Exploring Salt Lake City in 4 Days

  • Day 1: Downtown Salt Lake City
    0 minutes (0 miles) from Downtown Salt Lake City

    Start your trip with a walk around Downtown Salt Lake City. Check out the City Creek Center, an upscale shopping center with a retractable roof. Visit Temple Square, a complex of edifices and open spaces that serve as the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. End your day at Red Iguana, home to some of the best Mexican food in the city.

  • Day 2: Salt Lake City Museums
    15 minutes (3.8 miles) from Downtown Salt Lake City to Natural History Museum of Utah

    Visit Natural History Museum of Utah, known for its dinosaur fossils and exhibits about Utah's natural history. Next, head to the Clark Planetarium, where you can explore space and light shows. End your day at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, whose eclectic collection ranges from classical art to contemporary works.

  • Day 3: Salt Lake City Outdoors
    30 minutes (28 miles) from Natural History Museum of Utah to Antelope Island State Park

    Get out of the city and experience the great outdoors. Drive to Antelope Island State Park, where you can see bison, hike trails, and swim in the Great Salt Lake. Afterward, head to Bonneville Salt Flats, a unique natural salt formation where many land speed records have been set. End your day with a scenic drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon.

  • Day 4: Park City
    32 minutes (23 miles) from Downtown Salt Lake City to Park City

    End your trip by visiting Park City, a picturesque mountain town. Go on a scenic chairlift ride up Deer Valley Resort and hike down with gorgeous views. Later, check out the Utah Olympic Park, where you can see Olympic ski jumps and bobsled runs. If you're visiting during winter, take advantage of Park City's world-class skiing.

Time and Cost Estimates

  • City Creek Center (1-2 hours, free)
  • Temple Square (1-2 hours, free)
  • Red Iguana (2 hours, $15-30 per person)
  • Natural History Museum of Utah (2-3 hours, $14.95 per adult)
  • Clark Planetarium (1-2 hours, $9-13 per person)
  • Utah Museum of Fine Arts (2-3 hours, $12 per adult)
  • Antelope Island State Park (2-4 hours, $10 per vehicle)
  • Bonneville Salt Flats (1-2 hours, free)
  • Big Cottonwood Canyon (2-4 hours, free)
  • Deer Valley Resort (2-4 hours, $20 per adult for scenic chairlift ride)
  • Utah Olympic Park (1-2 hours, free)
  • Total Estimated Costs: $100-150 per person

Transportation

For the best experience, rent a car to explore the Salt Lake City area. Despite the city’s usual traffic, driving is easy and convenient. In some cases, like going to Antelope Island State Park, there may not be reliable public transportation options. Gas prices are generally lower than the national average in Salt Lake City. Keep in mind that winter weather from December to March may sometimes make driving conditions dangerous.

Useful Tips

If you have less time, you may want to skip some of the museums or only visit one. If you have more time, you can consider taking a day trip to Moab, Utah for hiking or to Park City for skiing. Some other recommendations include taking a food tour, exploring the Red Butte Garden or strolling around Sugar House.

Airports

Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) is located in Salt Lake City and it's the busiest airport in Utah. The airport is only 4 miles from the city center and it is easily accessible by car, public transportation, or airport shuttle.

0