Salt Lake City, Utah’s capital, sits on a high valley floor at 4,330 ft (1,320 m) with the snowy Wasatch Mountains rising straight up on its eastern edge and the Great Salt Lake shimmering to the west. Founded by Mormon pioneers in 1847, it is the world headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Temple Square, at the center of its wide, grid-planned streets, is the city’s best-known sight. Today it is also a relaxed, outdoorsy and surprisingly varied city, with good museums, a lively food and craft-beer scene, a busy airport and light rail. Above all, it is a base: four ski resorts lie less than an hour from downtown, Park City is over the hill, and the road south leads to Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches and the other red-rock parks.
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Salt Lake City at a glance
- Best months: May–June and September–October for sightseeing and hiking; December to March for skiing. July and August are hot and dry; winter can bring smoggy inversions in the valley.
- Time needed: one or two days for the city and Temple Square; add a day for Antelope Island, or several for skiing or a trip to the national parks.
- Getting there: Salt Lake City International Airport is a short TRAX light-rail ride west of downtown; Park City is about 35 minutes east by car.
- Costs (as of October 2026): a TRAX or bus ride is $2.50 and a day pass $5; Antelope Island is $15 per car; hotel bills in the city add 13.82% in taxes.
- Before you go: entry rules, money, driving and general safety are on our United States travel guide.
Salt Lake City areas and who each one suits
Downtown and Temple Square
The compact center has most hotels, Temple Square, the City Creek Center shopping mall with its indoor creek, the Salt Palace convention center and the arena where the Utah Jazz play. TRAX runs through it, so it is the easiest base for a short stay without a car.
Capitol Hill and the Avenues
Just north and northeast of downtown, these leafy hillside neighborhoods have Victorian houses, the State Capitol and views across the valley. Good for walkers and anyone who wants a quieter stay in a bed and breakfast.
Sugar House and 9th and 9th
South and east of downtown, these neighborhoods have independent shops, cafés, bars and restaurants, and Sugar House Park. They feel more local, and the S-Line streetcar links Sugar House to TRAX.
The University and the foothills
On the east bench, the University of Utah campus sits near the Natural History Museum of Utah, Red Butte Garden, the zoo and trailheads into the foothills. The Red Line TRAX reaches the university.
Top things to see in Salt Lake City
Temple Square and the 2027 Salt Lake Temple open house
Temple Square covers about 35 acres (14 hectares) across several downtown blocks. At its heart is the granite Salt Lake Temple, built mostly by hand over 40 years and dedicated in 1893, closed since 2019 for a long seismic renovation, with the domed Tabernacle and the Assembly Hall beside it. The renovated Temple Square Visitors’ Center reopened on 1 September 2026; reservations are recommended but walk-ins are welcome. The big news is the Salt Lake Temple Celebration, from 5 April to 1 October 2027, when the temple holds a public open house before it is rededicated: reservations for open-house tickets opened on 15 September 2026 on templesquare.org, with further ticket releases to come. Outside the open house, only church members with a recommend may enter a temple, but the grounds, gardens and visitors’ centers are open to all.
On Sunday mornings you can attend the live broadcast of Music & the Spoken Word with the Tabernacle Choir; check templesquare.org for tickets and the venue. Next door, the Family History Library helps visitors trace their ancestors for free.
Utah State Capitol
The domed, granite Capitol on the hill north of downtown has marble halls, murals and free guided tours on weekdays. Walk up State Street for the classic view back over the city, and come in spring for the cherry blossoms on its grounds.
Natural History Museum of Utah and Red Butte Garden
Set into the foothills, the Natural History Museum of Utah has a superb hall of dinosaurs found in the state, plus exhibits on the Great Salt Lake and Native peoples, with wide views from its terraces. Nearby Red Butte Garden is a botanical garden with trails, flowers and a summer outdoor concert series.
This Is the Place and the zoo
At the mouth of Emigration Canyon, This Is the Place Heritage Park marks where Brigham Young first saw the valley in 1847 and recreates a pioneer village. Utah’s Hogle Zoo is across the road, a good stop with children.
Antelope Island and the Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake, the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere, is best seen from Antelope Island State Park, reached by a causeway about 40 miles (64 km) north of downtown. Free-roaming bison, pronghorn and bighorn sheep, huge flocks of migrating birds and wonderful sunsets make it a favorite day trip. The park is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. all year (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas) and costs $15 per vehicle (up to 8 people; $10 with a driver aged 65 or over), $5 per motorcycle or $3 per cyclist or walker. Visit the historic Fielding Garr Ranch (10 a.m.–5 p.m.), and in late October the annual bison roundup gathers around 800 animals: in 2026 the roundup ride is on 24 October.
Skiing near Salt Lake City
Few big cities have skiing this close. Four resorts lie up two canyons southeast of the city, about 30–45 minutes from downtown, and they are famous for deep, dry powder. Park City Mountain and Deer Valley are about 35 minutes east (see below).
| Resort | Canyon | Planned opening 2026–27 | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alta | Little Cottonwood | 20 November 2026 | Reservations Friday–Sunday and holidays, 8 a.m.–1 p.m., from 11 December; booking opens in mid-October. Skiers only, no snowboards. |
| Snowbird | Little Cottonwood | 27 November 2026 | Free, but a reservation is required for every vehicle |
| Solitude | Big Cottonwood | 20 November 2026 | Reservations for the Moonbeam lot before 11 a.m. Friday–Sunday and holidays, from 18 December |
| Brighton | Big Cottonwood | To be announced | Check the resort |
Opening dates depend on snow; resorts usually close in April or, at Snowbird, later in spring. The canyon roads are narrow and can close for avalanche control, and traction rules (good snow tires or chains) apply in storms; leave early, carpool or take UTA’s winter ski buses. Most of these resorts are on the Ikon Pass in some form; check your pass before you go.
Day trips from Salt Lake City
- Park City: the old silver-mining town with Main Street, two huge ski areas and the Utah Olympic Park, about 32 miles (51 km) east on Interstate 80.
- Big and Little Cottonwood canyons: in summer, hike to alpine lakes such as Lake Blanche or Cecret Lake, or ride Snowbird’s tram for the views. See our hiking guide.
- Bonneville Salt Flats: a dazzling white plain about 110 miles (177 km) west on Interstate 80, famous for land-speed records.
- Spiral Jetty: Robert Smithson’s earthwork on the lake’s north shore, a long drive with a rough final stretch.
The road to Utah’s national parks
Salt Lake City is the northern gateway to Utah’s “Mighty Five” parks. Arches and Canyonlands, near Moab, are about 230 miles (370 km) and 4 hours southeast; Capitol Reef about 220 miles (354 km); Bryce Canyon about 270 miles (435 km) and Zion about 300 miles (483 km) south on Interstate 15. Many travelers fly into Salt Lake City and out of Las Vegas (see our Las Vegas travel guide), or loop on to the Grand Canyon. Yellowstone and Grand Teton are about a 5-hour drive north.
Nearby destinations
- Park City34 km
Getting there and getting around
From Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
The airport, rebuilt and much enlarged in the 2020s, is a major Delta hub with flights across the US and some to Europe and Mexico. It lies about 6 miles (10 km) west of downtown. The TRAX Green Line runs from the airport station to downtown in about 20 minutes for the standard $2.50 fare; taxis, ride-hailing apps, hotel shuttles and rental cars are all available. Shuttle companies also run direct to the ski resorts and Park City.
TRAX, buses and FrontRunner (UTA)
| Ticket | Price (as of October 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Local bus, TRAX, S-Line one-way | $2.50 | Includes transfers within the valid time |
| Day pass | $5 | Local bus, TRAX and S-Line |
| Group pass | $15 | Up to 4 people riding together on local bus, TRAX, S-Line and FrontRunner, until 3 a.m. the next day |
| FrontRunner commuter train | $2.50 plus $0.60 per extra station | Up to $9.70 one way between Ogden and Provo |
| Express bus | $5 | One way |
Buy tickets at station machines or in UTA’s app. With a reloadable FAREPAY card, fares are capped at $5 a day and $20 a week on local services. Three TRAX lines (Blue, Red and Green) cross downtown. UTA has consulted the public on service changes for 2027; check its website before you travel.
Driving and finding your way
Streets follow a grid numbered from Temple Square: “400 South” is four blocks south of the temple, “700 East” seven blocks east, and addresses such as 1300 E 2100 S are coordinates. Blocks are long and the streets wide, so distances can be farther than they look. A car is useful for the canyons, the lake and the parks; driving tips are in our United States travel guide.
When to go and how long to stay
Salt Lake City has four clear seasons. Summer is hot and dry, with July highs in the 90s °F (32–35 °C); spring and fall are mild and changeable; winter brings snow, especially in the mountains, where the resorts receive several times more than the city. On calm winter days a temperature inversion can trap cold, hazy air in the valley for days while the canyons stay sunny.
| Season | Average high | Average low | What it’s like |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | 55–73 °F (13–23 °C) | 36–50 °F (2–10 °C) | Changeable; the wettest months; spring skiing in the mountains. |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | 84–94 °F (29–34 °C) | 59–68 °F (15–20 °C) | Hot and dry; cool mornings in the canyons; festivals. |
| Fall (Sep–Nov) | 81–51 °F (27–10 °C) | 56–33 °F (13–1 °C) | Golden aspens in the canyons in late September and early October. |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | 39–45 °F (4–7 °C) | 24–29 °F (−4 to −2 °C) | Snow and inversions in the city; prime ski season in the mountains. |
Figures are NOAA 1991–2020 normals for Salt Lake City International Airport, at 4,225 ft (1,288 m). It gets about 15.5 inches (394 mm) of precipitation and about 52 inches (1.3 m) of snow a year; Alta, high in Little Cottonwood Canyon, gets many times more.
Altitude, sun and air quality
The city sits at 4,330 ft (1,320 m) and the ski resorts at 8,000 ft (2,400 m) and above, so drink plenty of water, go easy on alcohol at first and wear strong sunscreen, even in winter. In summer, hike early and carry water: the foothills have little shade. During winter inversions, check air-quality alerts and head up into the mountains for clearer air.
How long to stay: 2, 3 and 5 days
Two days: Temple Square, City Creek and the Capitol on day one; the Natural History Museum, Red Butte Garden and This Is the Place on day two. Three days: add Antelope Island or a canyon hike, or a ski day. Five days: add Park City and a couple of ski days, or start a road trip south to the national parks.
Where to stay in Salt Lake City: hotel tax
Downtown has the widest choice, from big convention hotels to boutique stays, all near TRAX. Hotels near the airport and in the southern suburbs are cheaper for a road trip; for skiing, stay at the resorts in the canyons, at the mouth of the canyons in Cottonwood Heights or Sandy, or in Park City. Room rates are quoted before tax: according to Visit Salt Lake, the combined hotel tax is 13.82% in Salt Lake City, Alta and Sandy and slightly lower elsewhere in the county. If you plan to visit during the temple open house in 2027, book your hotel early.
Practical tips for Salt Lake City
- Alcohol: Utah’s liquor laws are stricter than in most states. Beer is sold in grocery stores; wine and spirits only in state liquor stores, which close on Sundays and holidays. Bars and restaurants serve drinks with food or at the bar; you must be 21.
- Sundays: some shops and restaurants close, especially outside downtown.
- Sports: the Utah Jazz (NBA) and Utah’s NHL hockey team play downtown, Real Salt Lake (MLS) in Sandy.
- Tipping: 18–22% in sit-down restaurants; sales tax is added at the till (see our United States travel guide).
- Time zone: Mountain Time with daylight saving time, one hour ahead of Las Vegas and, in summer, of Arizona. Emergencies: call 911.
What to pack for Salt Lake City
Bring layers year-round, since mornings are cool even in summer and the mountains are always colder than the city. Pack sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm for the dry, high-altitude air, a refillable water bottle, comfortable walking shoes and hiking shoes for the foothills. In winter, add a warm coat, gloves, boots with grip and, if you drive the canyons, a car with snow tires or chains.
Salt Lake City travel FAQ
Can I visit the Salt Lake Temple?
Yes, during the public open house from 5 April to 1 October 2027, with reservations through templesquare.org. At other times you can visit the grounds and the Visitors’ Center, which reopened on 1 September 2026.
How do I get from Salt Lake City airport to downtown?
Take the TRAX Green Line from the airport station, about 20 minutes, for $2.50. Taxis and ride-hailing take about 15 minutes in normal traffic.
How much is a TRAX ticket?
$2.50 one way or $5 for a day pass on local buses, TRAX and the S-Line. A group pass for up to four people is $15.
When do Salt Lake City ski resorts open for 2026–27?
Alta and Solitude plan to open on 20 November 2026 and Snowbird on 27 November, conditions permitting; Brighton has not announced a date. Park City Mountain plans 20 November and Deer Valley 5 December.
Do I need a parking reservation to ski at Alta or Snowbird?
Yes at Snowbird, for every vehicle (parking is free). Alta requires reservations on Fridays, weekends and holidays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. from 11 December. Solitude requires them for its Moonbeam lot on busy days from 18 December.
How much does it cost to visit Antelope Island?
$15 per vehicle with up to 8 people, $10 if the driver is 65 or over, $5 per motorcycle and $3 per cyclist or walker.
What is the hotel tax in Salt Lake City?
13.82% on top of the room rate in Salt Lake City itself, according to Visit Salt Lake; slightly less in some other parts of the county.
How far is Salt Lake City from Zion and Arches?
Zion is about 300 miles (483 km) south, roughly 4.5 hours; Arches is about 230 miles (370 km) southeast, roughly 4 hours.
Can you buy alcohol in Salt Lake City?
Yes. Bars, breweries and restaurants serve alcohol to over-21s, grocery stores sell beer, and state liquor stores sell wine and spirits but close on Sundays.
Plan your trip
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Sources · last reviewed 4 October 2026
Researched and last reviewed on 4 October 2026. Temple Square, the Visitors’ Center and the 2027 Salt Lake Temple Celebration: Temple Square (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints); transit fares: Utah Transit Authority; Antelope Island fees, hours and bison roundup: Utah State Parks; ski resort opening dates: Ski Utah, with parking rules from the resorts; hotel and sales tax: Visit Salt Lake; distances to the national parks: the National Park Service; climate: NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for Salt Lake City International Airport. Airport travel times, drive times, liquor rules and some museum details are general references and flagged for checking. Prices, dates and rules change, so check the official sites before you go. For entry rules, money and general safety, see our United States travel guide.
Data: Weather: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · Air quality: OpenAQ · Rates: ECB · Holidays: Nager.Date · Costs: World Bank ICP and price levels · Wikidata (CC0)