Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
53.9 mi
87 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Valley City, UT
Quang Vuong
Plain City, UT
Chris F
West Valley City, UT to Plain City, UT is 53.9 miles and takes about 1h 4m via Veterans Memorial Highway and Belt Route, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Mountain West region, traveling between two points in Utah. The route is primarily on surface roads, making it a straightforward drive. It's a short enough distance that you can easily complete it within a single day, offering flexibility for when you depart and how you spend your time.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Memorial Highway | 35.4 mi | 37m |
| Belt Route | 11.1 mi | 11m |
| 3500 South | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| 2600 North | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| 2700 North | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| 4350 West | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 3650 South | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 4400 West | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 90 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,937 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~290 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
20.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 79 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between West Valley City, UT and Plain City, UT.
Start on Atlas Way
Turn right onto 3650 South
At end of road, turn left onto 4400 West
Turn right onto SR 171
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 215
Keep slight right at fork onto I 215
Merge onto I 15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 15
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto SR 134
Continue on SR 134
Turn left onto SR 134
Continue on SR 134
Turn left onto SR 134
At end of road, turn right onto SR 134
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 27 miles from West Valley City, UT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 50.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto SR 171 / 3500 South
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 215 / Belt Route
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward SR 134: 2700 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 134: Plain City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$9.35 one way
$18.70 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.78 | $19.55 |
| premium | $4.95 | $10.50 | $21.01 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $11.88 | $23.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.66 | $2.59 |
| Efficient EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.72 | $2.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.55 | $3.45 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Morning in West Valley City on Friday
Local time
9:51 AM
MDT
Current temp
70°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Plain City on Friday
Local time
9:51 AM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
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 drive is entirely on surface roads, meaning you won't encounter any limited-access highways. The longest continuous stretch on Veterans Memorial Highway is 35.4 miles, so you'll experience a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. Expect typical urban and suburban traffic patterns, with frequent intersections and traffic signals as you navigate through populated areas.
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 0.6 miles in near SR 171 / 3500 South.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.9 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 0.6 miles (SR 171 / 3500 South): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.1 miles (I 215 / Belt Route): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.7 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
438 ft
Total Descent
499 ft
Highest Point
4,575 ft
~38.5 mi in
Elevation Range
354 ft
Notable High Points
Founded 1980
West Valley City is a city of 113,000 near Salt Lake City in the Wasatch Range. Although it is Utah's second largest city, it is a suburb of the capital and has little to offer a traveler. On the other hand, West Valley City is home to the most diverse community in Utah, with approximately 45% of the residents being immigrants from Vietnam, Mexico, Pacific Islanders and others. Tourists may want to try to come to WVC to eat various ethic dishes in West Valley City.
Founded 1859
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 53.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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