How to spend 1 Day in Salt Lake City

itinerarysalt lake cityutahunited states

Sep 6

Salt Lake City is the capital city and largest city in the State of Utah. With plenty of people visiting Utah to go skiing or to see the national parks in the state, many people fly into Salt Lake City International Airport and often spend a day or two in the area before heading out.

This itinerary is great if you arrive the night before the first day, which of course allows for more time to explore the area!

Table of Contents

Day 1

We arrived in Dallas the night before, and were able to get our day started exploring Dallas first thing in the morning.

Temple Square

Utah has a large Mormon population, and Temple Square is the headquarters to the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The square houses the Salt Lake Temple, Salt Lake Tabernacle, Salt Lake Assembly Hall, and a visitor center. The Temple Square is located in the middle of downtown Salt Lake City, and is one of the most visited and photographed attractions in the city. Unfortunately while we were here, the main temple was undergoing a renovation, expected to be completed by 2024.

Utah State Capitol Building

Salt Lake City is the capital of Utah, and the capitol building is located on a hill just north of downtown Salt Lake City, overlooking the city and Salt Lake Valley. The building is nearly identical in shape and height to the United States Capitol Building in Washington DC. The Utah State Capitol Building also has several statues and monuments located in front of the building

Natural History Museum of Utah

Located on the University of Utah campus, the Natural History Museum of Utah has over 5,000 artifacts on display. The museum has a large collections devoted to dinosaur fossils, Native Americans, gems and minerals, and the Great Salt Lake. The museum is located right next to the popular Red Butte Garden.

Bonneville Salt Flats

Located just under 2 hours west of Salt Lake City, the Bonneville Salt Flats are the largest salt flats in the United States, and is a popular stop for photographs. Visitors can drive out on the salt flats and speed around. Just make sure the salt is completely dry, and don’t forget to get a car wash in the nearby town of Wendover after doing so. The most common place to pull off and drive on the salt flats is Bonneville Speedway Road, Wendover, UT 84083. The salt flats are also home to the several races throughout the summer months. In the winter and spring months, the salt flats become ponds, turning the salt flats into a giant mirror.

With More Time

Red Butte Garden

Located right next to the Natural History Museum of Utah, the Red Butte Garden is a large botanical garden with several miles of hiking trails.

Great Salt Lake

The Great Salt Lake is the second saltiest lake in the world, allowing people to float in the lake.

Clark Planetarium

The Clark Planetarium is located in downtown Salt Lake City, and has an IMAX theater, pitless digital dome planetarium, and over 10,000 square feet of exhibition space

Getting Around

The Salt Lake City area is home to UTA - The Utah Transit Authority. UTA has a collection of busses running in the Salt Lake City region, along with several light rail lines throughout the region. Most activities in Salt Lake City can be accessed via light rail, bus, or on foot, but if you are looking to go to the Bonneville Salt Flats, you will need a rental car.

Where we Stayed

We stayed at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Salt Lake City-Downtown. The hotel is located in downtown Salt Lake City across from Pioneer Park. A light-rail station is located just two blocks away from the hotel