This 97.9-mile drive from Helper, UT to South Jordan, UT will take you about 1 hour and 56 minutes. Primarily following Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, Veterans Memorial Highway, and East US-6, you'll experience a local drive with a high number of turns. With a fuel cost estimated at $16, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing for a relaxed pace. Both your starting and ending points are within the Mountain West region, offering a consistent feel throughout your journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49 miles from Helper, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Toward I 15 North: Salt Lake CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 15
36 mi·38 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
327 ft·4 sec
Exit 293Toward SR 151: 10600 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·16 sec
Toward SR 151 West: 10600 South
12
Turn slight left onto SR 151
0.9 mi·1 min·10600 South
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on SR 151
0.2 mi·23 sec·10515 South
14
Continue on SR 151
0.5 mi·49 sec·South Jordan Parkway
15
Continue on SR 151
0.2 mi·51 sec·10400 South
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on SR 151
0.1 mi·12 sec·10400 South
17
Arrive at destination
SR 151
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 56-minute duration, this is a straightforward day trip. You won't need to worry about splitting the drive, giving you flexibility with your departure time. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially with the estimated $16 cost, and plan for a stop if needed, as there are no designated stops mentioned. Be prepared for the frequent turns that characterize this route; it's wise to have your navigation readily available to manage the changing road conditions smoothly.
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 49 miles from Helper, UT, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.8 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 22 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49 miles or 1h 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Jordan, UT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Helper, UT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Helper, UT
This is one driving day of about 97.9 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Helper, UT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway for about 54.8 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 95.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward US 6, US 191
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6, US 191
7
60 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward I 15 North: Salt Lake City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 15 North: Salt Lake City
5
60.3 mi into trip|~1h 14m 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
95.8 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Take the exit toward SR 151: 10600 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 293
Toward SR 151: 10600 South
6
95.8 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 151 West: 10600 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward SR 151 West: 10600 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.51 one way
$31.03 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$16.26
$32.52
premium
$4.53
$17.46
$34.93
diesel
$5.61
$21.62
$43.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.4
0
$10.28
$4.70
Efficient EV
24.5
0
$8.57
$3.92
EV Truck/SUV
39.2
0
$13.71
$6.27
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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 20, 2026
Origin
Helper, UT
Late night
in Helper on Tuesday
Local time
4:25 AM
MDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
South Jordan, UT
Late night
in South Jordan on Tuesday
Local time
4:25 AM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live 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
3 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
1h 56m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 77.7
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?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 97.9-mile trip. While about 4% of the route involves highway driving, the majority will feel more like navigating regional roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you’ll encounter is 54.8 miles on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway. This means you'll be adjusting your speed and direction frequently, making it more of an engaged driving experience than a simple cruise.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.8 mi on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 97.9 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 60.3 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 97.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.8 miles on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at South Jordan, UT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 60.3 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 South Jordan, UT before heading back.
