Ephraim to Orem is 80.7 miles and takes about 1h 36m via Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Utah's Mountain West region, offering a manageable and straightforward journey. Expect a route that involves frequent turns and local road navigation, rather than long stretches of highway. Given its short duration, this trip is ideal for a same-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. Plan for a direct trip with minimal time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.4 miles from Ephraim, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
44.8 mi
44m
Duck Springs Drive
20.8 mi
27m
SR 132
7.3 mi
9m
Main Street
5.4 mi
8m
West Center Street
1.5 mi
3m
Center Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
East Center Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
State Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 44.8 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ephraim, UT and Orem, UT.
1
Start on SR 290
238 ft·10 sec·Center Street
2
Turn right onto US 89
4.7 mi·6 min·Main Street
3
Turn left onto SR 132
7.3 mi·9 min·SR 132
4
Turn left onto SR 132
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
5
Continue on SR 132
21 mi·27 min·Duck Springs Drive
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 15 North
7
Merge onto I 15
45 mi·44 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 271Toward Orem, Center StreetUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
448 ft·12 sec
Use the right lane.
10
Turn straight onto West Center Street
1.5 mi·3 min·West Center Street
11
Continue on East Center Street
223 ft·7 sec·East Center Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Turn right
173 ft·13 sec
13
Turn sharp right onto US 89
135 ft·7 sec·State Street
14
Arrive at destination
US 89
Trip Plan
With a driving time of under two hours, this is a perfect same-day trip, offering flexibility for when you depart. You can easily leave in the morning and be in Orem with plenty of time to spare, or head out in the afternoon and arrive before dinner. Given the 80.7-mile distance and the low fuel cost of around $13, you won't need to worry much about gas stops. However, since it's a 'turn-heavy local drive,' pay close attention to your GPS and road signs, especially when transitioning between Veterans Memorial Highway, Duck Springs Drive, and SR 132, to avoid missing any crucial turns.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.4 miles from Ephraim, UT, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.8 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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.4 miles or 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Orem, UT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ephraim, UT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ephraim, UT
This is one driving day of about 80.7 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Ephraim, UT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Veterans Memorial Highway for about 44.8 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 33.9 and 80.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
33.9 mi into trip|~46m 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.
8
78.8 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward Orem, Center Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 271
Toward Orem, Center Street
7
79 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
80.7 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
80.7 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|US 89 / State Street
Turn sharp right onto US 89 / State Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.79 one way
$25.58 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$13.40
$26.81
premium
$4.53
$14.40
$28.79
diesel
$5.61
$17.82
$35.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.2
0
$8.47
$3.87
Efficient EV
20.2
0
$7.06
$3.23
EV Truck/SUV
32.3
0
$11.30
$5.16
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Ephraim, UT
Late night
in Ephraim on Sunday
Local time
1:54 AM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Orem, UT
Late night
in Orem on Sunday
Local time
1:54 AM
MDT
Current temp
26°F
Slight Chance Snow Showers
NW 6 mph18% chanceLive forecast
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
38 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 36m 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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
$12
near mile 80.7
Caution: Tickets are required to enter Timpanogos Cave
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 9% of the journey on highways. You'll spend most of your time navigating local roads, so be prepared for frequent changes in direction. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 44.8 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. This means the driving experience will be more about managing transitions between different road segments rather than settling into a consistent highway pace. The road's personality shifts as you move through different local areas, requiring your attention to navigation.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.8 mi on Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 33.9 miles in near I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 80.7 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 33.9 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 78.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 80.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (9%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.8 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 33.9 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 78.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Timpanogos Cave National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Orem, UT before heading back.
