Honestly, it wasn’t on my radar to visit Salt Lake City, until my friend(s) moved out there. That ignorance comes from living on the east coast, I guess, because Salt Lake City is the perfect place to start an epic Utah road trip!
My sister and her husband immediately visited and toured Zion, Bryce and the Grand Canyon. My husband and I joined them on their next trip to Arches, Canyonlands, and a nerdy fantasy convention…
And I will definitely be back! Utah is sunny, epic and magical. Not to mention the AMAZING food scene in SLC (seriously, the number of foods we had that we can’t stop thinking about)!
So to help you plan your own trip, here is my insider’s guide (with advice and suggestions from several local friends!) that has everything you need to know to visit Salt Lake City, Utah!
Years Visited: 2019 & 2024
Time of year: June & December
What’s in this Article:
- About Salt Lake City
- Best Time of Year to Visit
- How to Get Around
- Things to Do in Salt Lake City
- Foods to Eat in SLC
- Day Trips from Salt Lake City
- Road Trips from SLC
- What to Read & Watch
About Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City is the capital city of Utah, with an ever growing population of over 200,000 people (all my NY friends are moving out there where there’s sun!). It is located in northern Utah, about 20 miles east of the Great Salt Lake.
The city is a popular place to fly into for a Utah (or other states!) national parks road trip. The closest national park is Capitol Reef (3 1/2 hrs.), but there are many more within a day’s drive.
History of SLC
Pretty much everyone knows that Salt Lake City was founded by Brigham Young and the Mormons. But I decided to go way back and trace the Mormons pilgrimage from the east (founder Joseph Smith was actually born near South Royalton, VT, which, fun fact, is the town in the opening credits of Gilmore Girls).
But… well, basically it’s just a long history of facing persecution from the local population, continually moving westward, and disagreeing with each other. So the history of Salt Lake City is by no means the history of the Mormon church, since they split after (and kind of before) Joseph Smith’s death.
But a large majority of Mormons, led by Brigham Young, settled in Salt Lake City (then referred to as Great Salt Lake City) in 1847. They built the city around Temple Square, and set up a culture based on their religious beliefs. Some of those beliefs actually kept Utah from becoming an official US state until 1896, though it was declared a US territory in the Compromise of 1850.
- Fun Fact: Utah is known as the “Beehive State.” Brigham Young wanted to name it the State of Deseret, which is translated “beehive,” but instead it was named after the original residents, the Ute tribe. The Mormons liked the symbol of the honey bees, who work together to create their hive and honey. Honey was also one of the only sweeteners they had when they founded SLC.
While the population used to be primarily Mormon, with so many people relocating to Utah, the latest census puts the Mormon population of SLC at just under 50%.
Winter Olympics
Salt Lake City is known as being the host city for the 2002 Winter Olympics, and they are preparing to host the 2034 Winter Olympics as well! One of the best things to do on a visit to Salt Lake City is to see the Utah Olympic Park. They have a museum, as well as the bobsled track and ski jumps that were used in the Olympics.
A lot of the events are spread out around Utah, especially in Park City, which is about a half hour drive from SLC.
Best Time of Year to Visit
The best time of year to visit Salt Lake City is literally any time! There’s skiing in the winter, hiking in the summer, and sunshine all year long!
- Good to Know: Utah has a dry, arid climate, which can be rough on your hair/skin. Be sure to use a good amount of conditioner/lotion to keep your skin and hair healthy on your visit!
Weather in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City has cold winters and hot summers. They experience all four seasons, so it’s even a good place to leaf peep in the fall. The get a lot of snow (good for those skiers), but also a lot of sun!
For me, it’s the sun that really makes this a great destination. My local friend said she didn’t know the sun could come out in the winter until she moved here! When we visited in December, the temperatures were in the 40s and sunny. It did get a little cold walking around the city, but it was perfect for exploring Arches National Park!
Summer can be really hot, but it’s also a good time for hiking, mountain biking and floating in the Great Salt Lake!
I think the best times to visit would be May, before the summer heat and crowds, or October, before the winter inversions and seasonal closures. Unless of course you’re coming for skiing or Hallmark Christmas vibes!
What is the Inversion???
My friend kept casually referring to the inversion… and, lucky us (sarcasm), we got to see first hand what she meant.
An inversion usually happens in the winter months (November through February-ish), and is when the air in the valley is colder than the air in the mountains. Usually valley air is warmer, and then rises up (and cools). But when that is inverted, the colder air becomes trapped beneath the warmer air, and can’t escape.
Then all the pollutants that go into the air also get stuck in this hazy bubble that just kind of hangs around until a storm comes to wash it away.
- Our Experience: When we visited Utah in December, the first couple days were fine. Then we headed to Moab just as the inversion was settling in. The air in Moab was fine, but as we returned to the city a few days later, the air got hazier. Everything sort of had an orangish tint to it, and the air quality was not good. It was very similar to when all the smoke was in the air from the wildfires.
How to Get Around Salt Lake City
Walking/Driving
It’s easy enough to get around Salt Lake City. For attractions in the city center, I suggest using Uber or just walking around (we took Uber from our friend’s house to the convention center, and then walked around to other sites from there). The Ubers were more expensive than most of the larger city prices we’re used to, but they were reasonable.
- Good to Know: We had some trouble getting picked up by Uber drivers at the convention center, because there are so many different entrances.
- City streets in Utah are named based on their distance from the central temple. In SLC, North Temple is the street that borders the northern side of Temple Square, and South Temple borders the southern side. From there, each block goes up 100. The next block is 100 S, then 200 S and so on. Except locals drop the “00,” so they will refer to it as “1 South.”
For day trips and road trips, you will want to rent a car. If you do drive in downtown Salt Lake City, the roads are ridiculously wide, which makes the traffic feel less intense (though it is harder for pedestrians to cross).
- Good to Know: According to Visit Salt Lake, ride share drivers do not pick up from the state parks around the Great Salt Lake. You can join a tour or rent a car.
- Fun Fact: The streets in Salt Lake City are super wide, because (as the story goes…) Brigham Young wanted the streets to be wide enough for the oxen carts to be able to turn around.
Electric Scooters
Salt Lake City has lime electric scooters, which anyone can pick up to use for a quick jaunt somewhere. All you need to do is download the Lime App, which tells you where the nearest scooter is, “check out” that scooter using the QR code, and then take a picture of it and click “end ride” when you’re all done.
It’s a pretty simple way to get around the city without having to walk everywhere or order an Uber. Although in the middle of January… it may not be the best option!
TRAX Rail Service
There are several rail lines and bus services running through the Salt Lake City area. There are three routes running on the TRAX light rail service:
- Blue Line-Runs south from the downtown transfer station.
- Red Line-Runs from the University of Utah south into downtown, and then west.
- Green Line-Runs from the airport into downtown
There is a free fare zone on the blue and green lines between Temple Square and Gallivan Plaza. Otherwise, you can purchase tickets in the Transit App or at a rail station. For buses, pay in exact change when you enter, or on the Transit App.
Map of things to do in SLC:
- Green: Things to do in Salt Lake City
- Orange: Ski Resorts
- Brown: Day trips from Salt Lake
Things to Do in Salt Lake City
Honestly, the best things to do in Utah are outside of Salt Lake City. But it is the perfect place to fly into and start an epic road trip from. Salt Lake is worth a couple days to explore before and/or after your road trip.
- Connect Pass: The Connect Pass grants you access to 18 of the Salt Lake City area’s most popular attractions. You can buy 1-day, 2-day or year-long passes. If you plan to visit several of these attractions, it is worth looking into getting a Connect Pass!
Visit Temple Square
Without a doubt, the first thing you will see on any list of things to do in Salt Lake City is Temple Square. It is the centerpiece of the city (literally, all the streets are named after their closeness to the temple), and the perfect place to start your day.
You can tour on your own, or book a (free) guided tour of the temple and grounds. There are lots of things to see around the square, and oftentimes there will be free outdoor concerts as well.
- Good to Know: You can still walk through Temple Square, but the temple is currently undergoing renovations. There is an open house of the updated temple set for April-October 2027.
Tour World Class Museums
- Clark Planetarium-When we came for our nerdy conference (Dragonsteel Nexus), many people in the group chat were suggesting Clark Planetarium as one of the best things to do in our free time in the city.
- Natural History Museum of Utah-The Natural History Museum is another great option, because not only do they have impressive exhibits, you can see dinosaur bones that were actually uncovered right here in Utah (learn more about dinosaurs in Utah)!
- Another great option right in downtown is the Leonardo Museum of Creativity and Innovation. There are lots of other museums around SLC to check out!
Find Your Family History
I remember volunteering at our local history museum back in NY, and hearing the other volunteers talk about their trip to Salt Lake City to visit the library. The library?!?! I said!
And they were like, yeah, the library! To research our family history.
So, to be clear, this is not the public library (although that’s on here too…). I’m talking about the Family Search Library. They have tons of free resources to research your ancestors and your family history, plus lots of staff and volunteers to help too!
Visit the Public Library
On the subject of libraries, the Salt Lake City Public Library also came up on EVERY list of things to do that I researched. And when I told my local friend we were going to the library, he was like, oh yeah, of course.
The library is designed to somewhat resemble the Colosseum. It makes for great architecture photos, plus there’s a rooftop garden with great views out over the city! And there are little shops inside, in addition to the main library building.
- Good to Know: The rooftop is currently closed for renovations.
Go Shopping Downtown
Shopping isn’t the best thing to do in every city, but some cities have either really good store options, or unique shopping destinations. Salt Lake has both.
We spent some time just wandering through City Creek Center before our conference in December. It was a great place to escape the cold and see beautiful holiday decorations. Plus we found some amazing hot chocolate and a giant cinnamon gummy bear (it’s a Utah thing)!
- City Creek Center-City Creek Center is an indoor/outdoor mall complex full of shops and restaurants. It’s a great place for Christmas decorations and city views, and is right across from Temple Square.
- The Gateway-The Gateway is an area right in downtown Salt Lake full of shops, restaurants, murals and entertainment venues.
Attend a Show
From ballets to game shows, comedians to orchestras (and even high school musicals…!), there is a huge variety of shows you can attend all over Salt Lake. Here are a few specific ideas:
- Capitol Theater-Built in 1913, this beautiful downtown theater is one of the best places to see a show in Salt Lake City!
- Mormon Tabernacle Choir-Salt Lake is the perfect place to see the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir! There are daily organ rehearsals, or attend the annual Christmas concert!
- Utah Symphony-We attended the Utah Symphony’s annual Messiah Singalong on our visit to Salt Lake City (honestly, I was not prepared to stand and sing a four-part harmony…!). They do events all year, like classic symphonies, Christmas concerts, or movies with live soundtracks!
The Gallivan Center
The Gallivan Center is a hot spot in downtown for just hanging out. They have beautiful green spaces and art installations, an ice rink in the winter, and concerts in the summer. Plus it’s a great place to find food trucks and cafes!
See all the Murals
It’s always fun to find hidden murals in each new place you visit, and there are plenty of good ones in Salt Lake City! A popular one is the book mural, near the Gallivan Center. And don’t forget to snap a pic on the rainbow stairs at The Gateway!
Explore Liberty Park
Liberty Park is a large green space in Salt Lake City which is perfect for an afternoon stroll. It’s also enticing because it served as an iconic filming location for the 1993 movie The Sandlot, and is home to Tracy Aviary.
Go Hiking and/or Mountain Biking
One of the absolute best things to do in Salt Lake City is to escape the city for the mountains! There are plenty of trails for hiking and mountain biking near SLC.
Here are some suggestions from one of my local friends:
- The Living Room (hike)
- Desolation Lake (hike)
- Freemason Trail (hike or bike, in Park City)
- Round Valley (a collection of trails around Park City)
Go Skiing
If you visit Salt Lake City in the winter, then you should hit the slopes to experience some of the “best snow on earth.” Seriously… the weather and altitude and environment create a different texture of snow than you usually see elsewhere, and that makes it ideal for skiing. You know… sciencey stuff.
I don’t know if skiing should fall under “things to do” or “day trips,” since the ski resorts are all outside of the city. But since I think skiing is one of the most iconic thing to do when you think of SLC, I put it in this section. Either way, plan to do some skiing on your trip.
Here are some of the ski resorts around Salt Lake City:
Tour the School from High School Musical!
If you’ve ever dreamed of visiting the real life East High from the High School Musical series (I know I have!), here’s your chance! The movies (and TV show) were filmed in Utah, specifically at East High in Salt Lake City. You can take a self-guided tour of the school on school days from 3:30-5:30 pm, or during the summer from 9 am-2 pm.
Food to Eat in Salt Lake City
I was surprised to find out from my local friends that Salt Lake City is becoming a bit of a foodie destination. And seriously, we had some good food while we were there!
We also had some ok food, but definitely no bad food. And definitely foods we liked so much we would go back just to get them!!!
Here are some ideas of specialty food to try and places to eat in Salt Lake:
Salt Lake City Foods to Try:
- Fry Sauce-“Fry sauce” is Utah’s claim to fame in the food scene. It is a Utah original, and will probably come with your side of fries at any restaurant in the state. Basically it’s like spiced up mayonnaise, with a bit of ketchup in it. And personally, I wasn’t too excited about it, but people rave over it. Either way, you have to try it while you’re here.
- Chocolate Cinnamon Gummy Bears-Another Utah thing is… chocolate covered cinnamon gummy bears? Sweet’s Candy Company started in Oregon, but quickly moved to Salt Lake City in 1900. They are well-known for their cinnamon gummy bears, but Utahans especially love the chocolate covered variety. You can’t find chocolate cinnamon bears many places outside of Utah and the nearby areas, so be sure to grab some when you can!
- Honey-Fun fact, Utah is known as the “Beehive State” (see history section above). We got a honey lollipop from the visitor’s center, which was a unique snack that I’m still not sure how I feel about…
- Visit a Soda Shop-Another fun fact (I think) is that Mormons (typically) don’t drink alcohol, coffee or tea. That’s not to say you can’t find coffee shops or bars in Salt Lake City, but since the local culture is heavily influenced by the Mormon church, there are a lot of soda cafes around. And they don’t just serve your favorite pop flavors that you know. They mix flavor shots in, so you have a whole menu of mixed virgin drinks available! It’s definitely worth trying. Some popular chains are:
Salt Lake City Restaurants to Try:
- Arempas-This restaurant was recommended by one of our local friends, and it’s one that I can’t stop thinking about. The empanadas I had were SOOO good!
- Cupbop-Another local rec, we didn’t go here, but they did have a food truck at the convention we attended, and both my sister and my husband can’t stop thinking about them! Kudos on your food scene, SLC.
- Squatter’s Pub Brewery-We ate here with some locals before going to a concert downtown. It wasn’t one that we can’t stop thinking about, but it’s a nice dinner restaurant.
- Eva’s Bakery-I’m very sad that I didn’t visit Eva’s Bakery, because it looks exactly like the type of place I wouldn’t be able to stop thinking about!! I guess I’ll just have to go back to visit my friends in SLC again…
- Eclair French Pastry-We did go to the Eclair French Pastry cafe in the City Creek outlet mall. And we got amaaaaaazing hot chocolate, that I also can’t stop thinking about (again, kudos to Utah!).
- Fresh Donuts & Deli-As a self-proclaimed donut connoisseur, I could not ignore the fact the multiple locals recommended Fresh Donuts & Deli to us!! So I made my whole crew pit stop on the way to the airport for some (still warm!) donuts.
Day Trips from Salt Lake City
Salt Lake is really a great place to base yourself for a trip to Utah! There are so many unique attractions and state parks within easy driving distance of the city.
If you don’t want to drive, you can find guided tours for some popular places like the Great Salt Lake. Check sites like Viator or Visit Salt Lake for ideas of available tours.
The Great Salt Lake
If you visit Salt Lake City, you have to visit the Great Salt Lake (unless maybe it’s December…)!
It is the largest body of salt water (excluding oceans) in the western hemisphere, and one of the most saline (read: salty) bodies of water in the entire world. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity (unless you live in SLC of course…) to float in the Great Salt Lake (just make sure you have no open wounds!!!).
The best way to visit the Great Salt Lake is to drive yourself, or to join a guided tour from the city. Here are two places to access the lake:
Bonneville Salt Flats
This other-worldly location is an hour and a half drive from the city, and makes a good day trip included with a stop at the Great Salt Lake. The Bonneville Salt Flats can be tricky to navigate, so make sure to follow the website’s directions and posted signs, so your car does not get stuck in the mud. Alternatively, you can also take a guided tour.
Park City
Park City, UT is the filming location of Christmas movies, competition location of the Winter Olympics, and ski destination for people with more coordination than me. It is a perfect little town for a day trip, or an overnight, where you can relax in a cozy hot tub with a mountain view.
Some of the best skiing, mountain biking and hiking trails start in Park City, Utah.
Utah Olympic Park
Technically a part of Park City, Utah Olympic Park sits at 7,300 ft above sea level. It is the home of the Alf Engen Ski Museum, as well as the ski jump and bobsled track. You can “hold” the Olympic torch, try some virtual skiing, or actually get in a bobsled (for a lot of money) and hit the track.
Midway Ice Castles
If you’re coming in the winter, be sure to add a stop at the Midway Ice Castles. It’s an hour drive, or another 30 minutes from Park City. You can book a sleigh ride, see the ice sculptures, or (if you’re up for it) slip down a slide made entirely of ice!
Hot Springs
There are quite a few naturally occurring hot springs in Utah, many of which are an easy day trip from Salt Lake City.
Here are some of the hot springs you can visit in Utah:
- Ogden Hot Springs
- Homestead Crater
- Crystal Hot Springs
- Diamond Fork Hot Springs
- Inlet Park Hot Springs
Road Trips from Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City is the best place to start a road trip from! There are 5 national parks in the state of Utah, plus several others within driving distance.
Don’t forget that there are a lot of lesser known but still gorgeous state parks as well, so you might want to consider including some in your road trip.
- Learn how to help support National Parks from being understaffed and underfunded!
National Parks
The 5 Utah National Parks are:
- Capitol Reef-3 hr. 30 min. drive to visitor’s center.
- Arches-3 hr. 30 min. drive to visitor’s center.
- Canyonlands-3 hr. 50 min. drive to visitor’s center.
- Bryce Canyon-3 hr. 50 min. drive to visitor’s center.
- Zion-4 hr. 20 min. drive to visitor’s center.
Other national parks within driving distance of Salt Lake City:
- Great Basin-3 hr. 30 min. drive to visitor’s center.
- Grand Teton-5 hr. drive to visitor’s center.
- Grand Canyon-6 hr. drive to North Rim Visitor’s Center. Under 3 hrs. from Zion.
- Yellowstone-6 hr. 30 min. drive to Grant Visitor’s Center.
Western Utah Road Trip
My sister and brother-in-law took a 1-week road trip from Salt Lake City to the south western national parks. You can read their full itinerary here, but here is an overview:
- Salt Lake City
- Zion National Park
- Grand Canyon National Park
- Bryce Canyon National Park
- Salt Lake City
Eastern Utah Road Trip
On our trip to SLC, we hit up some of the parks on the eastern side of the state, as well as the cute Hallmark town of Park City. I am working on a full itinerary, but here is an outline:
- Salt Lake City
- Park City
- Arches National Park
- Canyonlands National Park
- Salt Lake City
What to Read & Watch Before You Visit Salt Lake City
There are literally SO many movies filmed in Utah/SLC! So there are so many films for you to watch before (and after!) you visit! These are just some of my favorites I suggest to watch before your trip, but there are endless options to choose from.
But first, a couple of good book suggestions as well:
Leave Only Footprints
Leave Only Footprints tells stories from all the national parks around the country, by TV personality Conor Knighton. He traveled to every national park in the country in 2016, the 100th anniversary of our national park system.
I really enjoyed reading this book (and learning I needed to plan trips to plenty of parks I had never heard of!). So it’s especially great to read if you’re heading to Utah, home of FIVE national parks (and close to many more)!
Desert Solitaire
Another national park story is Desert Solitaire, the memoir of Edward Abbey’s time working at Arches National Monument (before it was officially a national park) in the 1950s.
60 Hikes Within 60 Miles
60 Hikes Within 60 Miles is a book that’s recommended by one of my local friends, if you like to hike. It has all the best trails to hit up (and there are a lot) in the greater Salt Lake area.
The High School Musical Trilogy
As I said above, the High School Musical movies were shot at East High in Salt Lake City. So definitely do a sing-along marathon before you visit. And maybe grab some HSM swag to wear to the school!
High School Musical, The Musical, The Series
Like the trilogy that inspired it, High School Musical, the Musical, the Series was shot at East High. Except this one actually “takes place” in Salt Lake City. You’ll hear about parents day tripping to Park City, and other local references all the time.
It’s a fun show to watch if you’re going to (or already have) visited East High!
Christmas Movies
Utah is becoming a big deal for Christmas movies! In fact, one of my local friends worked on the crew for the Hallmark reality series Finding Mr. Christmas! And, fun fact, while most of Ron Howard’s The Grinch was shot in LA, the “change of heart” scene was shot just outside of Salt Lake!
Here are a few of my favorite Christmas flicks that were shot around Salt Lake City/Utah. You can check out a full list of movies here.
- Falling for Christmas
- Haul Out the Holly (1 & 2)
- Holly & Ivy
- The Grinch
The Sandlot
The classic 90s film The Sandlot was filmed in Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas. Recognizable filming locations can be found in Liberty Park and on Main Street in Midvale.
Footloose
Another classic film, Footloose wasn’t filmed in Salt Lake City, but it was filmed throughout Utah, so it’s definitely one you should watch if you’re going on a Utah road trip! Filming mainly took place south of Salt Lake, around Payson, Springville and Provo.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
The 1969 classic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was filmed in southern Utah, mostly around Zion National Park. It stars Robert Redford as the “Sundance Kid,” who then founded the Sundance Institute which puts on the Sundance Film Festival in Park City every year!
This iconic film is a must-watch before traveling to Utah!
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
The list of movies filmed in Utah goes on and on (their other-worldly landscape is perfect!). So be sure to look up movies shot in Utah before your trip to make your own list. Mine, for one, includes Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.
I love the original Pirates movie, and… tolerate the rest! But I find it super exciting that they filmed the “world’s end” at the Bonneville Salt Flats, an easy day trip from Salt Lake (fun fact: they filmed the “entrance” to the world’s end at Niagara Falls)!.
127 Hours
One final Utah movie I will leave you with is 127 Hours, based on the book (which you can also read!) Between a Rock and a Hard Place.
This movie is based on the true story of a lone hiker who got stranded in Canyonlands National Park for 127 hours.
There you have all the information you need to visit Salt Lake City! I hope you enjoyed the fun facts, and found this information helpful for your trip planning.
Any more questions?
If you have any questions about planning a visit to Salt Lake City or the Utah national parks, don’t hesitate to email me or comment below.
Or if you have any other tips or suggestions, be sure to leave a comment!
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Julia is a travel blogger with a Bachelor’s Degree in photography from Indiana Wesleyan University. She worked as a professional photo-retoucher for seven and a half years, before leaving the company to work in the travel industry. She now works at a historic 1800’s hotel. When she’s not working, she’s reading fantasy novels or classic literature, and planning trips to magical destinations.
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