The drive from Newcastle, WY to Jackson, WY covers 444.1 miles and takes about 8h 55m behind the wheel.
It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on West Yellowstone Highway, East Main Street, US 26 / US 287 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 94.3 miles on West Yellowstone Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $70.37 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
222 miles from Newcastle, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 34m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Newcastle, WY to Jackson, WY covers 444.1 miles and takes about 8h 55m, 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 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Yellowstone Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 94.3 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 122.9 miles in near WY 259.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 55m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 13 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 122.9 miles (WY 259): Navigation decision point; at 141 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 161.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
122.9 mi into trip|~2h 44m in|WY 259
Turn left onto WY 259
Navigation decision point
6
141 mi into trip|~3h 5m in
Take the exit toward I 25 South: Casper
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 25 South: Casper
5
161.6 mi into trip|~3h 25m in
Take the exit toward US 20 West, US 26 West, WY 220 West: Shoshoni, Port of Entry
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 20 West, US 26 West, WY 220 West: Sho...
4
161.9 mi into trip|~3h 25m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
164.8 mi into trip|~3h 29m in|US 20; US 26 / West Yellowstone Highway
Turn right onto US 20; US 26 / West Yellowstone Highway
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Newcastle, WY to Jackson, WY, road signs begin pointing toward Port Of Entry along the way.
Port Of Entry
161.6 mi in|~3h 25m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
West Yellowstone Highway
94.3 mi
1h 47m
East Main Street
77.9 mi
1h 27m
US 26 / US 287
53.2 mi
1h
WY 387
51.3 mi
58m
Highway 450
45.6 mi
1h 7m
North Highway 89
29.3 mi
40m
US 26
21.6 mi
24m
Clareton Highway
20.6 mi
30m
Longest stretch:
West Yellowstone Highway
— 94.3 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newcastle, WY and Jackson, WY.
1
Start on US 16
2.1 mi·3 min·West Main Street
2
Continue on US 16
0.7 mi·1 min·US Highway 16
3
Turn left onto WY 450
46 mi·1 hr 7 min·Highway 450
4
Continue on WY 450
21 mi·30 min·Clareton Highway
5
Turn right onto WY 59
2.7 mi·3 min·State Highway 59 South
6
Turn left onto WY 387
51 mi·58 min·WY 387
7
Turn left onto WY 259
18 mi·20 min·WY 259
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 25 South: Casper
9
Merge onto I 25; US 87
20 mi·18 min·I 25; US 87
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward US 20 West, US 26 West, WY 220 West: Shoshoni, Port of Entry
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
12
Turn right onto US 20; US 26
2.7 mi·3 min·US 20; US 26
13
Turn right onto US 20; US 26
94 mi·1 hr 47 min·West Yellowstone Highway
14
Continue on US 26; WY 789
18 mi·20 min·US 26; WY 789
15
Continue on US 26; WY 789
4.0 mi·4 min·US 26; WY 789
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn right onto US 26
78 mi·1 hr 27 min·East Main Street
17
Turn left onto US 26; US 287
2.2 mi·2 min·East Ramshorn Street
18
Continue on US 26; US 287
53 mi·1 hr·US 26 / US 287
19
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191
23 mi·32 min·North Highway 89
20
Enter roundabout onto US 26; US 89; US 191
97 ft·5 sec·North Highway 89
21
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191
6.0 mi·8 min·North Highway 89
22
Continue on US 26; US 89; US 191
0.8 mi·2 min·North Cache Street
23
Arrive at destination
US 26; US 89; US 191
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 222 miles from Newcastle, WY, or about 4h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.3 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 98 miles or 2h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 222 miles or 4h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 222 miles or 4h 34m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 38m
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 Newcastle, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Newcastle, WY
Aim for roughly 222 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Jackson, WY
Aim for roughly 222 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 98 miles from Newcastle, WY.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on West Yellowstone Highway for about 94.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 222 mi from Newcastle, WY
· 4h 34m into the drive
The midpoint is around 222 miles from Newcastle, WY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before West Yellowstone Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 94.3 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stop
For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 222 miles or 4.5 hours on the road.
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.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Jackson, WY with some flexibility left in the schedule.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Grand Teton National Park
National Park
Soaring over a landscape rich with wildlife, pristine lakes, and majestic alpine vistas, the Teton Range stands as a testament to generations of stewards. For over 11,000 years, communities have thriv...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
$35
near mile 423.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$70.37 one way
$140.75 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg155 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$73.77
$147.53
premium
$4.53
$79.22
$158.44
diesel
$5.61
$98.05
$196.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$70
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$200–$310
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 155.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $47 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
133.2
1
$46.63
$21.32
Efficient EV
111
1
$38.86
$17.76
EV Truck/SUV
177.6
2
$62.17
$28.42
Gas CO2
155 kg
EV CO2
52 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 15, 2026
Origin
Newcastle, WY
Morning
in Newcastle on Saturday
Local time
10:29 AM
MDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jackson, WY
Morning
in Jackson on Saturday
Local time
10:29 AM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Riverton, WY
222 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
14 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
8h 55m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Newcastle, WY to Jackson, WY covers 444.1 miles and takes about 8h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Yellowstone Highway, East Main Street, US 26 / US 287. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 222 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 222 miles from Newcastle, WY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $70.37 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 55m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 13 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
The main spots that need attention: at 122.9 miles (WY 259): Navigation decision point; at 141 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 161.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Newcastle, WY to Jackson, WY, road signs begin pointing toward Port Of Entry along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Grand Teton National Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
