Sandy Hills, UT to Blanding, UT is 297.3 miles and takes about 5h 57m via Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, with a fuel budget near $53 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region of Utah, offering a single-day adventure. You'll be spending most of your time on surface roads, so expect a more relaxed pace than a pure interstate drive. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 146.1 miles, this route is manageable for a single day of driving.
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
148.6 miles from Sandy Hills, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 58m into the drive
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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
77 mi·1 hr 36 min·Main Street
21
Continue on US 191
0.2 mi·40 sec·East Center Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
22
Turn left onto South 100 West
389 ft·17 sec·South 100 West
23
Arrive at destination
South 100 West
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 57m estimated drive time, leaving Sandy Hills in the morning is your best bet to complete this trip within daylight hours. Plan for one stop to break up the 297.3 miles, especially since the longest stretch without a stop is 146.1 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $53, and services might be less frequent on the predominantly surface road sections. Enjoy the flexibility a single-day drive like this offers; you can adjust your pace as needed.
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 148.6 miles from Sandy Hills, UT, or about 2h 58m 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 65 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.6 miles or 2h 58m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blanding, UT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Sandy Hills, 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 Sandy Hills, UT
This is one driving day of about 297.3 miles and 5h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Sandy Hills, 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 191.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Silvercrest Drive
Turn left onto Silvercrest Drive
Navigation decision point
8
39.4 mi into trip|~47m 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
39.8 mi into trip|~47m 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
6
190.8 mi into trip|~3h 44m in|US 191
Take the exit onto US 191 toward US 191: Crescent Junction, Moab
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 182
Toward US 191: Crescent Junction, Moab
8
191.1 mi into trip|~3h 45m 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
$53.55 one way
$107.10 round trip
$4.58/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.78
$55.93
$111.85
premium
$5.11
$59.76
$119.53
diesel
$6.18
$72.32
$144.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89.2
1
$31.22
$14.27
Efficient EV
74.3
0
$26.01
$11.89
EV Truck/SUV
118.9
1
$41.62
$19.03
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Sandy Hills, UT
Late night
in Sandy Hills on Saturday
Local time
4:57 AM
MDT
Current temp
45°F
Mostly Clear
E 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Blanding, UT
Late night
in Blanding on Saturday
Local time
4:57 AM
MDT
Current temp
40°F
Clear
NE 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 57m 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 20.5
Park Closure: Trail Closure - Rock Fall
Caution: Tickets are required to enter Timpanogos Cave
Discover a landscape of contrasting colors, land forms, and textures unlike any other. The park has over 2,000 natural stone arches, hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive rock fins, and giant balance...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
$30
near mile 215.3
Canyonlands is a wilderness of canyons, buttes, and spires carved by the Colorado River and Green River. The park is divided into four distinct districts; no roads join them together. The districts sh...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
$30
near mile 235.8
Three majestic natural bridges invite you to ponder the power of water in a landscape usually defined by its absence. View them from an overlook, or hit the trails and experience their grandeur from b...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
$20
near mile 297.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily on surface roads, accounting for 90% of the route. You'll encounter about 10% highway driving, which concludes relatively early in your trip. The longest continuous stretch you'll navigate is 146.1 miles along Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway. Expect a consistent, rural cruising feel for the majority of the 5h 57m duration.
Only 10% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
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?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 Silvercrest Drive.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 297.3 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 (Silvercrest Drive): Navigation decision point; at 39.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
7,201 ft4,107 ft
Total Climb
5,930 ft
Total Descent
4,578 ft
Highest Point
7,201 ft
~84.9 mi in
Elevation Range
3,094 ft
Notable High Points
7,201 ft at ~84.9 miles+1,354 ft prominence
4,879 ft at ~191.1 miles+320 ft prominence
7,065 ft at ~276 miles+953 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sandy Hills, UT and Blanding, UT, road signs point toward Price, Moab, Arches, Dead Horse Point and Canyonlands.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 57m. Total distance: 297.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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 Blanding, 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 (Silvercrest Drive): Navigation decision point; at 39.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 11.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Blanding, UT before the return drive.
