01
Scenic
Provo & the Wasatch Front
The mountains stay with you for the first hour south of Salt Lake — a dramatic sendoff along the Wasatch Front.
Road trip guide
Salt Lake City
Las Vegas
Salt Lake City to Las Vegas Road Trip
420 miles down I-15 — red-rock canyons, a national park detour, and the Strip at the finish line.
- Distance
- ~420 miles
- Drive time
- ~6 hours
- Suggested
- 3 days
- Best season
- Spring & fall (Zion is glorious, summer is hot)
Salt Lake City to Las Vegas is a straight shot down I-15 — about 420 miles and six hours — but it passes some of the most spectacular red rock in the country. With a half-day to spare, Zion National Park is right off the highway, and the drive itself saves the best for last: the Virgin River Gorge, one of the most beautiful stretches of interstate in America.
Here's the route, the stops, and a three-day plan. Wanderply can build your version and narrate every stop — including the famous ones on the way into Vegas.
The route
Stops along the way
02
Food / gas
Beaver, UT
The classic halfway stop. Arshel's Café has served road-trippers since 1973 — chicken-fried steak and scones the size of your face.
03
Detour
Zion National Park
Just off I-15 near St. George: the Narrows, Angels Landing, and the shuttle up Zion Canyon. The best detour on the drive.
04
Overnight
St. George, UT
Utah's warm-weather corner and a great base for Zion or Snow Canyon. A natural overnight before the final push.
05
Scenic drive
Virgin River Gorge
A jaw-dropping 20-mile canyon stretch of I-15 through the northwest tip of Arizona — one of the most scenic interstates ever built.
06
Destination
Las Vegas
The Sphere, the Strip, and a base for the Grand Canyon Skywalk and Hoover Dam. Neon after all that red rock.
Suggested plan
A 3-day skeleton
Day 1
SLC → St. George
South down I-15 with a lunch stop in Beaver. Overnight in St. George, gateway to Zion.
Day 2
Zion, then the Gorge
A morning in Zion Canyon, then the stunning drive through the Virgin River Gorge into Nevada. Vegas by evening.
Day 3
Vegas day
The Sphere, a Strip walk, and a day-trip option to Hoover Dam or the Grand Canyon Skywalk.
Hear every stop, narrated for the drive.
Wanderply doesn't just plan the Salt Lake City → Las Vegas route — it narrates every stop like a podcast you play in the car, with the history and the story of each place. And it all works offline, the whole way.
Build this trip & hear it →Loading typical conditions in Las Vegas…
Good to know
Frequently asked
How long is the drive from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas?
About 420 miles and 6 hours non-stop down I-15. With a Zion detour, make it a 2–3 day trip.
Can I visit a national park on the way?
Yes — Zion National Park is just off I-15 near St. George and is the standout detour. Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon are both within reach with an extra day.
What's the most scenic part of the drive?
The Virgin River Gorge — a 20-mile canyon stretch of I-15 through the corner of Arizona that's regularly called one of the most beautiful interstates in the country.
When is the best time to make this drive?
Spring and fall. Summer is very hot in St. George and Vegas; winter is fine on I-15 but Zion's high trails can be icy.
Make it yours in two minutes.
Tell Wanderply your dates, pace, and who's coming — it builds a day-by-day plan around your must-dos and narrates the whole drive.
Plan your Salt Lake City → Las Vegas trip
