Spearfish to Pinedale: Scenic Drive Guide

Leaving Spearfish, SD, you'll cross the Wyoming border within an hour on I-90. The route's defining feature is its collision of the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains, with a steep climb up the eastern slope of the Bighorn Mountains near Buffalo.

US-14 and US-16 offer two main options, with the former crossing the Bighorns at 9,666-foot Granite Pass. The drive spans roughly 420 miles, typically taking 6.5 to 7.5 hours without stops.

Wildlife crossings (deer, elk) happen most at dawn/dusk; sections through Bighorn National Forest carry higher risk. Textured rumble strips on US-14 mitigate drift-off.

In summer, afternoon thunderstorms bring hail; in winter, carry chains.

Family-friendly: Buffalo's Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum and Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis have free splash pads. For pets, the Cloud Peak Park at the Bighorn pass offers water and waste bags.

• Rest areas near Midwest have walking trails.
• Plan for a fuel/meal stop at Worland; the Last Stop Bar & Grill is a local institution.

Fuel and food cluster at major towns: Gillette, Buffalo, Worland, and Riverton. Gas prices in Wyoming often run 10–15% lower than South Dakota averages, but remote stretches have sparse stations.

• No tolls on I-90 or the two-lane highways.
• Road conditions are generally good; winter closures are common on US-14 and US-16 over the Bighorns.
• Restrooms and picnic areas appear every 50–70 miles on federal highways.

For real-time gas prices and route-specific alerts, check state DOT sites before departure. Using a fuel app can help plan stops.

The Black Hills' granite spires give way to shortgrass prairie near Gillette, transitioning to the red-rock canyonlands of the Powder River Basin.

Cloud Peak Wilderness in the Bighorns offers stunning alpine lakes; on US-16, you'll pass the historic Occidental Hotel in Buffalo (est. 1880).

Near Ten Sleep, a local ranch sells homemade jams during summer. Wyoming's small towns like Basin and Greybull promote their own museums and rodeos.

For discovering more off-the-radar gems, check how to find the best stops and hidden gems between cities.