Salt Lake City: travel tips and best time to visit

Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah, lies between the Great Salt Lake and the mighty wall of the Wasatch Mountains. It was founded in 1847 by the Mormons, whose faith shapes the city to this day. For many travelers it is the gateway to Utah's national parks and a practical start or finish to a Western road trip, with its sprawling downtown and the mountains right on its doorstep.

The skyline of Salt Lake City in front of the Wasatch Mountains.

Temple Square

The historic center is Temple Square, the sacred site of the Mormons with the striking Salt Lake Temple and the Tabernacle, in which the well-known choir sings. The square is well kept and freely accessible.

Mountains and salt lake

The Wasatch Mountains rise right behind the city, a top ski area in winter, for hiking in summer. To the west lies the namesake Great Salt Lake, so salty that you float in it.

Gateway to the parks

Salt Lake City is a good starting point: the national parks in southern Utah as well as Yellowstone and Grand Teton to the north are easy to reach from here. The city itself is quiet, clean and easy to get around.

Die Höhepunkte von Salt Lake City

What you shouldn't miss.

1

Temple Square

The sacred site of the Mormons with the Salt Lake Temple and the famous Tabernacle Choir.

Directions with Google Maps

2

Utah State Capitol

The capitol on the hill, with a fine view over downtown and the mountains.

Directions with Google Maps

3

Great Salt Lake

The namesake salt lake to the west of the city, so salty that you float in it.

Directions with Google Maps

4

The Wasatch Mountains

Right behind the city, a top ski area in winter, for hiking in summer.

Directions with Google Maps

The big questions from the forum

What was discussed most on USA-TALK.DE, with the community verdict.

Is a whole day worth it for Salt Lake City, or is a stop enough?

The gist in the forum is clear: for the sights like Temple Square and the capitol, an afternoon or a day is plenty. Some therefore cut it almost entirely and rather use the time for the scenic route over Bear Lake and the small towns. Those heading to the Great Salt Lake or the Timpanogos Caves, on the other hand, need a bit more time.

Practical tips from the forum

Concrete advice from travellers who were there.

Take one of the guided tours of Temple Square. It is genuinely interesting and offered in many languages, with German almost always available. At the info center you can pick up free brochures, and they will even mail them to your home.
from the USA-TALK.DE forum

Head up to the observation deck of the Convention Center at Temple Square. The view over the city is beautiful and it costs nothing. The Church Office Building also gives you a great 360-degree view of Temple Square and the surrounding area.
from the USA-TALK.DE forum

Don't miss the Great Salt Lake. On Antelope Island you can float in the salt lake, and there are showers right there, which you will need afterward.
from the USA-TALK.DE forum

Arrive in the afternoon and you'll have plenty of time for Temple Square and the Capitol. You can knock out the Great Salt Lake on the way in.
from the USA-TALK.DE forum

Stay somewhere central, for example near Temple Square and the Capitol. If you like seafood, the Market Street Grill nearby is worth it, and it's best to book ahead.
from the USA-TALK.DE forum

Voices from the community

What travellers experienced on the spot.

Salt Lake City is the capital of the Mormons. On my Northwest loop I ended the tour there and flew back from here to San Francisco.
from personal experience

The only larger city we visited on our Western road trip was Salt Lake City.
from the forum USA-TALK.DE

From the Utah State Capitol you have a fine view of downtown Salt Lake City.
from the forum USA-TALK.DE

I have been to Salt Lake City several times, an interesting city, also because of the setting with the mountains all around. Temple Square is worth seeing, plus one of the largest organs in the world in the Tabernacle and the government building.
from the forum USA-TALK.DE

We were in Salt Lake City for a day, which was completely enough for us to see the most important things like Temple Square and the capitol. You do not need to plan a full day for the city.
from the forum USA-TALK.DE

I was only there for one night, more or less by chance, but the city stayed in very good memory. We were lucky that a Mormon of German descent spoke to us and gave us a very interesting tour.
from the forum USA-TALK.DE

Salt Lake City is a pretty tidy city, I think, it used to be even more extreme. There is not an insane amount to see, basically Temple Square, the capitol and two shopping malls.
from the forum USA-TALK.DE

I had imagined it quite differently, above all bigger. At first glance it seems almost modest for a capital.
from the forum USA-TALK.DE

We arrived via Wendover just before the great salt lake. The Bonneville Salt Flats were so soaked from all the rain that I only ventured onto them a little way.
from the forum USA-TALK.DE

Have you been here? Share your impression

Your experience helps other travellers more than any glossy brochure. Every post is briefly reviewed before publication.

Climate through the year

Average temperatures, day and night. Large value °C, small value °F.

3°37°F-6°21°F

Jan

7°45°F-3°27°F

Feb

13°55°F1°34°F

Mar

17°63°F4°39°F

Apr

23°73°F9°48°F

May

29°84°F14°57°F

Jun

34°93°F19°66°F

Jul

32°90°F18°64°F

Aug

27°81°F12°54°F

Sep

18°64°F5°41°F

Oct

9°48°F-1°30°F

Nov

3°37°F-5°23°F

Dec

Map with viewpoints

Park, entrances and the best viewpoints at a glance.

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Distances and driving times

How far it is to the key places nearby.

From	Distance	Drive time
Park City	37 mi (60 km)	approx. 0.75 hrs
Grand Teton	305 mi (490 km)	approx. 5 hrs
Yellowstone	315 mi (510 km)	approx. 5 hrs
Zion National Park	310 mi (500 km)	approx. 4.5 hrs

Where to stay

Right in the middle of things, or cheaper a bit further out.

Downtown

by Temple Square

Central, close to Temple Square, the capitol and restaurants.

Near the airport

convenient

Good for arriving and departing on a road trip, plenty of hotels.

Park City

in the mountains

Charming ski resort in the Wasatch Mountains, just under an hour away.

Insider tips and common mistakes

What was worth it and what to skip.

Insider tips

See Temple Square, an impressive, well-kept place even without any connection to the faith.
Enjoy the view over city and Wasatch Mountains from the Utah State Capitol.
Take Salt Lake City as the start or finish of a Utah road trip, the parks are easy to reach.

Common mistakes

Dismissing the city as a mere pass-through, Temple Square and the mountain backdrop are worth a stop.
Underestimating the heat in the valley in high summer.
Mistaking the Great Salt Lake for a swimming lake, the salty, often smelly water is more of an experience than a beach day.

Photos

Click to enlarge.

Videos

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Frequently asked questions

What shapes Salt Lake City?

The Mormons, who founded the city in 1847. Their center is Temple Square with the Salt Lake Temple.

Is a stop worth it?

As a destination in itself the city is modest, but as the gateway to Utah's parks and with the mountain backdrop it makes a good start or finish.

Can you swim in the Great Salt Lake?

Yes, thanks to the high salt content you float almost by yourself. But the water is salty and often smells, more of an experience than a swim.

What is easy to reach from here?

The national parks in southern Utah as well as Yellowstone and Grand Teton to the north.

Nearby

Easy to combine on a road trip.

First national park

Wyoming

Yellowstone

Geysers, steaming rainbow springs and wildlife in the world's first national park.

Grand Teton

One of the most beautiful mountain ranges in America, with Jackson Hole at its feet.

Zion Nationalpark

Sheer red walls, a green valley and the river running through it.

Salt Lake City

Temple Square

Mountains and salt lake

Gateway to the parks

Die Höhepunkte von Salt Lake City

Temple Square

Utah State Capitol

Great Salt Lake

The Wasatch Mountains

The big questions from the forum

Is a whole day worth it for Salt Lake City, or is a stop enough?

Practical tips from the forum

Voices from the community

Have you been here? Share your impression

Climate through the year

Map with viewpoints

Distances and driving times

Where to stay

Downtown

Near the airport

Park City

Insider tips and common mistakes

Insider tips

Common mistakes

Photos

Videos

Top 10 in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City, a whole day

Salt Lake City tour 4K

Temple Square and downtown 4K

Frequently asked questions

Nearby

Yellowstone

Grand Teton

Zion Nationalpark