Murray, UT to Santa Clara, UT is 299.5 miles and takes about 5h 5m via Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Mountain West region, offering a straightforward trip between two points in Utah. Given its duration and the fact that it's a single-day drive, it’s a manageable option for getting from the northern part of the state to the southwest. Plan for a relatively quick transit with minimal need for overnight stays.
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
149.7 miles from Murray, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
291.2 mi
4h 46m
I 15 BUS
2.2 mi
5m
West Sunset Boulevard
2 mi
3m
Santa Clara Drive
1.1 mi
2m
Bluff Street
1 mi
1m
State Street
0.8 mi
1m
5300 South
0.7 mi
1m
4800 South
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 291.2 mi, about 4h 46m
Traffic on I-15
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 454 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,953 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,738
Quietest
2 AM
~235 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 79 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 Murray, UT and Santa Clara, UT.
1
Start on this road
27 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto 4800 South
81 ft·4 sec·4800 South
3
Turn left onto US 89
0.8 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
4
Turn right onto SR 173
0.7 mi·1 min·5300 South
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward I 15 South: Las VegasUse the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 15
291 mi·4 hr 46 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto I 15 BUS
2.2 mi·5 min·I 15 BUS
Exit 8Toward SR 34: Saint George BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
8
Turn slight right
213 ft·7 sec
Use the right lane.
9
Turn straight onto SR 18
1.0 mi·1 min·Bluff Street
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on SR 8
2.0 mi·3 min·West Sunset Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on Santa Clara Drive
1.1 mi·2 min·Santa Clara Drive
Use the straight lane.
12
Arrive at destination
Santa Clara Drive
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. Since the route is primarily surface roads, be prepared for potential traffic delays, especially if traveling through populated areas. With a fuel cost estimate of around $50, ensure your tank is full before departing Murray, as gas station availability might be less frequent on certain stretches. The longest segment on Veterans Memorial Highway is over 291 miles, so plan for a mid-drive stop to stretch and refresh before continuing to Santa Clara.
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 149.7 miles from Murray, UT, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 291.2 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 66 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 149.7 miles or 2h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Santa Clara, UT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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.
+
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 299.5 miles and 5h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 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 Veterans Memorial Highway for about 291.2 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 293.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|4800 South
Turn left onto 4800 South
Navigation decision point
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.
5
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 15 South: Las Vegas
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 15 South: Las Vegas
5
1.9 mi into trip|~4m 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
293.1 mi into trip|~4h 50m in|I 15 BUS
Take the exit onto I 15 BUS toward SR 34: Saint George Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8
Toward SR 34: Saint George Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.95 one way
$107.89 round trip
$4.58/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.78
$56.34
$112.68
premium
$5.11
$60.21
$120.41
diesel
$6.18
$72.86
$145.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89.9
1
$31.45
$14.38
Efficient EV
74.9
0
$26.21
$11.98
EV Truck/SUV
119.8
1
$41.93
$19.17
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Murray, UT
Late night
in Murray on Monday
Local time
5:01 AM
MDT
Current temp
47°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Santa Clara, UT
Late night
in Santa Clara on Monday
Local time
5:01 AM
MDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Cloudy
NE 2 mph14% chanceLive forecast
64°F
Nibley, UT
150 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
8 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
5h 5m 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.
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...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
$12
near mile 20.7
Caution: Tickets are required to enter Timpanogos Cave
Crowning the Grand Staircase, Cedar Breaks sits at over 10,000 feet and looks down into a half-mile deep geologic amphitheater. Come wander among timeless bristlecone pines, stand in lush meadows of w...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
$10
near mile 237.5
Follow the paths where people have walked for thousands of years. Gaze up at massive sandstone cliffs of cream, pink, and red that soar into a brilliant blue sky. Experience the tall, stretching walls...
14 mi from route
~34 min detour
$35
near mile 268.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly surface roads, with a highway percentage of 0%. You'll spend almost the entire 299.5 miles on roads like Veterans Memorial Highway, I 15 BUS, and West Sunset Boulevard. The longest continuous stretch on a single road measures 291.2 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway, suggesting a very consistent driving experience for most of the trip. Expect to encounter frequent intersections and lower speed limits typical of surface road travel.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 291.2 mi on Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 4800 South.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 5m drive. You will face about 8 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 (4800 South): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (SR 173 / 5300 South): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 291.2 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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.
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 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (4800 South): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (SR 173 / 5300 South): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Cedar Breaks National Monument and Zion National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Santa Clara, UT before the return drive.
