Origin
Ephraim, UT
Afternoon in Ephraim on Friday
Local time
2:10 PM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 36m
Distance
80.7 mi
130 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ephraim, UT
Hao Ma
Orem, UT
Wikimedia Commons
Ephraim to Orem is 80.7 miles and takes about 1h 36m via Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Utah's Mountain West region, offering a manageable and straightforward journey. Expect a route that involves frequent turns and local road navigation, rather than long stretches of highway. Given its short duration, this trip is ideal for a same-day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. Plan for a direct trip with minimal time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.4 miles from Ephraim, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 80.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (9%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 9% of the journey on highways. You'll spend most of your time navigating local roads, so be prepared for frequent changes in direction. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 44.8 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. This means the driving experience will be more about managing transitions between different road segments rather than settling into a consistent highway pace. The road's personality shifts as you move through different local areas, requiring your attention to navigation.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 33.9 miles in near I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway.
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 80.7 miles you will encounter 9 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 33.9 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 78.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Merge onto I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Orem, Center Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Turn sharp right onto US 89 / State Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Memorial Highway | 44.8 mi | 44m |
| Duck Springs Drive | 20.8 mi | 27m |
| SR 132 | 7.3 mi | 9m |
| Main Street | 5.4 mi | 8m |
| West Center Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Center Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Center Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| State Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Ephraim, UT and Orem, UT.
Start on SR 290
Turn right onto US 89
Turn left onto SR 132
Turn left onto SR 132
Continue on SR 132
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 15
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto West Center Street
Continue on East Center Street
Turn right
Turn sharp right onto US 89
Arrive at destination
With a driving time of under two hours, this is a perfect same-day trip, offering flexibility for when you depart. You can easily leave in the morning and be in Orem with plenty of time to spare, or head out in the afternoon and arrive before dinner. Given the 80.7-mile distance and the low fuel cost of around $13, you won't need to worry much about gas stops. However, since it's a 'turn-heavy local drive,' pay close attention to your GPS and road signs, especially when transitioning between Veterans Memorial Highway, Duck Springs Drive, and SR 132, to avoid missing any crucial turns.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.4 miles or 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Orem, UT than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Ephraim, UT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ephraim, UT
This is one driving day of about 80.7 miles and 1h 36m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.4 mi from Ephraim, UT · 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 40.4 miles from Ephraim, UT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Orem, UT usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$12.79 one way
$25.58 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $13.40 | $26.81 |
| premium | $4.53 | $14.40 | $28.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.82 | $35.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.47 | $3.87 |
| Efficient EV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.06 | $3.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.3 | 0 | $11.30 | $5.16 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Afternoon in Ephraim on Friday
Local time
2:10 PM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Orem on Friday
Local time
2:10 PM
MDT
Current temp
26°F
Slight Chance Snow Showers
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
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Ephraim, UT or browse trips ending in Orem, UT.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse UT road trips.