Question for Titleist II

[Hammer]

Since I don't have to go through Billings on my way to Laramie now, what is the shortest route to Laramie from Butte? Get on the two lane at Laurel and head for Worland? Or are you just better off staying on the interstate until Casper?

 

[MrTitleist]

From Worland it's 5 hours to Laramie. Laurel on south can be an ugly two-lane depending on farmers driving their shit down the road because passing is usually not an option on that highway. That's the way I'm going since I'll crash at my parents' place Thursday night. Once you get to Sheridan and Buffalo (going the I-90 way) you have a long awful drive between Buffalo and Casper. If you take the two lane you have an awful drive between Shoshoni and Casper (90 miles) or an awful drive between Riverton and Rawlins, but between Rawlins and Laramie is flat, windy, and cruising altitude of about 8000 feet. My preferred way is Missoula > Laurel > Worland > Shoshoni > Casper > Medicine Bow > Laramie. Google maps has the mileage within <10 miles going either of the three directions. Going through Worland you get to go through Wind River Canyon, which is a nice drive. Going through Sheridan/Buffalo you get to great view of the Big Horns. Going through Rawlins and Riverton you get to see what life was like in the 1800s before this land was settled and hope to hell you stay on the road after you climb over Muddy Gap. The Casper > Medicine Bow drive is okay.. you go through the mountains a bit.. sometimes you see elk.

 

[Hammer]

From Worland it's 5 hours to Laramie. Laurel on south can be an ugly two-lane depending on farmers driving their shit down the road because passing is usually not an option on that highway. That's the way I'm going since I'll crash at my parents' place Thursday night. Once you get to Sheridan and Buffalo (going the I-90 way) you have a long awful drive between Buffalo and Casper. If you take the two lane you have an awful drive between Shoshoni and Casper (90 miles) or an awful drive between Riverton and Rawlins, but between Rawlins and Laramie is flat, windy, and cruising altitude of about 8000 feet. My preferred way is Missoula > Laurel > Worland > Shoshoni > Casper > Medicine Bow > Laramie. Google maps has the mileage within <10 miles going either of the three directions. Going through Worland you get to go through Wind River Canyon, which is a nice drive. Going through Sheridan/Buffalo you get to great view of the Big Horns. Going through Rawlins and Riverton you get to see what life was like in the 1800s before this land was settled and hope to hell you stay on the road after you climb over Muddy Gap. The Casper > Medicine Bow drive is okay.. you go through the mountains a bit.. sometimes you see elk.

Thanks, I think I will just stay on the interstate until Casper and then go thru Medicine Bow.

 

[WyomingGrizFan]

You want to go to Laramie from Butte? Hell, I wouldn't send my worst enemy onto that road from Buffalo to Casper; maybe a bobcat I would, but, I mean,..really?

How about just going from Butte on #15 into Dillon onto Idaho Falls? Then take #26 that jnuctions with 189 through Pinedale and #191 onto Rock Springs. Then from Rock Springs on #80 through Rawlins onto Laramie. Quick and easy. Why take the long way about? Besides, you don't ever want to break down on that stretch from Buffalo into Casper; they'll never see ya again. :lol:

Besides which, once you get to Casper, then through Wheatland thru Chugwater and that junction north of Cheyenne, it's like a doubling-back over a pretty high pass just to get into Laramie, coming from the east, that is. Entering from the west into Laramie would be so much easlier. IMHO

 

[MrTitleist]

You want to go to Laramie from Butte? Hell, I wouldn't send my worst enemy onto that road from Buffalo to Casper; maybe a bobcat I would, but, I mean,..really?

How about just going from Butte on #15 into Dillon onto Idaho Falls? Then take #26 that jnuctions with 189 through Pinedale and #191 onto Rock Springs. Then from Rock Springs on #80 through Rawlins onto Laramie. Quick and easy. Why take the long way about? Besides, you don't ever won to break down on that stretch from Buffalo into Casper; they'll never see ya again. :lol:

Wow, that's a long, convoluted route. Doesn't that go near or over South Pass?

 

[WyomingGrizFan]

Wow, that's a long, convoluted route. Doesn't that go near or over South Pass?

I wouldn't think it's all that convoluted; I'd think it'd be easlier, myself. South Pass? Hell, that's just a vast expanse of prairie between two mountain ranges. Hardly anything there but South Pass City; an abandoned dilapidated old mining town/complex. Old ruts from the Oregon Trail as such. Hardly ever notice it as a pass except otherwise, in name only and not much difference in elevation, considering. Just a drive through on the way.

 

[Hammer]

Now I'm confused! :lol:

I will check out the Idaho Falls route. Thanks.

 

[MrTitleist]

Wow, that's a long, convoluted route. Doesn't that go near or over South Pass?

I wouldn't think it's all that convoluted; I'd think it'd be easlier, myself. South Pass? Hell, that's just a vast expanse of prairie between two mountain ranges. Hardly anything there but South Pass City; an abandoned dilapidated old mining town/complex. Old ruts from the Oregon Trail as such. Hardly ever notice it as a pass except otherwise, in name only and not much difference in elevation, considering. Just a drive through on the way.

lol.. except between October and March.

 

[WyomingGrizFan]

... except between October and March.

You might have a point there; being that I knows what it's like to be snowed in at Chugwater overnight; and that was in the last part of March, no less. Almost driven off the road by a semi during a snowstorm. Buffalo Inn there is pretty cool and friendly and all that but, being that this is August I wouldn't worry too much just yet. Besides, it's only a twenty mile difference anyways: 675 from Butte thorough Dillon - Idaho Falls - Rawlins, etc. And about 655 miles from Butte into Laurel - Casper, etc. It's just that when they say Wyoming is the least populated state in the Union, that expanse of 113 some odd miles between Buffalo and Casper...they mean it!!!

 

[WyomingGrizFan]

Of course, there is a middle way between what's already been mentioned. and that's from Laurel south into Cody - Riverton - Rawlins into Laramie. That's about 660 miles. They say the road from Buffalo into Casper into Laramie might just be a quicker route than that, but...that's because nobody's stupid enough to drive that road from Buffalo into Casper unless it's the very first time doing so. Hence, no traffic to slow you down! A first and last for me! :lol:

Not unless it's a dire emergency, that is. Almost as bad as going over the Teton Pass in the winter; not a wise idea there, either.

 

[IdaGriz01]

You want to go to Laramie from Butte? Hell, I wouldn't send my worst enemy onto that road from Buffalo to Casper; maybe a bobcat I would, but, I mean,..really?

How about just going from Butte on #15 into Dillon onto Idaho Falls? Then take #26 that junctions with 189 through Pinedale and #191 onto Rock Springs. Then from Rock Springs on #80 through Rawlins onto Laramie. Quick and easy. Why take the long way about? Besides, you don't ever won to break down on that stretch from Buffalo into Casper; they'll never see ya again. :lol:

Have to second this ... having been on most of the routes mentioned.

The freeway from Butte to IF in no great shakes scenic-wise, but from here to Pinedale is great. As WyGriz says, head east on 26 -- the "destination" signs will say Jackson, but you avoid that. At Alpine (right on the ID/WY border) you turn turn east into the South Fork canyon. At that time of year, rafting and kayaking on the Snake should still be pretty hot and, if you have time and a good telephoto lens, you can get some great shots of groups running the white water. (A word of warning: If you hit this stretch on Friday afternoon, and the weather is decent, expect a lot of camper traffic as people "head for the hills" for the weekend.)

You turn south on 191 at Hoback Junction (10 or so miles short of Jackson), and from there to Pinedale is a curvy but very scenic road. If you're interested in Mountain Man history, by all means schedule some time for the museum there -- it's well worth it. Pinedale to Rock Springs ain't so hot, but you should watch out for pronghorn antelope. The (broken) high plains along that route are pretty much infested with them, and they're not too bright about traffic.

From Rock Springs to Laramie is just freeway, with some nice mountain scenery but nothing most westerners would find spectacular. If you're into straight-through driving, you should be able to leave Butte around 8:00 and roll into Laramie before 5-6:00.

 

[IdaGriz01]

Wow, that's a long, convoluted route. Doesn't that go near or over South Pass?

I wouldn't think it's all that convoluted; I'd think it'd be easlier, myself. South Pass? Hell, that's just a vast expanse of prairie between two mountain ranges. Hardly anything there but South Pass City; an abandoned dilapidated old mining town/complex. Old ruts from the Oregon Trail as such. Hardly ever notice it as a pass except otherwise, in name only and not much difference in elevation, considering. Just a drive through on the way.

And ... no you do not go through South Pass on this itinerary. (Been there too.) The original Oregon Trail went through South Pass (nice to visit, BTW, but only if you're "into" history). The railroad (Rawlins, Rocks Springs, etc.) found a better route further south.

 

[IdaGriz01]

Of course, there is a middle way between what's already been mentioned. and that's from Laurel south into Cody - Riverton - Rawlins into Laramie. That's about 660 miles. They say the road from Buffalo into Casper into Laramie might just be a quicker route than that, but...that's because nobody's stupid enough to drive that road from Buffalo into Casper unless it's the very first time doing so. Hence, no traffic to slow you down! A first and last for me! :lol:

Not unless it's a dire emergency, that is. Almost as bad as going over the Teton Pass in the winter; not a wise idea there, either.

Anyone who goes over Teton Pass in the winter is either not too bright, or has no choice because they live in Idaho (much cheaper) but have a job in Jackson. (Talked to a clerk at a Jackson Albertson's -- she lives outside of Driggs, Idaho, and crashes at a friend's apartment when the pass is closed.) Should not be a problem for an Aug/Sept trip.

 

[Grizzoola]

I used to live in Greeley, CO, with family at Lakeside, MT. My preferred route was I-90 to Butte, I-15 to Pocatello. At McCammon, just south of Pocatello, go east on US-30 and spend the night in Montpelier, a very nice place. At Soda Springs, before Montpelier, there's a great hot springs to enjoy, so bring your swim suits, if you want.

From Montpelier, follow US-30 to the south, and continue on to Kemmerer, WY. From Kemmerer, US-30 joins I-80 west of Rock Springs, WY. Then, it's straight Interstate to Laramie. This route reduces 2-lane to a minimum; it's simply a comparatively short cutoff from I-15 to I-80.

Yes, the countryside along I-80 thru WY is boring, but you just want to get to Laramie most conveniently and safely, in reasonable time, don't you?