Understanding Provo's geography
Why Provo's drive times defy radius math.
The Wasatch Mountains rise immediately east of town — a 5-minute drive east of downtown reaches canyon roads with no further population, while I-15 north toward American Fork covers similar distance and reaches substantial new development. Utah Lake's wetlands and the UDOT expressway interchanges create pinch points that slow south access toward Springville and Spanish Fork.
The highest-growth corridors are Pleasant Grove and Lindon north of Provo along I-15, and rapidly developing Saratoga Springs west of Utah Lake — franchise operators should map both I-15 north and the Redwood Road corridor for the best capture of the booming Silicon Slopes workforce population.