West Valley City to Santa Clara is 304.7 miles and takes about 5h 14m via Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Mountain West region, entirely within Utah. Expect a route that primarily utilizes surface roads, offering a more grounded perspective of the landscape compared to pure interstate travel. Given the manageable duration and cost, this trip is well-suited for a single day, allowing for a relaxed departure or arrival.
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
152.3 miles from West Valley City, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway
288.5 mi
4h 43m
Belt Route
3.3 mi
3m
I 15 BUS
2.2 mi
5m
West Sunset Boulevard
2 mi
3m
4700 South
1.4 mi
2m
Santa Clara Drive
1.1 mi
2m
Bluff Street
1 mi
1m
4100 South
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 288.5 mi, about 4h 43m
Traffic on I-15
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 454 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~4,953 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,738
Quietest
2 AM
~235 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21.1×
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 West Valley City, UT and Santa Clara, UT.
1
Start on Atlas Way
0.4 mi·1 min·Atlas Way
2
Turn left onto Volta Avenue
0.2 mi·41 sec·Volta Avenue
3
Turn right onto 4400 West
0.2 mi·36 sec·4400 West
4
Turn left onto 4100 South
0.8 mi·1 min·4100 South
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Turn right onto SR 154
0.7 mi·50 sec·Bangerter Highway
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
222 ft·8 sec
Use the slight left lane.
8
Turn left onto 4700 South
1.4 mi·2 min·4700 South
9
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·43 sec
Toward I 215 SouthUse the right lane.
10
Merge onto I 215
3.3 mi·3 min·Belt Route
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
426 ft·5 sec
Exit 12Toward I 15: Salt Lake City, Las VegasUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·59 sec
Toward I 15 South: Las VegasUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
1.1 mi·2 min
Toward I 15 South: Las Vegas
14
Merge onto I 15
289 mi·4 hr 43 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit onto I 15 BUS
2.2 mi·5 min·I 15 BUS
Exit 8Toward SR 34: Saint George BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn slight right
213 ft·7 sec
Use the right lane.
17
Turn straight onto SR 18
1.0 mi·1 min·Bluff Street
Use the right lane.
18
Continue on SR 8
2.0 mi·3 min·West Sunset Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on Santa Clara Drive
1.1 mi·2 min·Santa Clara Drive
Use the straight lane.
20
Arrive at destination
Santa Clara Drive
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from West Valley City to maximize daylight and avoid any potential end-of-day congestion. With only one recommended stop and the longest stretch being 288.5 miles, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you transition off Veterans Memorial Highway, as services might become less frequent on the surface road portions. The $51 fuel estimate is a good baseline for budgeting.
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 152.3 miles from West Valley City, UT, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 288.5 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 67 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 152.3 miles or 2h 36m 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Santa Clara, UT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Valley City, 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 West Valley City, UT
This is one driving day of about 304.7 miles and 5h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from West Valley City, 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 288.5 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 298.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|4100 South
Turn left onto 4100 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
2.6 mi into trip|~5m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
7.9 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the exit toward I 15: Salt Lake City, Las Vegas
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 12
Toward I 15: Salt Lake City, Las Vegas
7
8 mi into trip|~12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 15 South: Las Vegas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 15 South: Las Vegas
7
298.3 mi into trip|~4h 59m in|I 15 BUS
Take the exit onto I 15 BUS toward SR 34: Saint George Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8
Toward SR 34: Saint George Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.88 one way
$109.76 round trip
$4.58/gal25.4 MPG avg107 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.78
$57.32
$114.63
premium
$5.11
$61.25
$122.50
diesel
$6.18
$74.12
$148.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
91.4
1
$31.99
$14.63
Efficient EV
76.2
0
$26.66
$12.19
EV Truck/SUV
121.9
1
$42.66
$19.50
Gas CO2
107 kg
EV CO2
36 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
West Valley City, UT
Late night
in West Valley City on Monday
Local time
4:54 AM
MDT
Current temp
47°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Santa Clara, UT
Late night
in Santa Clara on Monday
Local time
4:54 AM
MDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Cloudy
NE 2 mph14% chanceLive forecast
64°F
Nibley, UT
152 mi in
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
8 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 14m 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 31.5
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 241.6
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
~34 min detour
$35
near mile 273.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is mostly surface roads, with a 288.5-mile stretch on Veterans Memorial Highway accounting for the longest continuous section. You'll spend very little time on highways, with only a 10% highway share. Expect to navigate through towns and local areas for the majority of the drive, with potential for more frequent stops and varied speed limits as you transition between these sections.
Only 1% 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: 288.5 mi on Veterans Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 0.9 miles in near 4100 South.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 304.7 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 0.9 miles (4100 South): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 ethnic dishes in West Valley City.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 14m. Total distance: 304.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 288.5 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.
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 Santa Clara, 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 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (4100 South): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Santa Clara, UT before the return drive.
