Avoid Rawlins to Cheyenne WY? Need help, Gros Ventre to I80.

[timberloft]

We are currently staying at Gros Ventre and are heading home to Georgia tomorrow. I had planned to take Hwy 189/191 to I-80 at Rock Springs and then head east. I read a number of posts that said Rawlins to Cheyenne should be avoided due to frequent high winds. I am now thinking that I should take 287 out of Grand Tetons to 26 and follow 26 to I-80 at Ogallala. Would that be a better route or should I stick with the original plan and just be aware that wind might be a factor? Thanks in advance for your help.

[kknowlton]

26 is a good route for historic reasons, though probably doesn't make much difference when it comes to wind. Glad the OP has made it across the state safely, with no wind issues. 🙂

[timberloft]

We did enjoy our time in Wyoming and hope to come back. Winds there and across Nebraska were pretty much constant, but never extreme. Our experience has been just what the previous poster said, the wind has been coming from whatever direction we have been heading. Even when we changed from heading east to heading south in Missouri, the wind took note and changed from being out of the east to being out of the south.

[jmckelvy]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
WIND is a factor in WY period....be it Rock Springs, Wamsutter, Rawlins, Casper, Chugwater, etc.

Agree. Being one of our favorite areas, we have been to Wyoming many times over the last 35 years. Seems like the wind is always coming from the direction we are going.:)

[newk]

nevadanick wrote:
25mph is a nice day in Wy.

Most every day is a nice day in Wyoming. But this is a topic about wind. 25 mph isn't WIND, not in Wyoming! That's simply a gentle breeze. 😉


Glad you had a pleasant drive across the state, OP. Y'all come back again real soon.

[nevadanick]

25mph is a nice day in Wy.

[timberloft]

Thanks for all of the input. We ended up taking 26/287 through Casper, and we are now in Guernsey, WY. I had checked the weather forecasts before leaving, and as forecasted, we really just had light winds. That's not to say that we didn't have an occasional gust. It was a scenic and fairly easy ride. We will see what tomorrow brings, but the forecasts again show light winds.

[sealevel_ram]

Have been I-80 many times through Wyoming.
Make sure your awnings are tied down well.

[narcodog]

I've crossed it both east and west. You will have wind, more than once I have had to pull off and wait out the wind, usually a few hours, sometimes less. The worse winds I had were winds out of the south both through WY and NEB.

[RWjSIM2003]

We have never been on 80 in WY that it has not been windy. Just take your time it will be fine and watch for the warning signs. If the wind is really strong they will close roads to RV's.

[Thom02099]

Prevailing wind in Wyoming is typically out of the West/Northwest, so there's a strong probability that you'll have a tail wind on I-80. The problems in the stretch from Rawlins to Cheyenne are more prevalent in the winter than in the summer. This is not to say you won't have winds; you likely will.

[WyoTraveler]

Being aware of wind doesn't mean do not drive the route. It means be aware. If really bad they will close the road.

In WY dial 511 and you can get about the hest road info in the country. They also have a web site.

www.wyoroad.info

Either way you can get up to date info on any road in WY.

[TexasShadow]

we like the 26/287 route to Casper, too, but as stated above, wind is always a possibility in WY and just about anywhere, so I wouldn't worry about it overmuch.

[4huskers]

You can north from Gros Ventre to US 26/287 to Casper and then south to whatever east/west route you want to take. This is my favorite drive into Yellowstone/Grand Teton area.

[Executive45]

I agree, it won't matter much which way you go...expect winds at any time, at any speed for whatever period of time.....take your time and you'll be fine with either route.....Dennis