Getting Around, Salt Lake City Travel, Transport and Car Rental

(Salt Lake City, Utah - UT, USA)



Known as the 'crossroads of the West', Salt Lake City is in a strategic position for travel and transport networks with excellent east-west and north-south road connections, rail links and an international airport making reaching the city easy.

In 2002, the Utah Transit Authority was designated as the nation's best public transport system by the American Public Transportation Association. Salt Lake City is home to a number of public transport options, providing an inexpensive way to travel around the city.



Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) / Arriving by Air

Just west of the city and only 10 minutes by car from downtown is Salt Lake City International Airport. The airport serves more than 20 million passengers annually and boasts easy access between terminals. Airport facilities include a range of stores and restaurants as well as rental car outlets. Airlines that operate at Salt Lake City International Airport include AeroMexico, America West, America West Express, American, Continental, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Northwest, SkyWest, Southwest, United Express and United Airlines. There are about 725 scheduled flights to 70 non-stop destinations throughout the US and Canada every day. Most major hotels provide free shuttle service to and from Salt Lake City International Airport, while the next convenient form of travel and ground transport is to grab a cab outside. For further information, please refer to the Salt Lake City Airport page.

Salt Lake City Airports Guide

Car Rental

Driving is the preferred form of transport in Salt Lake City and road access is excellent since the recent reconstruction of the I-15 freeway. In addition to the I-15, the I-80 also converges in Salt Lake City. Because of the breathtaking surrounding mountains and countryside, renting a car is a worthwhile endeavor during your visit to the city as it allows you the freedom to travel around surrounding areas at your own pace. Prices are reasonable and all major car rental outlets are represented in Salt Lake City, including Hertz, Thrifty and Avis, with offices at the airport as well as in the city. The busiest times of year for car rental in Salt Lake City are during the summer months, the winter ski season and Latter Day Saints Church's General Conferences, when car hire prices are at their peak, whereas out of season you can find car rentals for much less.

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Buses and Coaches

An inter-county fixed route bus system that consists of 135 routes and a fleet of over 450 buses is run by Utah Transit Authority. During the ski season there are bus services that travel to all the major ski resorts outside of Salt Lake City. Within the designated fare-free area of downtown Salt Lake City, visitors can travel on buses without charge, while for long distance journeys Greyhound Bus offers connections to most major US cities.

Trains

The TRAX light rail system transports over 38,000 people a day on its 15-mile / 24 km Sandy-Salt Lake line and the 4 mile / 6 km University line, traveling from downtown Salt Lake City to the University of Utah Health Sciences Center. Train services travel every 10 to 30 minutes between 05:30 and 23:00, Monday to Friday, while services run until 01:00 on Saturdays. There is no Sunday service. The central area of downtown Salt Lake City is designated as fare-free and visitors can travel within this designated area without charge.

Salt Lake City is also a convenient place to embark on longer distance rail routes, with all of Utah's rail lines converging in the Salt Lake-Ogden metropolitan area. Amtrak provides daily travel to and from destinations across the US, arriving and departing from the Intermodal Transportation Center in Salt Lake City's Gateway area.

Trams

Salt Lake City does not have a tram service as such, however, it does offer visitors the chance to tour the city on the Discovery Trolley. The trolley ride takes visitors around all the city's main attractions, Monday to Saturday, from June to October.

Taxis

The three taxi companies in Salt Lake City are City Cabs, Yellow Cabs and Ute Cabs. Although taxis aren't plentiful in Salt Lake City, they provide 24-hour travel to residents and visitors, and bookings can either be made via telephone in advance or you can simply hail one off the street. There are a few taxi stands located in downtown Salt Lake City or outside major hotels.