Trip from Riverton, WY to Lander, WY

Drive Time

29m

Distance

25.1 mi

40 km

Drive Score

5/10

Practical drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 7 min
4 AM
0h 27m ★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 31m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 34m
8 PM
0h 28m

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

Downtown Riverton, WY, WY

Riverton, WY

Tom Fisk

Downtown Lander, WY, WY

Lander, WY

SHOX ART

Trip Overview

Connecting Riverton and Lander, this 25.1-mile drive is a straightforward transit within Wyoming’s Mountain West region. You can expect to reach your destination in approximately 29 minutes, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. Navigating the route primarily involves North Federal Boulevard, South Main Street, and East Main Street. Budgeting about $4 for fuel covers the short distance comfortably. Since the entire trip is local, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your own schedule. It is a practical, efficient connection between these two communities.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

12.5 miles from Riverton, WY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 14m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate experience, as this route contains zero highway miles. You will spend your time navigating surface streets, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 15 miles along North Federal Boulevard. Because the road is entirely local, you should prepare for frequent turns and a consistent pace rather than high-speed cruising. The transition between these roads creates a connected, urban-style driving experience that demands your attention at intersections. It feels less like a long-haul journey and more like a steady trek through the heart of the region.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 4 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Federal Boulevard is the longest continuous segment at about 15 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Riverton, WY to Lander, WY is easy. At 29m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Federal Boulevard 15 mi 17m
South Main Street 9.7 mi 11m
East Main Street 0.4 mi <1m
Main Street Unavailable Refreshing

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

Longest stretch: North Federal Boulevard — 15 mi, about 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on US 26; WY 789

15 mi · 17 min · North Federal Boulevard
2

Continue on WY 789

9.7 mi · 11 min · South Main Street
3

Turn right onto US 287

0.4 mi · 40 sec · East Main Street
4

Arrive at destination

US 287

Trip Plan

Since this is a quick 29-minute trip, you have the advantage of total scheduling freedom throughout the day. There are no mandatory stops required to complete the 25.1-mile distance, allowing you to drive straight through without worrying about long-distance fatigue. Keep in mind that because this is a turn-heavy local drive, you should stay alert for traffic signals and speed changes as you transition between North Federal Boulevard and the Main Street corridors. Fill up your tank before departing, as a $4 fuel budget will easily get you to your destination. Use the time saved on the road to focus on your arrival plans in Lander.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 12.5 miles from Riverton, WY, or about 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15 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 25.1 miles or 29m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 12.5 miles or 14m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 24m

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 Riverton, 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 Riverton, WY

This is one driving day of about 25.1 miles and 29m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Riverton, WY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on North Federal Boulevard for about 15 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 12.5 mi from Riverton, WY · 14m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Thermopolis, WY

13 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

Pinedale, WY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 25.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Thermopolis, WY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 12.5 miles from Riverton, 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

$3.98 one way

$7.95 round trip

$4.03/gal 25.4 MPG avg 9 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.23 $4.18 $8.36
premium $4.53 $4.48 $8.95
diesel $5.64 $5.58 $11.15

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$29–$54

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 8.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 7.5 0 $2.64 $1.20
Efficient EV 6.3 0 $2.20 $1.00
EV Truck/SUV 10 0 $3.51 $1.61

Gas CO2

9 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (67% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Riverton, WY

Afternoon in Riverton 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

29m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Riverton, WY to Lander, WY covers 25.1 miles and takes about 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Federal Boulevard, South Main Street, East Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.5 miles from Riverton, WY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.98 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Riverton, WY to Lander, WY is easy. At 29m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Riverton, WY to Lander, WY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Riverton, WY to Lander, WY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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