Provo, UT to Santa Clara, UT is 263.1 miles and takes about 4h 27m via Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, taking you from Utah's interior to its southwestern corner. You'll primarily be on surface roads for much of this drive, so expect a more local feel than a pure interstate cruise. It's a manageable distance for a single day, allowing for a relaxed pace and plenty of time to reach your destination.
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
131.6 miles from Provo, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
254.1 mi
4h 6m
I 15 BUS
2.2 mi
5m
West Sunset Boulevard
2 mi
3m
North University Avenue
1.7 mi
4m
Santa Clara Drive
1.1 mi
2m
Bluff Street
1 mi
1m
US 189
0.9 mi
2m
Center Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 254.1 mi, about 4h 6m
Traffic on I-15
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 194 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,707 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,341
Quietest
2 AM
~150 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 79 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 Provo, UT and Santa Clara, 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
Continue on US 189
1.6 mi·3 min·North University Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Take the exit onto US 189
0.9 mi·2 min·US 189
Toward I 15 South: Las Vegas, Lakeview ParkwayUse the straight / right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 15
254 mi·4 hr 6 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto I 15 BUS
2.2 mi·5 min·I 15 BUS
Exit 8Toward SR 34: Saint George BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
7
Turn slight right
213 ft·7 sec
Use the right lane.
8
Turn straight onto SR 18
1.0 mi·1 min·Bluff Street
Use the right lane.
9
Continue on SR 8
2.0 mi·3 min·West Sunset Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on Santa Clara Drive
1.1 mi·2 min·Santa Clara Drive
Use the straight lane.
11
Arrive at destination
Santa Clara Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 27m estimated drive time, departing from Provo in the morning will give you ample daylight to complete the 263.1-mile trip to Santa Clara. With only one planned stop, consider making it a refueling point and a chance to stretch your legs about halfway through. The fuel cost is estimated at $40, so be sure to factor that into your budget. Since this is a single-day drive, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time slightly if needed, but an early start is always recommended to avoid any unexpected delays.
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 131.6 miles from Provo, UT, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 254.1 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 58 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.6 miles or 2h 11m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Santa Clara, 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 263.1 miles and 4h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Provo, 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 254.1 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 256.7 — 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
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 189 / North University Avenue
Continue onto US 189 / North University Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
1.7 mi into trip|~4m in|US 189
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
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 15 South: Las Vegas, Lakeview Parkway
5
2.6 mi into trip|~6m 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
256.7 mi into trip|~4h 13m in|I 15 BUS
Take the exit onto I 15 BUS toward SR 34: Saint George Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8
Toward SR 34: Saint George Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.70 one way
$95.40 round trip
$4.61/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$49.97
$99.94
premium
$5.13
$53.12
$106.23
diesel
$6.28
$65.01
$130.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.9
0
$27.63
$12.63
Efficient EV
65.8
0
$23.02
$10.52
EV Truck/SUV
105.2
1
$36.83
$16.84
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Provo, UT
Late night
in Provo on Thursday
Local time
4:53 AM
MDT
Current temp
47°F
Mostly Clear
ESE 3 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Santa Clara, UT
Late night
in Santa Clara on Thursday
Local time
4:53 AM
MDT
Current temp
55°F
Partly Cloudy
ENE 1 mph2% chanceLive forecast
63°F
Beaver, UT
132 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
8 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 27m 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.
Cedar Breaks National Monument
National Monument
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
$10
near mile 199.6
Caution: Notice of Stage II Fire Restriction Order in Effect
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...
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...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
$35
near mile 235.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend most of your time on surface roads, with Veterans Memorial Highway accounting for the longest stretch at 254.1 miles. The highway portion is followed by I 15 BUS and West Sunset Boulevard, indicating a transition into more developed or urban areas closer to your destination. This suggests the initial part of your drive will be more rural or suburban, shifting to more frequent intersections and traffic as you approach Santa Clara.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 254.1 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 US 189 / North University Avenue.
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 27m drive. You will face about 7 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 (US 189 / North University Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 189 / North University Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; 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.
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
•Brigham Young University Museum of Art — art museum in Provo, Utah, United States
•Provo City Center Temple — temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Provo, Utah, United...
•Hotel Roberts — former hotel in Provo, Utah, United States
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 254.1 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: near the start (US 189 / North University Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 189 / North University Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Yes — Cedar Breaks National Monument, Timpanogos Cave National Monument and Zion National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Santa Clara, UT, but most travelers stay overnight.
