Origin
Jackson, WY
Morning in Jackson on Thursday
Local time
10:57 AM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jackson, WY to Casper, WY
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 38m
Distance
286.9 mi
462 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$45
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 26m
★
6 AM
5h 39m
8 AM
6h 5m
10 AM
5h 48m
12 PM
5h 46m
3 PM
5h 49m
5 PM
6h 4m
8 PM
5h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jackson, WY
Wikimedia Commons
Casper, WY
Taryn Elliott
Trip Overview
This 286.9-mile drive from Jackson to Casper, Wyoming, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 5 hours and 38 minutes. You'll be covering ground primarily on US 20 and East Highway 287, with a 57% share of the journey on highways. With an estimated fuel cost of $45, this route offers a straightforward traverse across the Mountain West region. It's a practical choice for a day trip, allowing for a relatively quick transition between two Wyoming locales without needing an overnight stop.
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
143.4 miles from Jackson, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 51m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 38m. Total distance: 286.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed driving experience on this route, with 57% of the journey utilizing highway roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is about 80 miles along US 20, offering a period of consistent travel. This road isn't a constant interstate cruise; it blends faster highway sections with local road segments, including South 1st Street in Casper. As you progress, the character of the drive shifts between open highway and more developed areas, providing a varied feel behind the wheel.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 80 miles.
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 6.8 miles in near US 26; US 89; US 191 / North Highway 89.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 38m 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 6.8 miles (US 26; US 89; US 191 / North Highway 89): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 85.5 miles (US 26; US 287 / South 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 163.4 miles (US 26; WY 789 / North Federal Boulevard): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
6.8 mi into trip
|
~11m 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
5
85.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
|
US 26; US 287 / South 1st Street
Turn right onto US 26; US 287 / South 1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
163.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 14m in
|
US 26; WY 789 / North Federal Boulevard
At end of road, turn left onto US 26; WY 789 / North Federal Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
282 mi into trip
|
~5h 29m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
284.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 32m in
|
US 20; US 26; US 87
Take the exit onto US 20; US 26; US 87 toward US 20 East, US 26 East, US 87 South: North Beverly Street, Bryan Stock Trail
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 20 East, US 26 East, US 87 South: Nor...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 80 mi | 1h 31m |
| South 1st Street | 77.9 mi | 1h 27m |
| East Highway 287 | 53.2 mi | 1h |
| North Federal Boulevard | 39 mi | 44m |
| North Highway 89 | 29.3 mi | 40m |
| West Ramshorn Street | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Bryan Stock Trail | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| East Sunlight Drive | 0.9 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 80 mi, about 1h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jackson, WY and Casper, WY.
1
Start on US 26; US 89; US 191
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Cache Street
2
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
North Highway 89
3
Enter roundabout onto US 26; US 89; US 191
110 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Highway 89
4
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191
23 mi
·
32 min
·
North Highway 89
5
Continue on US 26; US 287
53 mi
·
1 hr
·
East Highway 287
6
Continue on US 26; US 287
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Ramshorn Street
7
Turn right onto US 26; US 287
78 mi
·
1 hr 27 min
·
South 1st Street
Use the straight lane.
8
At end of road, turn left onto US 26; WY 789
39 mi
·
44 min
·
North Federal Boulevard
9
Continue on US 20; US 26
77 mi
·
1 hr 27 min
·
US 20; US 26
10
Turn left onto US 20; US 26
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
US 20; US 26
11
Take the exit
2.5 mi
·
3 min
12
Take the exit onto US 20; US 26; US 87
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
US 20; US 26; US 87
Toward US 20 East, US 26 East, US 87 South: North Beverly Street, Bryan Stock Trail
13
At end of road, turn left onto I 25 Business
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Bryan Stock Trail
14
Turn left onto East Sunlight Drive
0.9 mi
·
3 min
·
East Sunlight Drive
15
Arrive at destination
North Sunlight Drive
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour and 38-minute drive, an early morning departure from Jackson is recommended to maximize daylight and allow for flexibility. With only one designated stop, you have ample opportunity to break up the 286.9 miles as needed, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the longest 80-mile stretch on US 20, as services can be spread out. The estimated fuel cost of $45 is a good baseline for budgeting your trip, and since it's a single-day drive, you can enjoy the flexibility of stopping whenever it feels right.
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 143.4 miles from Jackson, WY, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80 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 63 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.4 miles or 2h 51m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Casper, WY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jackson, 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 Jackson, WY
This is one driving day of about 286.9 miles and 5h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Jackson, 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 20 for about 80 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 143.4 mi from Jackson, WY · 2h 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
143 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 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 143.4 miles from Jackson, WY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80 miles.
Arriving in Casper, WY
The final approach into Casper, 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 Casper, 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
$45.46 one way
$90.93 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
100 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $47.65 | $95.31 |
| premium | $4.53 | $51.18 | $102.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $63.34 | $126.69 |
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: 100.4 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 | 86.1 | 1 | $30.12 | $13.77 |
| Efficient EV | 71.7 | 0 | $25.10 | $11.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 114.8 | 1 | $40.17 | $18.36 |
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
34 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.
Destination
Casper, WY
Morning in Casper on Thursday
Local time
10:57 AM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
33°F
Dubois, WY
143 mi in
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
18 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 38m 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 Jackson, WY to Casper, WY covers 286.9 miles and takes about 5h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 20, South 1st Street, East Highway 287. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 143.4 miles from Jackson, WY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.46 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 38m 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 6.8 miles (US 26; US 89; US 191 / North Highway 89): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 85.5 miles (US 26; US 287 / South 1st Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 163.4 miles (US 26; WY 789 / North Federal Boulevard): Navigation decision point.
The route from Jackson, WY to Casper, WY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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