Spanning 297.5 miles across Utah, this trip from Sandy to Ivins typically takes about 5 hours and 3 minutes of drive time. Because it is a manageable distance for a single day, you can easily complete the journey in one go, though you should budget approximately $47 for fuel. You will transition through the Mountain West as you head south, moving from the Sandy area toward the red rock landscape of Ivins. While the trip is straightforward, it is best approached as a full-day commitment to ensure you arrive refreshed. Factor in at least one stop to break up the drive, as the shift from northern to southern Utah environments makes for a long but rewarding travel day.
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
148.7 miles from Sandy, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
286.5 mi
4h 41m
Snow Canyon Parkway
4 mi
7m
Red Hills Parkway
3.4 mi
5m
Center Street
1.2 mi
2m
9000 South
0.5 mi
<1m
I 15 BUS
0.4 mi
1m
8800 South
0.4 mi
1m
East Center Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 286.5 mi, about 4h 41m
Traffic on I-15
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 227 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,083 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~241 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sandy, UT and Ivins, UT.
1
Start on 8800 South
0.4 mi·1 min·8800 South
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 89
0.2 mi·26 sec·State Street
3
Turn right onto SR 209
0.5 mi·58 sec·9000 South
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·56 sec
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 15
287 mi·4 hr 41 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
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.
7
Turn right onto 1000 East
0.2 mi·31 sec·1000 East
Use the right lane.
8
Turn left onto Red Hills Parkway
3.4 mi·5 min·Red Hills Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Continue on Snow Canyon Parkway
3.2 mi·6 min·Snow Canyon Parkway
Use the straight lane.
10
Enter roundabout onto Snow Canyon Parkway
126 ft·7 sec·Snow Canyon Parkway
11
Continue on Snow Canyon Parkway
0.7 mi·1 min·Snow Canyon Parkway
12
Enter roundabout onto Center Street
122 ft·7 sec·Center Street
13
Continue on Center Street
1.2 mi·2 min·Center Street
14
Enter roundabout onto East Center Street
130 ft·7 sec·East Center Street
15
Continue on East Center Street
0.3 mi·34 sec·East Center Street
16
Turn right onto North Main Street
92 ft·4 sec·North Main Street
17
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 5-hour drive, try to depart early in the morning to beat potential traffic and ensure you reach Ivins with plenty of daylight for settling in. Since the route includes one recommended stop, plan to stretch your legs around the midpoint to stay energized during the lengthy 286.5-mile highway segment. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $47 estimate can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency and current regional pricing. Because this is a turn-heavy route once you reach the local roads, keep your GPS handy for navigating the final transition onto Snow Canyon Parkway. Flexibility is your best asset here; by planning your one major stop strategically, you can manage the fatigue of this long-distance Utah trek effectively.
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 148.7 miles from Sandy, UT, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 286.5 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 65 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.7 miles or 2h 28m 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 1m
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 Sandy, 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, UT
This is one driving day of about 297.5 miles and 5h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Sandy, 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 286.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 288.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|US 89 / State Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 89 / State Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|SR 209 / 9000 South
Turn right onto SR 209 / 9000 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
1.5 mi into trip|~3m 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.
7
288 mi into trip|~4h 45m 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
288.6 mi into trip|~4h 46m in|Red Hills Parkway
Turn left onto Red Hills Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.37 one way
$92.74 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$48.88
$97.75
premium
$4.47
$52.40
$104.80
diesel
$4.80
$56.17
$112.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89.3
1
$31.24
$14.28
Efficient EV
74.4
0
$26.03
$11.90
EV Truck/SUV
119
1
$41.65
$19.04
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Sandy, UT
Late night
in Sandy on Sunday
Local time
1:04 AM
MDT
Current temp
95°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
WNW 5 mph61% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 3:38PM MDT until July 17 at 6:45PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 3:14PM MDT until July 17 at 5:15PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Destination
Ivins, UT
Late night
in Ivins on Sunday
Local time
1:04 AM
MDT
Current temp
95°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 6 mph27% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 3:38PM MDT until July 17 at 6:45PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 3:14PM MDT until July 17 at 5:15PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
57°F
Beaver, UT
149 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
$12
near mile 20.5
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
~33 min detour
$10
near mile 225.7
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...
15 mi from route
~36 min detour
$35
near mile 266.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip dominated by a significant 286.5-mile stretch on Veterans Memorial Highway, which provides the bulk of your travel time. While high-speed transit makes up the majority of the route, the drive transitions into a turn-heavy local experience as you navigate toward your destination. Only about 3% of your journey is spent on major highways, meaning you will spend the final leg adjusting to local roads like Red Hills Parkway and Snow Canyon Parkway. This contrast between the long, sustained highway push and the technical local driving requires you to stay alert behind the wheel. Prepare for a shift in pace once you exit the main interstate system and enter the winding, lower-speed local corridors.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 286.5 mi on Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 0.4 miles in near US 89 / State Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 3m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 89 / State Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (SR 209 / 9000 South): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
6,243 ft3,080 ft
Total Climb
2,290 ft
Total Descent
3,676 ft
Highest Point
6,243 ft
~170 mi in
Elevation Range
3,163 ft
Notable High Points
5,347 ft at ~85 miles+27 ft prominence
6,243 ft at ~170 miles+156 ft prominence
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 286.5 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 89 / State Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (SR 209 / 9000 South): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 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.
