Origin
Salt Lake City, UT
Afternoon in Salt Lake City on Sunday
Local time
1:51 PM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Salt Lake City, UT to Monticello, UT
Drive Time
5h 41m
Distance
287.7 mi
463 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 28m
★
6 AM
5h 41m
8 AM
6h 7m
10 AM
5h 50m
12 PM
5h 48m
3 PM
5h 52m
5 PM
6h 6m
8 PM
5h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monticello, UT
Nicola Toscan
Trip Overview
Embarking on the 287.7-mile journey from Salt Lake City to Monticello takes you through the heart of the Mountain West over approximately 5 hours and 41 minutes. Because this path relies on local roads like 300 South, State Street, and 500 South rather than high-speed interstates, it functions best as a dedicated day trip. You should budget roughly $44 for fuel to complete the trek. While the drive is manageable in a single day, the turn-heavy nature of the route requires your full attention. It is a straightforward way to traverse the Utah landscape, providing a practical connection between these two regional hubs.
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
143.9 miles from Salt Lake City, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 50m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a unique experience behind the wheel, as this route features a 0% highway share, making it a distinctly turn-heavy local drive. You will navigate through local streets rather than cruising on open interstates, which keeps the pace steady but requires constant navigation. With the longest stretch on 300 South totaling 0 miles of uninterrupted highway, you will find that the road demands frequent adjustments and active steering. This is not a monotonous cruise; instead, it is a hands-on journey that keeps you engaged with the local road network from start to finish. The character of the drive is defined by these technical, turn-by-turn segments across the state.
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.
300 South 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 41m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Salt Lake City, UT to Monticello, UT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 300 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| State Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 500 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Temple | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 15 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 6 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Highway Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
300 South
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salt Lake City, UT and Monticello, UT.
1
Start on Main Street
0.1 mi
·
37 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto 300 South
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
·
300 South
3
Turn right onto State Street
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
State Street
4
Turn right onto 500 South
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
500 South
5
Turn left onto West Temple
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Temple
6
Keep slight right to continue on I 15 South, I 80 East: Las Vegas, Cheyenne
49 mi
·
52 min
·
I 15 South, I 80 East: Las Vegas, Cheyenne
7
Take the exit slight right toward US 6 East, SR 156: Spanish Fork, Main Street, Price
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
US 6 East, SR 156: Spanish Fork, Main Street, Price
8
Keep slight left to continue on US 6 East: Price
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
US 6 East: Price
9
Merge slight left onto US 6 East: Price
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
US 6 East: Price
10
Continue straight
3.7 mi
·
5 min
11
Continue on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
33 mi
·
39 min
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
12
Continue on State Street
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
State Street
13
Continue on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
35 mi
·
42 min
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
14
Continue on West Highway Drive
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
West Highway Drive
15
Continue on East Main Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
East Main Street
16
Continue on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
76 mi
·
1 hr 23 min
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
17
Take the exit slight right toward US 191: Crescent Junction, Moab
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
US 191: Crescent Junction, Moab
18
Keep slight right to continue on Arches, Dead Horse Point, Canyonlands
27 mi
·
31 min
·
Arches, Dead Horse Point, Canyonlands
19
Keep slight right to continue on Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway
20
Turn straight onto Main Street
56 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
·
Main Street
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since you have one recommended stop along the way, plan to stretch your legs to break up the nearly six-hour duration. Leaving Salt Lake City early in the morning is your best bet to manage the local traffic patterns efficiently. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $44 estimate may fluctuate based on your vehicle's efficiency during the constant turning required on these local roads. Because there is no highway travel, flexibility is your biggest advantage; feel free to adjust your pace if you encounter unexpected local congestion. Take advantage of your designated stop to recalibrate, as the turn-heavy nature of this route can be more fatiguing than a standard highway drive.
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 143.9 miles from Salt Lake City, UT, or about 2h 50m 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.9 miles or 2h 50m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Monticello, UT than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Salt Lake City, 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 Salt Lake City, UT
This is one driving day of about 287.7 miles and 5h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Salt Lake City, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 143.9 mi from Salt Lake City, UT · 2h 50m 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 143.9 miles from Salt Lake City, UT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Monticello, UT
The final approach into Monticello, 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 Monticello, 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
$45.59 one way
$91.18 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
101 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.23 | $47.92 | $95.85 |
| premium | $4.53 | $51.30 | $102.60 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $63.92 | $127.83 |
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: 100.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 86.3 | 1 | $30.21 | $13.81 |
| Efficient EV | 71.9 | 0 | $25.17 | $11.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 115.1 | 1 | $40.28 | $18.41 |
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
Monticello, UT
Afternoon in Monticello on Sunday
Local time
1:51 PM
MDT
Current temp
38°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
5 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 41m 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 Salt Lake City, UT to Monticello, UT covers 287.7 miles and takes about 5h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 300 South, State Street, 500 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 143.9 miles from Salt Lake City, UT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.59 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 is a straightforward 5h 41m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Salt Lake City, UT to Monticello, UT is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Salt Lake City, UT to Monticello, UT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Monticello, UT
More trips to Monticello, UT
Explore more options from Salt Lake City, UT or browse trips ending in Monticello, UT.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse UT road trips.
Explore maps for Salt Lake City, UT or Monticello, UT on MapSof.net.