Traveling from Moab to Orem covers 197.2 miles and takes roughly 3 hours and 55 minutes to complete. This journey stays entirely within the Mountain West, connecting two key Utah hubs via the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, Veterans Memorial Highway, and Main Street. You can comfortably tackle this trip in a single day, making it an ideal excursion for those looking to transition from the desert landscape to the urban corridor. Budgeting around $31 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. Since the drive is relatively straightforward, it works well as a direct transit route rather than an extended multi-day expedition.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
98.6 miles from Moab, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Toward I 15 North: Salt Lake CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 15
13 mi·13 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 271Toward Orem, Center StreetUse the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork
448 ft·12 sec
Use the right lane.
19
Turn straight onto West Center Street
1.5 mi·3 min·West Center Street
20
Continue on East Center Street
223 ft·7 sec·East Center Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
21
Turn right
173 ft·13 sec
22
Turn sharp right onto US 89
135 ft·7 sec·State Street
23
Arrive at destination
US 89
Trip Plan
Planning for this trip is simple since you only need to account for one planned stop over the course of the 197.2-mile distance. Because this is a shorter drive, you have plenty of flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before starting the long 172.1-mile segment on the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, as service availability can vary. Use that single stop strategically to stretch your legs and refuel before hitting the final transition onto Main Street in Orem. Sticking to this pace ensures you arrive at your destination refreshed without feeling rushed by the nearly four-hour duration.
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 98.6 miles from Moab, UT, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 172.1 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 43 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.6 miles or 1h 54m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Orem, UT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Moab, 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 Moab, UT
This is one driving day of about 197.2 miles and 3h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Moab, 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 Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway for about 172.1 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 31.5 and 195.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
31.5 mi into trip|~40m in|US 191
Take the exit onto US 191 toward I-70 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I-70 West
6
55.4 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|US 6; US 191
Take the exit onto US 6; US 191 toward US 6 West, US 191 North: Price, Salt Lake City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 157
Toward US 6 West, US 191 North: Price, Salt Lak...
7
182.4 mi into trip|~3h 37m 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
8
195.2 mi into trip|~3h 51m in
Take the exit toward Orem, Center Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 271
Toward Orem, Center Street
7
195.5 mi into trip|~3h 51m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.25 one way
$62.50 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$32.76
$65.51
premium
$4.53
$35.18
$70.36
diesel
$5.61
$43.54
$87.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.2
0
$20.71
$9.47
Efficient EV
49.3
0
$17.26
$7.89
EV Truck/SUV
78.9
0
$27.61
$12.62
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (67% 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
Moab, UT
Late night
in Moab on Tuesday
Local time
4:06 AM
MDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Orem, UT
Late night
in Orem on Tuesday
Local time
4:06 AM
MDT
Current temp
64°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
4 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
3h 55m 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.
Arches National Park
National Park
Discover a landscape of contrasting colors, land forms, and textures unlike any other. The park has over 2,000 natural stone arches, hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive rock fins, and giant balance...
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
$12
near mile 197.2
Canyonlands is a wilderness of canyons, buttes, and spires carved by the Colorado River and Green River. The park is divided into four distinct districts; no roads join them together. The districts sh...
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 that demands your full attention behind the wheel. While about 2% of the route consists of highway driving, the vast majority of your time will be spent navigating local roads. You will settle into a long, 172.1-mile stretch on the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, which accounts for the bulk of your travel time. The character of the road shifts as you transition from rural stretches into the more built-up environments of Veterans Memorial Highway and Main Street. Prepare for a mix of steady cruising and more technical driving segments that keep the experience engaging from start to finish.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 172.1 mi on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 31.5 miles in near US 191.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 197.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 31.5 miles (US 191): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 55.4 miles (US 6; US 191): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 182.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Moab, UT to Orem, UT, road signs begin pointing toward Salt Lake City along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 55m. Total distance: 197.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 172.1 miles on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Orem, UT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 31.5 miles (US 191): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 55.4 miles (US 6; US 191): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 182.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Arches National Park, Timpanogos Cave National Monument and Canyonlands National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Orem, UT, but most travelers stay overnight.
