Manti to Salt Lake City is 124 miles and takes about 2h 23m via Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you from the Mountain West region of Utah to another part of the Mountain West, offering a relatively short journey between two key Utah locations. Given its profile as a turn-heavy local drive, expect a more engaging experience than a simple interstate cruise. With only a 16% highway share, this route is best suited for those who prefer varied road conditions over pure speed. Plan for a single-day trip, allowing ample time for the drive itself and any brief pauses you might need.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
62 miles from Manti, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
81.7 mi
1h 24m
Duck Springs Drive
20.8 mi
27m
Highway 89
11.3 mi
15m
SR 132
7.3 mi
9m
Main Street
1.1 mi
2m
SR 269
0.7 mi
1m
West Temple
0.3 mi
<1m
400 South
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 81.7 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manti, UT and Salt Lake City, UT.
1
Start on 200 North
41 ft·3 sec·200 North
2
Turn right onto US 89
0.4 mi·46 sec·Main Street
3
Continue on US 89
11 mi·15 min·Highway 89
4
Turn left onto SR 132
7.3 mi·9 min·SR 132
5
Turn left onto SR 132
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
6
Continue on SR 132
21 mi·27 min·Duck Springs Drive
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 15 North
8
Merge onto I 15
82 mi·1 hr 24 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
As this is a manageable 124-mile drive taking just over two hours, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience, perhaps in the late morning to arrive in Salt Lake City with the afternoon free. Given the $20 fuel cost estimate, ensure your tank is adequately filled before you depart Manti, as dedicated fuel stops aren't explicitly noted along this shorter route. The 'turn-heavy local drive' profile suggests keeping a close eye on navigation; a specific tip would be to download offline maps, as cell service can be inconsistent on less-trafficked local roads. Plan for just one or two brief stops to stretch your legs, rather than needing to break the drive into segments.
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 62 miles from Manti, UT, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.7 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 27 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62 miles or 1h 17m 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 58m
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 Manti, 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 Manti, UT
This is one driving day of about 124 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Manti, UT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Veterans Memorial Highway for about 81.7 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 124 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 89 / Main Street
Turn right onto US 89 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
40.8 mi into trip|~56m 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
122.5 mi into trip|~2h 20m 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
123.9 mi into trip|~2h 23m in|US 89 / 400 South
Turn right onto US 89 / 400 South
Navigation decision point
7
124 mi into trip|~2h 23m in|Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.65 one way
$39.30 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$20.60
$41.19
premium
$4.53
$22.12
$44.24
diesel
$5.61
$27.38
$54.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.2
0
$13.02
$5.95
Efficient EV
31
0
$10.85
$4.96
EV Truck/SUV
49.6
0
$17.36
$7.94
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (65% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Manti, UT
Night
in Manti on Saturday
Local time
10:49 PM
MDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Salt Lake City, UT
Night
in Salt Lake City on Saturday
Local time
10:49 PM
MDT
Current temp
48°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
23 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
2h 23m 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
~18 min detour
$12
near mile 89.8
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?
This route is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, meaning you'll encounter more frequent directional changes than on a typical highway. With only 16% of the journey on highways, much of your time will be spent on local roads, offering a more intimate connection with the landscape. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll cover is 81.7 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway, providing a solid segment of consistent driving before you need to navigate more turns. This driving personality suggests a route that keeps you engaged, with the road evolving frequently as you progress towards Salt Lake City.
Only 16% 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: 81.7 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 US 89 / Main 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 2h 23m drive. You will face about 9 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 (US 89 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 40.8 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 122.5 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.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 81.7 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (US 89 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 40.8 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 122.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Salt Lake City, UT before heading back.
