Riverton, WY to Hill City, SD: Scenic Drive Guide

Route 287 north out of Riverton follows the Wind River, then crosses the Owl Creek Mountains at 9,200 feet before dropping into Thermopolis. The drive to Hill City covers about 300 miles and roughly 5.5 hours of wheel time, but plan for extra hours to sample the sights. Famed for its mineral hot springs, Thermopolis marks the first major pause, while the final stretch curls through the Black Hills.

The route climbs from the Wind River Basin to the Bighorn Basin, then across the Powder River country and into South Dakota's Black Hills. Elevation shifts from 4,900 feet in Riverton to over 8,000 feet on some passes, so temps can swing 20 degrees quickly. This is a corridor of high-desert basin, red rock canyons, then pine-covered granite domes.

Interstate 90, I-25, and US 16 form the spine of this route; most of the pavement is in good repair, with periodic construction in summer. Gas stations cluster in Thermopolis, Buffalo, Gillette, and Newcastle, but stretch between them can be 100 miles, especially in the Bighorn Basin. Fuel prices typically run 5-10% lower in Wyoming than in the Black Hills region.

Cell coverage is sparse along parts of US 20/26 between Shoshoni and Thermopolis, and on US 16 over the Bighorn Mountains. Download offline maps before leaving Riverton. The route crosses two time zones: Wyoming is Mountain Time, but by the time you hit the South Dakota line, you're in Central Time, so adjust your watch near Newcastle.

Here are key planning numbers:

• Distance: approx. 300 miles, 5.5 hrs driving time
• Best season: late spring, early fall for mild temps
• Major highways: US 287, US 20/26, I-25, I-90, US 16

Dinosaur fossils and hot springs define Thermopolis; the Wyoming Dinosaur Center has 30 mounted skeletons. Nearby, Hot Springs State Park features free public baths fed by the world's largest mineral hot spring, flowing at 127°F. The park's terraces resemble Yellowstone's Palette Springs, but without the crowds.

Eastward, the Bighorn Mountains slice through the landscape; US 16 climbs to 9,500 feet at Powder River Pass. The Medicine Wheel, a 300-year-old Native American stone circle, lies 20 miles north of Lovell on the Bighorn National Forest. Buffalo's historic downtown preserves 1800s storefronts with small galleries and coffee roasters.

On the Black Hills side, Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial anchor the tourism economy, with local craft breweries and biker-friendly diners in Custer. The road itself offers pullouts for bighorn sheep and prairie dog towns between Newcastle and Hill City. Native American heritage is visible in place names like Wasta and Paha Sapa.

Wildlife crossings are common dawn and dusk, especially deer on US 85 north of Newcastle; drive alert through the pine-forest segments. The route passes through several stretches of open range, so cattle can wander across the asphalt. In winter, chain laws can hit the mountain passes, but plows run regularly on I-90.

Families can break up the drive with stops at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center in Thermopolis, which offers hands-on dig pits for kids. In Buffalo, the Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum has interactive pioneer and Native American exhibits. At Devils Tower National Monument, just 60 miles north of Newcastle, children can hike the Tower Trail and see prairie dogs.

Fatigue management is simple: plan rest stops every two hours or so. Key towns with services: Shoshoni, Thermopolis, Worland, Buffalo, Gillette, Newcastle. For off-grid breaks, the ranger station in Ten Sleep has picnic tables and a scenic overlook. For planning how to find the best stops and hidden gems between cities can help tailor your trip.