Site Navigation Arizona California Colorado Idaho Montana Nevada New Mexico Utah Wyoming     Interstate 15 South - Washington County Interstate 15 south Interstate 15 leaves Iron County and enters Washington County as the freeway crosses over Highway 144 near New Harmony. Washington County has seen tremendous population growth between 2000 and 2010. According to U.S. Census figures, the population increased from 90,354 in 2000 to 138,115 in 2010. St. George is the largest city in Washington County and is the county seat. Photo taken 08/15/10. This Interstate 15 south reassurance route marker is located just after the onramp from the interchange with Old U.S. Highway 91 and Highway 144 near New Harmony. Photo taken 07/13/08. The next exit along Interstate 15 south is Exit 40, Kolob Canyon Scenic Drive (one mile). Kolob Canyon is part of Zion National Park. Travelers can depart the freeway at Exit 40 to see orange-red cliffs glisten in the sunlight. Access to the Kolob Canyon section of Zion National Park is free, but no motorist services (gas, food, lodging) are available either. The exit sign changed between 2010 and 2011. Photos taken 08/20/11 and 07/13/08. This scenic road leading into Kolob Canyon does not connect with the main part of Zion National Park. Traffic en route to the main part of Zion National Park should continue south on Interstate 15 to Exit 27, Junction Utah 17 south to Utah 9 east. Photo taken 08/20/11. Interstate 15 south approaches Exit 40, Kolob Canyon Scenic Drive (one-half mile). Photo taken 08/20/11. Southbound Interstate 15 meets Exit 40, Kolob Canyon Scenic Drive to the Kolob Canyon segment of Zion National Park. Through traffic should continue south on Interstate 15. No services are available at this interchange. Photos taken 08/20/11 and 07/13/08. This Interstate 15 south reassurance route marker is located just after the onramp from the Kolob Canyon Scenic Drive interchange. Photo taken 08/15/10. After an "Elevation 5,000 feet above sea level" sign, this mileage sign provides the distance to Toquerville (16 miles), St. George (32 miles), and Las Vegas (155 miles). Omitted is the distance to Mesquite, which is situated at the Arizona-Nevada state line. Photo taken 08/15/10. The next exit along Interstate 15 south is Exit 36, Black Ridge (formerly "Ranch Exit"). Photos taken 08/20/11 and 07/13/08. Southbound Interstate 15 reaches Exit 36, Black Ridge. Photo taken 08/15/10. No motorist services are available at Exit 36, Black Ridge. Photo taken 08/15/10. Interstate 15 prepares to make its descent toward Toquerville and St. George, both of which reside at a much lower elevation than Cedar City. The downhill grade will reach six percent. Photo taken 07/13/08. An Interstate 15 south reassurance shield is posted after the onramp from Black Ridge. Photo taken 07/13/08. This mileage sign provides the distance to Toquerville (12 miles) and St. George (27 miles). This is one of the few remaining button copy signs left on Interstate 15 in Utah (still in place as of August 2011). Photo taken 07/13/08. Another sign advises of the six percent downhill grade. Photo taken 07/13/08. Interstate 15 curves downhill between Exits 36 and 33. Photo taken 07/13/08. The next exit along Interstate 15 south is Exit 33, Snowfield (formerly Ranch Exit) (one mile). The sign was replaced between 2010 and 2011. Photos taken 08/20/11 and 07/13/08. Pavement work in 2010 resulted in the closure of a lane. This sign was also replaced between 2010 and 2011. Photos taken 08/20/11 and 08/15/10. Southbound Interstate 15 reaches Exit 33, Snowfield (formerly Ranch Exit). Photos taken 08/20/11 and 07/13/08. The next exit along Interstate 15 south is Exit 31, Pintura (one mile). The sign was replaced between 2010 and 2011. Photos taken 08/20/11 and 08/15/10. Interstate 15 south approaches Exit 31, Pintura (one-half mile). No services are available at this interchange. Photos taken 08/20/11 and 08/15/10. Southbound Interstate 15/Veterans Memorial Highway reaches Exit 31, Pintura (no services are available at this interchange). Photos taken 08/20/11 and 07/13/08. Passing through the Pintura interchange, the next exit along southbound Interstate 15 is Exit 30, Browse. Photo taken 08/20/11. An Interstate 15 south reassurance shield is posted after the onramp from Pintura. This shield was moved further south (see below). Photo taken 07/13/08. Interstate 15 south approaches Exit 30, Browse (one-half mile). The location of this advance sign moved further north (and the reassurance route marker was also moved further south). No services are available at this interchange. Photos taken 08/20/11 and 08/15/10. Southbound Interstate 15 reaches Exit 30, Browse. Photos taken 08/20/11 and 08/15/10. An Interstate 15 south reassurance shield is posted after the onramp from Browse. Photo taken 08/15/10. This mileage sign along Interstate 15 south provides the distance to Toquerville (six miles), St. George (22 miles), and Las Vegas (145 miles). Photo taken 08/20/11. Interstate 15 drops to 4,000 feet above sea level as it continues toward St. George and the Virgin River Gorge. Photo taken 08/15/10. Interstate 15 continues downhill before meeting Exit 27 (Junction Utah 17 east). Photos taken 07/13/08. The next interchange along Interstate 15 south is Exit 27, Junction Utah 17 at Anderson Junction. Utah 17 travels east to Toquerville and Zion National Park. Utah 17 is a 6.060-mile east-west state highway that connects Interstate 15 with Utah 9. Photos taken 08/20/11 and 07/13/08. Use Utah 17 east to Utah 9 east to a variety of national and state parks/monuments, including: Zion National Park; Grand Canyon National Park (North Rim via U.S. 89 south to U.S. 89A south to Arizona 67 south or South Rim via U.S. 89 south to Arizona 64 west); Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (via U.S. 89 south); Pipe Spring National Monument via U.S. 89 south to U.S. 89A to Arizona 389 west); Lake Powell and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. Note that access via Utah 9 requires passage through Zion National Park, which charges a fee for park entry. Photos taken 08/20/11 and 07/13/08. Interstate 15 south approaches Exit 27, Junction Utah 17, Anderson Junction. This advance sign was replaced between 2010 and 2011, with the most notable differences between the signs including an increased sign and different standard for the Utah state shield. Photos taken 08/20/11 and 07/13/08. Another, smaller Interstate 15 south reassurance shield is posted prior to the offramp to Exit 27. Photo taken 08/15/10. Southbound Interstate 15 reaches Exit 27, Junction Utah 17 east to Toquerville, Hurricane, and Zion National Park. Photos taken 08/20/11 and 07/13/08. This Interstate 15 south reassurance shield is posted after the onramp from Utah 17. Photo taken 07/13/08. This mileage sign along Interstate 15 south provides the distance to Leeds (four miles), St. George (19 miles), and Las Vegas (136 miles). Photo taken 07/13/08. The next interchange along Interstate 15 south is Exit 23, Junction Utah 228/Main Street southwest to Leeds and Silver Reef (one mile). Old U.S. 91 continues to parallel Interstate 15, generally staying on the southeast side of the freeway. Photos taken 08/20/11 and 07/13/08. Colorful mountains rise above the desert terrain as Interstate 15 continues southwest toward St. George. Photos taken 07/13/08 and 08/15/10. Use Exit 23 to Silver Reef Historic Site, a mining ghost town. Photo taken 07/13/08. Interstate 15 south approaches Exit 23, Junction Utah 228/Main Street (Old U.S. 91) southwest to Leeds and Silver Reef. Utah 228 is a fairly short, 1.821-mile state highway that takes U.S. 91 through the town of Leeds. Photo taken 07/13/08. Southbound Interstate 15 reaches Exit 23, Junction Utah 228/Main Street (Old U.S. 91) southwest to Leeds and Silver Reef. There is no direct access back to Interstate 15 south at Exit 23. Exiting motorists can return to Interstate 15 south at Exit 22, which is a partial interchange as well. Photo taken 08/15/10. Exit 23 is a half-diamond interchange, with access only to exit southbound and enter northbound. Traffic exiting here must take Utah 228 south along Main Street (Old U.S. 91) and return to Interstate 15 at Exit 22, which has no access from southbound Interstate 15 and only provide entrance to southbound Interstate 15. Photo taken 07/13/08. This series of pictures follows Interstate 15 south as the freeway bypasses Leeds and Old U.S. 91. Red hills and desert landscape decorate the views as we continue to lose elevation en route to St. George. Flora associated with the Mojave Desert, especially Joshua trees, can be found along Interstate 15 from here south to Cajon Pass. Photos taken 07/13/08 and 08/15/10. This Interstate 15 south reassurance shield is posted after the onramp from Utah 228 in Leeds. Photo taken 07/13/08. This mileage sign along Interstate 15 south provides the distance to Washington (12 miles), St. George (14 miles), and Las Vegas (131 miles). Photo taken 07/13/08. This series of pictures follows Interstate 15 south as the freeway bypasses Leeds and Old U.S. 91. Red hills and desert landscape decorate the views as we continue to lose elevation en route to St. George. Flora associated with the Mojave Desert, especially Joshua trees, can be found along Interstate 15 from here south to Cajon Pass. Photos taken 07/13/08 and 08/15/10. This mileage sign along Interstate 15 south provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 16, Junction Utah 9 east to Hurricane, Zion National Park, and Kanab; Exit 13, Washington Parkway; and Exit 10, Junction Utah 212/Green Springs Drive. Photo taken 08/15/10. The next exit along Interstate 15 south is Exit 16, Junction Utah 9/State Street east to Hurricane, Zion National Park, and Kanab. This guide sign was replaced between 2008 and 2010. Photos taken 08/15/10 and 07/13/08. Use Utah 9 east to Quail Creek State Park and Sand Hollow State Park. Photo taken 08/15/10. The next three exits along Interstate 15 south serve the city of Washington, "Where Dixie Begins." Washington had a population of 8,186 as of the 2000 Census. Photo taken 08/15/10. Utah 9/Zion Park Scenic Byway originates at Exit 16 and travels east through Hurricane and Zion National Park, ending at U.S. 89 in Mount Carmel Junction near Kanab. Vehicles using Utah 9 through Zion National Park must pay a fee, and commercial vehicles are prohibited from using Utah 9 (they are rerouted to Utah 20 northeast of here). This scenic route takes in the gorgeous red rock cliffs of Zion and incorporates several tunnels within the park. Photo taken 08/15/10. Southbound Interstate 15 meets Exit 16, Junction Utah 9/State Street (Zion Park Scenic Byway) east to Hurricane, Zion National Park, and Kanab. Photos taken 08/15/10 and 07/13/08. This Interstate 15 south reassurance shield is posted after the onramp from Utah 9/State Street. Photo taken 07/13/08. This mileage sign along Interstate 15 south provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 13, Washington Parkway; Exit 10, Junction Utah 212/Green Springs Drive; and Exit 8, Junction Business Loop I-15 and Utah 34/St. George Boulevard west. Photo taken 08/15/10. Another mileage sign used to be posted near this location for the distance to Washington, St. George, and Las Vegas. This sign was removed between 2008 and 2010. Photo taken 07/13/08. The next exit along Interstate 15 south is Exit 13, Washington Parkway (one mile). Photo taken 08/15/10. Interstate 15 passes through colorful red cliffs. Photo taken 07/13/08. Washington Parkway is a north-south, four-lane divided highway that connects Interstate 15 with Utah 212/Telegraph Street. Photo taken 07/13/08. Southbound Interstate 15 reaches Exit 13, Washington Parkway south to Utah 212/Telegraph Road. Photo taken 08/15/10. Interstate 15 passes under Washington Parkway. Photo taken 08/15/10. At the onramp from Washington parkway, this mileage sign along Interstate 15 south provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 10, Junction Utah 212/Telegraph Road east and Green Springs Drive; Exit 8, Junction Business Loop I-15 and Utah 34/St. George Boulevard west; and Exit 6, Junction Business Loop I-15 and Utah 18/Bluff Street north. Both the mileage sign and the reassurance shield were moved from this location. Photo taken 07/13/08. Interstate 15 reaches an elevation of 3,000 feet above sea level. Photo taken 08/15/10. An Interstate 15 south reassurance shield is posted soon thereafter (replacing the one at the Washington Parkway onramp). Photo taken 08/15/10. A newer upcoming exits mileage sign (duplicating the one shown in the above photobox) is posted soon thereafter (replacing the one at the Washington Parkway onramp). Photo taken 08/15/10. The next exit along Interstate 15 south is Exit 10, Junction Utah 212/Telegraph Road east and Green Springs Drive. Photos taken 08/15/10 and 07/13/08. Use Exit 10 to Dinosaur Discovery (Dinosaur Tracks) at Johnson Farm. Photo taken 08/15/10. Utah 212 travels south along Green Springs Drive briefly, then turns west along Telegraph Road to meet Utah 9/State Street. According to the route log, the state route is 1.289 miles long. Photos taken 08/15/10 and 07/13/08. Southbound Interstate 15 meets Exit 10, Junction Utah 212 and Green Springs Drive. From this interchange, Green Springs Drive travels south and then southwest to parallel Interstate 15, changing into Riverside Drive. Photo taken 08/15/10. All motorist services (gas, food, lodging) are available at Exit 10. Photo taken 08/15/10. This mileage sign along Interstate 15 south provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 8, Junction Business Loop I-15 and Utah 34/St. George Boulevard west; Exit 6, Junction Business Loop I-15 and Utah 18/Bluff Street north; and Exit 4, Brigham Road. Photo taken 08/15/10. The next exit along Interstate 15 south is Exit 8, Junction Business Loop I-15 and Utah 34/St. George Boulevard west to downtown St. George. Business Loop I-15 travels west along Utah 34 and Historic U.S. 91, then turns south on Utah 18/Bluff Street. Historic U.S. 91 diverts from Interstate 15 at this interchange, travels west on Utah 34/St. George Boulevard, turns north on Utah 18/Bluff Street, bends west on Utah 8/Sunset Boulevard, and then follows "Old U.S. Highway 91" west and then south to bypass the Virgin River Gorge, reuniting with Interstate 15 in near Littlefield, Arizona. Photo taken 08/15/10. The next three exits along Interstate 15 south -- Exit 8, Junction Business Loop I-15 and Utah 34/St. George Boulevard west; Exit 6, Junction Business Loop I-15 and Utah 18/Bluff Street north; and Exit 4, Brigham Road -- all serve the city of St. George, the seat of Washington County (population 72,897 as of 2010 Census). Photo taken 08/15/10. A fairly substantial rock cut was required to push the Interstate 15 freeway ahead. Photo taken 08/15/10. Business Loop I-15 leaves Interstate 15 at Exit 8 and returns to Interstate 15 at Exit 6. Utah 34 is a short, east-west state highway that follows St. George Boulevard from Interstate 15 west to Utah 18/Bluff Street for a distance of 2.150 miles, replacing Old U.S. 91. Photo taken 08/15/10. Use Exit 8 to St. George Hospital/University Medical Center. Use Utah 34 west (Exit 8) or Utah 18 north (Exit 6) to Dixie State College of Utah. Photo taken 08/15/10. Southbound Interstate 15 reaches Exit 8, Junction Business Loop I-15 and Utah 34/St. George Boulevard west to downtown St. George. Photo taken 08/15/10. Interstate 15 passes through the St. George Boulevard diamond interchange. Look to the north and west of the freeway to see St. George, Dixie State College, and the LDS Temple. Photo taken 08/15/10. An Interstate 15 south reassurance shield is posted after the onramp from St. George Boulevard. The next interchange will be Exit 6, Bluff Street. Photo taken 08/15/10. This mileage sign along Interstate 15 south provides the distance to the next three exits: Exit 6, Junction Business Loop I-15 and Utah 18/Bluff Street north; Exit 4, Brigham Road; and Exit 2, Junction Utah 7/Southern Parkway east. Photo taken 08/15/10. Engine braking is prohibited between Exits 8 and 6. Photo taken 08/15/10. The next exit along Interstate 15 south is Exit 6, Junction Utah 18 and Business Loop I-15 north (Bluff Street). Utah 18 is the Legacy Loop Highway, beginning at Interstate 15 in St. George and extending north to Utah 56 at Beryl Junction (east of Panaca, Nevada) for a total of 51.005 miles. The portion of Utah 18 between Utah 34 and Utah 8 is part of Old U.S. Highway 91, which briefly turned north to leave St. George, then turned west and southwest to bypass the Virgin River Gorge, considered to be impassable until Interstate 15 was punched through the gorge (this expensive piece of Interstate highway fully opened to traffic through the gorge on December 14, 1973). Photos taken 08/15/10 and 07/13/08. As noted earlier, Dixie State College of Utah is accessible from either Exit 8 or Exit 6. In addition, recreation area information is available at this exit, including National Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Utah State Parks. This sign, like many along this segment, was replaced between 2008 and 2010. Photos taken 08/15/10 and 07/13/08. Business Loop I-15 returns to Interstate 15 at Exit 6. Until 1974, the entire business route was designated as Utah 34. The southern half of Utah 34 was redesignated as a southern extension of Utah 18 to give route continuity for the logical north-south path of travel. As a result, Business Loop I-15 follows Utah 34 on its east-west segment and Utah 18 on its north-south segment. Only the section shared with Utah 34 was originally part of U.S. 91. Photo taken 08/15/10. Southbound Interstate 15/Veterans Memorial Highway reaches Exit 6, Junction Utah 18 and Business Loop I-15/Bluff Street north to downtown St. George. Photos taken 08/15/10 and 07/13/08. All motorist services (gas, food, and lodging) are available at Exit 6. The interchange and overpass were being reconstructed from 2008-2011. Photo taken 08/15/10. The next exit along Interstate 15 south is Exit 4, Brigham Road in St. George (one mile). The freeway passes the Southgate Golf Course. Photo taken 07/13/08. The final three interchanges along Interstate 15 in Utah are: Exit 4, Brigham Road; Exit 2, Junction Utah 7/Southern Parkway (freeway); and Exit 1, Port of Entry/Weigh Station. Photo taken 07/13/08. Brigham Road travels east-west between Swaps Drive/Sugar Leo Road to the west and South River Road at Bloomington to the east. In 2004, this exit was signed simply as "Bloomington." Photos taken 07/13/08 and 10/19/04. Interstate 15 passes over the Virgin River for the first time. The freeway will follow the virgin river closely when passing through the Virgin River Gorge southwest of here. Photos taken 08/15/10. Southbound Interstate 15 meets Exit 4, Brigham Road (diamond interchange with traffic circles to facilitate traffic flow upon exiting the freeway). Brigham Road serves southwestern reaches of St. George in conjunction with Pioneer Road and Sugar Leo Road. Bloomington lies 1.8 miles to the east. Photos taken 08/15/10 and 10/19/04. Signage was added to clarify the various roads that emanate from the traffic circle located at the bottom of the Exit 4 offramp. Photos taken 08/15/10 and 10/19/04. Passing through the Brigham Road interchange, a look to the west showcases a small building on top of a very large mesa. Ahead, traffic from Brigham Road merges onto Interstate 15 south. Photos taken 08/15/10. Interstate 15 proceeds southwest after the Brigham Road interchange; the freeway will see limited motorist services from here until Littlefield, Arizona, and Mesquite, Nevada. Photo taken 08/15/10. The next exit along Interstate 15 south is Exit 2, Junction Utah 7/Southern Parkway (one mile). This new interchange opened on July 7, 2009, for the Southern Parkway (Utah 7). This new state highway travels east to River Road and will ultimately connect to Utah 9. Utah 7 (also known as the Dixie Beltway) will serve a new airport and industrial park to the east and connects to the Sun River development south of Bloomington. The long-term plan is to expand this into a beltway from Santa Clara to Hurricane. Photo taken 08/15/10. Lands near the Southern Parkway are destined for future development as St. George continues to expand. Photo taken 08/15/10. Demonstrating the development underway, a new set of power lines parallels Interstate 15 on the approach to the Southern Parkway interchange. The original interchange was built as a single-point urban interchange with a traffic signal, but Utah 7 itself is a four-lane, divided freeway with interchanges of its own. If traffic counts warrant, the Interstate 15/Utah 7 interchange may be upgraded to a freeway-to-freeway, high-speed connection. Photos taken 08/22/11 and 08/15/10. Southbound Interstate 15 meets Exit 2, Junction Utah 7 (Southern Parkway a.k.a. Delta Beltway) at this single-point urban interchange. Pioneer Road parallels the southbound side of the freeway from mileposts 4 to 2. Photos taken 08/22/11 and 08/15/10. The 2008 picture shows the state of interchange construction, while the 2010 picture shows the completed interchange. Photos taken 08/15/10 and 07/13/08. Interstate 15 passes through the Utah 7 interchange; note the construction progress as of July 2008. Photos taken 08/15/10 and 07/13/08. The final Utah interchange along Interstate 15 south is Exit 1, Port of Entry (one-half mile). Photo taken 08/15/10. This view looks southwest along Interstate 15 between Utah 7 and the Port of Entry (offramp). Photo taken 07/13/08. A mileage sign, since removed as a result of the Utah 7 interchange construction, lists the distance to Littlefield, Arizona, and Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo taken 10/19/04. These pictures show the arid yet colorful mountains surrounding St. George to the west and south. The Beaver Dam Mountains rise to the west of St. George. Jarvis Peak (elevation 6,530 feet above sea level) rises to the west of town. A new set of power lines was being installed in 2010 near the port of entry. Photos taken 07/13/08 and 08/15/10. After Utah 7/Southern Parkway, the last Interstate 15 southbound exit comprises the port of entry facility ahead of the Arizona state line. All commercial trucks and vehicles carrying livestock must enter the weigh station for inspection. Photo taken 08/15/10. Southbound Interstate 15 meets Exit 1, Port of Entry (Weigh Station) for all commercial vehicles (trucks). The port of entry is not a rest area and provides no exit from the freeway onto local roads. Photo taken 08/15/10. Exiting traffic for the port of entry must slow down significantly. Through traffic on the mainline may maintain 75 miles per hour, although the speed limit will decrease upon entering the Virgin River Gorge. Photo taken 08/15/10. Interstate 15's Milepost 1 is located adjacent to the Port of Entry. Photos taken 08/15/10. A final neutered Utah Interstate 15 south reassurance shield is posted after the Utah Port of Entry. Photos taken 08/15/10. A mileage sign provides the distance to Littlefield, Arizona (22 miles); Mesquite, Nevada (30 miles); and Las Vegas (109 miles). Photo taken 08/15/10. The freeway crosses the Utah-Arizona state line, leaving Washington County and entering Mohave County, Arizona. The beautiful Virgin River Gorge lies ahead. Photos taken 08/15/10. Page Updated October 23, 2011.