Sandy, UT to Washington, UT is 285.7 miles and takes about 4h 44m via Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Mountain West region, traversing Utah for its entirety. Expect a route that primarily uses surface roads, offering a more local feel compared to interstate travel. With only one recommended stop and a single day's drive, this trip is ideal for those seeking an efficient and straightforward journey between these two Utah locations.
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
142.8 miles from Sandy, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
283 mi
4h 37m
North Main Street
0.6 mi
1m
9000 South
0.5 mi
<1m
8800 South
0.4 mi
1m
State Street
0.2 mi
<1m
East Telegraph Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
North 100 East
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 283 mi, about 4h 37m
Traffic on I-15
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 221 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,185 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~243 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21.3×
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 Washington, 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
283 mi·4 hr 37 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
7
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.6 mi·1 min·North Main Street
8
Turn left onto East Telegraph Street
526 ft·23 sec·East Telegraph Street
9
Turn left onto North 100 East
135 ft·10 sec·North 100 East
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left
49 ft·9 sec
11
Turn left
21 ft·1 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 44m duration and 285.7-mile length, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and allow ample time for any unscheduled stops. The fuel cost is estimated at $51, so ensure your tank is full before leaving Sandy, UT. With the drive predominantly on surface roads, keep an eye out for speed limit changes and local traffic patterns, especially as you approach and pass through towns. Plan for one stop to break up the drive, perhaps around the halfway point.
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 142.8 miles from Sandy, UT, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 283 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 63 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.8 miles or 2h 22m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Washington, 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 285.7 miles and 4h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 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 283 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 0.4 and 285.6 — 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
285.6 mi into trip|~4h 44m in|North 100 East
Turn left onto North 100 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
285.6 mi into trip|~4h 44m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.53 one way
$89.06 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$46.94
$93.88
premium
$4.47
$50.32
$100.65
diesel
$4.80
$53.95
$107.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.7
1
$30.00
$13.71
Efficient EV
71.4
0
$25.00
$11.43
EV Truck/SUV
114.3
1
$40.00
$18.28
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Sandy, UT
Night
in Sandy on Saturday
Local time
10:19 PM
MDT
Current temp
69°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
SSE 5 mph25% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 6:53PM MDT until July 17 at 10:00PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 5:58PM MDT until July 17 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Destination
Washington, UT
Night
in Washington on Saturday
Local time
10:19 PM
MDT
Current temp
78°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
E 2 to 7 mph50% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 6:53PM MDT until July 17 at 10:00PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 5:58PM MDT until July 17 at 9:00PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
89°F
Nibley, UT
143 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
9 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 44m 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 19.7
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
$10
near mile 226.6
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route covers 285.7 miles, with the longest stretch of 283 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. You'll begin on Veterans Memorial Highway before transitioning to surface roads like North Main Street and 9000 South. Since the highway share is 0%, be prepared for a drive entirely on surface streets and local roads. Expect frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds as you navigate through towns and populated areas.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 283 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 0.4 miles in near US 89 / State Street.
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 44m 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 0.4 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.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 283 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.
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 0.4 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Washington, UT, but most travelers stay overnight.
