Traveling from Murray to Washington, UT, covers a total distance of 290.7 miles. You should plan for approximately 4 hours and 50 minutes of time behind the wheel. Given the duration, this route is manageable as a single-day trip, though you will want to account for at least one stop to break up the journey. Budgeting around $46 for fuel will keep you covered for the trip between these two Mountain West locations. While the drive is straightforward, the turn-heavy nature of the local roads means you should stay alert compared to a standard interstate cruise. It is a practical route that connects the northern reaches of the state to the southern end, perfect for those looking to traverse the region efficiently.
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
145.4 miles from Murray, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
287.6 mi
4h 42m
State Street
0.8 mi
1m
5300 South
0.7 mi
1m
North Main Street
0.6 mi
1m
East Telegraph Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
North 100 East
<0.1 mi
<1m
4800 South
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 287.6 mi, about 4h 42m
Traffic on I-15
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 221 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,185 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~243 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Murray, UT and Washington, 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
288 mi·4 hr 42 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
8
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North Main Street
9
Turn left onto East Telegraph Street
526 ft·23 sec·East Telegraph Street
10
Turn left onto North 100 East
135 ft·10 sec·North 100 East
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left
49 ft·9 sec
12
Turn left
21 ft·1 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a turn-heavy route, try to depart early in the morning to avoid the fatigue that can set in during long periods of local navigation. You only have one recommended stop, so pick a spot roughly halfway through to stretch your legs and refresh your focus. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $46 cost estimate can fluctuate based on your vehicle's efficiency on non-highway terrain. Flexibility is your best friend here; because the drive is under five hours, you have the freedom to adjust your pace without the pressure of a rigid overnight schedule. Prioritize maintaining steady speeds through the local sections to ensure you make the most of your fuel budget.
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 145.4 miles from Murray, UT, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 287.6 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 64 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.4 miles or 2h 25m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Washington, 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 290.7 miles and 4h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 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 287.6 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 290.7 — 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
290.7 mi into trip|~4h 49m in|North 100 East
Turn left onto North 100 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.31 one way
$90.62 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$47.76
$95.52
premium
$4.47
$51.20
$102.41
diesel
$4.80
$54.89
$109.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.2
1
$30.52
$13.95
Efficient EV
72.7
0
$25.44
$11.63
EV Truck/SUV
116.3
1
$40.70
$18.60
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Murray, UT
Late night
in Murray on Sunday
Local time
2:20 AM
MDT
Current temp
96°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 5 mph61% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 5:31PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 5:29PM MDT until July 17 at 6:45PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Destination
Washington, UT
Late night
in Washington on Sunday
Local time
2:20 AM
MDT
Current temp
97°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 7 mph29% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 5:31PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 5:29PM MDT until July 17 at 6:45PM 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 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 50m 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
~21 min detour
$12
near mile 20
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
~33 min detour
$10
near mile 230.6
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
~35 min detour
$35
near mile 270.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive that feels more like a technical local excursion than a monotonous interstate haul. While you will spend 287.6 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway, the route is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed highway sprint. Because the highway share is 0%, you won't be relying on typical interstate cruising for the duration of your trip. Navigating through State Street and 5300 South adds a layer of complexity to your steering and focus. You will find that the personality of the road remains consistent, requiring your active engagement throughout the nearly five-hour duration.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 287.6 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 4800 South.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 50m drive. You will face about 10 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 287.6 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.
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 (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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Washington, UT, but most travelers stay overnight.
