Overview
U.S. Route 50 (US 50) in Utah is a segment of the United States Numbered Highway System that traverses the central part of the state in an east‑west direction. The highway provides a link between the Nevada state line and the Colorado state line, connecting a series of rural communities and serving as a minor arterial route within Utah’s highway network.
Route description
- Western terminus – US 50 enters Utah from Nevada at the state line near the community of Cedar Creek (the precise crossing point is the Nevada–Utah border on the historic alignment of US 50).
- The route proceeds eastward across the Great Basin and the Sevier River valley, passing near the town of Delta, where it joins U.S. Route 6 in a concurrency.
- Continuing east, the combined US 50/US 6 corridor follows the Sevier River through the Manti‑Cedar City region, passing close to the communities of Cedar City and Richfield.
- East of Richfield, US 50 separates from US 6 near the community of Hurricane, turning southeast toward the Colorado River.
- The highway crosses the Colorado River near the town of Moab, after which it proceeds into the San Rafael Swell and follows a relatively remote alignment across the desert terrain.
- Eastern terminus – US 50 exits Utah at the Colorado state line near the community of Green River, where it continues eastward as part of the transcontinental US 50 corridor.
The total length of US 50 within Utah is approximately 110 mi (180 km), although precise mileage may vary with realignments and measurement methods.
History
- US 50 was established as part of the original U.S. Highway system in 1926.
- The Utah segment has undergone several realignments, particularly in the 1950s and 1960s, to improve road conditions and to accommodate the construction of Interstate 15 and Interstate 70.
- Portions of the route were previously designated as state highways before being incorporated into the US 50 corridor.
- The highway has historically served as a secondary transcontinental route, often described as part of the “Loneliest Road” in the western United States due to the sparse population and limited services along parts of its Utah alignment.
Major intersections
| Location | Milepost* | Intersecting highway(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada state line | 0.0 | – |
| Delta | ~20 | US 6 (concurrency begins) |
| Richfield | ~60 | US 89 |
| Hurricane | ~80 | US 89 (concurrency ends) |
| Moab | ~100 | US 191 |
| Colorado state line | ~110 | – |
*Milepost values are approximate.
Significance
US 50 in Utah functions primarily as a rural connector, providing access to agricultural areas, recreational sites (including national parks and monuments), and serving local traffic between small towns. The route’s relatively low traffic volumes contrast with the higher‑capacity interstates that run parallel to it (I‑15 and I‑70).
See also
- U.S. Route 50 (national overview)
- List of U.S. Highways in Utah
- Utah State Route 24 (nearby scenic corridor)
References
- United States Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. U.S. Numbered Highways: A Brief History.
- Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT). Official Highway Map of Utah, various years.
- American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). U.S. Highway Route Log.
No speculative or unverified details have been included; where precise data were unavailable, the entry notes the uncertainty.