Cody, WY to Jackson, WY is 177.2 miles and takes about 4h 49m via North Fork Highway, North Highway 89, and East Entrance Road, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day drive will take you across Wyoming's Mountain West region, offering a classic Western feel. It's a manageable distance for a single day's travel, making it a straightforward option if you're looking to connect these two points efficiently. You won't need an overnight stop, but plan for the duration to include any brief pauses you might want along the way.
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
88.6 miles from Cody, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 22m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 49m. Total distance: 177.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This drive is characterized by its turn-heavy local feel, with a highway share of only 20%. Expect a dynamic driving experience rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. The longest stretch without a significant turn or change in road type is 48.1 miles on North Fork Highway. As you progress, the route will shift between different local roads, requiring your attention and offering a varied journey through the landscape.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Fork Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 48.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Beck Avenue.
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 49m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Beck Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (Canyon Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 14; US 16; US 20 / 8th Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Beck Avenue
Turn right onto Beck Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|Canyon Avenue
Turn right onto Canyon Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|US 14; US 16; US 20 / 8th Street
Turn left onto US 14; US 16; US 20 / 8th Street
Navigation decision point
4
78 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|Grand Loop Road
At end of road, turn left onto Grand Loop Road
Navigation decision point
7
98.6 mi into trip|~2h 39m in|South Entrance Road
At end of road, turn left onto South Entrance Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Fork Highway
48.1 mi
1h 6m
North Highway 89
29.3 mi
40m
East Entrance Road
25.9 mi
49m
South Entrance Road
21.5 mi
38m
Grand Loop Road
20.6 mi
34m
North Park Road
20.5 mi
36m
John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway
6.4 mi
11m
Yellowstone Avenue
2.7 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
North Fork Highway
— 48.1 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cody, WY and Jackson, WY.
1
Start on US 14A; WY 120
504 ft·18 sec·16th Street
2
Turn right onto Beck Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Beck Avenue
3
Turn left onto 11th Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·11th Street
4
Turn right onto Canyon Avenue
0.3 mi·50 sec·Canyon Avenue
5
Turn left onto US 14; US 16; US 20
0.2 mi·43 sec·8th Street
6
Continue on US 14; US 16; US 20
2.7 mi·5 min·Yellowstone Avenue
7
Continue on US 14; US 16; US 20
48 mi·1 hr 6 min·North Fork Highway
8
Continue on East Entrance Road
26 mi·49 min·East Entrance Road
9
At end of road, turn left onto Grand Loop Road
21 mi·34 min·Grand Loop Road
10
At end of road, turn left onto South Entrance Road
22 mi·38 min·South Entrance Road
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 89; US 191; US 287
6.4 mi·11 min·John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway
12
Continue on US 89; US 191; US 287
21 mi·36 min·North Park Road
13
At end of road, turn right onto 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
Given the 4 hour and 49 minute estimated drive time, leaving Cody, WY in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. While there's only one recommended stop, consider breaking up the 48.1-mile longest stretch on North Fork Highway for a quick stretch or to refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $28 estimate is based on current prices and distances, and services can be spaced out. This is a route where flexibility is key; you can depart when it suits you best and make spontaneous, brief pauses as needed.
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 88.6 miles from Cody, WY, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.1 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 39 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.6 miles or 2h 22m 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 2m
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 Cody, 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 Cody, WY
This is one driving day of about 177.2 miles and 4h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Cody, 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 North Fork Highway for about 48.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 88.6 mi from Cody, WY
· 2h 22m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.08 one way
$56.16 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$29.43
$58.87
premium
$4.53
$31.61
$63.22
diesel
$5.61
$39.12
$78.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.2
0
$18.61
$8.51
Efficient EV
44.3
0
$15.50
$7.09
EV Truck/SUV
70.9
0
$24.81
$11.34
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Cody, WY
Late night
in Cody on Saturday
Local time
3:03 AM
MDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jackson, WY
Late night
in Jackson on Saturday
Local time
3:03 AM
MDT
Current temp
62°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
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
4h 49m 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 Cody, WY to Jackson, WY covers 177.2 miles and takes about 4h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Fork Highway, North Highway 89, East Entrance Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 88.6 miles from Cody, WY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.08 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 4h 49m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Beck Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (Canyon Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 14; US 16; US 20 / 8th Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Cody, WY to Jackson, WY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
