Photo: PeteysHead, CC BY-SA 4.0
Town · 34 min east
Park City
A former silver-mining town with a lively Main Street, shops, restaurants and two big ski resorts that stay busy in summer.
- Full day
- Year-round
- Free (paid parking on Main Street)
Day Trippin' › Utah › From Salt Lake City › Within 3 hours
Places within 3 hours of Salt Lake City
77 places are worth the drive within 3 hours of Salt Lake City, counted by road time from ZIP 84101: 34 under 1 hour, 21 1 to 2 hours and 22 2 to 3 hours.
The mix leans toward beaches & lakes, history and family fun, mostly to the southeast and south. Three hours each way makes a long day trip, or an easy overnight if you would rather not drive back the same day.
The headline places are Park City, Timpanogos Cave National Monument and Antelope Island State Park, and the closest real day trip is Thanksgiving Point (25 min).
Map: places within 3 hours of Salt Lake City
Under 1 hour 1 to 2 hours 2 to 3 hours
Under 1 hour from Salt Lake City 34 places
Photo: RuggyBearLA, CC BY 2.0
National park · 35 min southeast
Timpanogos Cave National Monument
A ranger-led tour through colorful caves high on a cliff in American Fork Canyon, reached by a steep paved trail.
- Half day
- Mid-May to fall
- Cave tour ticket; entrance free
Photo: Xboxtravis7992, CC BY-SA 4.0
Museum · 32 min north
Hill Aerospace Museum
A big museum at Hill Air Force Base with more than 90 military aircraft, missiles and aerospace vehicles, from early planes to modern jets.
- 2-3 hrs
- Year-round (Tuesday-Saturday; closed Sunday, Monday and major holidays)
- Free
Photo: Bureau of Reclamation, CC BY-SA 2.0
Swimming · 39 min northeast
East Canyon State Park
A reservoir in a quiet mountain valley south of Morgan, with a swim beach, boat rentals and fishing.
- Half day
- Summer (park open year-round)
- Utah State Parks day-use fee (per vehicle)
Photo: Ravi Rishi, CC BY-SA 4.0
Family fun · 44 min southeast
Heber Valley Railroad
A historic train ride from Heber City along Deer Creek Reservoir, and in spring and summer down into Provo Canyon, with many themed rides for families.
- 2-3 hrs
- Year-round (routes and themed trains vary by season)
- Admission
Photo: Helen854 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Bike trail · 26 min south
Corner Canyon
A big trail network in the Draper foothills with flowy mountain-bike trails, hiking paths and views of the valley.
- 2-3 hrs
- Spring to fall
- Free
More under 1 hour from Salt Lake City, by type
- Family fun
- Thanksgiving Point (25 min), Utah Olympic Park (28 min), Park City Mountain Summer (34 min), Snowbird Summer Activities (35 min), George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park (41 min), Snowbasin Summer (44 min)
- Beaches & lakes
- Silver Lake (Big Cottonwood) (39 min), Jordanelle State Park (40 min), Rockport State Park (44 min), Homestead Crater (47 min), Deer Creek State Park (53 min), Mantua Reservoir (58 min)
- Biking
- Jordan River Parkway (33 min), Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail State Park (34 min), Ogden River Parkway (41 min), Provo River Parkway (43 min), Round Valley (Park City) (52 min)
- Waterfalls
- Waterfall Canyon (Ogden) (38 min), Donut Falls (41 min), Bridal Veil Falls (Provo Canyon) (44 min), Stewart Falls (55 min)
- Hikes
- Dog Lake (Millcreek Canyon) (31 min), Cecret Lake (Albion Basin) (42 min)
- Theme & water parks
- Splash Summit Waterpark (44 min)
- Small towns
- Midway (46 min)
- Scenic drives
- Alpine Loop Scenic Byway (47 min)
- Mountains & views
- Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge (52 min)
- History
- Bingham Canyon Mine (Kennecott Visitor Experience) (56 min)
1 to 2 hours from Salt Lake City 21 places
Photo: dconvertini, CC BY-SA 2.0
State park · 1 hr 1 min northwest
Antelope Island State Park
A big island in Great Salt Lake reached by a causeway, with free-roaming bison, pronghorn, salty beaches, sunsets and trails.
- Full day
- Year-round
- Utah State Parks day-use fee (per vehicle)
Photo: Asibasm, CC BY-SA 4.0
Viewpoint · 1 hr 24 min west
Bonneville Salt Flats
A huge, flat white salt plain near Wendover where you can walk out on the crust and watch mirages; famous for land speed racing.
- Half day
- Summer and fall (dry salt); flooded and closed to driving in winter and when wet
- Free
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Photo: UtahStizzle, Public domain
Town · 1 hr 18 min north
Logan
A college town in Cache Valley with a historic downtown, Aggie Ice Cream at Utah State University and easy access to Logan Canyon.
- Half day
- Year-round
- Free
Photo: Kasiarunachalam (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0
Family fun · 1 hr 33 min north
Hardware Ranch
A wildlife area in Blacksmith Fork Canyon where hundreds of wild elk gather in winter, with horse-drawn sleigh or wagon rides out among them.
- 2-3 hrs
- Winter (about early December to mid-February, Friday-Sunday; check dates)
- Fee for sleigh or wagon ride
Photo: BLMUtah, Public domain
Historic site · 1 hr 10 min north
American West Heritage Center
A living-history farm in Wellsville with pioneer and Native American displays, farm animals and seasonal festivals.
- Half day
- Spring to fall (events, check)
- Admission
Photo: Glennfcowan, CC BY 3.0
Scenic drive · 1 hr 26 min east
Mirror Lake Scenic Byway
A high road from Kamas over Bald Mountain Pass into the Uinta Mountains, past dozens of lakes, waterfalls and viewpoints.
- Full day
- Late May or June to December (closed by snow in winter)
- Recreation pass for stops (Forest Service)
More 1 to 2 hours from Salt Lake City, by type
- Beaches & lakes
- Crystal Hot Springs (1 hr 2 min), Fifth Water Hot Springs (1 hr 14 min), Yuba State Park (1 hr 37 min), Scofield State Park (1 hr 40 min)
- Hikes
- Lake Blanche (1 hr 5 min), Wasatch Mountain State Park (1 hr 7 min), Wind Cave Trail (Logan Canyon) (1 hr 27 min)
- History
- Golden Spike National Historical Park (1 hr 21 min), Prehistoric Museum (1 hr 54 min)
- Small towns
- Helper (1 hr 46 min), Manti (1 hr 56 min)
- Wildlife
- Zootah at Willow Park (1 hr 16 min)
- Scenic drives
- Logan Canyon Scenic Byway (1 hr 31 min)
- Family fun
- Little Sahara Recreation Area (1 hr 45 min)
- Mountains & views
- Spiral Jetty (1 hr 59 min)
2 to 3 hours from Salt Lake City 22 places
Photo: Mark Goebel from Taos, New Mexico, USA, CC BY 2.0
Swimming · 2 hr 6 min north
Bear Lake State Park, Utah
A huge turquoise lake on the Utah-Idaho line with sandy beaches at Rendezvous Beach and a marina at Garden City.
- Full day
- Summer (park open year-round)
- Utah State Parks day-use fee (per vehicle)
Photo: Unknown, Public domain
Museum · 2 hr 1 min south
Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum
Utah's oldest government building, the first territorial capitol in Fillmore, now a museum with pioneer rooms, cabins and an old stone schoolhouse.
- 1 hr
- Year-round
- Utah State Parks day-use fee
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Town · 2 hr 4 min north
Garden City
A small lake town on the west shore of Bear Lake, known for raspberry shakes, boat rentals and summer beach days.
- 2-3 hrs
- Summer
- Free
Photo: A. E. Crane, U.S. Department of Transportation, Public domain
Scenic drive · 2 hr 50 min east
Flaming Gorge-Uintas Scenic Byway
A drive on US-191 from Vernal up the Uinta Mountains to Flaming Gorge, with signs explaining the tilted rock layers along the way.
- Half day
- Year-round (snow in winter)
- Free
Photo: hakkun, CC BY-SA 3.0
Viewpoint · 2 hr 41 min south
Big Rock Candy Mountain
A colorful yellow and orange hill beside Highway 89 made famous by an old song, with a small resort and roadside stop.
- 1 hr
- Year-round
- Free
- Confirm fees and hours before you go
Photo: mliu92 from San Mateo, CC BY-SA 2.0
Museum · 2 hr 2 min south
Topaz Museum
A museum in Delta telling the story of the World War II Japanese American incarceration camp at Topaz; the camp site is nearby.
- 1-2 hrs
- Year-round
- Donation
More 2 to 3 hours from Salt Lake City, by type
- Beaches & lakes
- Tony Grove Lake (2 hr 2 min), Fred Hayes State Park at Starvation (2 hr 4 min), Palisade State Park (2 hr 7 min), Huntington State Park (2 hr 16 min), Mystic Hot Springs (2 hr 34 min), Moon Lake (2 hr 43 min), Millsite State Park (2 hr 50 min), Green River State Park (2 hr 55 min) and 2 more
- History
- Cove Fort (2 hr 25 min), Nine Mile Canyon (2 hr 33 min), Fremont Indian State Park and Museum (2 hr 38 min), Utah Field House of Natural History (2 hr 51 min), John Wesley Powell River History Museum (2 hr 57 min)
- Small towns
- Vernal (2 hr 50 min)
Questions about places within 3 hours of Salt Lake City
What are the best places within 3 hours of Salt Lake City?
Our picks, by drive time, include Park City (34 min), Timpanogos Cave National Monument (35 min), Hill Aerospace Museum (32 min), East Canyon State Park (39 min) and Heber Valley Railroad (44 min). The full list on this page has 77 places, each with its drive time and direction from Salt Lake City.
How many places are within 3 hours of Salt Lake City?
55 places within 2 hours, 77 within 3 hours and 126 within 4 hours of Salt Lake City, by road from ZIP 84101.
Are there free places within 3 hours of Salt Lake City?
30 of the 77 places need no pass or fee, such as Big Rock Candy Mountain, Cove Fort and Fish Lake. Fees and passes change, so check each place before you go.
What can I do with kids within 3 hours of Salt Lake City?
73 places are marked good for kids, including Big Rock Candy Mountain, Cove Fort and Fish Lake.
How are the drive times worked out?
They are by real roads on a typical day, from the middle of ZIP 84101 to each place (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Traffic, weather and closures can change them. Places under 25 minutes from the city center count as in town, not a day trip, so they are left out.
Can I see places within 3 hours of my own home?
Yes. Type your ZIP code into Day Trippin' and it shows everything by drive time. Your ZIP is used for that one search and is not saved.
Keep planning
- Day trips from Salt Lake City, by drive time
- All of Utah day trips
- Places within 2 hours of Salt Lake City (55)
- Places within 4 hours of Salt Lake City (126)
- Salt Lake City weather by month
- Best hikes near Salt Lake City
- Best beaches & lakes near Salt Lake City
- Best mountains & views near Salt Lake City
- Best small towns near Salt Lake City
- Best history spots near Salt Lake City
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Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP <class 'zip'> (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.