Traveling from Murray to Moab covers 226.9 miles and takes approximately 4 hours and 27 minutes of driving time. Because this route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, it functions best as a focused day trip that gets you from the Salt Lake Valley into the heart of the Mountain West’s red rock country. You should budget about $35 for fuel to complete the journey. While you could technically make this a one-day round trip, the nature of the local roads makes an overnight stay in Moab a more relaxed approach. This drive is a practical way to transition between regions, though you should be prepared for a steady pace rather than high-speed highway cruising.
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
113.4 miles from Murray, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 14m into the drive
.
Toward Arches, Dead Horse Point, CanyonlandsUse the left lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 191
2.1 mi·3 min·Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
20
Turn straight onto US 191
2.5 mi·5 min·Main Street
21
Turn left onto Center Street
311 ft·20 sec·Center Street
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on Center Street
81 ft·8 sec·Center Street
23
Arrive at destination
Center Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 226.9-mile trip, aim to depart early in the day to account for the slower pace of local roads. Given the turn-heavy nature of this route, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and reset before the final leg of the drive. Since this path avoids major highways, keep your navigation tools handy and ensure your fuel tank is topped off at the start, keeping the $35 estimated cost in mind. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so don't feel pressured to rush through the technical sections. A concrete tip for this specific drive is to double-check your turn-by-turn directions frequently, as the reliance on local streets like 5300 South requires more active navigation than a standard highway route.
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 113.4 miles from Murray, UT, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 146.1 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 50 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.4 miles or 2h 14m 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 Moab, UT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Murray, UT so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
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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 Murray, UT
This is one driving day of about 226.9 miles and 4h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Murray, 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 146.1 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 195.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|SR 173 / 5300 South
Turn right onto SR 173 / 5300 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
43.6 mi into trip|~48m in
Take the exit toward US 6 East, SR 156: Spanish Fork, Main Street, Price
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 257B-A
Toward US 6 East, SR 156: Spanish Fork, Main St...
8
44 mi into trip|~49m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 6 East: Price
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Exit 257B
Toward US 6 East: Price
6
195 mi into trip|~3h 46m in|US 191
Take the exit onto US 191 toward US 191: Crescent Junction, Moab
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 182
Toward US 191: Crescent Junction, Moab
8
195.3 mi into trip|~3h 46m in|US 191
Keep slight right at fork onto US 191 toward Arches, Dead Horse Point, Canyonlands
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Arches, Dead Horse Point, Canyonlands
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.96 one way
$71.91 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$37.69
$75.38
premium
$4.53
$40.48
$80.95
diesel
$5.61
$50.10
$100.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.1
0
$23.82
$10.89
Efficient EV
56.7
0
$19.85
$9.08
EV Truck/SUV
90.8
1
$31.77
$14.52
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
27 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Murray, UT
Late night
in Murray on Sunday
Local time
1:54 AM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Moab, UT
Late night
in Moab on Sunday
Local time
1:54 AM
MDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Fairview, UT
113 mi in
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
15 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 27m 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...
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...
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
near mile 226.9
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 keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a straightforward interstate sprint, this route utilizes roads like 4800 South, State Street, and 5300 South to navigate the terrain. With 0% of the journey spent on highways, the experience is defined by constant maneuvering rather than long, uninterrupted stretches. You will find that there is no single long-distance segment, as the longest uninterrupted stretch on 4800 South is 0 miles. This creates a technical driving environment where your attention remains on the road as you transition away from Murray.
Only 14% 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: 146.1 mi on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 0.8 miles in near SR 173 / 5300 South.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 226.9 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 0.8 miles (SR 173 / 5300 South): Lane positioning matters here; at 43.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Murray, UT and Moab, UT, road signs point toward Price, Arches, Dead Horse Point and Canyonlands.
Price
43.6 mi in|~48m
Arches
195.3 mi in|~3h 46m|via US 191
Dead Horse Point
195.3 mi in|~3h 46m|via US 191
Canyonlands
195.3 mi in|~3h 46m|via US 191
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 27m. Total distance: 226.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 146.1 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 Moab, 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 0.8 miles (SR 173 / 5300 South): Lane positioning matters here; at 43.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Moab, UT, but most travelers stay overnight.
