U.S. Route 50 (US-50) in Utah crosses the center of the state. The highway serves no major population centers in Utah, with the largest city along its path being Delta. Most of the route passes through desolate, remote areas. Through the eastern half of the state the route is concurrent with Interstate 70 (I-70). US-50 both enters and exits Utah concurrent with US-6, however the two routes are separate through the center of the state.

Quick Facts Route information, Length ...

U.S. Route 50
US 50 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by UDOT
Length	335.541 mi[1] (540.001 km)
Existed	1926–present
Major junctions
West end	US 6 / US 50 at the Nevada state line (east of Baker, NV)
Major intersections	US 6 in Delta I-15 in Holden I-15 in Scipio I-70 / US 89 in Salina US 6 / US 191 near Green River US 191 at Crescent Junction
East end	I-70 / US 6 / US 50 at the Colorado state line (west of Fruita, CO)
Location
Country	United States
State	Utah
Counties	Millard, Sevier, Emery, Grand
Highway system
United States Numbered Highway System List Special Divided Utah State Highway System Interstate US State Minor Scenic
← SR-48 → SR-51

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Three completely different routings of US-50 have existed between Green River and Ely, Nevada. The route between these cities has become progressively shorter as new roads have been paved through this largely uninhabited region of both states. The earlier routings were a result of a dispute between Utah and Nevada over which auto trails would be paved and converted to U.S. Highways.

The highway enters Utah from Nevada in a desolate portion of the Great Basin Desert. Similar to many portions of the route in Nevada, there are multiple stretches without any motorist services. There are no services between the state line and the small farming village of Hinckley, just outside of Delta, a span of roadway that is about 100 miles (160 km).^[2] While passing through the Great Basin the highway crosses two mountain ranges, the Confusion Range via King's Canyon, and House Range via Skull Rock Pass, before arriving at the shore of Sevier Lake, an intermittent lake fed by snow melt from many mountain ranges in the eastern half of the Great Basin. The highway follows the north shore of Sevier Lake and the Sevier River towards Delta.^[2] Today much of the water in the Sevier river is diverted for agricultural use before reaching the lake, and rarely is significant water visible in the lake.^[3]

The scenery changes as US-50 approaches Delta, where U.S. Route 6 and 50 separate. As the road approaches Delta, a straight passage across desert becomes zigzags through farming areas. The highway continues to zigzag through farms until arriving at more mountainous terrain at Holden. At Holden, the highway merges with Interstate 15 to cross the Pavant Range via Scipio Summit. After passing the mountains, US-50 then separates from this freeway as again a two lane road passing through desolate territory towards Salina where the road joins with Interstate 70. The two highways run concurrent from this point east to Colorado. Yet again, there is a stretch of highway 110 miles (180 km) long without services from Salina to Green River.^[2]

While co-routed with I-70, US-50 crosses the Wasatch Plateau and passes through the San Rafael Swell. The construction of I-70 through the swell is noted as one of the engineering marvels of the Interstate Highway System.^[4] One specific feat, the excavation through a portion called Spotted Wolf Canyon, required excavating 3,500,000 cubic yards (2,700,000 m³) of rock to have a bed for just 8 miles (13 km) of roadway. Construction workers noted that prior to the construction of the freeway a man could stand in this canyon and touch both sides of the canyon wall.^[5]

US-6 rejoins US-50 near Green River. The three routes run concurrent and follow the southern edge of the Book Cliffs to Grand Junction, Colorado. Once again, services are not present from Thompson Springs to Fruita, Colorado, a span of about 60 miles (97 km).^[2] This portion of US-50 is part of the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway, a National Scenic Byway. The name of the byway comes from the large number of areas along the route with visible dinosaur remains.^[6] The entire route through the state, as well as the concurrencies with I-15 and I-70, is included in the National Highway System.^[7]

• US-50 and US-6 between Nevada border and Delta
• I-70 (and US-50) routed through Spotted Wolf Canyon
• US-50 descending from Skull Rock Pass in western Utah
• Eastbound US 50 arrives at a T-intersection at the edge of Holden and turns left, and the SR-64 is to the right (May 2020)
• Signage at the T-intersection in Holden. To the right is SR-64, but the BGS simply points the way to Interstate 15 (May 2020)

The modern route of U.S. Route 50 between Ely, Nevada and Green River, Utah is the third iteration.