Trip from Orem, UT to River Heights, UT

Drive Time

2h 15m

Distance

119.1 mi

192 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 6m ★
6 AM
2h 15m
8 AM
2h 34m
10 AM
2h 22m
12 PM
2h 20m
3 PM
2h 23m
5 PM
2h 33m
8 PM
2h 10m

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

Downtown Orem, UT, UT

Orem, UT

Vladimir Srajber

Downtown River Heights, UT, UT

River Heights, UT

Matthew Montrone

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Orem to River Heights, you are looking at a 119.1-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes. This trek stays entirely within Utah’s Mountain West region, making it a manageable day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $19 on fuel for the one-way drive. Because the route relies on a combination of Veterans Memorial Highway, US 89, and 1100 South, it is best suited for those who don't mind navigating local turns. It is a straightforward transit between two points in the state that offers enough variety to keep you engaged without feeling like an exhausting marathon.

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

59.5 miles from Orem, UT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a shift in pace as you move from high-speed transit to more technical driving. Only 19% of this route consists of highway travel, meaning you will spend the bulk of your time on local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 89.7 miles on Veterans Memorial Highway, providing a consistent rhythm before the drive transitions into a turn-heavy local segment. Navigating these final miles requires more focus than standard interstate cruising, as the road personality shifts from a fast-paced arterial flow to a more localized environment. You will want to stay alert as the layout changes, especially as you approach the final destination.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Veterans Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 89.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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 2.3 miles in.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 119.1 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 2.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.5 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
2.3 mi into trip | ~4m 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
5
2.7 mi into trip | ~5m in | I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway

Merge onto I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6
54.5 mi into trip | ~1h in | I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
5
92.6 mi into trip | ~1h 40m in | I 15 Business; I 84 Business

Keep slight right at fork onto I 15 Business; I 84 Business

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

6
118.3 mi into trip | ~2h 12m in | 700 South

Turn right onto 700 South

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Veterans Memorial Highway 89.7 mi 1h 35m
US 89 20.9 mi 25m
1100 South 4.5 mi 5m
Canyon Parkway 1.2 mi 2m
State Street 1.1 mi 2m
I 15 Business 0.5 mi <1m
700 South 0.3 mi 1m
Summerwild Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Veterans Memorial Highway — 89.7 mi, about 1h 35m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Orem, UT and River Heights, UT.

1

Start on US 89

1.1 mi · 2 min · State Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
2

Turn left onto SR 52

1.2 mi · 2 min · Canyon Parkway
Use the left lane.
3

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Toward I 15 North: Salt Lake City Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4

Merge onto I 15

52 mi · 55 min · Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
5

Keep slight left at fork onto I 15

38 mi · 39 min · Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit onto I 15 Business; I 84 Business

0.2 mi · 21 sec · I 15 Business; I 84 Business
Toward US 91
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 15 Business; I 84 Business

0.3 mi · 36 sec · I 15 Business; I 84 Business
8

Merge onto US 91; I 15 Bus; I 84 Bus

4.5 mi · 5 min · 1100 South
9

Continue on US 89; US 91

21 mi · 25 min · US 89; US 91
Use the none lane.
10

Turn right onto 700 South

0.3 mi · 1 min · 700 South
Use the right lane.
11

Turn left onto Summerwild Avenue

0.3 mi · 47 sec · Summerwild Avenue
12

Continue on 600 South

0.2 mi · 41 sec · 600 South
13

Arrive at destination

600 South

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to leave whenever it suits your schedule without needing to plan for overnight stops. With zero designated stops required, you can easily complete the drive in one go, though keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is wise given the $19 estimated cost. Prioritize leaving during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the local segments of the route. Because the drive is characterized by its turn-heavy nature at the end, ensure your GPS is updated before you head out to navigate the transition onto 1100 South smoothly. Use this day trip window to your advantage by planning your departure to avoid the heaviest local traffic patterns.

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 59.5 miles from Orem, UT, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89.7 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 27m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 59.5 miles or 1h 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 1h 47m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near River Heights, UT than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Orem, 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 Orem, UT

This is one driving day of about 119.1 miles and 2h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Orem, 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.
The longest stretch is on Veterans Memorial Highway for about 89.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 59.5 mi from Orem, UT · 1h 5m into the drive

Downtown Farmington, UT, UT

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Farmington, UT

60 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

Ogden, UT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Farmington, UT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 59.5 miles from Orem, UT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Veterans Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 89.7 miles.

Arriving in River Heights, UT

The final approach into River Heights, 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 River Heights, 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

$18.87 one way

$37.75 round trip

$4.03/gal 25.4 MPG avg 42 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.23 $19.84 $39.68
premium $4.53 $21.24 $42.47
diesel $5.64 $26.46 $52.92

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 41.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 35.7 0 $12.51 $5.72
Efficient EV 29.8 0 $10.42 $4.76
EV Truck/SUV 47.6 0 $16.67 $7.62

Gas CO2

42 kg

EV CO2

14 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

Orem, UT

Afternoon in Orem on Sunday

Local time

4:23 PM

MDT

Current temp

41°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

River Heights, UT

Afternoon in River Heights on Sunday

Local time

4:23 PM

MDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

43°F

Farmington, UT

60 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

17 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 15m 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 Orem, UT to River Heights, UT covers 119.1 miles and takes about 2h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Veterans Memorial Highway, US 89, 1100 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59.5 miles from Orem, UT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.87 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 119.1 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.5 miles (I 15 / Veterans Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Orem, UT to River Heights, UT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

River Heights, UT to Orem, UT

Plan the drive back the other way.

119.4 mi 2h 16m

Explore more options from Orem, UT or browse trips ending in River Heights, UT.

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