Panguitch to Salt Lake City is 244.9 miles and takes about 4h 13m via Veterans Memorial Highway and US 89, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Utah, moving from the Mountain West region to the same region. Expect a straightforward drive on mostly surface roads, making it a good option for a single-day transit. If you're looking for a direct route with minimal fuss, this is a solid choice.
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
122.4 miles from Panguitch, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
212.4 mi
3h 32m
SR 20
20.4 mi
24m
US 89
9.2 mi
10m
North Main Street
0.9 mi
1m
SR 269
0.7 mi
1m
West Temple
0.3 mi
<1m
400 South
0.2 mi
<1m
Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 212.4 mi, about 3h 32m
Traffic on I-15
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 224 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,669 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~264 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21.5×
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 Panguitch, UT and Salt Lake City, UT.
1
Start on Center Street
30 ft·8 sec·Center Street
2
Turn left onto US 89
0.9 mi·1 min·North Main Street
3
Continue on US 89
9.2 mi·10 min·US 89
4
Turn left onto SR 20
20 mi·24 min·SR 20
Use the left lane.
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi·26 sec
Toward I 15 North
6
Merge onto I 15
212 mi·3 hr 32 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·26 sec
Exit 306Toward 600 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on SR 269
0.7 mi·1 min·SR 269
Exit 121; 306Toward SR 269: 600 South
9
Turn left onto SR 270
0.3 mi·50 sec·West Temple
10
Turn right onto US 89
0.2 mi·30 sec·400 South
11
Turn left onto Main Street
80 ft·3 sec·Main Street
Use the left lane.
12
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Consider departing Panguitch in the morning to make the most of the 4h 13m estimated drive time. With only one stop recommended, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the 212.4-mile stretch on Veterans Memorial Highway, as services might be less frequent. The $39 fuel cost is an estimate, so checking current prices is always wise. This route is easily manageable in a single day, so you can afford to take your time and enjoy the 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 122.4 miles from Panguitch, UT, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 212.4 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 54 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.4 miles or 2h 9m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salt Lake City, UT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Panguitch, 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 Panguitch, UT
This is one driving day of about 244.9 miles and 4h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Panguitch, 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 212.4 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 10.1 and 244.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
10.1 mi into trip|~12m in|SR 20
Turn left onto SR 20
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
30.4 mi into trip|~37m in
Take the exit toward I 15 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 15 North
5
30.9 mi into trip|~38m 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
243.3 mi into trip|~4h 10m in
Take the exit toward 600 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 306
Toward 600 South
7
244.8 mi into trip|~4h 13m in|Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.17 one way
$76.34 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$40.23
$80.47
premium
$4.47
$43.14
$86.27
diesel
$4.80
$46.24
$92.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.5
0
$25.71
$11.76
Efficient EV
61.2
0
$21.43
$9.80
EV Truck/SUV
98
1
$34.29
$15.67
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Panguitch, UT
Late night
in Panguitch on Sunday
Local time
3:34 AM
MDT
Current temp
80°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
N 0 to 3 mph83% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 10:51PM MDT until July 19 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Destination
Salt Lake City, UT
Late night
in Salt Lake City on Sunday
Local time
3:34 AM
MDT
Current temp
93°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 6 mph22% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 10:51PM MDT until July 19 at 12:00AM 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
13 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 13m 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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
$12
near mile 211.1
Caution: Tickets are required to enter Timpanogos Cave
Hoodoos (irregular columns of rock) exist on every continent, but here is the largest concentration found anywhere on Earth. Situated along a high plateau at the top of the Grand Staircase, the park's...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features 12% highway driving, with the longest continuous stretch on Veterans Memorial Highway covering 212.4 miles. You'll transition from highway to surface roads after that significant segment. Be prepared for a more rural cruising experience for the majority of your travel time. The route offers a consistent pace without the frequent exits typical of major interstates.
Only 12% 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: 212.4 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 around 10.1 miles in near SR 20.
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 13m 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: at 10.1 miles (SR 20): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 30.9 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Panguitch is a city of 1,700 people (2017) in the Canyon Country of Utah in the Western United States. Panguitch is a good jumping-off point for travelers who want to hike in the Grand Circle of U.S. national parks.
Top landmarks
•Panguitch Historic District — historic district in Utah, United States
Salt Lake City is the capital of, and largest city in, the U.S. state of Utah. It is a destination for outdoor recreation, with nearby mountains full of hiking trails and ski resorts made famous by the 2002 Winter Olympics. It is also well known as the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormon church). The city is set to host the Winter Olympics again in 2034.
Salt Lake City has about 200,000 residents within the city limits (2019), and is the downtown hub for a metro area of over a million people. It sits on the border between the Rocky Mountains and the Great Basin, lying in the Salt Lake Valley along the Wasatch Range urban corridor, sandwiched between the Wasatch Mountains to the east and the Oquirrh Mountains and the Great Salt Lake to the west.
Top landmarks
•Temple Square — religious complex in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
•Utah State Capitol — state capitol building of Utah, United States
•Salt Lake Tabernacle — building in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 212.4 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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: at 10.1 miles (SR 20): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 30.9 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Bryce Canyon National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Salt Lake City, UT, but most travelers stay overnight.
