The drive from Lander, WY to Buffalo, WY covers 202.7 miles and takes about 4h 28m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 16, WY 789, Park Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 87.1 miles on US 16.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.12 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
101.4 miles from Lander, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 2m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 28m. Total distance: 202.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 4h 28m highway drive covering 202.7 miles, with most of the trip on US 16 and WY 789. The longest continuous stretch is about 87.1 miles on US 16.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 8 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 16 is the longest continuous segment at about 87.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 16 and WY 789. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near WY 789.
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 28m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (WY 789): Lane positioning matters here; at 47.2 miles (US 20; WY 789 / Idaho Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 79.1 miles (US 20; WY 789 / South 6th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|WY 789
Turn left onto WY 789
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
47.2 mi into trip|~54m in|US 20; WY 789 / Idaho Street
Turn left onto US 20; WY 789 / Idaho Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
4
79.1 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|US 20; WY 789 / South 6th Street
Turn left onto US 20; WY 789 / South 6th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / right lanes.
6
202.7 mi into trip|~4h 28m in|I 25 Bus; US 16; US 87 Bus / North Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto I 25 Bus; US 16; US 87 Bus / North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 16
87.1 mi
2h 8m
WY 789
46.8 mi
54m
Park Street
35.7 mi
44m
Idaho Street
31.9 mi
38m
South 6th Street
0.8 mi
2m
Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
North Main Street
<0.1 mi
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 16
— 87.1 mi, about 2h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lander, WY and Buffalo, WY.
1
Start on US 287
0.4 mi·40 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto WY 789
47 mi·54 min·WY 789
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Turn left onto US 20; WY 789
32 mi·38 min·Idaho Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto US 20; WY 789
0.8 mi·2 min·South 6th Street
Use the slight left / right lanes.
5
Continue on US 20; WY 789
36 mi·44 min·Park Street
Use the left / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 16
87 mi·2 hr 8 min·US 16
7
At end of road, turn left onto I 25 Bus; US 16; US 87 Bus
30 ft·0 sec·North Main Street
Use the left lane.
8
Arrive at destination
I 25 Bus; US 16; US 87 Bus
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 101.4 miles from Lander, WY, or about 2h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.1 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 45 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.4 miles or 2h 2m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buffalo, WY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lander, 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 Lander, WY
This is one driving day of about 202.7 miles and 4h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Lander, 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 16 for about 87.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 101.4 mi from Lander, WY
· 2h 2m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.12 one way
$64.24 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$33.67
$67.34
premium
$4.53
$36.16
$72.32
diesel
$5.61
$44.75
$89.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.8
0
$21.28
$9.73
Efficient EV
50.7
0
$17.74
$8.11
EV Truck/SUV
81.1
1
$28.38
$12.97
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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
Lander, WY
Morning
in Lander on Saturday
Local time
8:51 AM
MDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Buffalo, WY
Morning
in Buffalo on Saturday
Local time
8:51 AM
MDT
Current temp
69°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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 28m 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 Lander, WY to Buffalo, WY covers 202.7 miles and takes about 4h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 16, WY 789, Park Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 101.4 miles from Lander, WY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.12 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 28m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (WY 789): Lane positioning matters here; at 47.2 miles (US 20; WY 789 / Idaho Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 79.1 miles (US 20; WY 789 / South 6th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Lander, WY to Buffalo, WY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
