Utah’s worst commutes: 25 cities where your drive takes longest

South Jordan residents face the longest daily commute in Utah—35.4 minutes each way to work. That’s more time than it takes to drive from Salt Lake City to Park City.

Using U.S. Census Bureau data, researchers at Stacker analyzed commute patterns across Utah municipalities with at least 5,000 workers. The rankings below reflect average travel times to work based on the 2021 American Community Survey five-year estimates.

The data reveals how Utah’s explosive growth is pushing workers farther from job centers, creating longer commutes that eat up hours each week. The average Utah commuter spends 54 minutes daily just getting to and from work.

The price of growth

Utah added close to 60,000 residents between 2023 and 2024, with cities like Lehi and Saratoga Springs leading population growth. But most new jobs remain concentrated along the Wasatch Front, forcing residents in rapidly growing areas to drive longer distances for work.

The average Salt Lake City commute is 22.5 minutes, while Utahns spend 59 hours annually sitting in rush hour traffic—equivalent to two-and-a-half days stuck in their cars.

Utah’s 25 longest commutes

Cities ranked by average one-way commute time:

1. South Jordan – 35.4 minutes (National rank #87)

2. Salt Lake City – 32.8 minutes (National rank #187)

3. Eagle Mountain – 31.7 minutes (National rank #259)

4. Tooele – 30.5 minutes (National rank #347)

5. Saratoga Springs – 30.5 minutes (National rank #351)

6. Orem – 29.7 minutes (National rank #428)

7. Syracuse – 28.8 minutes (National rank #516)

8. Riverton – 28.6 minutes (National rank #538)

9. Lehi – 28.4 minutes (National rank #564)

10. Herriman – 27.7 minutes (National rank #658)

11. Santaquin – 27.2 minutes (National rank #710)

12. Farmington – 25.0 minutes (National rank #1018)

13. West Haven – 24.9 minutes (National rank #1022)

14. Sandy – 24.4 minutes (National rank #1126)

15. Roy – 24.0 minutes (National rank #1193)

16. Kaysville – 23.6 minutes (National rank #1255)

17. Clinton – 23.5 minutes (National rank #1273)

18. West Point – 23.4 minutes (National rank #1285)

19. Highland – 23.3 minutes (National rank #1302)

20. Draper – 23.2 minutes (National rank #1323)

21. Bluffdale – 22.8 minutes (National rank #1366)

22. Bountiful – 22.7 minutes (National rank #1382)

23. Hurricane – 22.5 minutes (National rank #1419)

24. Cottonwood Heights – 22.5 minutes (National rank #1421)

25. West Jordan – 22.3 minutes (National rank #1448)

Why these cities top the list

The longest commutes reveal interesting patterns:

Suburban sprawl: South Jordan, despite being closer to downtown Salt Lake City, tops the list as workers commute to jobs scattered across the valley. Salt Lake City’s #2 ranking reflects the reality that many residents work outside the city center.

Fast-growing suburbs: Eagle Mountain, Saratoga Springs, and Herriman have exploded in population but lack nearby employment centers. Northwestern Utah County cities like Lehi, Saratoga Springs, and Eagle Mountain have averaged 12-15% annual population growth over three years, adding 60,000+ new residents.

Bedroom communities: Cities like Tooele and Syracuse house workers who commute to Salt Lake County jobs.

The real cost

A 35.4-minute one-way commute means South Jordan workers spend:

• 71 minutes daily commuting

• 6 hours weekly

• 24 hours monthly

• 290 hours yearly in their cars

That’s more than seven full work weeks annually just driving to work.

What Utah is doing

UDOT has retimed traffic signals on major routes like 2100 North, Pioneer Crossing, and Redwood Road to improve morning rush hour flow. The agency is also studying long-term solutions:

• Mountain View Corridor: A new freeway from 2100 North to Porter Rockwell providing an I-15 alternative

• Enhanced transit: Big Cottonwood Canyon will get enhanced bus service running every 5-10 minutes during peak hours

• Signal optimization: Real-time traffic monitoring and signal adjustments

Looking ahead

Utah’s population could reach 4.1 million by 2034, meaning more pressure on roads already struggling with growth. With Utah’s population expected to nearly double by 2050, traffic problems will worsen unless commuting patterns change.

The cities with the worst commutes today offer a preview of Utah’s transportation challenges tomorrow—unless the state can build infrastructure as fast as it’s building homes.

Data based on U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates for cities with at least 5,000 working adults.