Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
28.1 mi
45 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Vernal, UT
Wikimedia Commons
Whiterocks, UT
Hao Ma
Vernal, UT to Whiterocks, UT is 28.1 miles and takes about 46m via West 500 North, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within Utah and the Mountain West region. Expect a local feel with plenty of turns, making it a good option for a quick excursion rather than an all-day adventure. It's a straightforward trip if you're looking for a brief journey between two points in the area.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 500 North | 14.8 mi | 21m |
| 7000 North | 6.2 mi | 10m |
| White Rocks Highway | 2.6 mi | 6m |
| 4500 East | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Ute Highway | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North 500 West | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Vernal, UT and Whiterocks, UT.
Start on South Vernal Avenue
Turn left onto US 40; US 191
Turn right onto SR 121
Continue on SR 121
Continue on SR 121
Continue on SR 121
Continue on SR 121
Turn right onto SR 121
Continue on White Rocks Highway
Turn left onto 11500 North
Arrive at destination
4 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 28 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto US 40; US 191 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto SR 121 / North 500 West
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto SR 121 / 4500 East
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto 11500 North
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$4.38 one way
$8.76 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.17 | $4.62 | $9.23 |
| premium | $4.47 | $4.95 | $9.90 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $5.31 | $10.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.95 | $1.35 |
| Efficient EV | 7 | 0 | $2.46 | $1.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.93 | $1.80 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Vernal on Sunday
Local time
3:06 AM
MDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in Whiterocks on Sunday
Local time
3:06 AM
MDT
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This route is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, with 0% of the journey on highways. You'll navigate through a series of local roads, including West 500 North, 7000 North, and White Rocks Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 14.8 miles on West 500 North. Be prepared for frequent directional changes as you make your way across the landscape.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 40; US 191 / West Main Street.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Vernal, UT to Whiterocks, UT is easy. At 46m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 40; US 191 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (SR 121 / North 500 West): Navigation decision point; at 23.3 miles (SR 121 / 4500 East): Navigation decision point.
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
Total Climb
1,210 ft
Total Descent
506 ft
Highest Point
6,035 ft
~28.1 mi in
Elevation Range
704 ft
Notable High Points
Founded 1873
Vernal is a city of 10,000 people (2019) in Northeastern Utah. Tourists are drawn to Vernal by the town's roots in the Old West and because of a large site of dinosaur fossils. Vernal and the surrounding area are popular among outdoor enthusiasts as they are near plentiful spots for fishing, fly fishing, hunting, and other outdoor activities.
Top landmarks
Founded 1868
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 28.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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