Interstate 15 is the primary arterial connecting the communities of Utah, the Beehive State. Entering Utah south of St. George, Interstate 15 retains rural characteristics as it passes through the cities of Cedar City, Parowan, Beaver, Fillmore, and Nephi. North of Nephi, Interstate 15 assumes a more urban feel, especially as it enters Provo, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Tremonton. Between Ogden and Tremonton, Interstate 15 is paired with Interstate 84; after they separate, Interstate 15 leaves Utah and enters Idaho.
This page profiles Interstate 15 in Iron County, which includes Cedar City, Enoch, and Parowan.
Perspective from Northbound Interstate 15
After entering Iron County, the first exit is Exit 42, Junction Iron County Route 144/New Harmony Road to Historic U.S. 91 and Kanarraville. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Northbound Interstate 15 at Exit 42, Junction Iron County Route 144/New Harmony Road to Old U.S. 91. Historic U.S. 91 follows Harmony View Road to the east of Interstate 15, and it leads north into Kanarraville. The old road reconnects with Interstate 15 at Exit 51. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Like Nevada and California, Utah generally uses "freeway entrance" signs such as this one to denote the beginning of an onramp to a freeway. However, the assembly of this sign is less elaborate, with a much smaller sign and no ancillary shields or directional banners. This particular assembly is located at the base of the offramp for Exit 42. Photo taken 10/24/03.
The second exit in Iron County along northbound is for a rest area near Milepost 44. This is the first rest area along northbound since the tourist information center/welcome center at the state line. Photo taken 10/24/03.
The first mileage sign in Iron County features the mileage to two Iron County destinations: Cedar City (12 miles) and Parowan (29 miles) as well as the control city of Salt Lake City (263 miles). Photo taken 10/24/03.
This is a typical overpass design found along Interstate 15 as it passes through southern Iron County. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Northbound Interstate 15 approaching Exit 51, Hamilton Fort, one mile. Curiously, the exit number is omitted here. Photo taken 10/24/03.
The loop that follows Historic U.S. 91 from Exit 42 north to Exit 51 via Kanarraville returns to Interstate 15 at Hamilton Fort. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Northbound Interstate 15 at Exit 51, Junction Old U.S. 91/Hamilton Fort. The old road leads south into Kanarraville and north into Hamilton Fort via the frontage road. Photo taken 10/24/03.
The two main cities in Iron County are Cedar City and Parowan, so this mileage sign along northbound lists only these two destinations. Photo taken 10/24/03.
The next city along Interstate 15 northbound after St. George (and its suburbs, Santa Clara and Washington) is Cedar City. Cedar City has three exits: Exit 57, Junction Northbound Business Loop I-15 and Utah 130; Exit 59, Junction Utah 56; and Exit 61, Junction Northbound Utah 130. The business loop follows old U.S. 91 through Cedar City. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Exit 57, Junction Northbound Business Loop I-15 and Utah 130, provides the most direct access to the city and to Utah 14, which leads east toward Cedar Breaks National Monument. In addition, Utah 130 connects to secret Utah 289, which follows Center Street west to Southern Utah University, the region's only four-year institution of higher learning. The university is situated near the center of town, just east of downtown Cedar City. A renowned feature of Southern Utah University is its Shakespeare Festival. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Like Exit 16 (Junction Utah 9) before it, Exit 57 features connections to a variety of national parks. Business Loop I-15/Utah 130 northbound connect to Utah 14, which turns east to ascend the Markagunt Plateau. Crossing the plateau at an elevation of 9,896 feet at Midway Summit, Utah 14 then connects to Cedar Breaks National Monument via Utah 148 north. Cedar Breaks features a view of the expansive Pink Cliffs. The park and Utah 148 are closed in winter. Continuing east on Utah 14, then north on U.S. 89 and east on Utah 12, travelers may reach internationally famous Bryce Canyon, a companion to Zion National Park to the south. Situated on the Paunsaugunt Plateau, Bryce Canyon visitors enjoy hoodoos (rock formations caused by centuries of water and wind erosion of gorgeous sandstone, limestone, and mudstone). Of course, travelers may also use this exit to reach Capitol Reef National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and the Grand Canyon via a variety of routes, including U.S. 89 and Utah 24. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Cedar City is known as the City of Festivals, and it is home to Southern Utah University. Over 21,535 people call Cedar City home, and this total does not include the transient student population. At an altitude of 5,800 feet, the city receives 45.4 inches of snow annually and sees temperature ranging from the 40s in January to upper 80s in July. The main route into the city is via the business loop and Utah 130 north. On this series of signs, Utah 130 is omitted from the description; the business loop is shown as "to Utah 14." Photo taken 10/24/03.
Northbound Interstate 15 at Exit 57, Junction Northbound Business Loop I-15/Utah 130/Historic U.S. 91, Cedar City. Most motorist services, as well as a hospital, are located along the business loop. Photo taken 10/24/03.
The next Cedar City exit is Exit 59, Junction Utah 56, one mile. Photo taken 10/24/03.
The Utah 56 exit serves Southern Utah University and also Iron Mission State Park. Iron Mission State Park, reached by taking Utah 56 east to Business Loop I-15/Utah 130 north, features a museum that describes the history of Iron County, including how its namesake was used in the settlement of the region. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Now entering the shadow of a hill to the west (it is late in the day, after all), the sign is obscured a bit by the lack of direct daylight. The Cedar City Airport is accessed via this interchange, and it is the first commercial airport along Interstate north since leaving St. George. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Most motorist services, such as motels, restaurants, gas stations, and related services are available within a mile of the Interstate 15/Utah 56 interchange. Utah 56 is a major east-west highway in southern Utah, connecting Cedar City with Panaca and U.S. 93 via Nevada 319. Heading east, Utah 56 comes to its eastern end at Business Loop I-15/Utah 130 in downtown Cedar City just a few blocks north of the western terminus of Utah 14. The Utah Department of Transportation frowns on cosigning routes, so it did not give a consistent number to the Utah 56 and Utah 14 corridor. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Northbound Interstate 15 at Exit 59, Junction Utah 56. Note the older, button-copy, non-reflective sign used as the pull through for Interstate 15 north.
The final Cedar City exit along northbound is Exit 62, Junction Northbound Utah 130 to Enoch and Minersville. Utah 130 passes through Enoch in the shadow of Interstate 15, then takes 35 miles to reach Minersville, at its junction with Utah 21 (northern terminus). Together with Utah 21, Utah 257, and U.S. 6 to the north, Utah 130 provides an alternate route to Interstate 15 between Cedar City and Santaquin. This exit also heads south back toward downtown via Southbound Business Loop I-15/Utah 130 to Cedar City. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Northbound Interstate 15 approaching Exit 62, Junction Northbound Utah 130 to Enoch and Minersville and Southbound Business Loop I-15/Utah 130 to Cedar City, one-half mile. Old U.S. 91 follows Utah 130 into Enoch, then takes a parallel highway to rejoin Interstate 15 at Exit 71/Summit. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Northbound Interstate 15 at Exit 62, Junction Northbound Utah 130 to Enoch and Minersville and Southbound Business Loop I-15/Utah 130 to Cedar City. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Now leaving Cedar City, the next town mentioned on this mileage sign along northbound in Iron County is Summit, followed by Parowan. Again, the control city of Salt Lake City is omitted. Photo taken 10/24/03.
The next exit along northbound is Exit 71, Junction Old U.S. 91 into Summit via Main Street, one mile. This picture also shows Milepost 69. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Northbound Interstate 15 approaching Exit 71, Old U.S. 91/Main Street/Summit. U.S. 91 remains east of Interstate 15 between Summit and Parowan, choosing to meet Utah 143/Business Loop I-15 in Parowan. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Northbound Interstate 15 at Exit 71, Main Street/Summit. Old U.S. 91 returns to the freeway from the southwest here. Photo taken 10/24/03.
The next two exits for Interstate 15 serve the city of Parowan, "the Mother Town of southern Utah," and Brian Head, a nearby ski resort. Photo taken 10/24/03.
The late-day sun reflects directly onto these signs, making the sign for Exit 75, Junction Business Loop I-15 North and Utah 143 East, into Parowan harder to read. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Northbound Interstate 15 approaching Exit 75, Junction Business Loop I-15 North and Utah 143 East, Parowan, one-half mile. Utah 143 is an odd route, following a "U" shaped route from Parowan east through Brian Head, north of Cedar Breaks National Monument, and culminating in Panguitch (at Junction U.S. 89). Photo taken 10/24/03.
While Utah 14 provides the approach to Cedar Breaks National Monument from the south, Utah 143 approaches the monument from the north. The connecting road is Utah 148. Brian Head, a well-known ski area, is located on Utah 143 southeast of Cedar City. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Northbound Interstate 15 at Exit 75, Junction Business Loop I-15 North and Utah 143 East, Parowan. Photo taken 10/24/03.
This shield for northbound Interstate 15 is located after Exit 75, the Parowan Business Loop. The next set of signs is for Exit 78, Junction Utah 274. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Mileage sign along northbound after Exit 75 for the remaining Iron County destination, Paragonah, followed by the Beaver County seat of Beaver, and the control city of Salt Lake City. Salt Lake is still three and a half or four hours driving time from here in Parowan. Photo taken 10/24/03.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 15 is Exit 78, which is signed for Utah 143, but is really Utah 274/Business Loop I-15, the second exit into Parowan. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Northbound Interstate 15 approaching Exit 78, Junction Business Loop I-15 South and Utah 274 East, one-half mile. Utah 274 leads east to a junction with Utah 271, which follows Old U.S. 91 north through Paragonah before merging back onto Interstate 15 at Exit 82. Utah 274 continues east past the Utah 271 intersection and meets Utah 143 in downtown Parowan. The section of Utah 274 between Utah 271 and Utah 143 is old U.S. 91. Photo taken 10/24/03.
Northbound Interstate 15 at Exit 78, Junction Business Loop I-15 South and Utah 274 East, Parowan. This sign would be better suited to say "South Business Loop I-15/East Utah 274 to East Utah 143, Parowan." Photo taken 10/24/03.
Continuing north, the next major interchange along Interstate 15 is Exit 95, Junction Utah 20 east to U.S. 89. From the intersection with U.S. 89, turn south to Panguitch (seat of Garfield County) and north to Circleville, a small town just north of the Garfield-Piute County Line. Photo taken by Casey Cooper, 07/08/05.
Perspective from Southbound Interstate 15
Another in the series of Interstate 15 Business Loops departs the southbound freeway at Parowan. Business Loop Interstate 15 flows south from Exit 78 with Utah 274 via Main Street into the Iron County seat. The designation co-signs with Utah 274 through to junction Utah 271, and with Utah 271 south to Utah 143 (Center Street). Utah 143 enters the town from the Cedar Breaks National Monument and Brians Head to the south. The state highway follows Center Street, Main Street, and 200 South to Interstate 15 at Exit 75. Business Loop Interstate 15 follows Utah 143 back to its parent. Photo taken 10/18/04.
This southbound Interstate 15 shield is located just after the onramp from the interchange with Utah 130 north in Cedar City/Enoch. Photo taken 10/25/03.
Due to construction in the Virgin River Gorge that resulted in a reduction in lanes in Arizona at the time this photo was taken, oversize vehicles are advised to use Utah 56 west, Nevada 319 west, and U.S. 93 south to reach Las Vegas and beyond. Photo taken 10/25/03.
The next exit along southbound is Exit 59, Junction Utah 56, one mile. Utah 56 heads east into Cedar City and west toward Panaca, Nevada, with connections to U.S. 93 and Nevada 375, the Extraterrestrial Highway. Photo taken 10/25/03.
Utah 56 east leads to Southern Utah University, the largest four-year university in Southern Utah. Photo taken 10/25/03.
The Markagunt Plateau rises above the skyline of Cedar City as seen in this vista along southbound Interstate 15 as it approaches Exit 59, Junction Utah 56. Photo taken 10/25/03.
Similar to the sign assembly on northbound, there are two signs to indicate the ramp from Interstate 15 to Utah 56. This is the last sign bridge in Utah along southbound Interstate 15. Photo taken 10/25/03.
Unlike most of the signs that have been replaced, a few nonreflective button copy overhead signs remain, including this one, which features St. George (rather than Las Vegas) as a control city. Photo taken 10/25/03.
On the looped (partial cloverleaf) offramp from southbound Interstate 15 to junction Utah 56, note that a left turn heads west and a right turn heads east. That is counter-intuitive compared to a diamond interchange configuration. Photo taken 10/25/03.
