Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 17m
Distance
254.2 mi
409 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Layton, UT
Wikimedia Commons
Parowan, UT
Wikimedia Commons
Layton, UT to Parowan, UT is 254.2 miles and takes about 4h 17m via Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Mountain West region, primarily traversing Utah. Expect a route dominated by surface roads, offering a more local driving experience rather than interstate speeds. It's a straightforward trip connecting two points in the same state, suitable for a single day of travel.
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
127.1 miles from Layton, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 9m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Memorial Highway | 251.7 mi | 4h 12m |
| North Main Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Gentile Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Layton Parkway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Center Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 510 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,406 veh/hr typical · worst 6,220
Quietest
2 AM
~254 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 79 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Layton, UT and Parowan, UT.
Start on Gentile Street
Turn right onto SR 126
Turn left onto SR 126
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 15
Take the exit
Turn left onto I 15 Bus; SR 274
Turn right onto West Center Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 4h 17m drive time, leaving in the morning from Layton is advisable to maximize daylight. With only one planned stop on this 254.2-mile trip, you have flexibility in timing your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $45, and plan your fill-up accordingly, especially since you'll be on surface roads. The longest stretch is over 250 miles, so ensure you're comfortable with sustained driving on main streets before you depart.
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.
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 56 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.1 miles or 2h 9m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Parowan, UT than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Layton, 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 Layton, UT
This is one driving day of about 254.2 miles and 4h 17m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
127 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 127.1 miles from Layton, UT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Veterans Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 251.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 252.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto SR 126 / Layton Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward SR 274: Parowan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Regular Gas
$44.08 one way
$88.17 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $46.11 | $92.21 |
| premium | $4.95 | $49.54 | $99.08 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $56.03 | $112.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76.3 | 0 | $26.69 | $12.20 |
| Efficient EV | 63.6 | 0 | $22.24 | $10.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 101.7 | 1 | $35.59 | $16.27 |
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Layton on Friday
Local time
4:23 AM
MDT
Current temp
68°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Parowan on Friday
Local time
4:23 AM
MDT
Current temp
60°F
Partly Cloudy
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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This route is almost entirely surface roads, with 0% highway driving. You'll be on Veterans Memorial Highway for the longest continuous stretch at 251.7 miles, which is essentially the entire trip. Expect to navigate through towns and local traffic for the duration of your travel. The absence of highway driving means you'll be experiencing the speed limits and conditions typical of main thoroughfares through communities.
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 0.6 miles in near SR 126 / Layton Parkway.
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 254.2 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 0.6 miles (SR 126 / Layton Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.3 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
Total Climb
2,745 ft
Total Descent
1,081 ft
Highest Point
6,076 ft
~199.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,799 ft
Notable High Points
Founded 1850
Top landmarks
Founded 1851
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 17m. Total distance: 254.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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