How far is Magna, UT from Alta, IA?
The driving distance from Magna, UT to Alta, IA is about 1062.5 miles (1709.9 km), with a travel time of about 18h 36m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 876.4 miles (1410.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 37h 12m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 18h 36m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Village in Cheyenne County, Nebraska, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Rain Showers
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Magna and Alta.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Magna and Alta.
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1
Start on Spencer Avenue
715 ft · 27 sec · Spencer Avenue
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2
Turn right onto Magna Main Street
2712 ft · 2 min · Magna Main Street
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3
Turn left onto 8400 West
1985 ft · 43 sec · 8400 West
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4
Take the ramp slight right toward SR 201
1115 ft · 31 sec
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5
Merge slight left
9.8 mi · 12 min
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6
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Cheyenne
2737 ft · 1 min
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7
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
433.3 mi · 7 hr 10 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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8
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
488.8 mi · 8 hr 13 min · Purple Heart Trail
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9
Take the exit slight right toward I 680 North
2485 ft · 37 sec
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10
Continue on I 680 north
16.4 mi · 19 min
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11
Take the exit straight toward I 29 North: Sioux City
1650 ft · 56 sec
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12
Merge slight left
10 mi · 11 min
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13
Take the exit slight right toward Loveland
1934 ft · 1 min
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14
Turn left onto Desoto Avenue
1522 ft · 51 sec · Desoto Avenue
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15
At the end of the road, turn left onto Old Lincoln Highway
2978 ft · 46 sec · Old Lincoln Highway
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16
Continue on Loess Hills Trail
3.1 mi · 4 min · Loess Hills Trail
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17
Continue on South 6th Street
2367 ft · 1 min · South 6th Street
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18
Turn right onto East Erie Street
1812 ft · 1 min · East Erie Street
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19
Continue on Lincoln Highway
7.5 mi · 11 min · Lincoln Highway
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20
Continue on South Maple Avenue
1688 ft · 43 sec · South Maple Avenue
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21
Turn right onto West 7th Street
1908 ft · 1 min · West 7th Street
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22
Continue on County Road F50
17.4 mi · 24 min · County Road F50
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23
Continue on South 3rd Street
1.2 km · 1 min · South 3rd Street
-
24
Continue on South 6th Street
16.5 mi · 24 min · South 6th Street
-
25
Turn straight onto 260th Street
1.3 km · 1 min · 260th Street
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26
Continue on George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
1656 ft · 28 sec · George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
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27
Turn right onto State Highway 39
17.1 mi · 24 min · State Highway 39
-
28
Continue on 400th Street
1.2 km · 1 min · 400th Street
-
29
Continue on Fox Avenue
5.9 mi · 8 min · Fox Avenue
-
30
Continue on South Des Moines Street
2648 ft · 1 min · South Des Moines Street
-
31
Continue on Fox Avenue
11.3 mi · 16 min · Fox Avenue
-
32
Turn right onto 220th Street
1.3 km · 1 min · 220th Street
-
33
Turn left onto Gard Avenue
5.9 mi · 8 min · Gard Avenue
-
34
Continue on 90th Avenue
3 mi · 4 min · 90th Avenue
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35
At the end of the road, turn left onto 630th Street
2647 ft · 43 sec · 630th Street
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36
Turn right onto 85th Avenue
951 ft · 17 sec · 85th Avenue
-
37
Continue on State Highway 110
2.7 mi · 4 min · State Highway 110
-
38
Continue on State Highway 110
1595 ft · 30 sec · State Highway 110
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39
Continue on 90th Avenue
1549 ft · 34 sec · 90th Avenue
-
40
Turn left onto Highway 7
3.3 mi · 5 min · Highway 7
-
41
Turn right onto 60th Avenue
613 ft · 27 sec · 60th Avenue
-
42
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 60th Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Magna and Alta.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Purple Heart Trail
Continue on Purple Heart Trail
489 mi · 08h 13m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Sunny leaving Magna and Rain Showers near Alta.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Magna to Alta?
The road trip is about 1062.5 miles (1709.9 km) and usually takes 18h 36m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Potter is a useful midpoint, sitting about 528.5 miles from Magna and 534 miles from Alta.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 876.4 miles (1410.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 186.1 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM MDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $181.08 one way or $362.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 333.2 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Magna and Alta, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Magna and Rain Showers near Alta.
Stop Ideas Near Potter
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Potter.
Fort Morgan
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Magna and Alta. Straight-line distance: 876.41 mi (1410.44 km).
#1 Magna
Census-designated place in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States
| Population | 26,505 |
| Coordinates | 40.7091100, -112.1016100 |
| Altitude | 1304 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Alta
City in Buena Vista County, Iowa, United States
| Population | 1,916 |
| Coordinates | 42.6735900, -95.2905500 |
| Altitude | 454 |
| Country | United States |
End: Alta (-95.29055, 42.67359)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1710 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 35h 24m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 26h 33m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 21h 14m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 17h 42m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 15h 10m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 13h 15m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.83 | $181.08 | $362.15 |
| Mid-grade | $5.12 | $192.06 | $384.12 |
| Premium | $5.36 | $200.87 | $401.74 |
| Diesel | $6.28 | $235.44 | $470.87 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Utah · Oct 15, 2026