This 88.4-mile drive from River Heights to West Valley City, Utah, is easily manageable in a single day, taking approximately 1 hour and 44 minutes. The route primarily utilizes Veterans Memorial Highway, US 89, and Legacy Parkway, offering a mixed driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $14, this trip is quite budget-friendly for a day excursion within the Mountain West region. It's a straightforward journey that doesn't require an overnight stop, making it a convenient option for a quick trip between these two Utah locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.2 miles from River Heights, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
37.1 mi
38m
US 89
25.6 mi
31m
Legacy Parkway
11.4 mi
13m
Belt Route
9 mi
9m
3500 South
2.3 mi
4m
I 15 Business
0.4 mi
<1m
700 South
0.3 mi
1m
3650 South
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 37.1 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between River Heights, UT and West Valley City, UT.
1
Start on 600 South
0.2 mi·43 sec·600 South
2
Continue on Summerwild Avenue
0.3 mi·45 sec·Summerwild Avenue
3
Turn right onto 700 South
0.3 mi·1 min·700 South
4
Turn left onto US 89; US 91
489 ft·11 sec·Main Street
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 89; US 91
26 mi·31 min·US 89; US 91
Use the slight right lane.
6
Take the exit onto I 15 Business; I 84 Business
0.4 mi·40 sec·I 15 Business; I 84 Business
7
Merge onto I 15; I 84
21 mi·21 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 15
16 mi·17 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi·54 sec
Exit 324Toward Legacy ParkwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on SR 67
11 mi·13 min·Legacy Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 215
9.0 mi·9 min·Belt Route
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 18Toward SR 171: 3500 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto SR 171
2.3 mi·4 min·3500 South
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto 4400 West
0.2 mi·32 sec·4400 West
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto 3650 South
0.3 mi·54 sec·3650 South
16
Turn left onto Atlas Way
464 ft·16 sec·Atlas Way
17
Arrive at destination
Atlas Way
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 1 hour and 44 minute duration and 88.4-mile distance, this trip offers great flexibility. You can easily depart at your leisure, though an early morning start will help you avoid any potential midday traffic. With no designated stops in the data, consider breaking up your drive with a brief rest as needed, especially during the 37.1-mile stretch on Veterans Memorial Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $14, and plan your refueling accordingly before you depart or during a convenient pause.
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 44.2 miles from River Heights, UT, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.1 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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.2 miles or 52m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Valley City, UT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving River Heights, UT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from River Heights, UT
This is one driving day of about 88.4 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from River Heights, 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 37.1 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 87.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|US 89; US 91
Keep slight right at fork onto US 89; US 91
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
47.7 mi into trip|~56m 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.
7
64.1 mi into trip|~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward Legacy Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 324
Toward Legacy Parkway
7
85.3 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward SR 171: 3500 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 18
Toward SR 171: 3500 South
6
87.8 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|4400 West
Turn left onto 4400 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.01 one way
$28.02 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$14.68
$29.37
premium
$4.53
$15.77
$31.54
diesel
$5.61
$19.52
$39.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.5
0
$9.28
$4.24
Efficient EV
22.1
0
$7.74
$3.54
EV Truck/SUV
35.4
0
$12.38
$5.66
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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
River Heights, UT
Night
in River Heights on Saturday
Local time
10:43 PM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West Valley City, UT
Night
in West Valley City on Saturday
Local time
10:43 PM
MDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
6 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
1h 44m 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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
$12
near mile 85.4
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...
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
$20
near mile 27.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 42% of the journey taking place on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 37.1 miles along Veterans Memorial Highway, offering a solid period of uninterrupted travel. The road's character shifts as you progress, moving from highway segments to other main roads, providing a varied driving experience rather than a monotonous interstate crawl. This blend means you'll experience different road types and speeds throughout the 1 hour and 44 minute trip.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.1 mi on Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near US 89; US 91.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 88.4 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 0.9 miles (US 89; US 91): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.7 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 88.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.1 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 West Valley City, UT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (US 89; US 91): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.7 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 West Valley City, UT before heading back.
