Francis, UT to Saint George, UT is 300.9 miles and takes about 5h 15m via Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $53 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Utah, taking you from the Mountain West region to another part of the Mountain West. The drive is mostly on surface roads, so don't expect high-speed highway cruising for the entire duration. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short driving time, this route is well-suited for a single day trip, offering a straightforward path across the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
150.4 miles from Francis, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
254.1 mi
4h 6m
US 189
18.8 mi
22m
West Main Village Way
10.4 mi
14m
North University Avenue
7.1 mi
14m
US 40
4.7 mi
6m
US Highway 189
3.6 mi
4m
Trailblazer Boulevard
0.9 mi
2m
I 15 BUS
0.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 254.1 mi, about 4h 6m
Traffic on I-15
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 97 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~2,826 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,366
Quietest
2 AM
~155 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.2×
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 Francis, UT and Saint George, UT.
1
Start on SR 32
10 mi·14 min·West Main Village Way
2
Turn left onto US 40; US 189
4.7 mi·6 min·US 40; US 189
3
Continue on US 189
0.4 mi·38 sec·US 189
4
Continue on US Highway 189
3.6 mi·4 min·US Highway 189
5
Continue on US 189
17 mi·20 min·US 189
6
Continue on US 189
7.1 mi·14 min·North University Avenue
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit onto US 189
0.9 mi·2 min·US 189
Toward I 15 South: Las Vegas, Lakeview ParkwayUse the straight / right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 15
254 mi·4 hr 6 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto I 15 BUS
0.8 mi·2 min·I 15 BUS
Exit 8Toward SR 34: Saint George BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
10
Turn left onto University Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·University Avenue
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto Trailblazer Boulevard
0.9 mi·2 min·Trailblazer Boulevard
12
Turn right onto 100 West
230 ft·12 sec·100 West
13
Turn right
510 ft·37 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5h 15m drive, consider an early morning departure from Francis, UT. This allows you to cover the 254.1-mile segment on Veterans Memorial Highway with minimal traffic. With only one stop suggested, you have flexibility in timing your break, but it's wise to refuel before embarking on the longest stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move onto the surface roads, where services might be less frequent than on major interstates. The $53 fuel estimate is a good baseline for planning your budget.
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 150.4 miles from Francis, UT, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 254.1 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 66 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.4 miles or 2h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint George, UT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Francis, 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 Francis, UT
This is one driving day of about 300.9 miles and 5h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Francis, 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 254.1 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 43.6 and 300.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
43.6 mi into trip|~59m in|US 189
Take the exit onto US 189 toward I 15 South: Las Vegas, Lakeview Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 15 South: Las Vegas, Lakeview Parkway
5
44.5 mi into trip|~1h 1m 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
298.6 mi into trip|~5h 8m in|I 15 BUS
Take the exit onto I 15 BUS toward SR 34: Saint George Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8
Toward SR 34: Saint George Boulevard
5
299.3 mi into trip|~5h 10m in|University Avenue
Turn left onto University Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
300.8 mi into trip|~5h 14m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.90 one way
$93.80 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$49.44
$98.87
premium
$4.47
$53.00
$106.00
diesel
$4.80
$56.82
$113.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.3
1
$31.59
$14.44
Efficient EV
75.2
0
$26.33
$12.04
EV Truck/SUV
120.4
1
$42.13
$19.26
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Francis, UT
Evening
in Francis on Saturday
Local time
7:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
85°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 3 mph84% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:42PM MDT until July 17 at 5:45PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:16PM MDT until July 17 at 3:15PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Destination
Saint George, UT
Evening
in Saint George on Saturday
Local time
7:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
98°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 6 mph27% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:42PM MDT until July 17 at 5:45PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 2:16PM MDT until July 17 at 3:15PM 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
13 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
5h 15m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
$12
near mile 31.1
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...
13 mi from route
~31 min detour
$10
near mile 238.6
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...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
$35
near mile 269.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a highway share of 9%, meaning most of your time will be spent on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 254.1 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. After this highway segment, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of the drive. Expect a significant amount of driving on roads with varying speed limits and potentially more intersections compared to a full freeway experience.
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: 254.1 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 43.6 miles in near US 189.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 15m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 43.6 miles (US 189): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.5 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 298.6 miles (I 15 BUS): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
St. George is a city in southwestern Utah, on the Utah-Arizona border, known regionally as "Utah's Dixie" (a nickname given to the area for its warm southern Utah climate which was used to grow cotton by early settlers). The city is nestled in a scenic valley of desert vistas in the northeastern Mojave Desert, adjacent to the majestic Pine Valley Mountains.
Top landmarks
•St. George Utah Temple — temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in St. George, Utah, U...
•St. George Opera House — opera house
•Brigham Young Winter Home and Office — historic house in Utah, United States
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 254.1 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 43.6 miles (US 189): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.5 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 298.6 miles (I 15 BUS): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Saint George, UT before the return drive.
