Washington, UT to Murray, UT is 290.8 miles and takes about 4h 49m via Veterans Memorial Highway and State Street, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day drive stays within the Mountain West region, traversing Utah for its entirety. Expect a predominantly surface road experience, making it a more leisurely trip than a highway-only route. It's a straightforward path for those looking for a direct connection between these two Utah cities without extensive highway miles.
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
145.4 miles from Washington, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
287.9 mi
4h 43m
State Street
0.8 mi
1m
5300 South
0.7 mi
1m
North Main Street
0.5 mi
1m
East Telegraph Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
North 100 East
<0.1 mi
<1m
4800 South
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 287.9 mi, about 4h 43m
Traffic on I-15
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 442 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,041 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,832
Quietest
2 AM
~237 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 79 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 Washington, UT and Murray, UT.
1
Start on this road
21 ft·3 sec·this road
2
Turn right
49 ft·5 sec
3
Turn right onto North 100 East
104 ft·8 sec·North 100 East
4
Turn right onto East Telegraph Street
494 ft·15 sec·East Telegraph Street
5
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Main Street
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 15
7
Merge onto I 15
288 mi·4 hr 43 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 300Toward SR 173: 5300 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
344 ft·10 sec
Toward SR 173: Murray, 5300 SouthUse the right lane.
10
Turn right onto SR 173
0.7 mi·1 min·5300 South
11
Turn left onto US 89
0.8 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto 4800 South
81 ft·4 sec·4800 South
Use the right lane.
13
Turn right
27 ft·1 sec
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 49-minute drive time, leaving in the morning is ideal to ensure you arrive with plenty of daylight. With only one stop suggested, you have flexibility to break up the drive as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $51 and you'll want to top off before heading out. Pay attention to local speed limits and traffic signals, especially as you get closer to Murray, since most of this route is on surface roads.
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 145.4 miles from Washington, UT, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 287.9 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 64 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.4 miles or 2h 24m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Murray, UT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Washington, 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 Washington, UT
This is one driving day of about 290.8 miles and 4h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Washington, 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 287.9 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 and 290.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Telegraph Street
Turn right onto East Telegraph Street
Navigation decision point
7
288.9 mi into trip|~4h 45m in
Take the exit toward SR 173: 5300 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 300
Toward SR 173: 5300 South
8
289.3 mi into trip|~4h 46m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 173: Murray, 5300 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward SR 173: Murray, 5300 South
7
290.8 mi into trip|~4h 49m in
Turn right
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.38 one way
$104.76 round trip
$4.58/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.78
$54.70
$109.40
premium
$5.11
$58.46
$116.92
diesel
$6.18
$70.74
$141.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.2
1
$30.53
$13.96
Efficient EV
72.7
0
$25.45
$11.63
EV Truck/SUV
116.3
1
$40.71
$18.61
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Washington, UT
Late night
in Washington on Sunday
Local time
5:05 AM
MDT
Current temp
51°F
Clear
NE 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Murray, UT
Late night
in Murray on Sunday
Local time
5:05 AM
MDT
Current temp
45°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 2 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
6 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
4h 49m 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
~21 min detour
$12
near mile 270.7
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
~33 min detour
$10
near mile 60.2
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...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
$35
near mile 20.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads, with 0% highway. You'll drive 287.9 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway, which is essentially the entire trip, before transitioning to surface streets. Be prepared for a steady pace without the interruptions of frequent highway exits, as you'll be navigating through towns and local areas for the bulk of the drive.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 287.9 mi on Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 290.8 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (East Telegraph Street): Navigation decision point; at 288.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 49m. Total distance: 290.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 287.9 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (East Telegraph Street): Navigation decision point; at 288.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Murray, UT, but most travelers stay overnight.
