This 239.2-mile journey from Sandy Hills to Cedar City, Utah, is a manageable one-day trip, estimated to take around 4 hours and 3 minutes. You'll primarily navigate local roads like Veterans Memorial Highway and North Main Street, with a significant 229.5-mile stretch on Veterans Memorial Highway. Given the estimated fuel cost of $38, it’s an economical option for exploring the Mountain West region. The route is characterized by frequent turns, suggesting a more engaged driving experience rather than a straight highway cruise. Plan for about one stop along the way to break up the drive.
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
119.6 miles from Sandy Hills, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
229.5 mi
3h 46m
North Main Street
3.9 mi
6m
1300 East
2.6 mi
4m
11400 South
2.2 mi
4m
Silvercrest Drive
<0.1 mi
<1m
Sandy Hills Drive
<0.1 mi
<1m
Main Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 229.5 mi, about 3h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sandy Hills, UT and Cedar City, UT.
1
Start on Sandy Hills Drive
485 ft·22 sec·Sandy Hills Drive
2
Turn left onto Silvercrest Drive
516 ft·19 sec·Silvercrest Drive
3
Turn left onto 1300 East
2.6 mi·4 min·1300 East
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto 11400 South
2.2 mi·4 min·11400 South
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward I 15 SouthUse the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 15
230 mi·3 hr 46 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·51 sec
Exit 62Toward SR 130: Enoch
8
Turn left onto I 15 Bus; SR 130
3.9 mi·6 min·North Main Street
9
Arrive at destination
I 15 Bus; SR 130
Trip Plan
With a total duration of 4 hours and 3 minutes, this drive is well-suited for a single day, and you have the flexibility to depart when it suits you best. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid any early rush hour traffic in Sandy Hills and to arrive in Cedar City with ample daylight. Your fuel cost is estimated at a modest $38, so ensure your tank is full before you depart, as dedicated services might be spaced out on the local roads. Keep an eye on your GPS for the numerous turns, especially the extended 229.5-mile stretch on Veterans Memorial Highway, to stay on track.
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 119.6 miles from Sandy Hills, UT, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 229.5 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 53 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.6 miles or 2h 3m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cedar City, UT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sandy Hills, 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 Sandy Hills, UT
This is one driving day of about 239.2 miles and 4h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 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 Veterans Memorial Highway for about 229.5 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 234.9 — 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
5
2.8 mi into trip|~5m in|11400 South
Turn right onto 11400 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
5 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the ramp toward I 15 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 15 South
5
5.4 mi into trip|~10m in|I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
234.9 mi into trip|~3h 56m in
Take the exit toward SR 130: Enoch
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 62
Toward SR 130: Enoch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.90 one way
$75.81 round trip
$4.03/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$39.73
$79.46
premium
$4.53
$42.67
$85.34
diesel
$5.61
$52.81
$105.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.7 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
71.8
0
$25.12
$11.48
Efficient EV
59.8
0
$20.93
$9.57
EV Truck/SUV
95.7
1
$33.49
$15.31
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 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
Sandy Hills, UT
Late night
in Sandy Hills on Sunday
Local time
2:03 AM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cedar City, UT
Late night
in Cedar City on Sunday
Local time
2:03 AM
MDT
Current temp
62°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
18 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 3m 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...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
$12
near mile 24.7
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
$10
near mile 239.2
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...
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
$35
near mile 239.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 239.2-mile route, as indicated by its 0% highway share. The majority of your time will be spent on Veterans Memorial Highway, including a substantial 229.5-mile segment, which means you'll likely experience a more varied road profile. This isn't a monotonous interstate cruise; instead, be prepared for a dynamic driving experience with frequent changes in direction. The extended time on a single main road, Veterans Memorial Highway, suggests a consistent, though not necessarily fast, pace.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 229.5 mi on Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Silvercrest Drive.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 3m drive. You will face about 7 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 (Silvercrest Drive): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (11400 South): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Cedar City is a small city in Dixie, Utah, and is a good place to stock up on supplies before heading into beautiful wilderness areas stretching out in all directions. The city is sandwiched between mountain ranges covered by Dixie National Forest, while further to the southwest lie the remotest areas of Zion National Park, and to the east Cedar Breaks National Monument and Bryce Canyon National Park.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 229.5 miles on Veterans Memorial 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.
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 (Silvercrest Drive): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (11400 South): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Cedar City, UT, but most travelers stay overnight.
