The American Southwest landscape already feels a little surreal, but replacing red rocks for a mirror-like expanse of salt is a worthwhile adventure. Salt Lake City to Bonneville Salt Flats, and the Great Salt Lake, is a tour that is unforgettable, and more accessible than you might think.
While Salt Lake isn’t exactly a bustling city, don’t think twice about exploring what else Utah has to offer. Visit its vast inland sea, walk a mile along the unique salt flats, and see where many a competitor has broken the world land speed record.
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What’s So Special About Utah?
Utah is full of dramatic, otherworldly landscapes. Towering red rock arches, vast deserts, snow-capped mountains, and surreal salt flats all in one place. It’s one of the most interesting states I’ve visited so far.
Utah is home to the iconic “Mighty Five” national parks: Zion, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef and Arches National Park. It’s a dream destination for those who love the outdoors, photographers, and anyone interested in unforgettable scenery.
But it has so much more than just national parks. As you’ll soon see, the unique wonders of Utah, like the Bonneville Salt Flats and the Great Salt Lake are pretty spectacular too. And much more accessible from Salt Lake City if you’re short on time.
The History Of Salt In Utah
Salt is one of the things that makes Utah so unique. The vast Great Salt Lake is in the top 10 saltiest bodies of water in the world, and is a remnant of prehistoric Lake Bonneville.
The waters of this once glorious lake have receded over the millennia leaving just a small portion which is now the Great Salt Lake. The remainder is where you’ll find thick mineral deposits left behind, now known as the extraordinary Bonneville Salt Flats.
But the salt from the Bonneville Salt Flats and the Great Salt Lake isn’t just fun to look at (and take pictures of). While you can’t (and shouldn’t) eat it due to high mineral content, it is still useful for other things.
Local companies harvest it for de-icing roads in winter, and various industrial processes. It’s rich in magnesium and potassium which can be used in agriculture, and the region is still an important hub for salt production in the western United States, even today.
Getting From Salt Lake City To Bonneville Salt Flats
There are two ways to get from Salt Lake City to Bonneville Salt Flats on your day trip. Either you rent a car and drive yourself, or take a tour like I did. The latter option seemed like the right choice – easier, with a knowledgeable local guide, and more fun as a solo traveler.
At just over 100-miles from Salt Lake City, the Salt Flats are about an hour and a half drive. The Bonneville Speedway is a further 10-15 minutes drive at a turn off along the same road. So realistically, given you might want to spend up to an hour at the Salt Flats, this could be all done within around 4 hours.
My tour was 6 hours long, and included stops at the Great Salt Lake State Park and a rest stop over the Nevada border in Wendover. The extra stops break the day up a little better, and give some extra places to explore. Either way, you can’t really get lost getting to the Salt Flats. Just head west out of SLC on the I-80 highway, a road so straight you can almost see the curve in the earth.
How Much Is A Tour From Salt Lake City To Bonneville Salt Flats
There are a couple of different tours you can take. I went with Southwest Adventure Tours. My tour from Salt Lake City to Bonneville Salt Flats, Bonneville Speedway and a visit to the Great Salt Lake State Park was $150 per person. All in all the tour was 6 hours long and included hotel pick up and drop off.
My tour was a small group tour, which I liked, as it was in a 14-seater sprinter van. Perfect for getting to know those on tour with you, and ensuring you’re not waiting around for a giant bus load of people at each stop.
Our guide was a local who was really passionate about the tours and the area. She made a couple of bonus stops to show us some of the places she loved so much that weren’t listed on the tour. Now there’s something you might not get if you’re driving yourself. But however you choose to visit, keep reading for some of the main spots you don’t want to miss.
Bonneville Salt Flats
It’s only salt, right?! Wrong. The crisp white crust stretches out far to the horizon. It often reflects the sky like a mirror when wet. And it will brighten even the dullest of days. Walking onto the Bonneville Salt Flats is like walking onto another planet. In a completely different way from the red earth in the nearby desert canyons.
If you’ve ever seen the movie Independence Day you’ll have seen a young Will Smith hauling an alien life form over the luminous white salt flats. Johnny Depp also walked them in one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. It’s easy to see why Bonneville is a Hollywood dream filming location.
While there isn’t really anything to do at the Salt Flats, you’ll find yourself wandering aimlessly into the expanse of salty earth. Take some cool photos, feel the eeriness of the vast open space, or simply get your daily steps. Either way, you’ll grow an inch in height as the salt sticks to the bottom of your shoes. P.S. Final reminder not to eat the salt!
Bonneville Speedway
Want to see where land-speed records have been broken time and time again? It makes sense that you need an almost endless runway to build up enough speed to set world records. The salt flats are just that place.
For over a hundred years the hardened salt has acted like the never-ending road speed enthusiasts love to drive. Every year there are a number of speed-related events you can witness here. Who knows, maybe you’ll see the next big race.
With runs of 400mph or more taking place here, you might be in for a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it experience. Outside of the spectator events you can still see the race “arena” and the land-speed record sign. Plus get some good photos with mountainous reflections if you’re lucky enough for a couple of residual puddles to be on the ground (something that speed racers definitely don’t want).
Great Salt Lake
Hey, the city’s name had to come from somewhere, didn’t it? The Great Salt Lake is so big you can see it without even really needing to zoom in on a map of the USA. It’s the largest lake in the US after the Great Lakes, and the largest saltwater lake in the western hemisphere.
It might look and smell like the ocean but the Great Salt Lake is over 600-miles from the coast. The best spot on your road trip to get up close to the lake is Great Salt Lake State Park. With only a $10 entry fee per vehicle, this is a reasonably budget spot to visit.
The visitor center will tell you all you never knew about salt, the prehistoric lake, and the wildlife that calls it home. Bring some bug spray to keep the little nibbling flies at bay as the weather gets warmer, and check out the wiggly brine shrimp as you get closer to the water (and the rather pungent smell that goes with them).
“What are brine shrimp?”, you may ask. You might know them better as sea-monkeys. Don’t forget to cast your eye over the almost endless watery vista for some pretty awesome views, one of the best reasons to visit the Great Salt Lake.
Is A Day Trip From Salt Lake City To Bonneville Salt Flats Worth It?
Other than gas, snacks and a paltry State Park entrance fee, a day trip from Salt Lake City to Bonneville Salt Flats is kind on the wallet as far as experiences go. Plus it’s super interesting, totally unique and has stunning views. What more could you want in a mini road trip from SLT on your Utah adventure?
While a tour option might be more expensive comparatively, I really appreciated having a local’s perspective (and commentary). Plus, it’s always more fun when someone else is doing the driving, isn’t it?
I’ve enjoyed my visits to Salt Lake City in the past, but getting out of the city and exploring some of the more natural areas around it is also totally worth doing. After all, big wide open spaces and remarkable nature are what Utah is famous for.
Whether you choose to join a guided tour, or opt to forge your own path through the salty landscape of northern Utah this is a day trip you won’t forget. Don’t skip the State Park, especially if driving it yourself, as this is where you’ll get to learn much about this breathtaking area. And remember: don’t try and eat the salt.
If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Have you ever taken a day trip from Salt Lake City to Bonneville Salt Flats or the Great Salt Lake? What are your impressions of this unique Utahn landscape?
