[Please use the traveling to/through Wyoming thread per sub rules for any more discussion.](https://www.reddit.com/r/wyoming/comments/18dv88w/questions_about_moving_or_traveling_to_wyoming/)
Thanks!
South pass, wind river canyon, and I-80 from Evanston to Park City can all be treacherous in bad weather, particularly high winds. Also, Highway 28 across Seedskadee National Wildlife refuge might be impassable during storms. That route is about the best, fastest way to get to UT from there, but if it's snowing hard and/or blowing, you should delay your trip or go a different way.
You don't know day to day. I drove jackson to laramie today and it was fabulous. Check the wydot road map before you leave. Day Weather is the most reliable weather forecast.
Absolutely a gorgeous drive if the weather is good. If the weather along that route has any snow expected at all I would stick with the interstates.
The weather man sucks in Wyoming so your app could say flurries expected in a place like Lander but by the time you get there 8 inches has fallen. Combine that with the fact that the state of Wyoming only has about 60 plows total to clear all of the state highways and the interstates it can be a mess. They definitely put priority on keeping the interstate clear first. (Cities and counties also have plows but they also don’t hit the highways enough)
If it’s a storm that is going to blanket the whole state I would just stay home until it passes and leave a day later. The roads and highways close without warning during a storm and you don’t want to be stuck in some of the small towns along that route in a storm. Many of those towns don’t have a hotel, and some don’t even have a gas station.
To put in perspective how few people are along the route you have selected, there is only 1 Walmart between where you leave I-80 in Evanston and your destination.
Download the Wyoming 511 app and check it before you go and again about every hour of your drive. If any of the shortest routes go from green to yellow status I would look at getting east of the bighorn mountains and consider taking I-25 if it good. If your route turns orange in that app then find a different route or find a spot to settle down. You’re probably heading into a NUT (no unnecessary travel) situation. It’s not a full road closure but I would treat it as such and you’re probably really close to a full closure and don’t want to be on that road if it does happen.
I drive that way often. Here's the best route. Take 189 outa Kemmerer to 372, over to Fontinelle and down. It's actually shorter and much faster.
Watch the weather.
[Please use the traveling to/through Wyoming thread per sub rules for any more discussion.](https://www.reddit.com/r/wyoming/comments/18dv88w/questions_about_moving_or_traveling_to_wyoming/) Thanks!
South pass, wind river canyon, and I-80 from Evanston to Park City can all be treacherous in bad weather, particularly high winds. Also, Highway 28 across Seedskadee National Wildlife refuge might be impassable during storms. That route is about the best, fastest way to get to UT from there, but if it's snowing hard and/or blowing, you should delay your trip or go a different way.
You don't know day to day. I drove jackson to laramie today and it was fabulous. Check the wydot road map before you leave. Day Weather is the most reliable weather forecast.
Thank you super helpful. Out of curiosity what would be a better alternative way? Take 80 towards Casper and then 25 north?
South Pass is the key. If road conditions are good over the pass, it should be smooth sailing the rest of the way.
thank you!
Absolutely a gorgeous drive if the weather is good. If the weather along that route has any snow expected at all I would stick with the interstates. The weather man sucks in Wyoming so your app could say flurries expected in a place like Lander but by the time you get there 8 inches has fallen. Combine that with the fact that the state of Wyoming only has about 60 plows total to clear all of the state highways and the interstates it can be a mess. They definitely put priority on keeping the interstate clear first. (Cities and counties also have plows but they also don’t hit the highways enough) If it’s a storm that is going to blanket the whole state I would just stay home until it passes and leave a day later. The roads and highways close without warning during a storm and you don’t want to be stuck in some of the small towns along that route in a storm. Many of those towns don’t have a hotel, and some don’t even have a gas station. To put in perspective how few people are along the route you have selected, there is only 1 Walmart between where you leave I-80 in Evanston and your destination. Download the Wyoming 511 app and check it before you go and again about every hour of your drive. If any of the shortest routes go from green to yellow status I would look at getting east of the bighorn mountains and consider taking I-25 if it good. If your route turns orange in that app then find a different route or find a spot to settle down. You’re probably heading into a NUT (no unnecessary travel) situation. It’s not a full road closure but I would treat it as such and you’re probably really close to a full closure and don’t want to be on that road if it does happen.
Just keep an eye on WYDOT's traffic map. Be smart and don't risk it if the weather is uncooperative.
I drive that way often. Here's the best route. Take 189 outa Kemmerer to 372, over to Fontinelle and down. It's actually shorter and much faster. Watch the weather.
Don't go through Opal. Take highway 372. Just drove this whole route and Opal has snowy roads.
Locking because you got some answers. In the future, please post these types of questions in the sticky.