El Molcajete Mexican Restaurant
Near the end, short detour
Orem, Utah
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+18019609612
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 59m
Distance
97.2 mi
157 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
26 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gunnison, UT
Ken Jacobsen
Lehi, UT
Wikimedia Commons
Gunnison to Lehi is 97.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 59 minutes via Veterans Memorial Highway and SR 28, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive connects two points within Utah's Mountain West region, offering a straightforward trip. You'll primarily be on well-maintained state routes and a highway, making it a practical choice for a quick journey. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two areas without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.6 miles from Gunnison, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 97.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
This trip features a mixed drive, with about 40% of the journey on highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 56.1 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway. You'll experience a variety of road types, transitioning from highway speeds to navigating through local roads like Main Street. Expect the feel of the drive to change as you move between these different road types, offering a dynamic experience behind the wheel.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 30.3 miles in near SR 28.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 59m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 30.3 miles (SR 28): Navigation decision point; at 39.6 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 95.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
At end of road, turn right onto SR 28
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward SR 73: Lehi Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 73: Lehi Main Street West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Center Street
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Memorial Highway | 56.1 mi | 56m |
| SR 28 | 38.7 mi | 57m |
| Main Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Center Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West 300 North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 100 West | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Gunnison, UT and Lehi, UT.
Start on US 89
Continue on SR 28
At end of road, turn right onto SR 28
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 15
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn straight onto SR 73
Turn right onto Center Street
Turn left onto West 300 North
Turn right onto 100 West
Arrive at destination
Given the short duration of under two hours, this is definitely a same-day trip, so you have flexibility on when to depart. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon should give you ample time to reach your destination before evening. You won't need to worry too much about extensive fuel stops, as the estimated cost is only $15 for the 97.2-mile journey. Keep an eye on signage for SR 28 as it's a key part of the route connecting you to your destination.
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 21 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.6 miles or 1h 8m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lehi, UT than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Gunnison, UT so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Gunnison, UT
This is one driving day of about 97.2 miles and 1h 59m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 48.6 mi from Gunnison, UT · 1h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 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.
The final approach into Lehi, 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.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Orem, Utah
Near the end, short detour
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+18019609612
Yamato Japanese Restaurant
Orem, Utah
Villa Del Sol Restaurant
Orem, Utah
Near the end, short detour
Orem, Utah
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+18019609612
Near the end, short detour
Orem, Utah
Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm
+18012277100
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Orem, Utah
Hours: 10:30 am–8:30 pm
+18017228585
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
American Fork, Utah
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+18017566138
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Nephi, Utah
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Vineyard, Utah
Near the end, short detour
Provo, Utah
Near the end, short detour
Orem, Utah
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Orem, Utah
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18012240694
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Nephi, Utah
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Orem, UT
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18883856671
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Lindon, Utah
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Lehi, Utah
Hours: 9 am–8 pm
+18017682300
Visit websiteNear the end, ~10 min detour
Lehi, Utah
Hours: 9 am–8 pm
+18017682300
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Regular Gas
$15.40 one way
$30.81 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $16.15 | $32.29 |
| premium | $4.53 | $17.34 | $34.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.46 | $42.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
26 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Sleep Inn Provo - Tesla Supercharger
Provo, UT
12 DCFC
Ideal Dairy - Tesla Supercharger
Nephi, UT
8 DCFC
JC Mickelson's - Tesla Supercharger
Nephi, UT
8 DCFC
Orem, UT - Tesla Supercharger
Orem, UT
8 DCFC
Doug Smith Kia
Lindon, UT
5 DCFC
Doug Smith Spanish Fork
Spanish Fork, UT
4 DCFC
Walmart 4068 (Spanish Fork, UT)
Spanish Fork, UT
4 DCFC
RMP Midtown 360 (Orem, UT)
Orem, UT
4 DCFC
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.2 | 0 | $10.21 | $4.67 |
| Efficient EV | 24.3 | 0 | $8.50 | $3.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.9 | 0 | $13.61 | $6.22 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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 Gunnison on Friday
Local time
11:50 AM
MDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Lehi on Friday
Local time
11:50 AM
MDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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