Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
43m
Distance
32.2 mi
52 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Little Cottonwood Creek Valley, UT
Matthew Montrone
Orem, UT
Wikimedia Commons
Little Cottonwood Creek Valley, UT to Orem, UT is 32.2 miles and takes about 43 minutes via Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip connecting two points within Utah's Mountain West region. The route primarily utilizes Veterans Memorial Highway, offering a direct path with minimal complexity. Given its short duration, it's an easy addition to a larger itinerary or a convenient way to travel between these two locations without a significant time commitment. You'll find this drive to be very manageable.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Memorial Highway | 23.3 mi | 24m |
| 9000 South | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Canyon Parkway | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Creek Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| State Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| 8600 South | 1 mi | 1m |
| 1300 East | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 700 East | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Little Cottonwood Creek Valley, UT and Orem, UT.
Start on Stream View Drive
Turn left onto Willow Stream Drive
At end of road, turn right onto Creek Road
Turn left onto Forbush Lane
Turn left onto Union Park Avenue
Continue on 1300 East
Turn right onto 8600 South
Turn left onto SR 71
Turn right onto SR 209
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 15
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on SR 52
Turn right onto US 89
Turn uturn onto US 89
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 32.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Forbush Lane
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto 8600 South
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward SR 52: 800 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 52 East: Provo Canyon, Sundance
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn uturn onto US 89 / State Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Regular Gas
$5.10 one way
$10.21 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $5.35 | $10.70 |
| premium | $4.53 | $5.74 | $11.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.11 | $14.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.38 | $1.55 |
| Efficient EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.82 | $1.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.51 | $2.06 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Little Cottonwood Creek Valley on Sunday
Local time
8:58 AM
MDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Orem on Sunday
Local time
8:58 AM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
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
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.
This drive is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll encounter numerous intersections and changes in direction rather than long stretches of uninterrupted highway. With only a 4% highway share, expect a more connected-to-the-ground feel. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll experience is 23.3 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway, which likely forms the backbone of your journey. The remaining mileage will involve navigating local roads, making it a drive that requires your attention to navigation and traffic signals.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near Forbush Lane.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 32.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 43m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (Forbush Lane): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (8600 South): Lane positioning matters here; at 29.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Little Cottonwood Creek Valley, UT to Orem, UT, road signs begin pointing toward Sundance along the way.
Sundance
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 43m. Total distance: 32.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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