Origin
Moab, UT
Afternoon in Moab on Saturday
Local time
1:56 PM
MDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Moab, UT to Grand Junction, CO
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 4m
Distance
112.9 mi
182 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 56m
★
6 AM
2h 5m
8 AM
2h 23m
10 AM
2h 11m
12 PM
2h 9m
3 PM
2h 12m
5 PM
2h 22m
8 PM
1h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Moab, UT
Wikimedia Commons
Grand Junction, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Moab, UT to Grand Junction, CO covers 112.9 miles and takes about 2h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, I 70, Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 81.9 miles on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.89 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.5 miles from Moab, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway | 81.9 mi | 1h 26m |
| I 70 | 14.6 mi | 14m |
| Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway | 10.8 mi | 10m |
| Main Street | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| I 70 BUS | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| Center Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Pitkin Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
— 81.9 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Moab, UT and Grand Junction, CO.
1
Start on Center Street
284 ft
·
20 sec
·
Center Street
2
Turn sharp right onto US 191
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Main Street
3
Continue on US 191
29 mi
·
34 min
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
4
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-70 East
5
Merge onto I 70; US 6; US 50
49 mi
·
45 min
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
6
Continue on I 70; US 6; US 50
11 mi
·
10 min
·
Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway
7
Continue on I 70; US 50
15 mi
·
14 min
·
I 70; US 50
8
Take the exit onto I 70 BUS; US 50
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
I 70 BUS; US 50
Exit 26
Toward US 6, US 50: Grand Junction
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 BUS; US 50
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
I 70 BUS; US 50
Exit 26
Toward US 6, US 50
10
Merge onto I 70 BUS; US 6; US 50
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on I 70 BUS; US 50
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
I 70 BUS; US 50
Toward I 70 East, US 50 East: Montrose
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Arrive at destination
I 70 BUS
Trip Plan
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 56.5 miles from Moab, UT, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.9 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 25 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.5 miles or 1h 4m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Grand Junction, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Moab, 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 Moab, UT
This is one driving day of about 112.9 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Moab, UT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway for about 81.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
56 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
First break window
Fuel and coffeeA short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 56.5 miles from Moab, UT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 81.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 106.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 191 / Main Street
Turn sharp right onto US 191 / Main Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
4
31.4 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward I-70 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I-70 East
8
106.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
|
I 70 BUS; US 50
Take the exit onto I 70 BUS; US 50 toward US 6, US 50: Grand Junction
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 26
Toward US 6, US 50: Grand Junction
8
106.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
|
I 70 BUS; US 50
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 BUS; US 50 toward US 6, US 50
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 26
Toward US 6, US 50
5
106.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
|
I 70 BUS; US 6; US 50 / Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
Merge onto I 70 BUS; US 6; US 50 / Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.89 one way
$35.78 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $18.75 | $37.51 |
| premium | $4.53 | $20.14 | $40.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.93 | $49.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.9 | 0 | $11.85 | $5.42 |
| Efficient EV | 28.2 | 0 | $9.88 | $4.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.2 | 0 | $15.81 | $7.23 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Destination
Grand Junction, CO
Afternoon in Grand Junction on Saturday
Local time
1:56 PM
MDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
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
3 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
2h 4m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Arches National Park
National Park
Discover a landscape of contrasting colors, land forms, and textures unlike any other. The park has over 2,000 natural stone arches, hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive rock fins, and giant balance...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
$30
near mile 11.7
View on nps.gov
Canyonlands National Park
National Park
Canyonlands is a wilderness of canyons, buttes, and spires carved by the Colorado River and Green River. The park is divided into four distinct districts; no roads join them together. The districts sh...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
$30
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
112.9 mi in 2h 4m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81.9 mi on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 191 / Main Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 4m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 191 / Main Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 31.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 106.4 miles (I 70 BUS; US 50): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 4m. Total distance: 112.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (15%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 81.9 miles on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 191 / Main Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 31.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 106.4 miles (I 70 BUS; US 50): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Grand Junction, CO before heading back.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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