Awesome Day Trips in Utah

Utah is an outdoor recreation paradise for residents and visitors alike. The state is home to five amazing national parks and world-renowned ski resorts, as well as plenty of arts, culture, and historic points of interest. Our day trip recommendations focus on the places that that are easily accessible from Salt Lake City. The national parks and recreation areas are all well worth a visit, but we highly recommend spending much longer than a day at each of them. People flock from all over the world to hike, bike, climb and enjoy the unforgettable landscapes.

Here are some great destinations to visit across the Beehive State:

Antelope Island

Antelope Island is 60 miles northwest of Salt Lake City and is only reachable via Antelope Island Road, a seven-mile drive from the mainland. Depending on the water levels of The Great Salt Lake during your visit, Antelope Island may actually be a peninsula. The area was once considered for national park recognition, and today the entire 42-acres are within Antelope Island State Park, managed by the Utah State Parks and Recreation Division. A visit to the island affords nature lovers with amazing sights of free-ranging bison, mule deer, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and millions of birds. Expect a national park experience at this not-so-well-known but beautiful state park.

Ogden

Ogden was the original site of Fort Buenaventura, the first permanent European settlement in Utah, and is located just 40 miles north of Salt Lake City. The city’s history includes being a railway hub and stop for migrants and trade moving across the United States. The locals used to say, “You Can’t Get Anywhere Without Going Through Ogden.” Today, you can visit the historic Ogden Union Station Museum, which houses four museums (the Utah State Railroad Museum, the John M. Browning Firearms Museum, the Browning–Kimball Classic Car Museum, and the Utah Cowboy Western Heritage Museum) and two art galleries (the Gallery at the Station, and the Myra Powell Gallery).

Park City

Park City is a four-season destination located just over 30 miles east of Salt Lake City. As winter approaches, thousands of ski and boarding enthusiasts ascend to Park City to stay and play at the famous Park City Mountain Resort and the Deer Valley Resort. This day trip is tailored to the adrenaline junkie looking for one of the most unique experiences in the world. Utah Olympic Park is home to one of only four sliding tracks in North America. Visitors can book the Winter Bobsled Experience and navigate down the 2002 Winter Olympic Sliding track. To relax after all that excitement, we recommend visiting one of the luxury hotels for a spa treatment followed by a fine dining experience.

Provo

Provo is the third largest city in Utah and home to Brigham Young University. Like many cities with major universities, Provo has no shortage of activities centered around art, culture, and science. Located just 45 miles south of Salt Lake City, spend the day at the BYU Museum of Paleontology, BYU Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, and the Museum of Art at Brigham Young University. You may have to come back to see all of them! Keep in mind there are plenty of great outdoor recreational activities in Provo as well.

**Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hours at attractions may be limited. Make sure to check the websites and add to your list for future travels!