Spanning 278.1 miles across the Mountain West, your journey from West Jordan to Monticello takes approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes of driving time. This trip works perfectly as a one-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight split. You will navigate using a combination of the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, Main Street, and the Veterans Memorial Highway. Expect to budget roughly $44 for fuel to cover the distance. Because this route stays entirely within Utah, you get a consistent feel for the region’s geography while transitioning toward the southern high desert.
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
139 miles from West Jordan, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 45m into the drive
.
Toward Arches, Dead Horse Point, CanyonlandsUse the left lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto US 191
2.1 mi·3 min·Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
19
Turn straight onto US 191
56 mi·1 hr 11 min·Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
US 191
Trip Plan
Given the 5.5-hour duration, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and manage your fuel levels effectively. Leaving early in the day is your best strategy to navigate the turn-heavy sections while visibility is high. Since the route relies heavily on local roads rather than high-speed interstates, maintain a steady pace to keep your $44 fuel estimate accurate. Use that single planned stop strategically to break up the long 146.1-mile segment on the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway. Having this flexibility allows you to arrive in Monticello feeling refreshed rather than fatigued from the winding 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 139 miles from West Jordan, UT, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 146.1 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 61 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139 miles or 2h 45m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Monticello, UT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving West Jordan, UT so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
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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 West Jordan, UT
This is one driving day of about 278.1 miles and 5h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from West Jordan, 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 Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway for about 146.1 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 192.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.5 mi into trip|~2m in|SR 209 / 9000 South
Turn left onto SR 209 / 9000 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
40.9 mi into trip|~47m in
Take the exit toward US 6 East, SR 156: Spanish Fork, Main Street, Price
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 257B-A
Toward US 6 East, SR 156: Spanish Fork, Main St...
8
41.3 mi into trip|~48m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 6 East: Price
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Exit 257B
Toward US 6 East: Price
6
192.4 mi into trip|~3h 44m in|US 191
Take the exit onto US 191 toward US 191: Crescent Junction, Moab
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 182
Toward US 191: Crescent Junction, Moab
8
192.7 mi into trip|~3h 45m in|US 191
Keep slight right at fork onto US 191 toward Arches, Dead Horse Point, Canyonlands
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Arches, Dead Horse Point, Canyonlands
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.35 one way
$86.69 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.17
$45.69
$91.38
premium
$4.47
$48.99
$97.97
diesel
$4.80
$52.51
$105.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.4
1
$29.20
$13.35
Efficient EV
69.5
0
$24.33
$11.12
EV Truck/SUV
111.2
1
$38.93
$17.80
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
33 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 18, 2026
Origin
West Jordan, UT
Late night
in West Jordan on Sunday
Local time
2:20 AM
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 8:56PM MDT until July 17 at 10:00PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 10:28AM MDT until July 18 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Destination
Monticello, UT
Late night
in Monticello on Sunday
Local time
2:20 AM
MDT
Current temp
60°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 5 mph58% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 8:56PM MDT until July 17 at 10:00PM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 10:28AM MDT until July 18 at 12:00AM MDT by NWS Salt Lake City UT
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
5h 30m 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.
Arches National Park
National Park
Discover a landscape of contrasting colors, land forms, and textures unlike any other. The park has over 2,000 natural stone arches, hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive rock fins, and giant balance...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
$30
near mile 210.9
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...
Canyonlands is a wilderness of canyons, buttes, and spires carved by the Colorado River and Green River. The park is divided into four distinct districts; no roads join them together. The districts sh...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
$30
near mile 239.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. While only 11% of the route consists of major highways, you will encounter a significant 146.1-mile stretch along the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway. This provides a long, uninterrupted segment before the road transitions into more frequent turns. The overall character leans toward a technical, engaging experience rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Be prepared for the road’s personality to shift as you move away from the urban environment of West Jordan and head toward the more rural landscape of Monticello.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 146.1 mi on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near SR 209 / 9000 South.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 278.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (SR 209 / 9000 South): Lane positioning matters here; at 40.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
7,411 ft4,169 ft
Total Climb
6,232 ft
Total Descent
3,537 ft
Highest Point
7,411 ft
~79.4 mi in
Elevation Range
3,243 ft
Notable High Points
4,546 ft at ~19.9 miles+27 ft prominence
7,411 ft at ~79.4 miles+1,387 ft prominence
4,635 ft at ~198.6 miles+268 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between West Jordan, UT and Monticello, UT, road signs point toward Price, Moab, Arches, Dead Horse Point and Canyonlands.
Monticello is a cool haven in the midst of the Canyon Country region of Utah. Located at the base of the Blue Mountains (aka "Abajo" Mountains) in the center of San Juan County, Monticello typically has cooler weather than the surrounding desert. This makes it ideal for summer hiking, biking, horseback riding and motorsports and a delightful place to cross country ski or snowmobile in the winter. From the Blue Mountains you can see the Four Corners Region, consisting of Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 30m. Total distance: 278.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 146.1 miles on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Monticello, UT before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (SR 209 / 9000 South): Lane positioning matters here; at 40.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Arches National Park, Timpanogos Cave National Monument and Canyonlands National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Monticello, UT before the return drive.
