m
US 20 31 mi 36m
South 4th Street 29.8 mi 32m
North Highway 89 29.3 mi 40m
West 2nd Street 18.2 mi 20m
US 26 4 mi 4m
Longest stretch: East Main Street — 77.9 mi, about 1h 27m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Basin, WY and Jackson, WY.

1

Start on US 16; US 20; WY 789

30 mi · 32 min · South 4th Street
2

Turn right onto Russell Avenue

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Russell Avenue
3

Continue on North Railway Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · North Railway Avenue
4

Turn right onto US 20; WY 789

32 mi · 39 min · West Big Horn Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5

Continue on US 20; WY 789

0.8 mi · 2 min · North 6th Street
Use the slight left / right lanes.
6

Turn right onto US 20; WY 789

0.9 mi · 2 min · Shoshoni Street
Use the left / slight right lanes.
7

Continue on US 20; WY 789

31 mi · 36 min · US 20; WY 789
Use the straight / right lanes.
8

Turn right onto US 26; WY 789

18 mi · 20 min · West 2nd Street
9

Continue on US 26; WY 789

4.0 mi · 4 min · US 26; WY 789
Use the straight lane.
10

Turn right onto US 26

78 mi · 1 hr 27 min · East Main Street
11

Turn left onto US 26; US 287

2.2 mi · 2 min · East Ramshorn Street
12

Continue on US 26; US 287

53 mi · 1 hr · US 26 / US 287
13

Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191

23 mi · 32 min · North Highway 89
14

Enter roundabout onto US 26; US 89; US 191

97 ft · 5 sec · North Highway 89
15

Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191

6.0 mi · 8 min · North Highway 89
16

Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191

0.8 mi · 2 min · North Cache Street
17

Arrive at destination

US 26; US 89; US 191

Trip Plan

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 140.5 miles from Basin, WY, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.9 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 62 miles or 1h 12m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 140.5 miles or 2h 44m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 26m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jackson, WY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Basin, 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 Basin, WY

This is one driving day of about 281 miles and 5h 33m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Basin, 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 East Main Street for about 77.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 140.5 mi from Basin, WY · 2h 44m into the drive

Downtown Ethete, WY, WY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ethete, WY

141 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.

Popular next leg

Ethete, WY to Jackson, WY

151.4 mi · 3h 9m

Pacing Suggestions

Thermopolis, WY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 62 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ethete, WY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 140.5 miles from Basin, WY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before East Main Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 77.9 miles.

Arriving in Jackson, WY

The final approach into Jackson, WY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Jackson, WY.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$44.53 one way

$89.06 round trip

$4.03/gal 25.4 MPG avg 98 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.22 $46.67 $93.35
premium $4.53 $50.13 $100.25
diesel $5.61 $62.04 $124.08

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$45

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$70–$95

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 98.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 84.3 1 $29.50 $13.49
Efficient EV 70.3 0 $24.59 $11.24
EV Truck/SUV 112.4 1 $39.34 $17.98

Gas CO2

98 kg

EV CO2

33 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 Apr 13, 2026

Origin

Basin, WY

Evening in Basin on Wednesday

Local time

8:44 PM

MDT

Current temp

37°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers

S 5 mph 22% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 13 at 2:29AM MDT until April 13 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 13 at 2:12AM MDT until April 13 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY

Destination

Jackson, WY

Evening in Jackson on Wednesday

Local time

8:44 PM

MDT

Current temp

31°F

Snow Showers Likely

SSW 8 mph 65% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 13 at 2:29AM MDT until April 13 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 13 at 2:12AM MDT until April 13 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Cheyenne WY

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

6 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

5h 33m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Basin, WY to Jackson, WY covers 281 miles and takes about 5h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Main Street, US 26 / US 287, West Big Horn Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 140.5 miles from Basin, WY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $44.53 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 33m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 29.8 miles (Russell Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 30.3 miles (US 20; WY 789 / West Big Horn Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 63.6 miles (US 20; WY 789 / Shoshoni Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Basin, WY to Jackson, WY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes. The route ranges from 3,872 ft to 8,758 ft elevation with about 4,886 ft of total climbing. There is 1 notable high point along the way.

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