Traveling from Orem to Hildale covers 277.5 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 47 minutes. Since this journey stays entirely within the Mountain West region of Utah, you will experience a consistent high-desert feel throughout the trip. Budgeting approximately $44 for fuel is a smart way to prepare for the road ahead. Given the duration, this route is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip if you prefer to get to your destination without an overnight stay. With only one recommended stop, you can maintain a steady pace while navigating the mix of major highways and local roads.
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
138.8 miles from Orem, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
242.8 mi
3h 56m
East 100 South
21.8 mi
27m
SR 17
8.7 mi
14m
West Utah Avenue
1.9 mi
4m
West Center Street
1.6 mi
3m
South 100 East
0.1 mi
<1m
State Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
East Utah Avenue
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 242.8 mi, about 3h 56m
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 Hildale, 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
243 mi·3 hr 56 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward SR 17: Toquerville, Hurricane
6
Turn left onto SR 17
8.7 mi·14 min·SR 17
7
Turn left onto South 100 East
0.1 mi·23 sec·South 100 East
8
Turn left onto SR 59
22 mi·27 min·East 100 South
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn left onto West Utah Avenue
1.9 mi·4 min·West Utah Avenue
10
Arrive at destination
East Utah Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 277.5-mile trip, try to time your departure to avoid peak local traffic during the initial highway phase. Since you only have one planned stop, pace yourself by ensuring you are fully fueled before leaving the main interstate corridor to avoid higher prices on local roads. The flexibility of this drive allows you to complete the journey in under five hours, so consider departing in the morning to arrive in Hildale with plenty of daylight left. Keep in mind that the transition from Veterans Memorial Highway to secondary roads like SR 17 requires a shift in focus, so stay alert for changing speed limits as you reach the final leg of your drive.
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 138.8 miles from Orem, UT, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 242.8 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 61 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.8 miles or 2h 17m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hildale, 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 277.5 miles and 4h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 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 242.8 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 253.8 — 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
244.8 mi into trip|~4h in
Take the exit toward SR 17: Toquerville, Hurricane
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SR 17: Toquerville, Hurricane
6
253.8 mi into trip|~4h 15m in|SR 59 / East 100 South
Turn left onto SR 59 / East 100 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.25 one way
$86.51 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$45.59
$91.18
premium
$4.47
$48.88
$97.76
diesel
$4.80
$52.40
$104.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.3
1
$29.14
$13.32
Efficient EV
69.4
0
$24.28
$11.10
EV Truck/SUV
111
1
$38.85
$17.76
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 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 18, 2026
Origin
Orem, UT
Evening
in Orem on Saturday
Local time
7:28 PM
MDT
Current temp
69°F
Partly Cloudy
E 2 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 8:56PM MDT until July 17 at 10:00PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 10:28AM MDT until July 18 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Destination
Hildale, UT
Evening
in Hildale on Saturday
Local time
7:28 PM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 6 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 8:56PM MDT until July 17 at 10:00PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 10:28AM MDT until July 18 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
57°F
Beaver, UT
139 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
5 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
4h 47m 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...
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...
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 239.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The drive begins with a significant 242.8-mile stretch on Veterans Memorial Highway, which accounts for the vast majority of your time behind the wheel. Because the highway share is only 3, you should be prepared for a shift in pace as you transition onto smaller routes like East 100 South and SR 17. The personality of this trip is best described as a turn-heavy local drive, requiring your full attention as you move away from the main thoroughfares. You will find that the road surface and traffic patterns change noticeably as you leave the highway, demanding a more engaged driving style for the final portion of the journey.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 242.8 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 4h 47m 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 (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.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,068 ft4,044 ft
Total Climb
3,082 ft
Total Descent
2,812 ft
Highest Point
6,068 ft
~158.6 mi in
Elevation Range
2,024 ft
Notable High Points
5,359 ft at ~59.5 miles+77 ft prominence
6,068 ft at ~158.6 miles+140 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Orem, UT to Hildale, UT, road signs begin pointing toward Hurricane along the way.
Colorado City is a city of 4,900 people (2018) straddling the Utah/Arizona border, although most of the city is on the Arizona side. The Utah portion is known as Hildale.
Colorado City is the largest and best-known polygamist community in the United States, and there are few facilities for travelers.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 242.8 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 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 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Hildale, UT, but most travelers stay overnight.
