Things to do / Travel Guide
Good news for travelers of all walks (and vehicles); getting around in northern Utah is a cinch. There's an extensive public transportation system servicing all of Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake Valley, and the mountain resorts. There's also extensive Greyhound bus service and several Amtrak train stops in the region. And, if you're going to be driving around, you'll have a well-marked road system at your disposal. In addition, the State of Utah offers two great transportation assistance services: call 511 from anywhere within Utah or 866-511-UTAH from outside of the state (both numbers are toll free) and you will get up-to-the-minute information about traffic, winter road conditions, and public transportation. That being said, opt to drive if you have the ability to do so. The scenery is spectacular, the roads smooth, and some of the most interesting sights and attractions often lie just off the beaten path (and off the beaten bus routes).
By Car
Northern Utah is rightfully called the “Crossroads of the West,” with spectacular scenery and smooth roads, and with such great highway access, Salt Lake City in particular, is a proverbial hop, skip, and a jump. U.S. Highway 89 and Interstates 15 and 80 run right through the heart of downtown, and many U.S. Highways and well-maintained and scenic Utah State Roads will carry you to the destination of your choice within the region. Running a jagged, roughly east-west course through the middle of the northern Utah region, I-80 runs through Coalville and on into Salt Lake City, continuing around Great Salt Lake. Traveling a north-south trajectory through the region is I-15, which passes through Tremonton, Brigham City, Ogden, Salt Lake City, and Orem, and then around Utah Lake to Provo, continuing on through Payson and Nephi. Another major north-south highway is I-84, which overlaps with I-15 through Tremonton, Brigham City, and Ogden, and then forks to connect Layton and Henefer. I-15 traces part of the Echo Reservoir and then merges with I-80.
Getting to Antelope Island and Antelope Island State Park in Great Salt Lake is easiest by car. From Salt Lake City take I-15 to Exit 332 (Syracuse/Freeport Center), turn onto Antelope Drive and drive the seven-mile, two-lane causeway that runs from the mainland onto the island.
Rush hour-traffic in Salt Lake City can be heavy and parking can often be a challenge. The Downtown Token can thus often be a life (and time) saver. Many downtown merchants give you bus tokens free with a purchase of between $1 and $20, and you can use the tokens for one-hour parking at all downtown parking meters or for a $1 discount at the over 30 participating downtown parking lots. The token is also worth a one-way fare on the Utah Transit Authority TRAX light-rail or on inner-city buses.
The following are approximate distances and driving times to Salt Lake City from other destinations within the northern Utah region:
- Garden City (on Bear Lake): 125 miles; 2 hours
- Logan: 80 miles; 1 hour 25 minutes
- Brigham City: 60 miles, 1 hour
- Promontory: 90 miles; 1 hour 40 minutes
- Ogden: 40 miles; 40 minutes
- Antelope Island: 15 miles; 20 minutes
- Park City (and The Canyons): 30 miles; 40 minutes
- Heber City: 45 miles; 45 minutes
- Provo: 45 miles; 50 minutes
- Manila (near Flaming Gorge Reservoir): 170 miles; 3 hours
- Vernal: 170 miles; 3 hours
By Bus
The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) offers an extensive network of bus routes throughout Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake Valley, and to communities between, including Ogden and Provo. The buses run regularly from around 6 a.m.-10 p.m. While public transportation costs in northern Utah are standard, the Downtown Token system is wonderful. Participating Salt Lake City merchants give their customers a token, upon purchasing between $1 and $20 of goods, worth a one-way fare on the UTA buses. Park City has a free, citywide bus system that runs just about everywhere in the city from 7 a.m.-12:30 a.m. daily.
Traveling between cities and communities in northern Utah is also easy when taking Greyhound buses. Greyhound offers service many times daily to Brigham City, Logan, Ogden, Provo, Salt Lake City, and Tremonton. The Greyhound Bus Station in Salt Lake City is located on South 600 West Street.
By Train
The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) also offers TRAX light rail commuter service throughout Salt Lake City and the Salt Lake Valley. The light rail serves the counties of Salt Lake (extensive routes throughout Salt Lake City), Weber (including Ogden and Brigham City), Davis, Box Elder, Tooele, and Utah (including Orem, Provo, and Brigham Young University), as well as the Snowbird and Alta ski resorts. The TRAX light rail has extensive and frequent service from about 5:30 a.m.-11:00 p.m. from Mondays-Thursdays, with extended service until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and service from 9:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. on Sundays. Light rail travelers can also avail themselves of the Downtown Token system, too for one-way TRAX fares.
Amtrak's California Zephyr line, which travels daily westbound from Chicago and eastbound from Emeryville, California (near San Francisco), and continues on to Provo, and Salt Lake City. Thus, the California Zephyr line service can thus be a good way to travel between the two cities in the region. The train takes about four hours to Provo and another two hours to reach Salt Lake City. The Provo Amtrak station is located at West 600 South, and the Amtrak station in Salt Lake City is located on South 600 West.
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