Origin
Moab, UT
Afternoon in Moab on Sunday
Local time
1:57 PM
MDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Sign in
No account yet?
Create accountDrive Time
3h 55m
Distance
197.2 mi
317 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Moab, UT
James Lee
Orem, UT
Vladimir Srajber
Traveling from Moab to Orem covers 197.2 miles and takes roughly 3 hours and 55 minutes to complete. This journey stays entirely within the Mountain West, connecting two key Utah hubs via the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, Veterans Memorial Highway, and Main Street. You can comfortably tackle this trip in a single day, making it an ideal excursion for those looking to transition from the desert landscape to the urban corridor. Budgeting around $31 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. Since the drive is relatively straightforward, it works well as a direct transit route rather than an extended multi-day expedition.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
98.6 miles from Moab, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 54m into the drive .
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. While about 2% of the route consists of highway driving, the vast majority of your time will be spent navigating local roads. You will settle into a long, 172.1-mile stretch on the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, which accounts for the bulk of your travel time. The character of the road shifts as you transition from rural stretches into the more built-up environments of Veterans Memorial Highway and Main Street. Prepare for a mix of steady cruising and more technical driving segments that keep the experience engaging from start to finish.
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 0.1 miles in near US 191 / Main Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 197.2 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 0.1 miles (US 191 / Main Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.5 miles (US 191): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 182.4 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.
Turn sharp right onto US 191 / Main Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto US 191 toward I-70 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit toward I 15 North: Salt Lake City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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
On the drive from Moab, UT to Orem, UT, road signs begin pointing toward Salt Lake City along the way.
Salt Lake City
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway | 172.1 mi | 3h 18m |
| Veterans Memorial Highway | 12.5 mi | 13m |
| Main Street | 4.2 mi | 8m |
| East US-6 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| West Center Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| US 6 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| State Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Highway Drive | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Moab, UT and Orem, UT.
Start on Center Street
Turn sharp right onto US 191
Continue on US 191
Take the exit onto US 191
Merge onto I 70; US 6; US 50; US 191
Take the exit onto US 6; US 191
Merge onto US 6; US 191
Continue on US 6; US 191
Continue on US 6; US 191
Continue on US 6; US 191
Continue on US 6
Continue on US 6
Continue on US 6
Continue on US 6
Take the exit
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
Planning for this trip is simple since you only need to account for one planned stop over the course of the 197.2-mile distance. Because this is a shorter drive, you have plenty of flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before starting the long 172.1-mile segment on the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, as service availability can vary. Use that single stop strategically to stretch your legs and refuel before hitting the final transition onto Main Street in Orem. Sticking to this pace ensures you arrive at your destination refreshed without feeling rushed by the nearly four-hour duration.
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.6 miles or 1h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Orem, UT than in the middle of the route.
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 197.2 miles and 3h 55m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 98.6 mi from Moab, UT · 1h 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
99 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 98.6 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 172.1 miles.
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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Orem, UT.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$31.25 one way
$62.50 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.23 | $32.85 | $65.70 |
| premium | $4.53 | $35.16 | $70.32 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $43.81 | $87.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59.2 | 0 | $20.71 | $9.47 |
| Efficient EV | 49.3 | 0 | $17.26 | $7.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 78.9 | 0 | $27.61 | $12.62 |
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (67% 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 Moab on Sunday
Local time
1:57 PM
MDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Orem on Sunday
Local time
1:57 PM
MDT
Current temp
41°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.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Moab, UT or browse trips ending in Orem, UT.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse UT road trips.
Explore maps for Moab, UT or Orem, UT on MapSof.net.