Traveling from Cedar City to Riverton covers 235.6 miles of Utah’s Mountain West landscape. You can expect to spend approximately 3 hours and 57 minutes on the road, making this an ideal one-day excursion. Budgeting about $36 for fuel will get you from the southern end of the state to the northern suburbs of the Salt Lake Valley. While the trip is manageable in a single stretch, plan for at least one stop to break up the journey. The route primarily utilizes I-15 North, Veterans Memorial Highway, and SR 71 to navigate between these two points. It is a straightforward commute that serves as a reliable connection between the regional hubs of Utah.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
117.8 miles from Cedar City, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
228.6 mi
3h 45m
Main Street
3.8 mi
5m
12600 South
1.5 mi
2m
12300 South
1.1 mi
2m
US 89
0.2 mi
<1m
Redwood Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 228.6 mi, about 3h 45m
Traffic on I-15
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 203 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,262 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~243 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar City, UT and Riverton, UT.
1
Start on I 15 Bus; SR 130
3.8 mi·5 min·Main Street
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 15 North
3
Merge onto I 15
229 mi·3 hr 45 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit onto US 89
0.2 mi·13 sec·US 89
Exit 291Toward SR 71: 12300 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward RivertonUse the slight left lane.
6
Turn straight onto SR 71
1.1 mi·2 min·12300 South
7
Continue on SR 71
1.5 mi·2 min·12600 South
8
Turn left onto SR 68
198 ft·6 sec·Redwood Road
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right
64 ft·4 sec
10
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-four-hour trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule, though leaving early helps avoid the transition into busier local traffic patterns. You only need to plan for one major stop to refuel and stretch your legs, which will easily fit within your $36 gas budget. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, double-check your navigation settings before leaving to ensure you are comfortable with the transition from the main highway to SR 71. Keep a close eye on your GPS as you move off the interstate, as the local roads require more frequent turns than a standard highway route. Using this approach, you can complete the 235.6-mile trek efficiently and without unnecessary stress.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 117.8 miles from Cedar City, UT, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 228.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 52 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.8 miles or 1h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Riverton, UT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cedar City, UT so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cedar City, UT
This is one driving day of about 235.6 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Cedar City, UT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Veterans Memorial Highway for about 228.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.1 and 235.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.1 mi into trip|~6m in|I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
232.6 mi into trip|~3h 51m in|US 89
Take the exit onto US 89 toward SR 71: 12300 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 291
Toward SR 71: 12300 South
8
232.8 mi into trip|~3h 51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Riverton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Riverton
6
235.5 mi into trip|~3h 56m in|SR 68 / Redwood Road
Turn left onto SR 68 / Redwood Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
235.6 mi into trip|~3h 56m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.72 one way
$73.44 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$38.71
$77.41
premium
$4.47
$41.50
$83.00
diesel
$4.80
$44.49
$88.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.7
0
$24.74
$11.31
Efficient EV
58.9
0
$20.62
$9.42
EV Truck/SUV
94.2
1
$32.98
$15.08
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 14, 2026
Origin
Cedar City, UT
Late night
in Cedar City on Sunday
Local time
1:05 AM
MDT
Current temp
68°F
Partly Cloudy
ESE 2 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 13 at 9:25PM MDT until July 14 at 6:00AM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Destination
Riverton, UT
Late night
in Riverton on Sunday
Local time
1:05 AM
MDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
S 3 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 13 at 9:25PM MDT until July 14 at 6:00AM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 57m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Timpanogos Cave National Monument
National Monument
The visitor center, caves, and cave tours have not yet opened for the 2026 season. Hike your way past stunning vistas to explore a hidden underground world. Taste the thrill of caving as you twist and...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
$12
near mile 219.3
Caution: Tickets are required to enter Timpanogos Cave
Crowning the Grand Staircase, Cedar Breaks sits at over 10,000 feet and looks down into a half-mile deep geologic amphitheater. Come wander among timeless bristlecone pines, stand in lush meadows of w...
Follow the paths where people have walked for thousands of years. Gaze up at massive sandstone cliffs of cream, pink, and red that soar into a brilliant blue sky. Experience the tall, stretching walls...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While you will navigate via I-15 North, the route requires significant attention to shifting road types as you transition into the local infrastructure of Veterans Memorial Highway and SR 71. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch on the highway is 0 miles, you will find yourself navigating frequent turns and changes in traffic flow. This isn't a high-speed highway dash; instead, it is a dynamic drive that demands active engagement behind the wheel. Prepare for a mix of road conditions that keep the journey feeling varied from start to finish.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 228.6 mi on Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 4.1 miles in near I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 57m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.1 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 232.6 miles (US 89): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 232.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Cedar City is a small city in Dixie, Utah, and is a good place to stock up on supplies before heading into beautiful wilderness areas stretching out in all directions. The city is sandwiched between mountain ranges covered by Dixie National Forest, while further to the southwest lie the remotest areas of Zion National Park, and to the east Cedar Breaks National Monument and Bryce Canyon National Park.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 228.6 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.1 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 232.6 miles (US 89): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 232.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Cedar Breaks National Monument and Zion National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Riverton, UT, but most travelers stay overnight.
