Ogden to Monticello is 323 miles and takes about 6 hours 17 minutes via Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, Veterans Memorial Highway, and Main Street, with a fuel budget near $56 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip traverses the Mountain West region, staying within Utah. With a highway share of only 10%, expect a route with a more surface-road feel, making it a good option if you prefer a slower pace. This drive offers a straightforward path between two points in the state, suitable for a single-day excursion.
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
161.5 miles from Ogden, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 8m into the drive
.
Toward Arches, Dead Horse Point, CanyonlandsUse the left lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork onto US 191
2.1 mi·3 min·Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
26
Turn straight onto US 191
56 mi·1 hr 11 min·Main Street
27
Arrive at destination
US 191
Trip Plan
Given the 6 hour 17 minute estimated drive time, starting in the morning is advisable to ensure you arrive with daylight. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short overall duration, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you transition from highways to surface roads, as services might be more spread out. The $56 fuel cost is an estimate, so plan accordingly for your vehicle's MPG. Since this can be completed in a single day, consider a mid-morning departure to allow for a relaxed start.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 161.5 miles from Ogden, UT, or about 3h 8m 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 71 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 161.5 miles or 3h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Monticello, UT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ogden, UT so your first major turns are already loaded.
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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 Ogden, UT
This is one driving day of about 323 miles and 6h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Ogden, 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 237.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|SR 204 / Wall Avenue
Turn left onto SR 204 / Wall Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
8
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 15 South, I 84 East: Salt Lake City
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 15 South, I 84 East: Salt Lake City
8
85.8 mi into trip|~1h 34m 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
86.2 mi into trip|~1h 35m 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
8
237.6 mi into trip|~4h 32m 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
$58.18 one way
$116.36 round trip
$4.58/gal25.4 MPG avg113 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.78
$60.76
$121.52
premium
$5.11
$64.93
$129.86
diesel
$6.18
$78.58
$157.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.9
1
$33.92
$15.50
Efficient EV
80.8
0
$28.26
$12.92
EV Truck/SUV
129.2
1
$45.22
$20.67
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% 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
Ogden, UT
Morning
in Ogden on Sunday
Local time
9:04 AM
MDT
Current temp
45°F
Mostly Clear
SE 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Monticello, UT
Morning
in Monticello on Sunday
Local time
9:04 AM
MDT
Current temp
42°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 mph1% chanceLive 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
3 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
6h 17m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
$30
near mile 256.2
Caution: No Wood or Charcoal Fires Allowed - Stage 2 Fire Restrictions in Effect
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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
$30
near mile 289.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route primarily consists of surface roads, with only about 10% on highways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 146.1 miles on the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, indicating a significant portion of the drive will be on this particular road. After the highway segments conclude, you'll transition to surface roads, likely noticing a rural cruising feel for much of the trip.
Only 10% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 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 0.4 miles in near SR 204 / Wall Avenue.
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 15 significant decision points across 323 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 0.4 miles (SR 204 / Wall Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
7,069 ft4,226 ft
Total Climb
5,180 ft
Total Descent
2,415 ft
Highest Point
7,069 ft
~323 mi in
Elevation Range
2,842 ft
Notable High Points
6,582 ft at ~138.4 miles+438 ft prominence
4,589 ft at ~230.7 miles+141 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ogden, UT and Monticello, UT, road signs point toward Price, Moab, Arches, Dead Horse Point and Canyonlands.
Monticello is a cool haven in the midst of the Canyon Country region of Utah. Located at the base of the Blue Mountains (aka "Abajo" Mountains) in the center of San Juan County, Monticello typically has cooler weather than the surrounding desert. This makes it ideal for summer hiking, biking, horseback riding and motorsports and a delightful place to cross country ski or snowmobile in the winter. From the Blue Mountains you can see the Four Corners Region, consisting of Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 17m. Total distance: 323 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 17m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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.
Yes — we found about 23 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 Monticello, 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 23 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (SR 204 / Wall Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Arches National Park, Timpanogos Cave National Monument and Canyonlands National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Monticello, UT before the return drive.
