Salt Lake City downtown and Utah State Capitol with the Wasatch Mountains beyond
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Last-minute hotels in Salt Lake City

If you arrive in the next few days, book near your first stop: the Green Line from the airport, the Salt Palace, or campus.

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About Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City sits between the Wasatch Mountains and the Great Salt Lake. Stay downtown to walk to Temple Square, the Salt Palace and the main TRAX stops. Pick Sugar House or the University area if your days are on the east side.

Downtown blocks around Main Street and South Temple are a short walk from Temple Square, the Salt Palace Convention Center, City Creek Center and the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art. The Green Line runs from the airport into the center, and other TRAX lines cross downtown. On a short visit, a hotel near a station saves you transfers.

West of the main shopping streets, the Depot and Granary districts have converted industrial buildings, music venues and restaurants. The area is more spread out than the Temple Square blocks, so check the walk to your station or venue. North of downtown, Capitol Hill and the Avenues rise toward the Utah State Capitol and Memory Grove. It is uphill all the way, even when the map makes it look close.

The University of Utah and the Natural History Museum of Utah sit east of the center. The Red Line runs to the university, but the museum is uphill from the rail stops. Sugar House, farther south, has neighborhood shops, restaurants and Sugar House Park. The S-Line streetcar runs from its western side to Central Pointe, not straight downtown.

Summers in the valley are hot and fairly dry. Winter brings cold days and snow, especially on the nearby mountain slopes. The ski resorts are outside the city, a separate trip from any hotel here. For a downtown-only trip, airport rail and local transit can replace a car. For trailheads, resorts and scattered neighborhoods, rent a car or allow for a longer transit ride.

State
Utah
Time zone
Mountain (MT)
Main airport
Salt Lake City International (SLC)
Airport rail
TRAX Green Line
Mountain range
Wasatch Range
Downtown convention venue
Salt Palace Convention Center
Salt Lake Temple and surrounding buildings at Temple Square
Temple Square
Utah State Capitol on Capitol Hill above Salt Lake City homes
Utah State Capitol
Open green space at Sugar House Park with the Wasatch Mountains behind
Sugar House Park
Pond and trees in Salt Lake City’s Liberty Park
Liberty Park
Historic brick building and street map kiosk on Salt Lake City’s Main Street
Main Street downtown
UTA TRAX light rail train passing Gallivan Plaza in downtown Salt Lake City
TRAX at Gallivan Plaza
Photo credits

Where to stay in Salt Lake City

  • Downtown and Temple Square

    • First visits
    • Conventions
    • Airport rail
    • Walking to sights

    From Main Street and South Temple you can walk to Temple Square, City Creek Center and the Salt Palace. Several TRAX lines meet here, including the airport Green Line. Event nights bring traffic, so check the exact block if you want a quiet evening.

    Around here: Temple Square, Salt Palace Convention Center, City Creek Center

  • Depot and Granary districts

    • Concerts
    • Restaurants
    • Arena events
    • Rail connections

    West and southwest of the central shopping blocks, former warehouse streets hold restaurants and music venues near the Delta Center and Pioneer Park. The walk from hotel to venue varies a lot. Map the station or concert address, not just the district name.

    Around here: Delta Center, Pioneer Park, Salt Lake Central

  • The Avenues and Capitol Hill

    • Historic streets
    • Capitol visits
    • Quiet evenings
    • Longer stays

    North of downtown, older residential streets climb toward the Utah State Capitol and Memory Grove. It is quieter here, but a hill sits between many hotels and the downtown TRAX grid. Check the route before you plan to walk back.

    Around here: Utah State Capitol, Memory Grove, North Temple

  • University and Foothill

    • Campus trips
    • Museums
    • Foothill outings
    • Research visits

    Stay on the University of Utah corridor for campus visits and the Natural History Museum of Utah. Red Line stops reach parts of campus. The museum and the foothill trailheads are still an uphill walk, a bus or a ride away.

    Around here: University of Utah, Natural History Museum of Utah, Red Butte Garden

  • Sugar House

    • Neighborhood dining
    • Park walks
    • Longer stays
    • Local shops

    Southeast of downtown, Sugar House has restaurants, shops and a large park around its neighborhood core. The S-Line reaches Fairmont and Sugarmont, but a downtown trip needs a transfer at Central Pointe or a bus.

    Around here: Sugar House Park, Fairmont Park, S-Line Fairmont stop

Best time to visit Salt Lake City

Late spring and early fall bring mild valley days for time outdoors. July and August have hot afternoons and the fewest wet days. Come in winter for snow, but the ski areas are beyond the city, and downtown can be cold or hazy during valley inversions.

Average high and low (°F)Days with rainDrier months
  1. Jan: average high 39 °F, low 24 °F, 10.3 days with rain. Cold and often snowy
  2. Feb: average high 45 °F, low 29 °F, 9.5 days with rain. Winter snow
  3. Mar: average high 55 °F, low 36 °F, 9.2 days with rain. Early spring changes
  4. Apr: average high 62 °F, low 42 °F, 10.4 days with rain. Spring showers
  5. May: average high 73 °F, low 50 °F, 8.9 days with rain. Mild spring days
  6. Jun: average high 84 °F, low 59 °F, 4.8 days with rain. Drier and warmer
  7. Jul: average high 94 °F, low 68 °F, 3.9 days with rain. Hot, dry afternoons
  8. Aug: average high 92 °F, low 67 °F, 4.9 days with rain. Hot late summer
  9. Sep: average high 81 °F, low 56 °F, 5.2 days with rain. Warm days, cooler nights
  10. Oct: average high 66 °F, low 44 °F, 6.5 days with rain. Autumn color
  11. Nov: average high 51 °F, low 33 °F, 8.3 days with rain. Cooler and wetter
  12. Dec: average high 39 °F, low 25 °F, 9.6 days with rain. Winter snow
Source: Wikipedia: Salt Lake City International Airport 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals

Getting to Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) lies west of downtown. UTA TRAX Green Line runs directly from the airport station to Temple Square, City Center and other central stops. FrontRunner commuter rail and Amtrak use Salt Lake Central.

SLCSalt Lake City International Airport

5 mi from downtown

To Downtown
Green Line directly to Temple Square or City Center
To University of Utah
Green Line downtown, then transfer to the Red Line

The TRAX Green Line stops outside the terminal and goes into downtown without a transfer. For Sugar House or an east side hotel, you change to a bus or another line. Taxis and rideshares cover hotels off the rail grid.

Other ways to arrive

Rail
FrontRunner connects Salt Lake Central with Ogden and Provo. TRAX links downtown, the airport and the University of Utah.
Train
Amtrak’s California Zephyr stops at Salt Lake Central. Check its arrival time before you arrange hotel check-in.
Car
I-15 runs north–south west of downtown, while I-80 reaches the airport and canyons. Check hotel parking and canyon road conditions for winter outings.
Streetcar
The S-Line links Sugar House with Central Pointe, where you change to TRAX.

Questions about Salt Lake City

Where should I look if downtown is full?

Try North Temple near a Green Line stop. If your plans are east of downtown, try the university corridor. Sugar House is fine if you don’t mind a transfer.

Can I use rail after a late flight into SLC?

Sometimes. The Green Line runs from the terminal to downtown, but not at all hours. Check UTA’s current timetable and your hotel’s check-in instructions before you land.

Do late bookings always cost less?

No. Convention, arena and winter dates fill rooms. Look at today’s total for a room that fits your arrival.

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