Origin
Monticello, UT
Afternoon in Monticello on Friday
Local time
3:42 PM
MDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 1m
Distance
251.1 mi
404 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monticello, UT
Wikimedia Commons
Orem, UT
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Monticello, UT to Orem, UT covers 251.1 miles and takes about 5h 1m 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, South Main Street, Veterans Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 172.1 miles on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.49 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
125.5 miles from Monticello, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 1m. Total distance: 251.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a 5h 1m drive with frequent turns across 251.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
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 85.4 miles in near US 191.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 251.1 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 85.4 miles (US 191): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 109.3 miles (US 6; US 191): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 236.3 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.
Take the exit onto US 191 toward I-70 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit onto US 6; US 191 toward US 6 West, US 191 North: Price, Salt Lake City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Monticello, 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 |
| South Main Street | 56.4 mi | 1h 11m |
| Veterans Memorial Highway | 12.5 mi | 13m |
| East US-6 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| West Center Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| US 6 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| State Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Monticello, UT and Orem, UT.
Start on 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
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 55 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.5 miles or 2h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Orem, UT than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Monticello, 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 Monticello, UT
This is one driving day of about 251.1 miles and 5h 1m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 125.5 mi from Monticello, UT · 2h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
126 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 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 125.5 miles from Monticello, 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
$38.49 one way
$76.97 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.23 | $41.83 | $83.65 |
| premium | $4.55 | $44.97 | $89.94 |
| diesel | $5.41 | $53.50 | $107.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.9 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75.3 | 0 | $26.37 | $12.05 |
| Efficient EV | 62.8 | 0 | $21.97 | $10.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 100.4 | 1 | $35.15 | $16.07 |
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Monticello on Friday
Local time
3:42 PM
MDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Orem on Friday
Local time
3:42 PM
MDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
71°F
Fairview, UT
126 mi in
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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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