Whether it’s the gorgeous streets, the unforgettable nightlife, or the amazing people, Utah’s capital has a little something for everybody.
Once you’ve had fun and excitement, you’d be wise to do a day trip from Salt Lake City and see what the rest of the state has to offer.
You like hikes? Scenic vistas? Forests as far as the eye can see? All this and more is only a quick drive away from SLC, so get to prepping!
Antelope Island State Park
When we talk about places to visit near Salt Lake City, it’s impossible to ignore the elephant in the room: the majestic Great Salt Lake!
The Wasatch Range, the unique flora, and the ever-charming buffalos are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this place.
To make the most of your trip, we recommend doing a guided tour of Antelope Island State Park. You get to see some beautiful bird species, as well as the Fielding Garr Ranch for a 19th-century throwback.
Bonneville Salt Flats
Formerly Lake Bonneville, these remnant salt flats are probably best known for the Bonneville Speedway, one of the States’ most unique motorsports tracks.
A place this magical deserves at least half a day of attention, so you can either head out alone or join a tour group to learn some history.
Once you’ve had your fill of this saline wonderland, you can stop by the nearby town of Wendover for a meal, or maybe even a visit to the Historic Wendover Airfield Museum.
Heber City
Close to Jordanelle State Park and Wasatch Mountain State Park, the iconic Heber City is a great hub for when you need a breather from all your adventuring.
If you have an hour and a half to spare, we recommend riding the Heber Valley Railroad, a crash course on all the beautiful vistas you can find in the region.
Beyond that, the city is probably best known for Dairy Keen, a throwback burger joint and a great place to stock up on calories for the next leg of your trip.
Provo
Located right by Utah Lake State Park, this city can keep you occupied for a full day and keep you coming back for more.
You have the Seven Peaks Water Park (ideal if you’re traveling with kids), the Brigham Young University Museum of Art, and the renowned LaVell Edwards Stadium for all the college sports fans.
By the way, we’d be remiss to forget the Bombay House, a strong contender for the best Indian restaurant in Utah and beyond.
Mirror Lake Highway
Utah State Route 150 (better known as the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway or Mirror Lake Highway) is one of the most scenic stretches of asphalt you’ll have the pleasure of driving.
Starting from Kamas, Utah and continuing into Wyoming, this route takes you past Mirror Lake and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest before winding its way north.
What this means for you is countless hiking trails, unforgettable campsites, and the breathtaking peaks of the Uinta Mountains.
Ashley National Forest
The Ashley National Forest deserves more love than it gets - there are a staggering 1000 miles of hiking trails here, and the innumerable lakes make it a popular fishing spot too.
Split between Utah and Wyoming, the forest also houses the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, named after its epic cliffs of sandstone.
For a sequence of views unlike any other, we recommend traveling along the Green River - spots like Red Canyon Overlook and Sheep Creek Overlook are just two of the must-sees in the area.
Goblin Valley State Park
There are countless rock formations scattered across Utah, but this place is a personal favorite of ours. Goblin Valley State Park gets its name from its unique, almost goblin-shaped rocks, and there’s an entire army of them here!
You have quite a few hiking trails here that let you soak in the scenery, and if you like what you see, you can always snag a spot at the Goblin Valley Campground.
Whatever you do, though, take the time to go to Goblin Overlook, arguably the best vista the park has to offer.
Manti-La Sal & Fishlake National Forests
Home to the La Sal Mountains, the Manti-La Sal National Forest has some of the most impressive terrain diversity in these parts of the States. Imagine red rocks, evergreen trails, and sweeping peaks as the backdrop!
Then there’s Fishlake National Forest, known for its biodiversity and home to the titular Fish Lake. It also makes for a beautiful transition into other attractions further south - more on those later.
Between these two forests, you have nearly 3 million acres of lush greenery to work with. They offer some pretty beautiful campsites if you want to devote a few days to this area, which wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world!
Capitol Reef National Park
This place slips under many people’s radars, but there’s virtually no reason not to take a day trip from Salt Lake City to see Capitol Reef.
This red rock wonder is best known for the Waterpocket Fold, a steep monocline offering around 100 miles of scenic, cliff-riddled landscapes and natural bridges.
Utah has no shortage of spelunking and rock climbing spots, but you have a guided canyoneering tour if you’re looking for a physical challenge. Alternatively, you can enjoy a more leisurely tour of the Cathedral Valley, not to mention The Temple of the Sun and Moon.
Moab
Nestled between Arches and Canyonlands National Park, the beautiful city of Moab has a lot to offer, even if it’s just for a day.
From the iconic Moab Brewery to the countless hiking spots in the area (Mill Creek Trail and Slickrock Biking Trail come to mind), this place is teeming with places to explore.
Alongside two of America’s finest national parks, you also have Dead Horse Point State Park, rich with pet-friendly hiking trails and memorable vistas.
At the end of the day, any place with a view of the Colorado River is bound to be scenic, so be sure to keep a camera handy!
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Moment
We can’t bring up Utah day trips without mentioning Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument - stretching from Bryce Canyon National Park to the marvelous Grand Canyon, these rock layers perfectly capture the essence of the Beehive State.
Despite the intimidating shape of the rock sediments, the monument is mostly quite easy to traverse. Also, we don’t have to tell you about the insane photo ops!
Highlights include the Phipps Arch, Calf Creek Falls, and the unforgettable Wave Trail, although there are countless others off the beaten path, just waiting for you to discover them.
FAQs on Day Trips from Salt Lake City
Why is the Great Salt Lake pink?
If you visit the north arm of Great Salt Lake in the summer or fall, you might be lucky enough to see it in an unforgettable pink hue. There aren’t many lifeforms that can thrive in high-salinity conditions, but there’s an exception - halophilic (or salt-adapted) microorganisms with a unique pink pigment.
How far is Moab from Salt Lake City?
There are about 230 miles between Salt Lake City and Moab, which amounts to 3 hours and 30 minutes of travel by car. It’s a pretty lengthy but scenic drive, passing places like Provo, Utah Lake, and Manti-La Sal National Forest, not to mention Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.
When is Mirror Lake Highway open?
The Mirror Lake Scenic Byway tends to get quite snowy in or around the winter, so it’s closed for a lot of the year. More often than not, it should be open sometime in May, and it’ll stay accessible until fall.
