Traveling from Salt Lake City to Ivins covers 309.6 miles across the Mountain West, a trip that typically takes about 5 hours and 18 minutes of drive time. Because this route is a straightforward highway-focused push, it is easily manageable as a single-day journey for most drivers. You should budget approximately $49 for fuel to complete the trek. While you could break the trip up with an overnight stay, the direct nature of the path makes it a convenient run for those looking to reach Southern Utah quickly. Expect a consistent, efficient transit between these two points within the state.
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
154.8 miles from Salt Lake City, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 15 ALT
298.6 mi
4h 54m
Snow Canyon Parkway
4 mi
7m
Red Hills Parkway
3.4 mi
5m
Center Street
1.2 mi
2m
West Temple
0.6 mi
1m
I 15 BUS
0.4 mi
1m
State Street
0.3 mi
<1m
500 South
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 15 ALT
— 298.6 mi, about 4h 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salt Lake City, UT and Ivins, UT.
1
Start on Main Street
0.1 mi·36 sec·Main Street
2
Turn right onto 300 South
0.1 mi·37 sec·300 South
Use the right lane.
3
Turn right onto SR 186
0.3 mi·52 sec·State Street
4
Turn right onto SR 269
0.3 mi·49 sec·500 South
5
Turn left onto SR 270
0.6 mi·1 min·West Temple
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 15 ALT
299 mi·4 hr 54 min·I 15 ALT
Toward I 15 South, I 80 East: Las Vegas, CheyenneUse the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Take the exit onto I 15 BUS
0.4 mi·1 min·I 15 BUS
Exit 8Toward SR 34: Saint George BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
8
Turn right onto 1000 East
0.2 mi·31 sec·1000 East
Use the right lane.
9
Turn left onto Red Hills Parkway
3.4 mi·5 min·Red Hills Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Continue on Snow Canyon Parkway
3.2 mi·6 min·Snow Canyon Parkway
Use the straight lane.
11
Enter roundabout onto Snow Canyon Parkway
126 ft·7 sec·Snow Canyon Parkway
12
Continue on Snow Canyon Parkway
0.7 mi·1 min·Snow Canyon Parkway
13
Enter roundabout onto Center Street
122 ft·7 sec·Center Street
14
Continue on Center Street
1.2 mi·2 min·Center Street
15
Enter roundabout onto East Center Street
130 ft·7 sec·East Center Street
16
Continue on East Center Street
0.3 mi·34 sec·East Center Street
17
Turn right onto North Main Street
92 ft·4 sec·North Main Street
18
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
To keep your energy levels high, plan for at least one dedicated stop during the 309.6-mile journey to break up the monotony of the long interstate stretch. Since the route is highway-dominant, leaving early in the morning can help you avoid mid-day congestion and make better time. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you navigate the longest 298.6-mile segment, to ensure you don't run low between major service centers. Because the trip is well under six hours, you have the flexibility to reach Ivins by the afternoon even with a relaxed pace. Prioritize comfort, as the duration spent behind the wheel is significant for a single-day commitment.
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 154.8 miles from Salt Lake City, UT, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 298.6 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 68 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 154.8 miles or 2h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ivins, UT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Salt Lake City, 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 Salt Lake City, UT
This is one driving day of about 309.6 miles and 5h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Salt Lake City, 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 I 15 ALT for about 298.6 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 0.1 and 300.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|300 South
Turn right onto 300 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|SR 186 / State Street
Turn right onto SR 186 / State Street
Navigation decision point
8
1.5 mi into trip|~4m in|I 15 ALT
Keep slight right at fork onto I 15 ALT toward I 15 South, I 80 East: Las Vegas, Cheyenne
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 15 South, I 80 East: Las Vegas, Cheyen...
7
300.1 mi into trip|~4h 59m 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
6
300.7 mi into trip|~5h 1m in|Red Hills Parkway
Turn left onto Red Hills Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.06 one way
$98.12 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg108 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$51.43
$102.85
premium
$4.53
$55.23
$110.46
diesel
$5.61
$68.36
$136.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
92.9
1
$32.51
$14.86
Efficient EV
77.4
0
$27.09
$12.38
EV Truck/SUV
123.8
1
$43.34
$19.81
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 13, 2026
Origin
Salt Lake City, UT
Evening
in Salt Lake City on Saturday
Local time
7:30 PM
MDT
Current temp
38°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 6 mph89% chanceLive forecast
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 12 at 9:47PM MDT until April 14 at 3:00PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Destination
Ivins, UT
Evening
in Ivins on Saturday
Local time
7:30 PM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
SW 2 to 14 mph30% chanceLive forecast
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 12 at 9:47PM MDT until April 14 at 3:00PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
66°F
Nibley, UT
155 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
5h 18m 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.
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 32
Caution: Tickets are required to enter Timpanogos Cave
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 245.5
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...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
$35
near mile 277.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This journey is defined by a significant 99% highway share, making it a high-speed transit route rather than a winding scenic detour. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-15 ALT, which accounts for a substantial 298.6-mile stretch of the drive. The road maintains a steady, interstate-focused personality that favors efficiency over technical maneuvering. As you approach your destination, the character shifts slightly as you transition onto the Red Hills Parkway and Snow Canyon Parkway. Overall, you should prepare for a long, uninterrupted haul across the Utah landscape.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 298.6 mi on I 15 ALT.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 15 ALT and Snow Canyon Parkway. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 300 South.
Driving Effort5/10
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 309.6 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 0.1 miles (300 South): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (SR 186 / State Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (I 15 ALT): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Salt Lake City is the capital of, and largest city in, the U.S. state of Utah. It is a destination for outdoor recreation, with nearby mountains full of hiking trails and ski resorts made famous by the 2002 Winter Olympics. It is also well known as the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormon church). The city is set to host the Winter Olympics again in 2034.
Salt Lake City has about 200,000 residents within the city limits (2019), and is the downtown hub for a metro area of over a million people. It sits on the border between the Rocky Mountains and the Great Basin, lying in the Salt Lake Valley along the Wasatch Range urban corridor, sandwiched between the Wasatch Mountains to the east and the Oquirrh Mountains and the Great Salt Lake to the west.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 18m. Total distance: 309.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 298.6 miles on I 15 ALT. 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (300 South): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (SR 186 / State Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (I 15 ALT): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Cedar Breaks National Monument and Zion National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Ivins, UT before the return drive.
