If you are planning a trip from Provo to River Heights, you are looking at a 124.5-mile journey through the Mountain West. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 20 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a straightforward day trip. You will primarily utilize the Veterans Memorial Highway and US 89 before finishing on 1100 South. With a fuel budget of roughly $20, it is an affordable excursion that stays within the state of Utah. Since the route is manageable in a single day, there is no need to worry about overnight accommodations. This drive offers a practical connection between these two regions, perfect for travelers who prefer efficiency over long-haul transit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
62.2 miles from Provo, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
95.8 mi
1h 41m
US 89
20.9 mi
25m
1100 South
4.5 mi
5m
West Center Street
1 mi
1m
100 North
0.5 mi
1m
I 15 Business
0.5 mi
<1m
700 South
0.3 mi
1m
Summerwild Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 95.8 mi, about 1h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Provo, UT and River Heights, UT.
1
Start on Center Street
21 ft·3 sec·Center Street
2
Turn right onto US 189
478 ft·18 sec·North University Avenue
3
Turn left onto 100 North
0.5 mi·1 min·100 North
4
Turn left onto US 89
475 ft·12 sec·North 500 West
5
Turn right onto SR 114
1.0 mi·1 min·West Center Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
6
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·36 sec·this road
Toward I 15 North: Salt Lake CityUse the left / straight lanes.
7
Merge onto I 15
58 mi·1 hr 2 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 15
38 mi·39 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto I 15 Business; I 84 Business
0.2 mi·21 sec·I 15 Business; I 84 Business
Toward US 91
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 15 Business; I 84 Business
0.3 mi·36 sec·I 15 Business; I 84 Business
11
Merge onto US 91; I 15 Bus; I 84 Bus
4.5 mi·5 min·1100 South
12
Continue on US 89; US 91
21 mi·25 min·US 89; US 91
13
Turn right onto 700 South
0.3 mi·1 min·700 South
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto Summerwild Avenue
0.3 mi·47 sec·Summerwild Avenue
15
Continue on 600 South
0.2 mi·41 sec·600 South
16
Arrive at destination
600 South
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 2-hour and 20-minute trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Because there are no designated stops required by the route data, you can easily complete the entire 124.5-mile stretch without needing to factor in lengthy breaks. Keep your $20 fuel budget in mind as you plan, and consider fueling up before hitting the longer 95.8-mile stretch on the Veterans Memorial Highway to ensure a smooth trip. Staying alert during the transition from major highways to the local roads near the end of your drive is the best way to navigate this route safely. Embracing the lack of required stops allows you to reach River Heights efficiently and on your own terms.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 62.2 miles from Provo, UT, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.8 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 27 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.2 miles or 1h 8m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near River Heights, UT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 124.5 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Provo, UT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Veterans Memorial Highway for about 95.8 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 123.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 189 / North University Avenue
Turn right onto US 189 / North University Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|SR 114 / West Center Street
Turn right onto SR 114 / West Center Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
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.
6
59.9 mi into trip|~1h 6m in|I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
123.7 mi into trip|~2h 18m in|700 South
Turn right onto 700 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.73 one way
$39.46 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$20.68
$41.36
premium
$4.53
$22.21
$44.42
diesel
$5.61
$27.49
$54.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.4
0
$13.07
$5.98
Efficient EV
31.1
0
$10.89
$4.98
EV Truck/SUV
49.8
0
$17.43
$7.97
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Provo, UT
Night
in Provo on Saturday
Local time
10:34 PM
MDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
River Heights, UT
Night
in River Heights on Saturday
Local time
10:34 PM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Farmington, UT
62 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
22 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
2h 20m on the road
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.
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
~17 min detour
$12
near mile 12.9
Caution: Tickets are required to enter Timpanogos Cave
One of the greatest technological achievements of the 19th century is the completion of the first transcontinental railroad across the United States. Visitors to the park can see the location of the L...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
$20
near mile 98.7
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 that requires your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While 17% of your travel occurs on highways, the vast majority of the experience involves transitioning between different road types. Your longest uninterrupted stretch is 95.8 miles on the Veterans Memorial Highway, where you can settle into a steady rhythm before navigating the more technical local sections. The character of the road shifts noticeably as you move away from the main highway and transition toward your final destination. Be prepared for a varied driving experience that transitions from high-speed highway segments to the more localized navigation required to reach River Heights.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 95.8 mi on Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 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.
Driving Effort6/10
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 124.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.7 miles (SR 114 / West Center Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 20m. Total distance: 124.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 95.8 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 17 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at River Heights, UT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. There are 17 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 189 / North University Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (SR 114 / West Center Street): 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 and Golden Spike National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at River Heights, UT before heading back.
