Origin
Monticello, UT
Late night in Monticello on Wednesday
Local time
4:38 AM
MDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Monticello, UT to Salt Lake City, UT
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
5h 39m
Distance
287.5 mi
463 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 26m
★
6 AM
5h 39m
8 AM
6h 6m
10 AM
5h 49m
12 PM
5h 46m
3 PM
5h 50m
5 PM
6h 5m
8 PM
5h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monticello, UT
Wikimedia Commons
Salt Lake City, UT
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Monticello, UT to Salt Lake City, UT covers 287.5 miles and takes about 5h 39m 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 $45.56 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
143.7 miles from Monticello, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 49m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 39m drive with frequent turns across 287.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 172.1 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 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 85.4 miles in near US 191.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 287.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
85.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
|
US 191
Take the exit onto US 191 toward I-70 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I-70 West
6
109.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 8m in
|
US 6; US 191
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
Exit 157
Toward US 6 West, US 191 North: Price, Salt Lak...
7
236.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 42m in
Take the exit toward I 15 North: Salt Lake City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 15 North: Salt Lake City
7
285.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 35m in
Take the exit toward 600 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 306
Toward 600 South
7
287.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 39m in
|
Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway | 172.1 mi | 3h 18m |
| South Main Street | 56.4 mi | 1h 11m |
| Veterans Memorial Highway | 49.3 mi | 52m |
| East US-6 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| US 6 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| SR 269 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| State Street | 0.7 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
— 172.1 mi, about 3h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Monticello, UT and Salt Lake City, UT.
1
Start on US 191
56 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
·
South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on US 191
29 mi
·
34 min
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
3
Take the exit onto US 191
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
US 191
Toward I-70 West
4
Merge onto I 70; US 6; US 50; US 191
23 mi
·
21 min
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
5
Take the exit onto US 6; US 191
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 6; US 191
Exit 157
Toward US 6 West, US 191 North: Price, Salt Lake City
6
Merge onto US 6; US 191
51 mi
·
1 hr
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 6; US 191
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
8
Continue on US 6; US 191
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
West Highway Drive
9
Continue on US 6; US 191
35 mi
·
42 min
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
10
Continue on US 6
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
State Street
11
Continue on US 6
33 mi
·
39 min
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
12
Continue on US 6
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
East US-6
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on US 6
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 15 North: Salt Lake City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 15
49 mi
·
52 min
·
Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 306
Toward 600 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on SR 269
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
SR 269
Exit 121; 306
Toward SR 269: 600 South
18
Turn left onto SR 270
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
West Temple
19
Turn right onto US 89
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
400 South
20
Turn left onto Main Street
80 ft
·
3 sec
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
21
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 143.7 miles from Monticello, UT, or about 2h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 172.1 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 80 miles or 1h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.7 miles or 2h 49m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salt Lake City, UT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 287.5 miles and 5h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Monticello, UT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway for about 172.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 143.7 mi from Monticello, UT · 2h 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
144 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 143.7 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.
Arriving in Salt Lake City, UT
The final approach into Salt Lake City, 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 Salt Lake City, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.56 one way
$91.12 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
101 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $47.75 | $95.51 |
| premium | $4.53 | $51.29 | $102.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $63.48 | $126.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 86.3 | 1 | $30.19 | $13.80 |
| Efficient EV | 71.9 | 0 | $25.16 | $11.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 115 | 1 | $40.25 | $18.40 |
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Salt Lake City, UT
Late night in Salt Lake City on Wednesday
Local time
4:38 AM
MDT
Current temp
43°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
22 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
5h 39m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Monticello, UT to Salt Lake City, UT covers 287.5 miles and takes about 5h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, South Main Street, Veterans Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 143.7 miles from Monticello, UT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.56 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 287.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 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.
The route from Monticello, UT to Salt Lake City, UT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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