El Molcajete Mexican Restaurant
Near the start, short detour
Orem, Utah
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+18019609612
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 33m
Distance
73 mi
117 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Provo, UT
Wikimedia Commons
Carbonville, UT
Joseph Russo
Provo, UT to Carbonville, UT is 73 miles and takes about 1 hour 33 minutes via Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, Veterans Memorial Highway, and US 6, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Mountain West region, offering a taste of Utah's diverse landscapes. Expect a local driving experience with frequent turns, making it feel more like navigating through communities than a long-haul interstate journey. With only a 1-day recommendation, this route is ideal for a short excursion where you can take your time and enjoy the scenery without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.5 miles from Provo, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway | 58.3 mi | 1h 10m |
| Veterans Memorial Highway | 4.6 mi | 4m |
| US 6 | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| North University Avenue | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| North Carbonville Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| US 189 | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| State Street | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| North Mountain States Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Provo, UT and Carbonville, UT.
Start on Center Street
Turn right onto US 189
Continue on US 189
Take the exit onto US 189
Merge onto I 15
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge
Continue on US 6
Continue on US 6
Continue on US 6
Continue on US 6
Take the exit
Continue on North Carbonville Road
Turn left onto North 1500 West
Turn right onto North Mountain States Road
Continue on West 1500 North
Turn right onto North 1100 West
Continue on West 1300 North
Arrive at destination
Given this is a shorter, 1-day trip of just 73 miles, you have considerable flexibility in when you depart. Leaving in the morning allows you to complete the drive with plenty of daylight remaining. While there are no specific stops noted in the data, it's always wise to plan for brief breaks, especially given the 'turn-heavy' nature of the drive which can be more engaging. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $12, and it's best to fuel up before heading out or at a convenient point along the way, particularly before embarking on the 58.3-mile stretch on the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 16 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.5 miles or 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 1h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carbonville, UT than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Provo, UT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Provo, UT
This is one driving day of about 73 miles and 1h 33m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 36.5 miles from Provo, UT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Best meal stop
Orem, Utah
Near the start, short detour
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+18019609612
Near the start, short detour
Orem, Utah
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+18019609612
Near the start, short detour
Orem, Utah
Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm
+18012277100
Visit websiteNear the start, ~9 min detour
Orem, Utah
Hours: 10:30 am–8:30 pm
+18017228585
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Price, Utah
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Provo, Utah
Near the end, short detour
Price, Utah
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, right off the route
Spanish Fork, Utah
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Provo, Utah
+18013774700
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Provo, Utah
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websiteNear the start, ~12 min detour
Orem, Utah
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Orem, Utah
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18012240694
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 7.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto US 189 / North University Avenue
Navigation decision point
Take the exit onto US 189 toward I 15 South: Las Vegas, Lakeview Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight left at fork toward US 6 East: Price
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$11.57 one way
$23.14 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $12.13 | $24.25 |
| premium | $4.53 | $13.02 | $26.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.12 | $32.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.66 | $3.50 |
| Efficient EV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.39 | $2.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.2 | 0 | $10.22 | $4.67 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Provo on Tuesday
Local time
6:10 AM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Carbonville on Tuesday
Local time
6:10 AM
MDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
61°F
Fairview, UT
37 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This route is characterized by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll be making frequent adjustments rather than settling into a steady highway pace. While only 6% of the drive is on major highways, the majority unfolds on local roads, including significant portions of the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 58.3 miles on the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, offering a good opportunity to settle in before navigating back to more localized routes. The road's personality shifts as you progress, moving from more open highway segments to a more intricate, community-focused driving experience.
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 early in the drive near US 189 / North University Avenue.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 189 / North University Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 189): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.6 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Provo, UT to Carbonville, UT, road signs begin pointing toward Price along the way.
Price
Founded 1849
Provo, a city in the Wasatch Range region of the state of Utah in the United States of America, is known as a base for exploring the surrounding countryside and national parks. Approximately 90% of the residents are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormon), compared to about 65% of the state as a whole. It is also the location of Brigham Young University, an LDS-owned university; the public Utah Valley University is located in the adjacent city of Orem. Provo has a population of about 115,000 people, but the Provo-Orem metropolitan area that encompasses Utah Valley is home to over half a million people. Other cities in the valley are very accessible, especially Orem, which sits side-by-side with Provo. Because of Orem's proximity, visitors to Provo should also look at things to do in Orem, as well as places to eat and sleep, depending on their needs.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 73 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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