Origin
Pinedale, WY
Afternoon in Pinedale on Sunday
Local time
4:49 PM
MDT
Current temp
26°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pinedale, WY to Gillette, WY
Drive Time
7h 41m
Distance
405.9 mi
653 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$64
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 32m
★
6 AM
7h 42m
8 AM
8h 1m
10 AM
7h 49m
12 PM
7h 47m
3 PM
7h 50m
5 PM
8h 0m
8 PM
7h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pinedale, WY
Robert Schrader
Gillette, WY
cottonbro studio
Trip Overview
Spanning 405.9 miles across the Mountain West, this trip from Pinedale to Gillette is a significant trek that takes approximately 7 hours and 41 minutes of driving time. While it is technically possible to complete the journey in a single day, be prepared for a long stint behind the wheel. You will rely primarily on US 20, Highway 28, and WY 789 to navigate through the Wyoming landscape. With an estimated fuel cost of $64, it is a straightforward drive that prioritizes efficiency over detours. If you prefer a relaxed pace, consider whether one day of travel fits your schedule or if you would rather break the journey into two segments.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
203 miles from Pinedale, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 50m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 94% of your journey takes place on high-speed roads designed for steady progress. The route moves away from the local feel of Pinedale and settles into a consistent rhythm, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 79.9 miles along US 20. You will find that the character of the drive is built for utility rather than technical maneuvering, allowing you to cover ground quickly across the state. Because the path remains largely on major thoroughfares, you can anticipate a predictable driving environment that remains stable from start to finish.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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 79.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and Highway 28. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 59.2 miles in near WY 28 / Highway 28.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 41m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 10 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 59.2 miles (WY 28 / Highway 28): Navigation decision point; at 134 miles (WY 789): Lane positioning matters here; at 277.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
59.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
WY 28 / Highway 28
Turn left onto WY 28 / Highway 28
Navigation decision point
5
134 mi into trip
|
~2h 31m in
|
WY 789
Turn right onto WY 789
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
277.6 mi into trip
|
~5h 15m in
Turn left toward I 25 North, US 87 North: Midwest
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 25 North, US 87 North: Midwest
4
298.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 35m in
Take the exit toward Horse Ranch Creek Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Horse Ranch Creek Road
4
298.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 36m in
|
WY 259 / Horseshoe Road
Turn right onto WY 259 / Horseshoe Road
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 79.9 mi | 1h 30m |
| Highway 28 | 66.5 mi | 1h 15m |
| WY 789 | 63.7 mi | 1h 13m |
| WY 387 | 51.3 mi | 58m |
| US Highway 191 | 47.8 mi | 52m |
| State Highway 59 South | 32.8 mi | 35m |
| I 25 | 20.1 mi | 18m |
| Horseshoe Road | 17.9 mi | 20m |
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 79.9 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pinedale, WY and Gillette, WY.
1
Start on US 191
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Pine Street
2
Continue on US 191
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
US Highway 191
3
Continue on US 191
11 mi
·
12 min
·
United States Highway 191
4
Continue on US 191
47 mi
·
51 min
·
US Highway 191
5
Turn left onto WY 28
66 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
Highway 28
6
Continue on US 287; WY 789
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
US 287; WY 789
7
Turn right onto WY 789
64 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
WY 789
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
Continue on US 20; US 26
77 mi
·
1 hr 27 min
·
US 20; US 26
9
Turn left onto US 20; US 26
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
US 20; US 26
10
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 25 North, US 87 North: Midwest
11
Merge onto I 25; US 87
20 mi
·
18 min
·
I 25; US 87
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward Horse Ranch Creek Road
13
Turn right onto WY 259
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Horseshoe Road
14
Turn right onto WY 387
51 mi
·
58 min
·
WY 387
15
Turn left onto WY 59
33 mi
·
35 min
·
State Highway 59 South
16
Continue on WY 59
5.0 mi
·
9 min
·
South Douglas Highway
17
Turn left onto East 4th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East 4th Street
18
Arrive at destination
East 4th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour and 41-minute duration, plan to depart early in the morning to ensure you reach Gillette before dark. You should account for at least two dedicated stops to stretch your legs and refuel, keeping your $64 fuel budget in mind as you monitor your gauge between stretches. Since the longest segment reaches nearly 80 miles, keep a close eye on your tank when traversing the US 20 portion to avoid unnecessary anxiety. Staying flexible with your timing is a major advantage on this route, as the highway-heavy nature of the trip makes it easy to adjust your pace if you encounter unexpected traffic.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 203 miles from Pinedale, WY, or about 3h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.9 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 89 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 203 miles or 3h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gillette, WY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pinedale, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Pinedale, WY
This is one driving day of about 405.9 miles and 7h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 89 miles from Pinedale, WY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 20 for about 79.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 203 mi from Pinedale, WY · 3h 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
203 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 89 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 203 miles from Pinedale, 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 79.9 miles.
Arriving in Gillette, WY
The final approach into Gillette, 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 Gillette, 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
$64.32 one way
$128.64 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
142 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.23 | $67.61 | $135.23 |
| premium | $4.53 | $72.37 | $144.75 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $90.18 | $180.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$64
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$89–$114
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 142 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 121.8 | 1 | $42.62 | $19.48 |
| Efficient EV | 101.5 | 1 | $35.52 | $16.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 162.4 | 2 | $56.83 | $25.98 |
Gas CO2
142 kg
EV CO2
47 kg (67% 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
Gillette, WY
Afternoon in Gillette on Sunday
Local time
4:49 PM
MDT
Current temp
32°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
35°F
Riverton, WY
203 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
6 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
7h 41m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Pinedale, WY to Gillette, WY covers 405.9 miles and takes about 7h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 20, Highway 28, WY 789. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 203 miles from Pinedale, WY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $64.32 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 7h 41m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 10 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
The main spots that need attention: at 59.2 miles (WY 28 / Highway 28): Navigation decision point; at 134 miles (WY 789): Lane positioning matters here; at 277.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Pinedale, WY to Gillette, WY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Gillette, WY
More from Pinedale, WY
More trips to Gillette, WY
Explore more options from Pinedale, WY or browse trips ending in Gillette, WY.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WY road trips.
Explore maps for Pinedale, WY or Gillette, WY on MapSof.net.