If you are planning a trip from Salt Lake City to Manti, you are looking at a manageable 124.2-mile journey through the Mountain West. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 25 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a straightforward day trip. You will primarily navigate via I-15 ALT and US-89, keeping the transit time efficient. With a fuel budget of approximately $20, it is an accessible excursion for most travelers. Because the drive is relatively short, you can easily complete the round trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. It serves as a practical connection between these two Utah hubs, offering a consistent driving experience across the region.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
62.1 miles from Salt Lake City, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 15 ALT
81.9 mi
1h 24m
100 North
20.9 mi
28m
US 89
11.6 mi
16m
15950 North
6.9 mi
8m
Main Street
0.8 mi
2m
West Temple
0.6 mi
1m
400 East
0.4 mi
<1m
State Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 15 ALT
— 81.9 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salt Lake City, UT and Manti, 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
82 mi·1 hr 24 min·I 15 ALT
Toward I 15 South, I 80 East: Las Vegas, CheyenneUse the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 225Toward SR 132
8
Turn sharp left onto SR 132
21 mi·28 min·100 North
9
Continue on SR 132
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
10
Turn right onto SR 132
0.4 mi·54 sec·400 East
11
Continue on SR 132
6.9 mi·8 min·15950 North
12
Turn right onto US 89
12 mi·16 min·US 89
13
Turn left onto 200 North
41 ft·1 sec·200 North
14
Arrive at destination
200 North
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 2-hour and 25-minute transit, aim to depart outside of peak traffic hours to ensure a smoother exit from Salt Lake City. Since the entire route is under 130 miles, you have the flexibility to reach Manti without the need for rigorous stop-planning. Keep your fuel budget of $20 in mind when filling up, as prices can fluctuate between urban and rural segments. Since you will be spending the majority of your time on highways, ensure your vehicle is ready for sustained speeds during that 81.9-mile stretch on I-15 ALT. Staying alert during the transition from the high-speed interstate to the secondary roads of US-89 will help you navigate the final leg of your journey safely.
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 62.1 miles from Salt Lake City, UT, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.9 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 62.1 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manti, 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 124.2 miles and 2h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Salt Lake City, UT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 15 ALT for about 81.9 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 83.7 — 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...
5
83.4 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward SR 132
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 225
Toward SR 132
5
83.7 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|SR 132 / 100 North
Turn sharp left onto SR 132 / 100 North
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.68 one way
$39.36 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$20.63
$41.26
premium
$4.53
$22.16
$44.31
diesel
$5.61
$27.42
$54.84
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: 43.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.3
0
$13.04
$5.96
Efficient EV
31.1
0
$10.87
$4.97
EV Truck/SUV
49.7
0
$17.39
$7.95
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (65% 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
Salt Lake City, UT
Night
in Salt Lake City on Saturday
Local time
9:10 PM
MDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Manti, UT
Night
in Manti on Saturday
Local time
9:10 PM
MDT
Current temp
71°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
23 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
2h 25m 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
~18 min detour
$12
near mile 34.3
Caution: Tickets are required to enter Timpanogos Cave
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 75% of your time spent on major routes. You will settle into a steady rhythm early on, as your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 81.9 miles along I-15 ALT. As you transition off the interstate and onto US-89, the character of the road shifts, requiring more focused attention on local driving conditions. The route balances fast-paced highway travel with slower segments as you approach your destination. You can anticipate a predictable drive that keeps you moving consistently toward the heart of central Utah.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81.9 mi on I 15 ALT.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 15 ALT and 100 North. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 300 South.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 25m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
The longest stretch is about 81.9 miles on I 15 ALT. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: 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. 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 Manti, UT before heading back.
