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 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 25m
Distance
132 mi
212 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
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
Monroe, UT
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning a trip from Provo to Monroe, you are looking at a 132-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 25 minutes. This Mountain West route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you can easily complete the round trip without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $21 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating this path involves utilizing Veterans Memorial Highway, State Street, and I-70 to reach your destination. Because the trip is relatively short, it offers great flexibility for those who want to get on the road and arrive at their destination quickly. It is a straightforward trek that keeps you within the state of Utah the entire time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
66 miles from Provo, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Memorial Highway | 74 mi | 1h 12m |
| State Street | 24.4 mi | 29m |
| I 70 | 16.5 mi | 15m |
| Main Street | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| SR 118 | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| SR 24 | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| North University Avenue | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| West Main Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Provo, UT and Monroe, 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
Turn left onto US 50
Turn right onto US 50
Turn right onto SR 260
At end of road, turn right onto SR 24
Turn right onto SR 259
Take the exit
Merge onto I 70; US 89
Take the exit
Turn left onto SR 258
Continue on SR 258
Turn right onto West 3000 North
Turn right onto SR 118
Turn left onto East 100 South
Arrive at destination
Since this is a manageable 2-hour and 25-minute drive, you have the advantage of being able to leave whenever fits your schedule best. With no mandatory stops built into the data, you can move at your own pace, though it is smart to account for the turn-heavy nature of the route when timing your departure. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before heading out, as the $21 estimated cost is based on current projections and can fluctuate. Given that the route consists of a significant amount of local road travel, plan to stay focused on the road rather than relying on cruise control. Prioritize a steady pace through the 74-mile stretch of Veterans Memorial Highway to ensure you maintain a comfortable rhythm before reaching the more technical sections.
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 29 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66 miles or 1h 7m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Monroe, UT than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Provo, 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 Provo, UT
This is one driving day of about 132 miles and 2h 25m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
66 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 66 miles from Provo, UT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Veterans Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 74 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
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 start, right off the route
Provo, Utah
Near the end, short detour
Richfield, Utah
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Scipio, Utah
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18336322778
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Richfield, Utah
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Richfield, Utah
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18336322778
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Nephi, Utah
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Provo, Utah
+18013774700
Visit websiteNear the end, ~11 min detour
Richfield, Utah
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 109.1 — 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
Turn right onto US 50 / State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 70 West: Richfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Regular Gas
$20.92 one way
$41.83 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $21.93 | $43.85 |
| premium | $4.53 | $23.55 | $47.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.14 | $58.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.6 | 0 | $13.86 | $6.34 |
| Efficient EV | 33 | 0 | $11.55 | $5.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.8 | 0 | $18.48 | $8.45 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Provo on Sunday
Local time
1:54 AM
MDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Monroe on Sunday
Local time
1:54 AM
MDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
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
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While you will spend a portion of your time on major roads, the highway share is only 19%, highlighting the local character of this transition. You will spend the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 74 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway before the route shifts gears. The nature of the road changes as you move through the region, requiring you to stay alert through the various turns. It is a drive that rewards those who enjoy navigating local roads rather than just mindlessly tracking miles on a massive highway.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 189 / North University Avenue.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 132 miles you will encounter 16 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.
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
Total Climb
2,072 ft
Total Descent
1,238 ft
Highest Point
6,182 ft
~94.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,629 ft
Notable High Points
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 25m. Total distance: 132 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 25m 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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