Origin
Salt Lake City, UT
Afternoon in Salt Lake City on Sunday
Local time
1:52 PM
MDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Salt Lake City, UT to River Heights, UT
Drive Time
1h 37m
Distance
82.4 mi
133 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 30m
★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 52m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
River Heights, UT
Matthew Montrone
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Salt Lake City to River Heights, expect an easy 82.4-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 37 minutes. This route stays within the Mountain West region, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You will primarily navigate Veterans Memorial Highway, US 89, and 1100 South to reach your destination. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $13, this drive is quite budget-friendly. Since the trip is short and requires zero mandatory stops, you have plenty of flexibility to complete it in one go without needing an overnight stay.
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
41.2 miles from Salt Lake City, UT
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Drive Character
This 82.4-mile trek offers a distinct blend of road types, characterized primarily as a turn-heavy local drive. You will spend roughly 26% of your time on highways, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 53.7 miles along Veterans Memorial Highway. As you transition off the main highway sections, the experience shifts toward more technical, local navigation. Expect the pace to fluctuate as you leave the major corridors and maneuver through the final segments of the route. It is a drive that demands your attention at the wheel, especially as the road profile changes from fast-moving lanes to more localized paths.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 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 53.7 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 0.1 miles in near 300 South.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 82.4 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 0.1 miles (300 South): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (SR 186 / State Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (US 89 / 400 South): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
300 South
Turn right onto 300 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
SR 186 / State Street
Turn right onto SR 186 / State Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 89 / 400 South
Turn right onto US 89 / 400 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
17.8 mi into trip
|
~22m 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.
6
81.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m in
|
700 South
Turn right onto 700 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Memorial Highway | 53.7 mi | 56m |
| US 89 | 20.9 mi | 25m |
| 1100 South | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| 400 South | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| I 15 Business | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 700 South | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Summerwild Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 600 South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Veterans Memorial Highway
— 53.7 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salt Lake City, UT and River Heights, UT.
1
Start on Main Street
0.1 mi
·
36 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto 300 South
0.1 mi
·
37 sec
·
300 South
Use the right lane.
3
Turn right onto SR 186
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
State Street
4
Turn right onto US 89
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
400 South
Use the none lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 15 North: Ogden
6
Merge onto I 15
16 mi
·
16 min
·
Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the none lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 15
38 mi
·
39 min
·
Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto I 15 Business; I 84 Business
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
I 15 Business; I 84 Business
Toward US 91
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 15 Business; I 84 Business
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
I 15 Business; I 84 Business
10
Merge onto US 91; I 15 Bus; I 84 Bus
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
1100 South
11
Continue on US 89; US 91
21 mi
·
25 min
·
US 89; US 91
Use the none lane.
12
Turn right onto 700 South
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
700 South
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto Summerwild Avenue
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Summerwild Avenue
14
Continue on 600 South
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
600 South
15
Arrive at destination
600 South
Trip Plan
Because this drive is relatively short, you have the advantage of scheduling your departure around your personal preferences rather than strict fatigue management. Since there are no required stops on this 1 hour and 37-minute route, you can easily handle the transit in one comfortable block of time. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the local roads means you should stay alert during the final miles leading into River Heights. Budgeting around $13 for fuel should keep you covered for the entire 82.4-mile distance. A smart tip for this trip is to prioritize your timing to avoid peak traffic hours on the Veterans Memorial Highway, as this will help ensure your drive remains as efficient as possible.
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 41.2 miles from Salt Lake City, UT, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.7 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 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.2 miles or 47m 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 20m
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 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 82.4 miles and 1h 37m.
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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Veterans Memorial Highway for about 53.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.2 mi from Salt Lake City, UT · 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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
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
$13.06 one way
$26.11 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.23 | $13.73 | $27.45 |
| premium | $4.53 | $14.69 | $29.39 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $18.31 | $36.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.7 | 0 | $8.65 | $3.96 |
| Efficient EV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.21 | $3.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33 | 0 | $11.54 | $5.27 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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.
Destination
River Heights, UT
Afternoon in River Heights on Sunday
Local time
1:52 PM
MDT
Current temp
58°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
15 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
1h 37m 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 Salt Lake City, UT to River Heights, UT covers 82.4 miles and takes about 1h 37m 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 41.2 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 $13.06 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 11 significant decision points across 82.4 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 0.1 miles (300 South): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (SR 186 / State Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (US 89 / 400 South): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Salt Lake City, UT to River Heights, UT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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