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Driving in Utah
The rules foreign visitors most often get wrong — with the official source for every fact. Always verify directly before you drive.
Utah is the national-park state — Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands all sit within a single 7-day driving loop (often called the "Mighty Five"). The standard route starts and ends in Salt Lake City or Las Vegas, with I-15 the spine north–south and US-89 + UT-12 connecting the parks. UT-12 between Bryce and Capitol Reef is one of the most spectacular paved roads in the US.
Utah raised parts of its rural Interstates to 80 mph — the highest legal limit in the US outside of Texas SH-130. The 80 mph segments include portions of I-15 between Cedar City and Beaver, and parts of I-80 west of Salt Lake City. Outside these segments most rural Interstates remain 75 or 70 mph.
Utah's 0.05% BAC limit (since 2018) is the strictest in the United States — half the national 0.08 standard. For visitors, the practical implication is that even a single drink at altitude can put you over.
The headline rule
0.05% BAC limit — the strictest in the US
Utah's legal driving BAC threshold is 0.05%, well below the 0.08% federal standard. NHTSA evaluation showed measurable crash reductions after the 2018 change. For a 70 kg adult, this is roughly one drink. Combined with Utah's altitude (Salt Lake City is 1,288 m; many ski resorts above 2,000 m), the effective tolerance is even lower. Practical rule: do not drink and drive in Utah, ever.
Key rules
- Max rural interstate speed
- 80 mph[1]
Portions of I-15, I-80, I-84
- Right turn on red
- Permitted after full stop (unless signed otherwise)[1]
- Seatbelt enforcement (front)
- unverifiedSee notes — verify with the state authority.
Upgraded to primary in 2015 (HB 79) per GHSA; verify direct with Utah Highway Safety Office
- Handheld phone
- unverifiedSee notes — verify with the state authority.[2]
Texting + hand-entry of data banned; handheld calls allowed hands-free — verify exact rule
- Texting while driving
- Banned[2]
- Min liability — bodily injury per person
- $25,000[3]
- Min liability — bodily injury per accident
- $65,000[3]
- Min liability — property damage
- $15,000[3]
- Motorcycle helmet
- Required for some riders (see notes)[4]
Under 21 required
- Move-over law
- Yes — required to move over / slow for emergency vehicles[5]
- Studded tires
- unverifiedSee notes — verify with the state authority.[6]
Allowed seasonally — UDOT treats as traction device; consult Utah Code §41-6a-1636 for exact window
- Marijuana in vehicle
- Open container / consumption in vehicle illegal[7]
Medical only; recreational illegal
Famous driving routes in Utah
- UT-12 (the "All-American Road")
Bryce to Capitol Reef via Boulder. 200 km of red-rock canyons.
- UT-9 / Zion Mt-Carmel Highway
Through Zion Canyon — the 1.7 km tunnel has vehicle-size restrictions for oversize vehicles ($15 escort fee).
- US-191 — Moab to Arches
Standard entry to Arches NP from the south.
- I-70 Eagle Canyon section
Genuinely scenic Interstate driving — uncommon in the US.
- Mirror Lake Highway (UT-150)
Wasatch alpine driving; summer only.
Tips for foreign visitors
- National-park entry fees: $35/vehicle/park or $80 America the Beautiful annual pass (covers all NPS sites; pays for itself at 3 parks).
- Bryce shuttle: in season (April–October) you can park at the visitor centre and use the shuttle to avoid car congestion at viewpoints.
- Zion shuttle: mandatory in the main canyon from April–November; no private vehicles past the Visitor Centre.
- Altitude: many ski resorts above 2,000 m. Allow acclimatisation; alcohol effect doubles roughly.
Tolls in Utah
Utah has no toll roads. The Adams Avenue Parkway in Ogden is a small county-operated toll bypass; no Interstate tolling exists.
Primary resources for Utah
Sources
Every claim above links to its numbered source here. If a link is broken, or you believe a fact is outdated, please let us know.
- [1]UDOT — HB 83 Speed Limit Amendments — UDOT · accessed 2026-04-23
- [2]Utah Code §41-6a-1716 — Communication Device — Utah Legislature · accessed 2026-04-23
- [3]Utah Insurance Dept. — Auto Insurance — Utah ID · accessed 2026-04-23
- [4]Utah Code §41-6a-1505 — Motorcycle Helmet (under 21) — Utah Legislature · accessed 2026-04-23
- [5]NHTSA — Move Over, It's the Law — NHTSA · accessed 2026-04-23
- [6]UDOT — Snow Tire and Chain-Up Requirements — UDOT · accessed 2026-04-23
- [7]Utah Medical Cannabis Program — Utah Dept. of Health · accessed 2026-04-23