Easy Day Trips From Salt Lake City, Utah
Hello, travelers!
Welcome back to another piece about the Western region of the United States. In today’s post I am going to be discussing some easy road trips that I took while I was visiting Salt Lake City, Utah. Before this trip in 2024, I never really had Salt Lake City on my radar to visit, but my perception of Utah was further from what I experienced. Salt Lake City is one of my favorite destinations I have ever been to! It has wonderful food, amazing sights, and nature all around you. I will write more about the city in a future post, however, the area around the city has some amazing things to do that are short drives from downtown. These three are a few of my favorites!
Bonneville Salt Flats/West Wendover, NV
If you are visiting Salt Lake City and can only take time to do one thing, please let it be this. The Bonneville Salt Flats are located about an hour and a half away from downtown SLC. It is a bit of a drive, but it is so worth it. I made sure when I visited this state park that I was able to experience it during the day, golden hour, and after the sun had set. Each time, the flats gave off a different vibe. During the morning, you can wonder, touch the salt, and take in the beauty of the area. Sunset made for perfect photos, running around in the salt, and just being in the nature of it all. When night fell, these flats really transport you to another planet. I felt like I was on the set of a Star Wars film because of the ominous quiet and vast nothingness. I have never experienced anything like this and I hope that one day you can experience the beauty of the Salt Flats too!
Located just outside the Salt Flats is West Wendover, Nevada. It is really funny experiencing the sheer difference between the two states. Utah is filled with nature, a calming quiet, and not a lot going on. As soon as you cross into Nevada, you are met with flashing neon lights, casinos, and a whole lot of noise. It was really interesting seeing just how stark the change is in person. West Wendover does not have a ton going on other than the casinos or lights. I do recommend driving by and getting a picture with “Wendover Will,” a giant sign depicting a waving cowboy welcoming you to the city. This landmark was built in 1952 and has been featured in several movies. I will include a link here to learn more about the history of Wendover Will!
Wendover Will History Page | West Wendover, NV
Antelope Island State Park, UT
Antelope Island State Park is located about an hour and a half outside of Salt Lake City Center. This state park is full of stunning views, amazing nature, and wonderful trails to take in the scenery. This park has so many activities, you could spend a whole day here! When I went, we took the scenic route up to the Buffalo Point Lookout area. Antelope Island is known for their free roaming bison, something that is very rare. Most bison in the U.S. are held in a certain space, whether for conservation or zoos, however this is one of the scarce locations where the bison are free to roam and live away from human intervention. There are plenty of binoculars at the lookout point so you can view the roaming bison in their natural habitat. If you are looking to spend a lot of time here, you can take guided tours, horseback rides on trails, and even camp! I will include a link to the visitor guide so you can discover all Antelope Island State Park has to offer. I also would highly recommend hitting up the gift shop and getting the cutest Bison plush to commemorate your trip! :)
Bear River State Park/Evanston, WY
If you were to take an hour and a half drive Northeast of Salt Lake City, you will enter the state of Wyoming! The first town that you will run into is Evanston, a very small charming community. Main Street has cute restaurants, cafes, and small shops. This is the perfect place to take in the mountain air and really see the beauty of a rural town.
I ate at a very small restaurant called Mother Mae’s Kitchen, a spot straight out of the 1980s, but they have recently been renovated so it looks a little more modern. They have a no fuss menu featuring hamburgers, sandwiches, and fries. Something you must try when visiting the West, especially Utah and Wyoming, is fry sauce. Fry sauce is just a mixture of mayonnaise and ketchup, some places add some spices to it as well! Afterwards, we stopped off at GiGi’s Coffee House for a quick and delicious latte. Then, we strolled along Main Street to Home Decor, for Pete’s Sake, and Rustic Sage & Co.
On the outskirts of Evanston is Bear River State Park, a place for all to take in nature and see a very rare animal. Held within the park are captive bison, elk, and moose, however, the rare white bison are also found here. Not only do they have a viewing area for the wildlife, you also can experience nature by walking along Bear River, fishing, hiking, and snowshoeing or skiing in the wintertime! This park is absolutely stunning and being able to just sit and watch the rare bison was something I will never forget. Linked below is the website for the state park so you can check out all they have to offer.
Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, & Trails - Bear River State Park
I hope you have a better idea now on where you should venture outside the city if you have a free day in Salt Lake City, UT. All three of these locations will take your breath away and allow you to just sit in the beauty of nature or small town life. Stay tuned for other Salt Lake City and Western U.S. posts!
Happy traveling,