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| U.S. Route 89 (Wyoming) | |
|---|---|
| State | WY |
| Route | 89 |
| Type | US |
| Length mi | 401.32 |
| Established | 1926 |
| Direction a | South |
| Terminus a | Jackson Hole |
| Direction b | North |
| Terminus b | Montana state line near Cody |
| Counties | Teton County, Sublette County, Lincoln County, Fremont County, Hot Springs County, Park County |
U.S. Route 89 (Wyoming) is a north–south United States Numbered Highway traversing the western and north-central portions of Wyoming, linking high-elevation basins, mountain passes, and national park gateways. The route connects major tourism nodes and resource towns, serving as a principal arterial between Jackson and the Montana border near Cody. Along its approximately 401-mile length within Wyoming, the highway intersects several transcontinental corridors and provides access to multiple National Park Service units and state facilities.
US 89 enters Wyoming from Utah near the southern Teton Range approach to Grand Teton and proceeds north through Jackson Hole, skirting the eastern side of Jackson Hole Airport and intersecting US 26, US 189, and WYO 22. The highway traces the eastern flank of the Snake River corridor, providing access to Bridger-Teton National Forest, then ascends toward the Gros Ventre Range before entering Pinedale and passing near Wind River Range vistas.
Continuing north, US 89 overlaps segments with I-80-adjacent corridors as it approaches Green River and crosses the Green River Basin toward Kemmerer and Afton, intersecting US 30 and US 20 in various alignments. The route traverses the Fremont County landscape near Dubois and follows valleys shaped by the Wind River. Farther north, US 89 reaches Thermopolis and provides a junction with US 20 and WYO 120 before angling northeast toward the Bighorn Basin.
Approaching Powell and Cody, US 89 climbs toward Yellowstone gateway vicinity, intersecting US 14 and US 16 near Shoshone. The highway exits Wyoming into Montana north of Gardiner and the northern Yellowstone entrance, forming a continuous corridor for travelers between Yellowstone and southern Utah parks.
The corridor that became US 89 follows indigenous and 19th-century exploration paths used by Shoshone, Blackfeet, and other Plains tribes, as well as routes surveyed during the Lewis and Clark Expedition era. Federal designation as part of the original 1926 U.S. Highway system placed US 89 as a primary north–south route through the Intermountain West, aligning with early Lincoln Highway feeder roads and stagecoach trails.
During the 1930s and postwar decades, realignments accommodated Civilian Conservation Corps projects, National Park Service access improvements, and the growth of automobile tourism tied to Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. Strategic reroutings in the 1950s and 1960s adjusted US 89 to meet Interstate Highway System development, maintaining connectivity with I-80 and other major corridors. Later safety upgrades in the late 20th and early 21st centuries included passing lanes, guardrail installations, and snow-mitigation projects following heavy winter closures near high-elevation passes.
Major junctions along US 89 in Wyoming include the confluence with US 26/US 189/WYO 22 at Jackson, the connection with US 191 near Pinedale, intersections with US 30 and I-80-related routes near Kemmerer and Green River, and a key intersection with US 20/WYO 120 at Thermopolis. Northbound, US 89 intersects US 14/US 16 near Cody and provides access to the Yellowstone north entrance at Gardiner through gateway communities and junctions with state highways such as WYO 22 and WYO 120.
Spur and alternate alignments associated with US 89 in Wyoming historically included temporary bypasses and business routes through Jackson, Afton, and Cody communities, as well as connector segments to US 287 and US 26. In neighboring states, coordinated numbering links US 89 to US 89A in Arizona and US 89B alternates, forming a regional network with MT 87 and SR‑30 for long-distance travel and park access.
Traffic volumes on US 89 vary seasonally, with peak flows during summer months associated with visitation to Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone, and regional festivals in Jackson Hole and Cody. Commercial traffic includes freight movements serving regional mining and energy sectors around Green River Basin and agricultural shipments from the Bighorn Basin. Maintenance responsibilities fall primarily to the Wyoming Department of Transportation, with winter snow removal, avalanche mitigation near alpine passes, and pavement rehabilitation funded through state transportation budgets and periodic federal aid programs tied to Federal Highway Administration standards.
US 89 provides direct access to major natural and cultural landmarks including Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Shoshone National Forest, Bridger-Teton, and scenic river corridors like the Snake River and Bighorn River. Along the route travelers encounter historic sites and museums such as the National Museum of Wildlife Art near Jackson, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, and geothermal attractions at Thermopolis Hot Springs. Recreational access points include trailheads for the Teton Crest Trail, Wind River Range approaches, and Yellowstone north-entrance facilities at Gardiner.
Category:U.S. Highways in Wyoming