Service Plaza
0 mi from route
Trip from Moab, UT to Sandy, UT
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 21m
Distance
221.5 mi
357 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 8m
★
6 AM
4h 21m
8 AM
4h 48m
10 AM
4h 30m
12 PM
4h 28m
3 PM
4h 32m
5 PM
4h 46m
8 PM
4h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Moab, UT
Wikimedia Commons
Sandy, UT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Moab to Sandy is 221.5 miles and takes about 4h 21m via Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, Veterans Memorial Highway, and Main Street, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Utah's Mountain West region, offering a mostly surface road experience. It's a straightforward drive, ideal for a single day if you're looking to connect these two points without a lengthy detour. Plan for around 172 miles on the main stretch, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and arrive comfortably.
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
110.8 miles from Moab, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 10m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway | 172.1 mi | 3h 18m |
| Veterans Memorial Highway | 37.4 mi | 40m |
| Main Street | 4.2 mi | 8m |
| East US-6 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| State Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| US 6 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Highway Drive | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| US 191 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
— 172.1 mi, about 3h 18m
Traffic on I-15
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 174 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~7,643 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~333 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
23×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Moab, UT and Sandy, UT.
1
Start on Center Street
284 ft
·
20 sec
·
Center Street
2
Turn sharp right onto US 191
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Main Street
3
Continue on US 191
29 mi
·
34 min
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
4
Take the exit onto US 191
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
US 191
Toward I-70 West
5
Merge onto I 70; US 6; US 50; US 191
23 mi
·
21 min
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
6
Take the exit onto US 6; US 191
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 6; US 191
Exit 157
Toward US 6 West, US 191 North: Price, Salt Lake City
7
Merge onto US 6; US 191
51 mi
·
1 hr
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 6; US 191
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
9
Continue on US 6; US 191
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
West Highway Drive
10
Continue on US 6; US 191
35 mi
·
42 min
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
11
Continue on US 6
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
State Street
12
Continue on US 6
33 mi
·
39 min
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
13
Continue on US 6
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
East US-6
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on US 6
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 15 North: Salt Lake City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 15
37 mi
·
40 min
·
Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 295
Toward SR 209: 9000 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork
332 ft
·
10 sec
Toward SR 209: Snowbird, Alta, Sandy
19
Turn right onto SR 209
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
9000 South
Use the right lane.
20
Turn left onto US 89
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
State Street
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto 8800 South
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
8800 South
22
Arrive at destination
8800 South
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 21m duration, leaving Moab in the morning is best to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop and a short drive time, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially on the 172.1-mile stretch of Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, and budget around $35 for fuel. The route's profile is mostly surface roads, so anticipate typical traffic patterns and speed limits associated with that. You can easily complete this drive in one day without needing an overnight stay.
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 110.8 miles from Moab, UT, or about 2h 10m 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 49 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.8 miles or 2h 10m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sandy, UT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 221.5 miles and 4h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
111 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 110.8 miles from Moab, UT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 172.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Service Plaza
0 mi from route
Horse Canyon Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Tie Fork Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Miller's Travel Centers
0.1 mi from route
Trailers Plus Salt Lake City
0.2 mi from route
Crescent Junction Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.9 mi from route
Service Plaza
1 mi from route
Service Plaza
1 mi from route
Eagles Landing Travel Plaza
1.2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 31.5 and 220.4 — 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
7
220.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 17m in
Take the exit toward SR 209: 9000 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 295
Toward SR 209: 9000 South
7
220.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 209: Snowbird, Alta, Sandy
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SR 209: Snowbird, Alta, Sandy
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.52 one way
$69.05 round trip
$3.96/gal
25.4 MPG avg
78 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.17 | $36.39 | $72.78 |
| premium | $4.47 | $39.02 | $78.03 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $41.82 | $83.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 66.5 | 0 | $23.26 | $10.63 |
| Efficient EV | 55.4 | 0 | $19.38 | $8.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 88.6 | 1 | $31.01 | $14.18 |
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Moab, UT
Late night in Moab on Sunday
Local time
4:49 AM
MDT
Current temp
96°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 5 mph
21% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 1:16PM MDT until July 18 at 5:15PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 18 at 11:54AM MDT until July 19 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Destination
Sandy, UT
Late night in Sandy on Sunday
Local time
4:49 AM
MDT
Current temp
95°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 6 mph
23% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 1:16PM MDT until July 18 at 5:15PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 18 at 11:54AM MDT until July 19 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
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
1 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 21m 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.
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
$30
near mile 15.3
View on nps.gov
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
~19 min detour
$12
near mile 198.6
View on nps.gov
Canyonlands National Park
National Park
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...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
$30
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route covers 221.5 miles, with a highway share of 2, meaning most of your time will be on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway is 172.1 miles. You'll transition from a significant highway segment to more local roads as you approach your destination. Expect to navigate through varied terrain, from open cruising to more built-up areas.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 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 Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 221.5 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.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
7,316 ft
4,031 ft
Total Climb
3,915 ft
Total Descent
3,480 ft
Highest Point
7,316 ft
~142.4 mi in
Elevation Range
3,284 ft
Notable High Points
4,886 ft at ~31.6 miles
+391 ft prominence
5,444 ft at ~94.9 miles
+9 ft prominence
7,316 ft at ~142.4 miles
+1,151 ft prominence
4,607 ft at ~205.7 miles
+70 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Sandy, UT, road signs begin pointing toward Salt Lake City along the way.
Salt Lake City
55.4 mi in
|
~1h 2m
|
via US 6; US 191
About the Cities
Starting in Moab, UT
Full guide →Founded 1878
Moab is a town in the Utah's Canyon Country and a gateway to the nearby Arches National Park and other attractions in Canyon Country.
Top landmarks
- • Apache Motel — United States historic place
Arriving in Sandy, UT
Full guide →Founded 1871
Sandy is a city just south of Salt Lake City in Utah's Wasatch Range. It is one of the major suburbs of Salt Lake City.
Top landmarks
- • Sandy Historic District — historic district in Sandy, Utah, United States
- • John and Mary Mattson House — historic house in Sandy, Utah, United States
- • Granite LDS Ward Chapel-Avard Fairbanks Studio — meeting house in Sandy, Utah
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 21m. Total distance: 221.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 21m 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.
Yes — we found about 14 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.
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 Sandy, 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. There are 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Sandy, UT, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
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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