La Verkin, UT to Salt Lake City, UT is 288.4 miles and takes about 4h 50m via Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Mountain West region, primarily traversing surface roads. It’s a straightforward, single-day trip that gets you from Southern Utah to the state capital. You'll spend most of your time on local roads, so don't expect high-speed highway cruising for the majority of the route. Plan for a steady pace as you make your way north.
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
144.2 miles from LaVerkin, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
279.8 mi
4h 35m
Toquerville Parkway
4.8 mi
7m
North State Street
1.5 mi
2m
SR 269
0.7 mi
1m
West Temple
0.3 mi
<1m
Toquer Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
400 South
0.2 mi
<1m
West Center Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 279.8 mi, about 4h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between LaVerkin, UT and Salt Lake City, UT.
1
Start on South Main Street
107 ft·10 sec·South Main Street
2
Turn left onto West Center Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·West Center Street
3
Turn right onto SR 9
1.5 mi·2 min·North State Street
4
Continue on SR 17
0.2 mi·16 sec·Toquer Boulevard
5
Continue on SR 17
4.8 mi·7 min·Toquerville Parkway
6
Turn slight right
433 ft·15 sec
Toward I 15 North
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 15 North
8
Merge onto I 15
280 mi·4 hr 35 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·26 sec
Exit 306Toward 600 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on SR 269
0.7 mi·1 min·SR 269
Exit 121; 306Toward SR 269: 600 South
11
Turn left onto SR 270
0.3 mi·50 sec·West Temple
12
Turn right onto US 89
0.2 mi·30 sec·400 South
13
Turn left onto Main Street
80 ft·3 sec·Main Street
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
For this 4h 50m drive, leaving early in the morning is a good idea to maximize daylight, especially since it's a single-day trip. The route is mostly surface roads, so factor in potential slowdowns in towns. With 288.4 miles and a fuel cost around $46, it's manageable to do in one go, but you'll want to make at least one stop to break up the drive. Since you'll be on Veterans Memorial Highway for a considerable distance, keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you get too far into that stretch, as it's the longest part of the drive.
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 144.2 miles from LaVerkin, UT, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 279.8 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 63 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.2 miles or 2h 26m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salt Lake City, UT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving LaVerkin, 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 LaVerkin, UT
This is one driving day of about 288.4 miles and 4h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from LaVerkin, 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 279.8 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 and 288.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West Center Street
Turn left onto West Center Street
Navigation decision point
5
7.1 mi into trip|~11m 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
286.8 mi into trip|~4h 47m in
Take the exit toward 600 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 306
Toward 600 South
5
288.2 mi into trip|~4h 50m in|US 89 / 400 South
Turn right onto US 89 / 400 South
Navigation decision point
7
288.4 mi into trip|~4h 50m in|Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.70 one way
$91.40 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$47.90
$95.81
premium
$4.53
$51.45
$102.89
diesel
$5.61
$63.68
$127.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.5
1
$30.28
$13.84
Efficient EV
72.1
0
$25.23
$11.54
EV Truck/SUV
115.4
1
$40.38
$18.46
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
LaVerkin, UT
Morning
in LaVerkin on Tuesday
Local time
9:28 AM
MDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Salt Lake City, UT
Morning
in Salt Lake City on Tuesday
Local time
9:28 AM
MDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
66°F
Delta, UT
144 mi in
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
9 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
4h 50m 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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
$12
near mile 258.5
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
~32 min detour
$10
near mile 49.7
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?
You'll spend a significant portion of this 288.4-mile drive on surface roads, with only about half of the route on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 279.8 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. After this, you'll transition to local streets like Toquerville Parkway and North State Street. Be prepared for more frequent stops and slower speeds as you navigate through towns and populated areas for much of the trip.
Only 2% 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: 279.8 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 early in the drive near West Center Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 50m 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: near the start (West Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.1 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 286.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Salt Lake City is the capital of, and largest city in, the U.S. state of Utah. It is a destination for outdoor recreation, with nearby mountains full of hiking trails and ski resorts made famous by the 2002 Winter Olympics. It is also well known as the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormon church). The city is set to host the Winter Olympics again in 2034.
Salt Lake City has about 200,000 residents within the city limits (2019), and is the downtown hub for a metro area of over a million people. It sits on the border between the Rocky Mountains and the Great Basin, lying in the Salt Lake Valley along the Wasatch Range urban corridor, sandwiched between the Wasatch Mountains to the east and the Oquirrh Mountains and the Great Salt Lake to the west.
Top landmarks
•Temple Square — religious complex in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
•Utah State Capitol — state capitol building of Utah, United States
•Salt Lake Tabernacle — building in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 279.8 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 23 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: near the start (West Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.1 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 286.8 miles: 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Salt Lake City, UT, but most travelers stay overnight.
