11 Amazing Utah Day Trips That Are Worth The Drive
Visiting Utah offers a blend of other-worldly landscapes, outdoor adventure, and rich cultural experiences. With Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) only 4 miles west of the state capital, travelers can use downtown Salt Lake City as a basecamp before setting off to explore iconic destinations like Antelope Island with its wildlife and lake views, the charming mountain town of Park City, or the striking desert landscapes of Bonneville Salt Flats. Add a perfect touch of exploration and discovery to any journey to the Beehive State. With easy access to amazing attractions in under three hours, these day trips are more than worth the drive.
Antelope Island State Park
Just an hour and forty-minute drive from Salt Lake City International Airport is Antelope Island State Park, situated in the Great Salt Lake, where outdoor enthusiasts can actually watch "the buffalo roam and where the deer and antelope play." There is so much to love about this state park, which offers plenty of wildlife viewing and Instagramming opportunities.
The island is home to free-roaming bison, mule, deer, bighorn sheep, and antelope. It’s a bird-watching paradise as millions of birds congregate along the island's shores. For stunning lake views, hike the challenging 6.6-mile Frary Peak Trail, which takes hikers to the highest peak on Antelope Island.
Heber Valley Railroad, Heber City
Less than a 60-minute drive from the airport, fall is the perfect time of year for a day trip to the Heber Valley Railroad, also known as the “Heber Creeper.” A historic train with vintage diesel coaches and steam or diesel locomotives, railroad enthusiasts can enjoy a 2-hour scenic train ride through the stunning landscapes of the Wasatch Mountains, the Provo River, and the expansive open vistas of the Deer Creek Reservoir. Themed train trips are available year-round, including a 40-minute ride about the Pumpkin Train and a 90-minute roundtrip aboard the Halloween Express, where Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Mummy will entertain riders.
Bonneville Salt Flats
Visitors looking to see where amateur drivers make or break land speed records need to look no further than Bonneville Salt Flats—one of the most unique natural attractions in a state known for its outstanding natural beauty. Despite its unreal landscape, it’s the need for speed that brings most day trippers on the 90-minute drive from SLC to the Salt Flats. It's famous for the Bonneville Speedway, but even non-motorheads will love exploring the surreal landscape and snapping selfies. Even Hollywood loves the Bonneville Salt Flats, appearing as a movie location for films like Independence Day, War of the Worlds, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.
The Salt Flats formed when ancient salty Lake Bonneville, which once covered one-third of Utah, dried up, leaving the Great Salt Lake in its wake. The crust of salt stretching over 30,000 acres is perfectly flat, making it the ideal place to see how fast a car can go. The best viewpoint of the area is from the Salt Flats Rest Area near Milepost 10. Park the car and walk out onto the salty soil for the sound of a satisfying crunch.
Provo Canyon
Provo Canyon is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, about an hour from the Salt Lake City Airport. There are many activities for visitors to choose from, including longboarding, biking, hiking, or rafting along the Provo River, so be prepared for a full, active day of adventure. No adrenaline seeker will be able to resist the 14-mile roundtrip hike to the 11,753-foot peak of Mount Timpanogos. Less experienced hikers can take the scenic Alpine Loop, where favorite less challenging trails include Stewart Falls, Tibble Fork Trail, and Lake Reservoir.
For families interested in more leisurely pursuits, the Provo River Trail stretches 15 miles along the river, perfect for bikes, scooters, and longboards, including a 6-mile downhill portion. The canyon is also home to the iconic Bridal Veil Falls, a 607-foot waterfall that can be reached by a short hike from the parking lot.
Park City Museum, Park City
The world-renowned ski town of Park City is 45 minutes from the airport, but before it became a ski resort, it was a town known for its silver mines. Exploring the charming historic downtown makes for a great day trip in Utah, especially for travelers interested in learning about the town’s past. The Park City Museum features interactive exhibits, artifacts, and displays that explore the town’s transformation, including Park City’s Territorial Jail, a late 19th-century Mega Mine, and a 1926 Fire Truck.
Golden Spike National Historical Park
Promontory Summit is a landmark in northern Utah where the last spike to complete the First Transcontinental Railroad was driven into the track on May 10, 1869, connecting the east to the west coasts. Ninety minutes from the airport, it is part of the Golden Spike National Historical Park, a must-visit park for railfans and train buffs.
The best place to start is in the Visitor Center, where you can learn about the railroad's history and watch several movies. Outside are reenactments of driving the Golden Spike, and two replica steam locomotives, Juniper and No. 119, are on display. There is a 1.5-mile hiking loop along the track or a few auto tours where visitors can drive to see the work that went into building the railroad.
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Brigham City
A day trip only an hour from the airport is the perfect way for ornithophiles to spend an afternoon in this bird oasis. The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge lies in northern Utah, where the Bear River flows into the northeast arm of the Great Salt Lake. The refuge offers plenty of outdoor recreational opportunities besides birding, like photography, wildlife watching, hiking, cycling, fishing, painting, and drawing.
There is a 36-mile round-trip auto tour where visitors can view various birdlife without leaving the car. Alternately, explore the 1.5-mile Marsh Meander Trail near the Wildlife Education Center or the 0.75-mile Bullrush Bridge nature trail. Bring the kids along, and they can earn a Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge Junior Ranger badge.
Timpanogos Cave National Monument, American Fork Canyon
The Timpanogos Cave National Monument in Utah’s Wasatch Range is a fascinating series of caves known for its colorful geological formations, including stalactites, stalagmites, and other intricate crystal structures. Physically fit hikers can reach the caves after a strenuous 1.5-mile hike with an elevation gain of 1,100 vertical feet.
Visitors can explore all three caves on an hour-long ranger-led tour. The route through the cave’s dark chambers is well-lit and filled with jagged rock pillars. The largest rooms are decorated with fang-like, niter-encrusted rocks, and gnarly walls and are pretty creepy to see. While bats do call the cave home, most will be sleeping during the daylight visit. Bring lots of water and a light jacket, and wear good walking shoes on this day trip about 45 minutes from SLC.
Mirror Lake Scenic Byway, Kamas
As the 13th largest state in the US, Utah’s magnificent geography offers travelers a stunning mix of deserts, rugged mountains, and iconic red rock formations. It is also home to 28 scenic byways, making a road trip through the Uintas worth taking. Hop in the rental at SLC and start driving. In less than two hours, roadtrippers will see one of the highest roads in Utah from the comfort of the car on the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway.
The byway is a 42-mile stretch of road and one of Utah's most famous driving routes. It begins in Kamas and climbs high into the Uinta Mountains, cresting at 10,715 feet at Bald Mountain Pass. It is one of the best drives in the fall for leaf peeping.
Little Sahara Sand Dunes
Two hours south of Salt Lake City Airport, the Little Sahara Sand Dunes is 60,000 acres of flats, hills, and dunes. An activity for the entire family, it's a blast to dune buggy or ATV on the dunes. For visitors who don't have an off-road vehicle, there is still plenty to do, including fat-biking, sandboarding, sand skiing, sand sledding, hiking, and wildlife viewing. The dunes are another leftover from ancient Lake Bonneville. When the lake receded, winds picked up the exposed sand and created 124 square miles of giant, free-moving dunes.
If visitors need a quiet break from the dunes, the Rockwell Outstanding Natural Area is a vehicle-free miniature version of the Sahara Sand Dunes. Rockwell includes a diverse collection of plants and animals to see, like mule deer, antelope, 15 species of birds, the desert whipsnake, and other species of reptiles.
Nine Mile Canyon
Called the "World's Longest Art Gallery," Nine Mile Canyon is home to thousands of ancient Native American petroglyphs and pictographs, as well as ruins of dwellings that have remained untouched for centuries. The drive offers a glimpse into Utah's history and rugged landscapes. Thanks to Utah’s dry climate and isolation from large cities, the canyon remains as it was hundreds of years ago. The rock art panels are of such remarkable quality that they were featured in National Geographic.
This all-day trip is definitely off the beaten track, so visitors should go prepared with a picnic, a thermos, or a canteen of water. Make sure the car has lots of gas. The full tour will take about six to eight hours, including stops for photographs and a little hiking. The drive from Salt Lake City Airport to the start of the canyon is about two hours but well worth it for petroglyph enthusiasts and art lovers.
Salt Lake City boasts several exciting day trips that showcase Utah's natural beauty and rich history. Take a scenic train ride on the Heber Valley Railroad for a charming journey through picturesque landscapes. The Bonneville Salt Flats, about 90 minutes away, are famous for their unique terrain and land speed records. Provo Canyon offers hiking trails and stunning waterfalls for outdoor adventures. For history enthusiasts, the Park City Museum and Golden Spike National Historical Park provide insights into the region’s mining past and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. All these day trips are less than three hours from the Salt Lake City International Airport.
