Trip from Ranchettes, WY to Lander, WY

Drive Time

4h 42m

Distance

279.2 mi

449 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$44

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 29m ★
6 AM
4h 43m
8 AM
5h 10m
10 AM
4h 52m
12 PM
4h 50m
3 PM
4h 54m
5 PM
5h 8m
8 PM
4h 35m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Lander, WY, WY

Lander, WY

SHOX ART

Trip Overview

The drive from Ranchettes, WY to Lander, WY covers 279.2 miles and takes about 4h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Horse Creek Road, I 80 West, Dwight D for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.24 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

139.6 miles from Ranchettes, WY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 21m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 42m drive with frequent turns across 279.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Horse Creek Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 4h 42m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Ranchettes, WY to Lander, WY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Horse Creek Road Unavailable Refreshing
I 80 West Unavailable Refreshing
Dwight D Unavailable Refreshing
I 80 Unavailable Refreshing
East Cedar Street Unavailable Refreshing
Higley Boulevard Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Horse Creek Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ranchettes, WY and Lander, WY.

1

Start on Iron Mountain Road

2.0 mi · 4 min · Iron Mountain Road
2

Continue on Horse Creek Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Horse Creek Road
3

Take the ramp left

0.3 mi · 34 sec
4

Merge slight left

3.0 mi · 3 min
5

Continue straight

3.9 mi · 4 min
6

Take the exit slight right toward I 80 West: Laramie

0.5 mi · 1 min · I 80 West: Laramie
7

Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

143 mi · 2 hr 23 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
8

Take the exit slight right toward I 80 Business East, US 287 North, WY 76: Rawlins

0.7 mi · 1 min · I 80 Business East, US 287 North, WY 76: Rawlins
9

Merge slight left onto East Cedar Street

0.5 mi · 39 sec · East Cedar Street
10

Turn right onto Higley Boulevard

1.5 mi · 1 min · Higley Boulevard
11

At the end of the road, turn right

42 mi · 48 min
12

Turn left

72 mi · 1 hr 47 min
13

Turn right

8.8 mi · 10 min
14

Arrive at your destination

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 139.6 miles from Ranchettes, WY, or about 2h 21m into the drive.

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 80 miles or 1h 21m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 139.6 miles or 2h 21m 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 51m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lander, WY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Ranchettes, 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 Ranchettes, WY

This is one driving day of about 279.2 miles and 4h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Ranchettes, 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 139.6 mi from Ranchettes, WY · 2h 21m into the drive

Downtown Casper, WY, WY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Casper, WY

140 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

Cheyenne, WY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Casper, WY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 139.6 miles from Ranchettes, WY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Lander, WY

The final approach into Lander, 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 Lander, 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

$44.24 one way

$88.49 round trip

$4.03/gal 25.4 MPG avg 98 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.23 $46.51 $93.02
premium $4.53 $49.78 $99.57
diesel $5.64 $62.03 $124.06

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$44

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$69–$94

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 97.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 83.8 1 $29.32 $13.40
Efficient EV 69.8 0 $24.43 $11.17
EV Truck/SUV 111.7 1 $39.09 $17.87

Gas CO2

98 kg

EV CO2

33 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Ranchettes, WY

Afternoon in Ranchettes on Sunday

Local time

4:49 PM

MDT

Current temp

35°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lander, WY

Afternoon in Lander on Sunday

Local time

4:49 PM

MDT

Current temp

35°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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

4h 42m 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 Ranchettes, WY to Lander, WY covers 279.2 miles and takes about 4h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Horse Creek Road, I 80 West, Dwight D. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 139.6 miles from Ranchettes, WY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $44.24 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 42m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Ranchettes, WY to Lander, WY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Ranchettes, WY to Lander, WY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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