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Trip from Ephraim, UT to Orem, UT

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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 29m ★
6 AM
1h 36m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 41m
12 PM
1h 40m
3 PM
1h 42m
5 PM
1h 50m
8 PM
1h 32m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Ephraim, UT, UT

Ephraim, UT

Hao Ma

city in Utah County, Utah, United States

Orem, UT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

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 .

Who Is This Route For?

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.

Drive Character

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.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Veterans Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 44.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

Driving Effort 5/10

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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
33.9 mi into trip | ~46m 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.
8
78.8 mi into trip | ~1h 31m in

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 271 Toward Orem, Center Street
7
79 mi into trip | ~1h 31m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
80.7 mi into trip | ~1h 35m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

5
80.7 mi into trip | ~1h 35m in | US 89 / State Street

Turn sharp right onto US 89 / State Street

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: Veterans Memorial Highway — 44.8 mi, about 44m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ephraim, UT and Orem, UT.

1

Start on SR 290

238 ft · 10 sec · Center Street
2

Turn right onto US 89

4.7 mi · 6 min · Main Street
3

Turn left onto SR 132

7.3 mi · 9 min · SR 132
4

Turn left onto SR 132

0.8 mi · 1 min · Main Street
5

Continue on SR 132

21 mi · 27 min · Duck Springs Drive
6

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward I 15 North
7

Merge onto I 15

45 mi · 44 min · Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 271 Toward Orem, Center Street Use the slight right lane.
9

Keep slight right at fork

448 ft · 12 sec
Use the right lane.
10

Turn straight onto West Center Street

1.5 mi · 3 min · West Center Street
11

Continue on East Center Street

223 ft · 7 sec · East Center Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
12

Turn right

173 ft · 13 sec
13

Turn sharp right onto US 89

135 ft · 7 sec · State Street
14

Arrive at destination

US 89

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.4 miles from Ephraim, UT, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.8 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 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.

Before You Leave

+

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Ephraim, UT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Veterans Memorial Highway for about 44.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 40.4 mi from Ephraim, UT · 52m into the drive

city in Juab County, Utah, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mona, UT

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Fountain Green, UT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mona, UT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 40.4 miles from Ephraim, UT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Orem, UT

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.79 one way

$25.58 round trip

$4.03/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO2
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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026

Origin

Ephraim, UT

Afternoon in Ephraim on Friday

Local time

2:10 PM

MDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Orem, UT

Afternoon in Orem on Friday

Local time

2:10 PM

MDT

Current temp

26°F

Slight Chance Snow Showers

NW 6 mph 18% chance Live 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

38 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

1h 36m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Ephraim, UT to Orem, UT covers 80.7 miles and takes about 1h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Veterans Memorial Highway, Duck Springs Drive, SR 132. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 40.4 miles from Ephraim, UT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.79 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

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.

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.

The route from Ephraim, UT to Orem, UT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

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.

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