This 213.9-mile drive from Orem, UT to Cedar City, UT is a manageable one-day trip, estimated to take around 3 hours and 34 minutes. You'll navigate primarily local roads, including Veterans Memorial Highway, North Main Street, and West Center Street, with no highway driving. With a projected fuel cost of $34, it's an economical option for a quick getaway. The route is characterized by frequent turns, suggesting a more in-depth exploration of local byways rather than a high-speed transit. This drive is entirely within the Mountain West region, offering a consistent regional feel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
107 miles from Orem, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
207.7 mi
3h 22m
North Main Street
3.9 mi
6m
West Center Street
1.6 mi
3m
State Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Main Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 207.7 mi, about 3h 22m
Traffic on I-15
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 111 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~3,644 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,249
Quietest
2 AM
~188 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19.4×
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 Orem, UT and Cedar City, UT.
1
Start on US 89
88 ft·3 sec·State Street
2
Turn left onto West Center Street
1.6 mi·3 min·West Center Street
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 15 South: Las VegasUse the left lane.
4
Merge onto I 15
208 mi·3 hr 22 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·51 sec
Exit 62Toward SR 130: Enoch
6
Turn left onto I 15 Bus; SR 130
3.9 mi·6 min·North Main Street
7
Arrive at destination
I 15 Bus; SR 130
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 3-hour 34-minute duration, this 213.9-mile trip is best tackled as a single-day adventure, offering flexibility in your departure time. With only one recommended stop, you can choose to break up the drive as needed or push through to your destination. Keep an eye on your fuel, with an estimated cost of $34, and plan a stop if you're running low, especially since it's a turn-heavy local drive. The longest stretch on Veterans Memorial Highway is over 200 miles, so ensure you're comfortable with that continuous driving segment before setting out.
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 107 miles from Orem, UT, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 207.7 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 47 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107 miles or 1h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cedar City, UT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Orem, 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 Orem, UT
This is one driving day of about 213.9 miles and 3h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Orem, 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 207.7 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 210 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West Center Street
Turn left onto West Center Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
1.7 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
2 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.
5
209.7 mi into trip|~3h 27m in
Take the exit toward SR 130: Enoch
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 62
Toward SR 130: Enoch
4
210 mi into trip|~3h 28m in|I 15 Bus; SR 130 / North Main Street
Turn left onto I 15 Bus; SR 130 / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.34 one way
$66.68 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$35.14
$70.28
premium
$4.47
$37.68
$75.35
diesel
$4.80
$40.39
$80.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.2
0
$22.46
$10.27
Efficient EV
53.5
0
$18.72
$8.56
EV Truck/SUV
85.6
1
$29.95
$13.69
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Orem, UT
Evening
in Orem on Saturday
Local time
7:29 PM
MDT
Current temp
96°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 5 mph30% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:11PM MDT until July 18 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 4:35PM MDT until July 18 at 7:45PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Destination
Cedar City, UT
Evening
in Cedar City on Saturday
Local time
7:29 PM
MDT
Current temp
84°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
ESE 3 mph64% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 5:11PM MDT until July 18 at 7:00PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 4:35PM MDT until July 18 at 7:45PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
89°F
Fillmore, UT
107 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
12 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
3h 34m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
$12
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
$10
near mile 213.9
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...
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
$35
near mile 213.9
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 for the entirety of this 213.9-mile journey. With 0% highway share, you'll be navigating surface streets and local highways for the full 3 hours and 34 minutes. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 207.7 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway, indicating a significant portion of the drive follows this road. This profile suggests a route where you'll be more engaged with the driving, making frequent adjustments and experiencing the landscape at a more measured pace.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
7 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 207.7 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 West Center Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 34m drive. You will face about 5 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 (West Center Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Cedar City is a small city in Dixie, Utah, and is a good place to stock up on supplies before heading into beautiful wilderness areas stretching out in all directions. The city is sandwiched between mountain ranges covered by Dixie National Forest, while further to the southwest lie the remotest areas of Zion National Park, and to the east Cedar Breaks National Monument and Bryce Canyon National Park.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 207.7 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 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 (West Center Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Cedar City, UT, but most travelers stay overnight.
