Aren’t day trips fun? When you have a home-base or are looking to do a stay-cation, isn’t it nice to have options? Places you can drive to, have an adventure, and then drive home to sleep in your own bed?
Day trips from Salt Lake City are a lot more varied than even I could imagine. In one day, you can be at a world-class ski resort…and then drive to the middle of a desert…then to an island…and then to another state. Don’t believe me? No worries, I’ve outlined it below. Here are my top 5 day trips from Salt Lake City!
#1: Golden Spike National Historic Site
The first stop in your day trips from Salt Lake City takes you on a step back in time to live out your inner-child’s dream.
Ever had the desire to get up close and personal with a couple of ginormous replica steam locomotives?
No?
I bet a trip to the Golden Spike National Historic Site would change that! You can witness a reenactment of the ceremony that commemorated the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in the United States, stare in wonder at the sheer size of locomotive replicas, learn about life for the immigrant workers who made this railway possible, and immerse yourself in 1869.
Although the locomotives are only replicas, they were built within 1/2″ of the originals, are fully functional, and look identical to the originals.
Go on a guided tour, getting up close and personal with the trains and tracks.
Watch historical documentaries in the visitor’s center to learn about the creation of the railway and the workers.
Learn about the significance of Promontory Point and how it impacted the United States.
Address: 6200 N 22300 W, Promontory, UT 84307
Want to learn more? Read Everything you Need to Know About the Golden Spike!
Side trip: Spiral Jetty
While not technically one of the top day trips from Salt Lake City, a visit to the Spiral Jetty is unique to Utah. If you find yourself at the Golden Spike National Historic Site, you can continue down the road a few miles and BOOM! You’re at the Spiral Jetty.
Read more about the Spiral Jetty HERE!
#2: Park City
Do you love shopping? Itching to get some slope-time with the “greatest snow on earth?”
Want to check out the actual bobsled track from the 2002 Winter Olympics?
Maybe catch a movie at Sundance and rub shoulders with celebrities?
Park City just might be for you.
If none of those options appeal to you, what about clean mountain air, sweeping vistas, and the quaint Main Street vibe? Park City is always worth a visit and has something for everyone!
Park City might be the closest day trip from Salt Lake City where you feel like you’re actually in a different world!
#3: Bonneville Salt Flats
Did you know that you don’t have to travel to Bolivia to experience some awesome salt flats? Take a day trip from Salt Lake City to the Bonneville Salt Flats, close to the border of Utah/Nevada.
Ancient Lake Bonneville dried up ages ago and left a 30,000 acre salt pan that is located west of Salt Lake City, in Tooele County.
Land speed records have been set on the Salt Flats and is known by locals and visitors alike as the “Bonneville Speedway.”
The property is under the care of the Bureau of Land Management, and is subsequently free of charge to visit. Spend a few hours messing around with your senses and gain a new perspective on space!
Plan your visit to the Bonneville Salt Flats!
Side trip: Sun Tunnels
If you’re searching for an adventure after you visit the Bonneville Salt Flats, continue further into the middle of nowhere and check out the Sun Tunnels.
Serving no purpose further than an unusual art installation, the Sun Tunnels are the product of artist Nancy Hunt. Holes are cut along the tunnels in the patterns of constellations such as Draco and Capricorn. During the winter and spring solstices, you can witness the sun rising through the middle of the tunnels, creating an awesome effect!
Read more here!
#4: Antelope Island
“Oh, give me a home, where the buffalo roam…” Located in the Great Salt Lake lies Antelope Island, home to one of the largest buffalo herds left in the United States. Just a short drive away from downtown Salt Lake City, visitors can drive across the causeway and find themselves in a whole new world on Antelope Island. Hike one of the numerous trails, away from the crowds, pop into the visitors center and learn about the history of the island, the buffalo, and the antelope from where the island gets its name. Just watch out for buffalo chips!
#5: Evanston, Wyoming
Did you know that you could drive less than 2 hours from Salt Lake City and be in cowboy country, AKA Wyoming? Wind through beautiful canyons and emerge on the wide-open plains of eastern Wyoming, one of the last frontiers in the American West. Travel back in time at the Piedmont Ghost Town and sing in one of the old charcoal kilns. Take a picnic to the Bear River State Park. Stroll down picturesque Main Street.
Salt Lake City is positioned in a perfect spot to have TONS of day trips available. Have you gone on any of these day trips? What else would you add?
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