13 Best Day Trips from Salt Lake City: Hot Springs, Hikes & Hidden Gems
Salt Lake City is the perfect launching point for a weekend getaway. In less than two hours, you could be deep in the mountains, parked beside a crystal-clear hot spring, or walking through a charming small town shopping for local art. No need to pack a suitcase, these easy day trips from Salt Lake City don’t require an overnight bag!
Whether you’re craving a breezy scenic drive, a relaxing hot spring soak, or a trail that makes you feel like you earned your dinner, these are my favorite getaways from Salt Lake.
In This Article:
- The best day trips from Salt Lake City
- Hot springs and hikes less than 3 hours from Salt Lake City
- The most scenic drives and small towns
- When to go: the best places to visit near Salt Lake City by season
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The Best Day Trips From Salt Lake City
Utah’s beauty isn’t just reserved for its famous national parks – the Utah Mighty 5. Just outside Salt Lake, you’ve got everything from moody desert views to alpine lakes, quirky towns, and natural hot springs.
The best part? These spots don’t require a ton of prep or overnight planning. Just grab your keys, cue up your Spotify playlist, and go!
Scenic Drives and Small Town Charm
One of the best things about basing yourself in Salt Lake City is how many scenic routes and charming towns are just a short drive away. If you’re after cool mountain air, boutique shopping, or just a beautiful drive with your windows down this section is packed with easy day trips from Salt Lake City that offer big vibes.
1. Mirror Lake Scenic Byway
Drive time: ~1.5 hours one-way
Best season: Late spring to fall
Mirror Lake Scenic Byway delivers high alpine lakes, pine forests, and plenty of pullouts where you can stop and catch the views.
The trip follows route 150 between Kamas and Evanston through the Uinta Mountains. There can still be snow at the higher elevations into June, but August and September are magical – with great temperatures for hiking, and a nice escape from the heat in Salt Lake City.
There are a few easy hiking trails along the way if you want to stretch your legs. Ruth Lake is a 2.2 mile hike past Naomi Lake with mild elevation gain and takes about an hour. And of course, Mirror Lake which offers a flat, easy 1.5 mile loop around the lake.
You can even rent a canoe on Mirror Lake and spend the afternoon on the water. There are plenty of places to have a picnic lunch, too.
2. Park City
Drive time: ~45 minutes one-way
Best season: Year-round
This one’s kind of a gimme, but it never disappoints. The historic main street is great for wandering and window shopping, and there are hiking trails that start right from town.
In winter, it’s an easy ski day trip from Salt Lake City. In summer, think patio cocktails after a shady hike. If you time it right, you can also catch the Park Silly Sunday Market or the Sundance Film Festival. Plus, their food scene in Park City punches way above its weight class.
If you haven’t booked a rental car, there are guided tours to Park City from Salt Lake City. They include a tour of Olympic Park, where the 2002 winter games were held, and time to explore Historic Main Street on your own.
3. Ogden & Snowbasin
Drive time: ~1 hour one-way
Best season: Summer, fall, and even winter if you’re heading to Snowbasin for skiing or a cozy weekend getaway.
Ogden is arguably one of the best day trips from Salt Lake City. It’s a low-key cool mountain town, with public art, great hikes and surprisingly good food.
It’s close enough to Salt Lake City to make a day trip out of it, but also charming enough with plenty of outdoor activities to make it a destination.
Wander down historic 25th Street, which has been preserved and gives an authentic 19th century vibe. There are tons of boutiques, art galleries, and some fantastic restaurants and bars. Stop into The Angry Goat or Harp & Hound for lunch, and then check out the nearby hikes (like Waterfall Canyon.)
Ogden has a massive events calendar, and there’s usually something going on in town – especially around a holiday. During the first Friday of every month you can catch an Art Stroll down 25th Street, and during the summer theres a farmers market held on Saturday mornings.
Snowbasin Resort nearby has lift-access hiking in summer and was the home of the 2002 Olympic games. For a more adrenaline-filled afternoon, there’s Ogden’s indoor skydiving tunnel or mountain biking trails.
Hot Springs Near Salt Lake City
This area of Utah has plenty of hot springs within a short day trip from Salt Lake City. There’s a variety of options, ranging from rustic to more luxurious springs. Some, like Fifth Water, require a short hike to reach.
4. Fifth Water (Diamond Fork) Hot Springs
Drive time: ~1.5 hours one-way
Best season: Spring and fall
You’ll earn your soak here! It’s a 5-mile roundtrip hike to a series of bright turquoise pools and small waterfalls. I visited Fifth Water on a road trip from Salt Lake City to Arches National Park, it was a perfect way to break up the drive.
I highly recommend avoiding weekends if at all possible. This is a popular hot spring near Salt Lake City and it has an incredibly small parking area. Even during the week I had to wait a while for a spot to open up.
The trail itself is scenic, running through a red-rock canyon and following a bubbling creek. Wear shoes with good grip, as it can be slick in places and there are a few extremely narrow sections along the trail you don’t want to tackle in flip flops (yes – I saw people attempting this, yikes!)
5. Meadow Hot Springs
Drive time: ~2.5 hours one-way
Best season: Year-round (but avoid icy roads)
Set in a pasture near the town of Meadow, these springs are crystal clear and easy to access. It’s BYO everything, and don’t expect cell service. But the soaking? Top notch.
There are multiple pools of varying temperatures, and if you’re lucky, you might catch a sunset that turns the whole valley golden.
NOTE: This hot spring is located on private property. The owners graciously allow visitors to access the springs, but please be considerate and pack out all of your trash!
6. Homestead Crater in Midway
Drive time: ~1 hour one-way
Best season: Year-round
This unique natural hot spring is inside a beehive-shaped limestone dome, and you can actually snorkel or scuba dive in it. It’s a super unique soak and easy to add on to a trip to Park City or Midway.
You’ll need a reservation, especially on weekends.
Best Hikes On Day Trips From Salt Lake City
The Salt Lake City area has no shortage of amazing hiking options for all skill levels. Whether you’re after a short trail with big payoff, a quiet alpine lake, or a waterfall tucked into a canyon, there’s a hike here for you.
Most of these are under an hour away, making them perfect for a spontaneous day trip from Salt Lake City.
7. Donut Falls (Big Cottonwood Canyon)
Drive time: ~45 minutes one-way
Best season: Summer and early fall
A short and sweet trail with a quirky little waterfall that drops through a hole in the rock. Yes, like a donut! This hike is only 3.3 miles but has around 500 feet in elevation gain – it’s a moderate incline, though.
It gets crowded, so go early or on a weekday. This trail is also great if you’re new to hiking or bringing someone from out of town because it’s fairly low effort and high reward.
8. Cecret Lake (Little Cottonwood Canyon)
Drive time: ~1 hour one-way
Best season: Summer
This is a fan favorite for wildflower season. The hike is short (1.8 miles) but steep-ish, and the payoff is a calm alpine lake with killer views.
If you go in July, the trail becomes a wildflower wonderland, with colors popping against the granite backdrop.
9. Adams Canyon Trail
Drive time: ~30 minutes one-way
Best season: Spring to fall
Adams Canyon is a moderate to hard hike (3.5 miles) with a solid mix of shade, switchbacks, and a legit waterfall at the end. It’s popular, but worth it and located less than 30 minutes outside of Salt Lake City in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest (as you head towards Ogden.)
The first mile is steep, but once you hit the shaded canyon, it’s much more pleasant. The final waterfall is over 40 feet tall and the perfect spot for a picnic lunch.
10. Lake Catherine Trail
Drive time: ~1 hour one-way
Best season: Summer to early fall
This one starts at Brighton and climbs past a few smaller lakes before ending at Lake Catherine. It’s a great bang-for-your-buck trail with lots of photo ops. In total, the trail is 4.6 miles and over 1,200 feet in elevation gain.
Bring a picnic and make a day out of it. This spot is ideal for relaxing by the water and watching marmots scurry through the rocks.
Unique & Underrated Places To Visit Near Salt Lake City
Not all the best day trips are the most obvious. Some of the best places to visit near Salt Lake City require a little extra drive time or a willingness to explore the offbeat – but the payoff is absolutely worth it!
11. Bonneville Salt Flats
Drive time: ~2 hours one-way
Best season: Fall and spring
Bonneville Salt Flats looks like another planet. Depending on the time of year, you’ll either have expansive flat, cracked salt fields or a thin layer of standing water that reflects the mountain range and sky for some epic pictures.
On the way, stop by the Tree of Life (officially named Metaphor: The Tree of Utah) for a quick break. It’s an interesting piece of artwork that’s been plopped in the center of the desert.
Don’t go after heavy rain unless you want to get stuck. While you can drive on the salt flats, when the ground is wet it’s incredibly soft.
TIP: Time your trip for sunrise and sunset here, especially if there’s standing water that mirrors the sky colors.
Don’t feel like driving? Book a guided tour, with pickup from your Salt Lake City hotel. Guides will show you the best places and know where the best pull offs are!
12. Antelope Island State Park
Drive time: ~1 hour one-way
Best season: Fall and winter (fewer bugs)
Antelope Island State Park is known for the herd of bison that lives here. It’s about an hour from Salt Lake City and right along Great Salt Lake.
There are lots of great hiking trails, including Lady Finger Trail (half a mile, easy trail) and Lakeside Loop (5 miles, easy trail).
For a harder trail, hike to Frary Peak – the highest peak on Antelope Island. It’s just over 7 miles and has great views of the lake from the summit.
There are also Antelope Island day tour options with a local guide. Round-trip transportation is provided and the itinerary includes a 1-mile hike and wildlife spotting.
13. Spiral Jetty
Drive time: ~2 hours one-way
Best season: Spring and fall
Spiral Jetty is a 1,500 foot long spiral that coils into Great Salt Lake. It’s one of the most iconic sites in Utah and sits on the northern edge of Great Salt Lake. Depending on the lake levels the jetty is sometimes submerged in the water. The best time to visit is when the water levels are lower.
The last 15-minutes of the drive is along a rugged, unpaved road. It’s an easy drive in any vehicle, but you may want to take it a bit slower on this section. I would not recommend driving here after a rainstorm though.
This area is very remote. There isn’t any water or cell service, so be sure to refuel before you leave and bring anything you’ll need for the day.
The colors of the lake can shift dramatically depending on water levels. Sometimes the water appears pink.
Best Day Trips From Salt Lake City by Season
No matter what the season, there are tons of fantastic day trips from Salt Lake City year-round. Utah has such a dynamic landscape that you can find cool outdoor activities whenever you want.
These are the best places to visit near Salt Lake City depending on the season:
Spring & Summer
Spring and summer are prime seasons for alpine hikes like Cecret Lake or Lake Catherine, and hot springs like Fifth Water start becoming more accessible.
Scenic drives like Mirror Lake Byway open as the snow melts. Late spring is when the valleys are green and wildflowers pop up in force, and in summer the weather and longer days are perfect for day hikes.
Fall
The canyons around Salt Lake City explode with color in the fall. The Aspen groves turn the entire area gold. It’s also the best time to visit Antelope Island without swarms of bugs.
Hikes are cooler, and towns like Park City start to feel cozy again. If you’re a fan of fall foliage, Big Cottonwood Canyon is a must-see.
Winter
Hot springs are unbeatable when it’s cold out, and there are fewer crowds. Homestead Crater and Meadow Hot Springs are great picks. The hike to Fifth Water can be a little sketchy if it’s snowing, though.
Park City turns into a snowy playground, and the roads to Bonneville or Spiral Jetty are usually still clear. Snowshoeing trails and ski slopes also open up across the Wasatch, adding another winter-friendly activity.
Final Tips for Day Trips from Salt Lake City
- Weather can change fast in the mountains during any season. Bring layers and check forecasts.
- Most of these places have little to no cell service. Download offline maps ahead. I like Google Maps for this.
- Bring water, snacks, and fill up on gas before heading out, especially for places like Spiral Jetty or Bonneville Salt Flats.
- Check trail conditions and seasonal closures, especially in early spring.
- If you’re planning a weekday trip, you’ll generally deal with fewer crowds and better parking.
There are so many places to visit near Salt Lake City that don’t require a long drive. There are so many landscapes surrounding the city that you can easily find waterfalls, mountains, alpine lakes and hot springs with less than 2 hours of driving.
Multi-Day Trips From Salt Lake City
If you’re looking for a longer adventure, there are some fantastic National Parks just a short drive from Salt Lake City.
- There are tons of activities in Arches and Moab, which are only 4 hours from Salt Lake City
- Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon are also about 4 hours from Salt Lake City
- Yellowstone National Park is under 5 hours from Salt Lake City
I think Salt Lake City is a fantastic launch pad for a Utah road trip. Spend the weekend in Salt Lake City and then enjoy a week (or more!) exploring one of the best states in the US.
Have a favorite day trip from Salt Lake City I missed? Drop it in the comments!
