Devils Tower Day Trip From Sheridan: The Complete Guide
July 29, 2026 · 7 min read read · Wyo Stays Journal
Yes, you can reach one of Wyoming's strangest and most striking landmarks in a single day out and back, and it fits comfortably into a full but doable day, or a more relaxed trip if you leave early and take your time at the monument.
Wyo Stays sends guests to Devils Tower more than almost anywhere else outside the Bighorn Mountains, and for good reason — it's close enough from Sheridan to fit into a single day without feeling rushed. Here's what we tell people before they go.
How Do You Get From Sheridan To Devils Tower?
The most direct route runs east on I-90 toward Moorcroft, then north on WY-14/US-14 through the town of Devils Tower junction and up to the monument entrance. It's roughly a 1 hour 45 minute to 2-hour drive each way, almost entirely two-lane highway and interstate — easy driving, no mountain passes, and cell service is intermittent once you're off the interstate, so download directions before you leave.
Locals know to fill up on gas in Sheridan or Moorcroft before continuing on — services thin out fast once you're on the smaller highways toward the monument.
Devils Tower is a National Park Service site, so it uses the standard NPS per-vehicle entrance fee structure, plus it accepts the America the Beautiful annual pass. Exact current fee amounts change periodically, so confirm the posted rate on the National Park Service's Devils Tower page before you go — we don't want to quote a number that's out of date by the time you're standing at the gate.
Planning A Devils Tower Day Trip From Sheridan: Timing It Right
Most visitors spend 2–4 hours at the monument itself: the paved Tower Trail loop around the base takes most people 1–1.5 hours at an easy pace, plus time at the visitor center and the prairie dog town near the entrance. Add drive time on both ends and a full day trip from Sheridan runs 6–8 hours round trip including your time at the site.
| Trip Segment | Estimated Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sheridan to Devils Tower (drive) | 1h 45m–2h | Via I-90 and US-14; mostly two-lane highway |
| Tower Trail loop (walking) | 1h–1.5h | Paved, mostly flat, 1.3-mile loop around the base |
| Visitor center + prairie dog town | 30m–1h | Short walk from the main parking area |
| Devils Tower to Sheridan (return drive) | 1h 45m–2h | Same route back |
| Total round-trip day | 6–8 hours | Comfortable single-day trip with time to spare for lunch |
Is It Worth Staying Overnight Near The Tower Instead?
For most travelers, a day trip is the better call. Sheridan has far more lodging, dining, and things to do than the small towns near Devils Tower, so basing here and driving out for the day gets you the landmark without giving up your comfortable home base. Wyo Stays is a licensed, insured Wyoming vacation rental brokerage, and our guests routinely tell us: do the Tower as a day trip, then come back to Sheridan for dinner and a real bed — you're not sacrificing much by not staying near the monument itself.
If you want to make a full loop of it, some travelers continue from Devils Tower toward the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore before circling back — that turns it into a 2-day trip rather than a single day, so plan lodging accordingly. For most guests, though, a straightforward devils tower day trip from Sheridan covers the landmark just fine without adding a second overnight.
Before you head out, pack for the trail and the drive:
- Water, sun protection, and good walking shoes — the Tower Trail is easy underfoot but there's little shade.
- A camera or phone with a wide-angle lens — the Tower is bigger and more imposing up close than photos capture.
- A layer if you're visiting in shoulder season — the open plains around the monument can be windy and cooler than Sheridan.
Cultural Significance And Combining The Trip With Other Stops
Devils Tower holds deep spiritual significance for several Northern Plains tribes, including the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Kiowa, among others, and is known by tribal names that predate the "Devils Tower" designation. Climbing voluntary closures occur each June out of respect for ceremonies held at the site. Be mindful and respectful, especially around June, and read the interpretive signage at the visitor center, which covers this history well.
Devils Tower sits close enough to the South Dakota border that a lot of travelers link it into a bigger loop rather than treating it as an isolated out-and-back. The most common version we see: Sheridan to Devils Tower in the morning, then continuing on toward the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore for a second day, before looping back through Sheridan or continuing home a different direction. If you'd rather keep it to a single Wyoming-focused day, pairing Devils Tower with a stop in Moorcroft or Sundance on the way back breaks up the drive and gives you a chance to stretch your legs somewhere besides a gas station. Little Bighorn Battlefield is roughly in the opposite direction from Sheridan, so most guests treat it as a separate day trip rather than combining the two in one outing.
Summer brings the biggest crowds and the longest daylight window, which works in your favor if you want an early start and a late return without racing the sunset. Spring and fall shoulder seasons see noticeably fewer visitors at the monument itself, though the open plains between Sheridan and the Tower can turn windy and the highway more exposed to weather — check road conditions if you're traveling outside summer. Winter access remains possible, but the visitor center may run reduced hours and the drive across open prairie can turn hazardous quickly in a storm, so this is not a spontaneous winter outing the way it can be in July.
The most common mistake first-time visitors make is underestimating how much the Tower itself demands your attention once you're standing at the base — people plan for a quick photo stop and end up staying two or three hours longer than expected simply because the scale of the thing is disorienting up close. The second most common mistake is skipping the prairie dog town near the entrance; it's an easy five-minute stop that families with kids in particular tend to enjoy more than they expect. And a smaller but real mistake: assuming gas stations and food options are plentiful along the route. They thin out fast past Moorcroft, so fuel up and grab snacks before you're deep into the drive.
Book direct at book.wyostays.com — skip the OTA fees — and use your Sheridan, Wyoming rental as the comfortable home base for this trip and others nearby, like the Bighorns or Little Bighorn Battlefield. Browse our current Sheridan vacation rentals to find a home base with easy highway access for an early start. Book Direct — No Channel Fees and put those savings toward gas or a nicer dinner back in town.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can you day-trip to Devils Tower from Sheridan, Wyoming? A: Yes. It's roughly a 1 hour 45 minute to 2-hour drive each way via I-90 and US-14, making a full round trip with time at the monument doable in a single day, typically 6–8 hours total including drive time.
Q: How far is Devils Tower from Sheridan, Wyoming? A: Approximately 100–110 miles depending on the exact route, which translates to roughly 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours of driving each way.
Q: Do you need reservations to visit Devils Tower? A: General entry doesn't require advance reservations. Camping at the on-site Belle Fourche River Campground may fill up in peak summer season, so check the National Park Service site if you plan to camp rather than day-trip.
Q: Can you climb Devils Tower? A: Technical climbing is allowed with proper permits, but a voluntary closure is observed each June in respect of Native American ceremonies at the site. Most day-trip visitors stick to the walking trail rather than climbing.
Q: Is there cell service at Devils Tower? A: Service is limited and inconsistent both at the monument and along parts of the drive from Sheridan. Download directions and any offline maps before you leave.
Plan Your Trip
For more ways to build out a Wyoming itinerary around Sheridan, see our Sheridan Vacation Guide, and when you're ready to lock in dates, book direct at book.wyostays.com — skip the OTA fees. Sheridan remains the easiest, most comfortable base for this trip — check wyostays.com for current availability before you commit to a date.