Trip from North Salt Lake, UT to Salt Lake City, UT

Drive Time

11m

Distance

7.8 mi

12 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$1

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 10m ★
6 AM
0h 11m
8 AM
0h 13m
10 AM
0h 12m
12 PM
0h 12m
3 PM
0h 12m
5 PM
0h 13m
8 PM
0h 11m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown North Salt Lake, UT, UT

North Salt Lake, UT

Zach LeBlanc

Trip Overview

Traveling the 7.8 miles from North Salt Lake to Salt Lake City is a quick, straightforward commute within the Mountain West region. You can expect to reach your destination in approximately 11 minutes, making this an ideal trip to complete in a single day. With a fuel budget of just $1, the route is incredibly economical and requires no overnight stops. You will primarily navigate via Highway 89, I-15 South, and Veterans Memorial Highway to bridge the two cities. Because the drive is so short, it functions perfectly as a simple local connection rather than a long-distance excursion. If you are looking for a practical way to move between these two Utah hubs, this direct path is your best option.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

3.9 miles from North Salt Lake, UT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you navigate the short distance between these two points. Unlike a long-haul interstate grind, this route focuses on local navigation, featuring zero highway-exclusive stretches. The longest uninterrupted segment on Highway 89 is 0 miles, meaning you will be making frequent adjustments and turns throughout the 11-minute journey. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a more hands-on driving experience rather than settling into a consistent cruise control pace. The road's personality is defined by its brevity and the practical, urban nature of the path connecting North Salt Lake to the heart of Salt Lake City.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highway 89 is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from North Salt Lake, UT to Salt Lake City, UT is easy. At 11m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from North Salt Lake, UT to Salt Lake City, UT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Highway 89 Unavailable Refreshing
I 15 South Unavailable Refreshing
Veterans Memorial Highway Unavailable Refreshing
400 South Unavailable Refreshing
City Center Unavailable Refreshing
Main Street Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Highway 89 — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between North Salt Lake, UT and Salt Lake City, UT.

1

Start on 350 North

39 ft · 8 sec · 350 North
2

Turn right onto Highway 89

1.3 mi · 2 min · Highway 89
3

Take the ramp straight toward I 15 South

0.4 mi · 48 sec · I 15 South
4

Merge slight left onto Veterans Memorial Highway

4.4 mi · 4 min · Veterans Memorial Highway
5

Take the exit slight right toward 400 South

0.3 mi · 43 sec · 400 South
6

Keep slight left to continue on City Center, Temple Square, Vivint Arena

509 ft · 14 sec · City Center, Temple Square, Vivint Arena
7

Turn straight onto 400 South

1.2 mi · 3 min · 400 South
8

Turn left onto Main Street

79 ft · 3 sec · Main Street
9

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a brief 7.8-mile trip, you have the advantage of total flexibility in your departure time. You won't need to worry about planning for rest stops or managing a fuel budget beyond your initial $1 allocation. Keep in mind that because the route involves multiple turns, it is helpful to keep your navigation apps ready to guide you through the transition between Highway 89 and I-15 South. Given the short duration, try to avoid peak traffic hours to ensure you maintain that efficient 11-minute travel time. Use the freedom of this short drive to prioritize your arrival in Salt Lake City without the stress of road fatigue.

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 3.9 miles from North Salt Lake, UT, or about 5m into the drive.

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 7.8 miles or 11m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 3.9 miles or 5m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 9m

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 North Salt Lake, 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 North Salt Lake, UT

This is one driving day of about 7.8 miles and 11m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from North Salt Lake, UT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 3.9 mi from North Salt Lake, UT · 5m into the drive

Downtown Millcreek, UT, UT

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Millcreek, UT

4 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.

Popular next leg

Millcreek, UT to Salt Lake City, UT

7.6 mi · 12m

Pacing Suggestions

Millcreek, UT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 7.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Millcreek, UT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 3.9 miles from North Salt Lake, UT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.24 one way

$2.47 round trip

$4.03/gal 25.4 MPG avg 3 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.23 $1.30 $2.60
premium $4.53 $1.39 $2.78
diesel $5.64 $1.73 $3.47

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$26–$51

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 2.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 2.3 0 $0.82 $0.37
Efficient EV 2 0 $0.68 $0.31
EV Truck/SUV 3.1 0 $1.09 $0.50

Gas CO2

3 kg

EV CO2

1 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

North Salt Lake, UT

Evening in North Salt Lake on Sunday

Local time

5:53 PM

MDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Salt Lake City, UT

Evening in Salt Lake City on Sunday

Local time

5:53 PM

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

11m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from North Salt Lake, UT to Salt Lake City, UT covers 7.8 miles and takes about 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 89, I 15 South, Veterans Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 3.9 miles from North Salt Lake, UT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.24 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from North Salt Lake, UT to Salt Lake City, UT is easy. At 11m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from North Salt Lake, UT to Salt Lake City, UT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from North Salt Lake, UT to Salt Lake City, UT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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