Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah's capital, pairs skiing in the Wasatch Range with Temple Square, the historic core of Mormon settlement.
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Salt Lake City is Utah's state capital and its largest city. Locals often call it Salt Lake or SLC. Mormon pioneers led by Brigham Young founded it in 1847 in a semi-arid valley near the Great Salt Lake, which lies to the northwest. Temple Square is the historic heart of the city, and its southeast corner is the reference point for the street grid and every address in the valley. Work on the Salt Lake Temple began in 1853, and the building was dedicated on April 6, 1893, after about 40 years of construction.
People come for skiing, outdoor recreation and religious tourism. Alta, Brighton, Solitude and Snowbird sit in the Wasatch Range to the southeast, and eight ski resorts lie within about 80 km of the city. The city hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics and will host the 2034 Games. Visit in winter for skiing, or in summer for hiking on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail through the Wasatch foothills. Summers are hot and dry, while winter brings snow from about early November to mid-April.
Salt Lake City in five
- Ride TRAX from the airportThe TRAX Green Line station is outside the terminal on the east side: leave by door 1A and go east. Check the current fare and schedule on UTA's site before you land.Airport public transportation
- Know the traction law before a canyon driveWhen the beacons outside Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon flash, vehicles need at least 5/32 inch of tread, plus M+S tires (AWD or 4WD) or 3-peak snowflake tires (2WD).UDOT traction law
- Take the ski bus if winter driving is newUDOT suggests trying the ski bus, or delaying, if you are unsure of your winter driving. Neither canyon has a gas station, so fill the tank in the valley first.
- Give the Natural History Museum a half dayThe museum sits in the foothills at 301 Wakara Way and is open daily 10 am to 5 pm, until 9 pm on Wednesdays, with last admission 30 minutes before closing. Reserve tickets online.Museum hours and tickets
- Treat Moab, Arches and Zion as their own tripsThe national parks of southern Utah are hours of driving from the city, so a day trip is not realistic. Plan overnight stays, and use Salt Lake City as the start or end of the loop.Utah travel guide
Things to do in Salt Lake City
See all attractions in Salt Lake City
Need to know
- Airport
- Salt Lake City International (SLC); TRAX Green Line from door 1A, east side
- Getting there
- Fly into SLC; most Utah park trips start with a rental car
- Getting around
- TRAX light rail and buses downtown; a car for the canyons
- Best base
- Downtown for TRAX; Sugar House or 9th and 9th for local streets
- Time needed
- 2 days for the city; add days for skiing or canyons
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh2°Low-5°Ski seasonJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 2°
- Low
- -5°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 5
- Days with storms
- 0
Ski season
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh4°Low-4°Powder, skiFebruaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 4°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 55 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Powder, ski
- MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh10°Low0°Spring skiingMarchPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring skiing
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh15°Low4°ChangeableAprilPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Changeable
- MayClear10 rainy daysHigh20°Low8°Mild, greenMayClear
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- JuneClear4 rainy daysHigh28°Low14°Warm, hikingJuneClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 19 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, hiking
- JulyClear2 rainy daysHigh34°Low19°Hot, dryJulyClear
Mixed
- High
- 34°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 6 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- AugustClear3 rainy daysHigh31°Low18°Hot, dryAugustClear
Good
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 23 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- SeptemberClear4 rainy daysHigh26°Low13°Warm, clearSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, clear
- OctoberClear6 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh17°Low6°Fall colorOctoberClear
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Fall color
- NovemberClear7 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low1°Cold, first snowNovemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 49 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, first snow
- DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh3°Low-4°Snow, skiDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 3°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 4
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow, ski
Average daily high and low in Salt Lake City, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Salt Lake City
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
9
- Feels like
- 8°
- Humidity
- 66%
- Wind
- 6 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 92%
Salt Lake City
06:00 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today8°3°92%Monday: Rain. High 8°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 92%.
- Tue10°2°1%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Wed10°5°50%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 50%.
- Thu11°6°2%Thursday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Fri11°6°8%Friday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Sat12°6°4%Saturday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Sun15°8°0%Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 03:43 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
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Day trips by train
- Cottonwood Canyonsa short drive from the valleySki resorts in winter and trails in summer; check the traction law and avalanche closures first.
- Antelope Islandabout 1 hour by carBison, shoreline and views across the Great Salt Lake, best on a clear day.
- Moab and Archesabout 4 hours by car, so overnightToo far for a comfortable day trip; treat it as a two-night add-on.Read the guide
Before you go to Salt Lake City
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Rules for Salt Lake City, checked
- Cottonwood Canyons: when traction rules are in effect, vehicles need at least 5/32 inch of tread plus M+S tires (AWD/4WD) or 3-peak snowflake tires (2WD).Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Natural History Museum of Utah: open daily 10 am to 5 pm, until 9 pm on Wednesdays; last admission 30 minutes before closing.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- The Airport to TRAX station is outside the terminal on the east side: exit door 1A and go east; one-way fares are listed on UTA's site.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Salt Lake City
The state's parks and how the loops connect
Read the guideMoab travel guideRed-rock base for Arches, a long drive south
Read the guideArches National ParkRed-rock arches near Moab
Read the guideZion National ParkCanyon park in Utah's far south-west
Read the guideESTA before a Utah ski tripSort it before you book flights to Salt Lake
Read the guidePark CitySki town about 35 to 45 minutes east by car
Read the guideWasatch MountainsCanyons, resorts and summer trails
Read the guideAll of the USAParks, cities and trip planning for visitors
Read the guideSalt Lake City FAQ
How many days do you need in Salt Lake City?
Two days cover downtown, a museum and a neighborhood meal. Add one or more days for skiing in the Cottonwood Canyons or a hike, and treat southern Utah's parks as separate nights rather than side trips.
Is Salt Lake City worth visiting if you do not ski?
Yes. The Natural History Museum, the foothill trails and the walkable food streets work in any season, and summer and fall offer hiking without the winter driving rules.
How do you get from Salt Lake City airport to downtown?
Ride the TRAX Green Line from the station outside door 1A on the east side of the terminal, or take a taxi or rideshare. Fares and schedules are on UTA's site, so check them before arrival.
Do you need chains or snow tires for the ski resorts?
When traction rules are on, AWD or 4WD cars need M+S tires and 2WD cars need 3-peak snowflake tires, all with at least 5/32 inch of tread. Chains on the drive wheels are an accepted alternative.
When is the best time to visit Salt Lake City?
January and February suit snow sports; June, September and October are better for hiking and city walks. July and August are hot and dry, and spring weather can swing between snow and mild days.