Salt Lake City alone rarely makes the list for must visit places. However, it makes a great jumping off point for plenty of Utah adventures, including several National Parks and some amazingly unique destinations. Keep reading for all of our favorite destinations that make a great day trip from Salt Lake City.
Park City
- Distance: 30 miles
- Time: full day
Park city is a little wild west, a little Olympic village and a little high end resort town. It’s a very interesting town just a short drive from Salt Lake City. In the winter and long into the spring, you can spend the day hitting the massive ski slopes. In the summer, there is still plenty to do, like watching the summer ski jump practices or riding a roller coaster in the woods or visiting the historic downtown.
The Great Salt Lake
- Distance: 30 miles
- Time: half day
The Great Salt Lake, is just that, a big salt lake, similar to the Dead Sea. Being a salt lake means that you’ll be more buoyant making floating fun. However, while the Great Salt Lake is definitely worth a float, it’s also kinda gross. Because it is a salty lake, it really stinks. So we think it makes a great day trip from Salt Lake City, but don’t expect a typical day at the beach.
Timpanogos Cave National Monument
- Distance: 35 miles
- Time: half-day
The Timpanogos Cave system is an amazing cave system that is the perfect destination for a day trip from Salt Lake City. The caves are managed by the National Parks system and you can only explore them on a guided tour. The tour season is only during the summer months so make sure you only drive here is the summer months or you’ll be very disappointed.
Antelope Island
- Distance: 60 miles
- Time: full day
Antelope Island is super close to Salt Lake City and is actually an island (depending on water levels) in the Great Salt Lake. It’s named for the herds of antelope that roam on it. But there are also bison! They roam free on the island. Additionally, there are some easy and short hiking trails with great views of the Great Salt Lake and there is even a swimming beach that is sandy.
Bonneville Salt Flats
- Distance: 110 miles
- Time: half-day
The Bonneville Salt Flats are an absolute must-see for anyone visiting Salt Lake City. They are just wild – like stepping onto another planet. This area was once a large salt lake that dried up. Now, there is a thick pealing layer of white salt here. The area is beautiful and barren when it is dry. It also looks really neat right after it rains with a glassy surface. Whatever, the weather, it’s a really great day trip from Salt Lake City.
Mirror Lake Scenic Byway
- Distance: 200 mile loop
- Time: full day
Out past Park City, you’ll find the Wasatch Mountains. And there is no better way to explore, than a road trip along Utah-150, or Mirror Lake Scenic Byway. You can spend a half day just driving, or you can spend a full day making stops along the way. The most popular stops are Mirror Lake, Bald Mountain Pass and Provo River Falls.
Capitol Reef National Park
- Distance: 220 miles
- Time: full day
Capitol Reef is the only Utah National Park that we feel like can be a day trip from Salt Lake City. While Arches and Canyonlands are a similar driving distance, only Capitol Reef can be seen in the half day remaining to you after driving there. While there are plenty of short hikes you can do on your day trip, the 90 minute scenic drive is the best part of the park so make sure to leave time for that extra drive.
Goblin Valley State Park
- Distance: 225 miles
- Time: full day
While Utah is a popular destination for visiting the big 5 National Parks, Goblin Valley State Park is actually one of the coolest parks in Utah. Goblin Valley is basically one big canyon full of hoodoos – giant rock towers. And what do you do in Goblin Valley? Wander around the hoodoos and try not to get lost. This is another day trip from Salt Lake City that takes you to a destination that looks like another planet.
We hope these Salt Lake City day trips have helped you to plan your own vacation to Salt Lake City. Check out our Salt Lake City post here for details on spending time in town. Or check out our Utah posts here to explore even more of the great state.
