Traveling from Salt Lake City to Moab covers 233.9 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 35 minutes to complete. Because this journey stays entirely within the Mountain West region of Utah, you will experience a consistent high-desert atmosphere throughout the drive. While the route is feasible as a single-day trip, budgeting for one stop is recommended to break up the travel time comfortably. You should anticipate spending roughly $37 on fuel for the trip, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Since it is a straightforward drive, it works well for travelers looking to reach the red rock country without an extensive multi-day commitment. Planning for a single day of travel allows you to maximize your time once you arrive at 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
116.9 miles from Salt Lake City, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Toward Arches, Dead Horse Point, CanyonlandsUse the left lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 191
2.1 mi·3 min·Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
20
Turn straight onto US 191
2.5 mi·5 min·Main Street
21
Turn left onto Center Street
311 ft·20 sec·Center Street
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on Center Street
81 ft·8 sec·Center Street
23
Arrive at destination
Center Street
Trip Plan
To ensure a smooth trip, aim to depart early to manage the 233.9-mile distance before the heat of the day sets in. While the route is relatively quick, planning for at least one dedicated stop is a smart way to stay alert behind the wheel. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition onto the longer stretches of the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway where services may be more spaced out. Since you are only committing to one day of driving, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace based on traffic or weather conditions. Given the 146.1-mile longest stretch, try to time your fuel and rest break right before or after this segment to keep your drive stress-free.
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 116.9 miles from Salt Lake City, UT, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 146.1 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 51 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.9 miles or 2h 18m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Moab, UT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Salt Lake City, UT so your first major turns are already loaded.
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Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
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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 233.9 miles and 4h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 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 Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway for about 146.1 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 0.1 and 202.3 — 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.
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...
8
50.6 mi into trip|~57m in
Take the exit toward US 6 East, SR 156: Spanish Fork, Main Street, Price
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 257B-A
Toward US 6 East, SR 156: Spanish Fork, Main St...
8
51 mi into trip|~58m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 6 East: Price
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Exit 257B
Toward US 6 East: Price
8
202.3 mi into trip|~3h 55m in|US 191
Keep slight right at fork onto US 191 toward Arches, Dead Horse Point, Canyonlands
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Arches, Dead Horse Point, Canyonlands
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.06 one way
$74.13 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$38.85
$77.70
premium
$4.53
$41.72
$83.45
diesel
$5.61
$51.64
$103.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.2
0
$24.56
$11.23
Efficient EV
58.5
0
$20.47
$9.36
EV Truck/SUV
93.6
1
$32.75
$14.97
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% 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 Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Salt Lake City, UT
Night
in Salt Lake City on Saturday
Local time
10:40 PM
MDT
Current temp
38°F
Partly Cloudy
N 3 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 13 at 10:28PM MDT until April 15 at 9:00AM MDT by NWS Grand Junction CO
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 13 at 10:26PM MDT until April 14 at 3:00PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Destination
Moab, UT
Night
in Moab on Saturday
Local time
10:40 PM
MDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
71°F
Fairview, UT
117 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
41 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 35m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed driving profile, combining high-speed interstates with stretches of more focused highway travel. You will navigate via I-15 ALT, US 191, and the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, which accounts for the majority of the journey. About 34% of your time will be spent on highways, providing a balance between efficiency and local transit. The most significant portion of the trip is the 146.1-mile stretch along the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, which serves as the longest uninterrupted segment of your drive. Expect the road character to shift as you move from the urban environment of Salt Lake City toward the distinct terrain found along the US 191 corridor.
34% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 146.1 mi on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 0.1 miles in near 300 South.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 233.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (300 South): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (I 15 ALT): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
7,119 ft4,031 ft
Total Climb
3,089 ft
Total Descent
3,322 ft
Highest Point
7,119 ft
~100.2 mi in
Elevation Range
3,088 ft
Notable High Points
4,527 ft at ~33.4 miles+1 ft prominence
7,119 ft at ~100.2 miles+559 ft prominence
4,795 ft at ~200.5 miles+233 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Salt Lake City, UT and Moab, UT, road signs point toward Price, Arches, Dead Horse Point and Canyonlands.
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 4h 35m. Total distance: 233.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 146.1 miles on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric 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.
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 Moab, 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. 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 1.5 miles (I 15 ALT): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Moab, UT, but most travelers stay overnight.
