Washington, UT to Sandy, UT is 285.7 miles and takes about 4h 44m via Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, entirely within Utah. Expect a route primarily on surface roads, which means you'll be navigating local streets for much of the drive. It's a straightforward trip, ideal if you're looking for a direct path without extensive highway time.
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
142.9 miles from Washington, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
283.2 mi
4h 38m
North Main Street
0.5 mi
1m
9000 South
0.4 mi
<1m
8800 South
0.4 mi
1m
State Street
0.3 mi
<1m
East Telegraph Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
North 100 East
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 283.2 mi, about 4h 38m
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 Sandy, 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
283 mi·4 hr 38 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 295Toward SR 209: 9000 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
332 ft·10 sec
Toward SR 209: Snowbird, Alta, Sandy
10
Turn right onto SR 209
0.4 mi·54 sec·9000 South
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto US 89
0.3 mi·31 sec·State Street
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto 8800 South
0.4 mi·1 min·8800 South
13
Arrive at destination
8800 South
Trip Plan
Since this is a single-day drive of under 5 hours, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will give you ample daylight to complete the 285.7-mile trip. The route is mostly surface roads, so keep an eye on local traffic patterns and speed limits. With a fuel cost estimated around $50, it's wise to fill up before you leave Washington, UT, as there's only one recommended stop, and it’s best to ensure you have enough fuel for the longest stretch of 283.2 miles. This direct route means fewer opportunities for spontaneous stops, so plan any necessary breaks beforehand.
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 142.9 miles from Washington, UT, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 283.2 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 142.9 miles or 2h 21m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sandy, 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 285.7 miles and 4h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 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 283.2 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 284.6 — 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
5
1 mi into trip|~2m 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
284.3 mi into trip|~4h 40m in
Take the exit toward SR 209: 9000 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 295
Toward SR 209: 9000 South
7
284.6 mi into trip|~4h 41m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SR 209: Snowbird, Alta, Sandy
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SR 209: Snowbird, Alta, Sandy
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.46 one way
$102.92 round trip
$4.58/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.78
$53.74
$107.49
premium
$5.11
$57.43
$114.86
diesel
$6.18
$69.50
$139.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
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, 2026-10-12.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Washington, UT
Late night
in Washington on Tuesday
Local time
4:41 AM
MDT
Current temp
57°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Sandy, UT
Late night
in Sandy on Tuesday
Local time
4:41 AM
MDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 3 mph1% 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
9 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 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 266
Caution: Water Outage
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 59.1
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
~36 min detour
$35
near mile 19.7
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 vast majority on surface roads. You'll spend almost no time on highways, as the highway share is 0%. The longest stretch you'll encounter is 283.2 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. Be prepared for a consistent experience on local streets, likely involving frequent intersections and varied speed limits as you pass through different towns and built-up areas.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 283.2 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 early in the drive.
Driving Effort4/10
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 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 1 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 283.2 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 1 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 Sandy, UT, but most travelers stay overnight.
