Sheridan to Pullman: Epic Road Trip Through the Rockies

The Sheridan-to-Pullman route follows US-14 west to I-90, then US-195 north—a 670-mile trek across the Bighorn Basin, Yellowstone Plateau, and Idaho Panhandle. This drive traces the old Nez Perce Trail, a route used by the Nimíipuu for trade long before highways existed.

How long to drive Sheridan, WY to Pullman, WA? Expect 10–12 hours of pure drive time, but with stops, you'll want a full day or two. Is it worth driving Sheridan, WY to Pullman, WA? Absolutely—the landscapes shift from high desert to volcanic badlands to wheat-covered hills.

For insider tips on uncovering hidden gems, check out how to find the best stops and hidden gems between cities.

Road quality: I-90 is excellent; US-14 and US-195 are good but watch for wildlife at dawn/dusk. The highest pass is the 9,430-ft Beartooth Highway (optional), but US-14 over the Bighorns tops at 8,950 ft.

Fatigue management: Rest zones exist every 60 miles on I-90. Recommended stops: The rest area just west of Livingston, MT, offers views of the Crazy Mountains. Also, pull over at the Lookout Pass Ski Area on the MT/ID border.

Family and child suitability: Great for families—visit the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody (five museums in one), or the Silverwood Theme Park near Coeur d'Alene, ID (50 minutes detour).

Pet-friendly framework: Most hotels along I-90 accept pets; many rest areas have dog runs. The US-195 stretch has limited services, so plan water breaks in Pullman's Sunnyside Park.

Hidden off-route spots: The ghost town of Bannack, MT (off I-15 near Dillon) is a well-preserved gold rush town. Also, the Ice Caves at Shoshone National Forest near Cody.

Safety infrastructure: Cell coverage is spotty in the Bighorn Basin and parts of central Idaho; download offline maps. Wyoming and Montana have no speed cameras.

The route follows well-maintained interstates and US highways. The primary highway numbers are US-14 from Sheridan to Cody, WY; US-16 east to Greybull; I-90 from Greybull through Montana to Idaho; and US-195 from Spokane to Pullman.

• Fuel stops: Regular intervals every 40–60 miles, but fill up in Cody (WY) and Butte (MT) as stretches in Montana are sparse.
• Tolls: None on this route.
• Road conditions: Check weather for winter closures on US-14 over the Bighorns; I-90 is plowed year-round.

Fuel prices: Wyoming often has cheaper gas than Montana or Washington. In Sheridan, gas averages $3.20/gal, while in Pullman it's around $3.80/gal.

The best stops Sheridan, WY to Pullman, WA include Cody's Old Trail Town, Yellowstone National Park (south detour), and the ghost town of Garnet, MT.

The route passes through three distinct ecoregions: the Bighorn Basin's badlands, the Rocky Mountain front, and the Palouse's rolling wheat fields. Each offers unexpected geological wonders.

• Bighorn Basin: See the Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite near Shell, WY—over 1,000 dinosaur footprints from the Jurassic.
• Yellowstone Plateau: A short detour to the park's north entrance at Gardiner, MT, but you must reserve entry in summer.
• Palouse: The loess soil creates hills that change color from green to gold; photo spot at Steptoe Butte State Park.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites: The route passes near Yellowstone National Park (listed in 1978). Also, the nearby Frank Slide Interpretive Centre in Alberta—though off-route—is a UNESCO tentative site.

Local commerce: In Sheridan, visit the King's Saddlery & Museum for Western gear. In Pullman, the farmer's market (May–Oct) offers Palouse lentils and apples.

Culinary infrastructure: Try the bison burger at Bear's Den in Cody; huckleberry ice cream in Wallace, ID; and Cougar Gold cheese from Washington State University in Pullman.