Powell, WY to Casper, WY is 238.9 miles and takes about 4h 38m via WY 120 and US 20, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Wyoming, transitioning from the Mountain West region in Powell to the same region near Casper. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey perfect for a single day of travel. You'll find it offers a practical way to get between these two points without significant detours or complex navigation. Consider this route if you need an efficient drive through Wyoming's varied landscapes.
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
119.5 miles from Powell, WY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 38m. Total distance: 238.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 74% of the route utilizing major highways. You'll encounter stretches where you'll cover ground efficiently, including one continuous segment of 81.5 miles on WY 120. Expect a mix of driving experiences as you progress, but the overall character leans towards steady highway travel rather than winding backroads. The route is designed for progress, allowing you to maintain consistent speeds for much of the journey.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
WY 120 is the longest continuous segment at about 81.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WY 120 and West US Highway 20-26. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 23.3 miles in near US 14; US 16; US 20 / Greybull Highway.
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 38m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 23.3 miles (US 14; US 16; US 20 / Greybull Highway): Navigation decision point; at 23.8 miles (WY 120): Lane positioning matters here; at 105.3 miles (South 8th Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
23.3 mi into trip|~29m in|US 14; US 16; US 20 / Greybull Highway
At end of road, turn right onto US 14; US 16; US 20 / Greybull Highway
Navigation decision point
6
23.8 mi into trip|~29m in|WY 120
Turn left onto WY 120
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
105.3 mi into trip|~1h 59m in|South 8th Street
Turn right onto South 8th Street
Navigation decision point
5
105.9 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|US 20; WY 789 / Shoshoni Street
Turn right onto US 20; WY 789 / Shoshoni Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
236.5 mi into trip|~4h 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
WY 120
81.5 mi
1h 29m
West US Highway 20-26
60.7 mi
1h 8m
US 20
34 mi
40m
East 2nd Street
33.1 mi
37m
Powell Highway
14.7 mi
15m
Medicine Wheel Passage
4.2 mi
4m
Beacon Hill Road
1.8 mi
3m
East Coulter Avenue
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
WY 120
— 81.5 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Powell, WY and Casper, WY.
1
Start on North Bent Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·North Bent Street
2
Turn right onto US 14A; WY 295
1.2 mi·2 min·East Coulter Avenue
3
Continue on US 14A
4.2 mi·4 min·Medicine Wheel Passage
4
Continue on US 14A
1.2 mi·2 min·Main Street
5
Continue on US 14A
15 mi·15 min·Powell Highway
6
Turn left onto CR 3CX
1.8 mi·3 min·Beacon Hill Road
7
At end of road, turn right onto US 14; US 16; US 20
0.5 mi·53 sec·Greybull Highway
8
Turn left onto WY 120
82 mi·1 hr 29 min·WY 120
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn right onto South 8th Street
0.5 mi·2 min·South 8th Street
10
Turn right onto US 20; WY 789
0.7 mi·1 min·Shoshoni Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on US 20; WY 789
31 mi·36 min·US 20; WY 789
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto US 20; US 26
33 mi·37 min·East 2nd Street
13
Continue on US 20; US 26
61 mi·1 hr 8 min·West US Highway 20-26
14
Turn left onto US 20; US 26
2.7 mi·3 min·US 20; US 26
15
Take the exit
2.5 mi·3 min
16
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
17
At end of road, turn left onto I 25 Business
1.1 mi·2 min·Bryan Stock Trail
18
Turn left onto East Sunlight Drive
0.9 mi·3 min·East Sunlight Drive
19
Arrive at destination
North Sunlight Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 38m estimated driving time, starting your trip from Powell, WY in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach Casper, WY. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 81.5 miles on WY 120, as services might be spaced out. The $38 fuel cost is an estimate, so budgeting slightly more is always wise for unexpected needs. This route is easily manageable in a single day, so you can depart when it's most convenient for you.
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 119.5 miles from Powell, WY, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.5 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 53 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.5 miles or 2h 18m 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 45m
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 Powell, 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 Powell, WY
This is one driving day of about 238.9 miles and 4h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Powell, 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 WY 120 for about 81.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 119.5 mi from Powell, WY
· 2h 18m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.86 one way
$75.71 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$39.68
$79.36
premium
$4.53
$42.62
$85.23
diesel
$5.61
$52.75
$105.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.7
0
$25.08
$11.47
Efficient EV
59.7
0
$20.90
$9.56
EV Truck/SUV
95.6
1
$33.45
$15.29
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Powell, WY
Late night
in Powell on Saturday
Local time
2:56 AM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Casper, WY
Late night
in Casper on Saturday
Local time
2:56 AM
MDT
Current temp
44°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
1 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 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 Powell, WY to Casper, WY covers 238.9 miles and takes about 4h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are WY 120, West US Highway 20-26, US 20. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 119.5 miles from Powell, WY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.86 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 38m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 23.3 miles (US 14; US 16; US 20 / Greybull Highway): Navigation decision point; at 23.8 miles (WY 120): Lane positioning matters here; at 105.3 miles (South 8th Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Powell, WY to Casper, WY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
