Cheap flights to Salt Lake City

The weather may determine when visitors wish to book a flight to Salt Lake City but travellers could also plan their holiday around one of the major annual events which take place in the city. For example, the Sundance Film Festival in January, St. Patrick’s Day Parade in March, Sandy Balloon Festival in August and the Winter Solstice Festival in December, to name a few. 

Peak Seasons:

Summers in Salt Lake City can be hot, with temperatures often reaching 38°C, however, at the nearby canyons and mountains temperatures can be as much as 10°C cooler, making it the ideal time for hiking, mountain biking and enjoying a picnic. Flights to Salt Lake City and room rates tend to be more expensive during this popular period and hotels book up early, from June through Labour Day. 

The city is also big for skiers. Book flights to Salt Lake City early if you’re visiting during the ski season, which runs from December to mid-April, as this is another popular time, in terms of tourism.

Off Seasons:

If you don’t mind fluctuating weather conditions, spring and autumn are great times to visit the area. Although temperatures begin to warm in spring, snow is still common in the mountains, making skiing usually possible until mid-April. Autumn is a beautiful season as the nearby canyons are filled with colourful autumnal foliage. Days can be warm, although evenings are chilly and snow is common at the end of autumn. The rates for hotels are lower and cheap flights to Salt Lake City are more available during these times. There are also fewer crowds.

City overview

Set between the Wasatch Mountains and the Great Salt Lake, the City of the Saints is best known for its Mormon roots and some of the world’s greatest skiing, which attracts visitors from all corners of the world to book flights to Salt Lake City.

Both Mormon and gentile (non-Mormon) travellers visit Temple Square, the spiritual centre of the Church of Latter-day Saints (LDS). The ten-acre square has 15 points of interest, including the Salt Lake Temple, Tabernacle, and Assembly Hall. Mormons conduct tours through the square, focusing on Mormon history and life. When the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is in town, you can attend a performance, preview (rehearsal), or taping.

The powdery snow of the Wasatch Mountains is known as “The Greatest Snow on Earth”. Having hosted the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, Salt Lake City offers winter-sports enthusiasts’ world-class facilities. In the summer, the mountains offer great hiking, ranging from easy walks to rock climbing the higher peaks.

But make no mistake, Salt Lake City has urban lifestyle offerings. In the performing arts the Utah Symphony and Opera and Ballet West are both nationally acclaimed. There are art galleries and museums to browse, the Utah Arts Festival draws a crowd, and the nightlife might surprise you.

Back to top

Salt Lake City climate

Late June and early July bring the beginning of summer with low humidity, highs in the mid-20s and sometimes 30s Celsius, and nighttime temperatures ranging from the low single digits to ten degrees. Afternoon thunderstorms are common over the higher peaks. September marks the beginning of autumn. Winter starts in November and by December there’s deep snow. Temperatures stay near freezing during the day. March starts the transition to spring, though snow remains in the valley until April and in the mountain passes until July.

Back to top

Getting around Salt Lake City

The city centre is easy to get around by public transport or on foot. The city has buses, light-rail and paratransit services. Streets are laid out in a grid, so you won’t have trouble with directions. To save some money with parking, look into the Downtown Token for discounts.

Local Airport

The main airport for travellers taking flights to Salt Lake City is Salt Lake City International Airport (DFW)

Back to top

What is good to know if travelling to Salt Lake City?

• This Is the Place Heritage Park includes the museum town Old Deseret Village, a re-creation of a typical Utah community from the Mormons’ arrival in 1847 to the coming of the railroad in 1869. In summer, volunteers dress in period clothing and demonstrate what pioneer life was like. Brigham Young’s farm is also in the park. (The word “deseret” is from the Book of Mormon, and means “honeybee,” a symbol of the industrious Mormon pioneer.)
• Bird-watching is popular around the Great Salt Lake. Migratory shore birds stop here to dine on brine shrimp and brine flies. There are more than 250 species that you can spot at natural saltwater marshes, man-made freshwater marshes, and wetland refuges around the lake.
• The Family History Library is one of the world’s largest genealogical libraries that is open to both Mormons and non-Mormons. You might learn something new about your ancestry. 
• Antelope Island, the largest island in the Great Salt Lake, is home to antelope, deer, bobcats, coyotes, many varieties of birds and waterfowl, and a small herd of elk. The most famous residents of the island are the herd of American Bison. There are 25 miles (40 km) of back-country trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. The visitor centre is open year-round.
• Park City, home of the Sundance Institute and Sundance Film Festival, is less than an hour’s drive from Salt Lake City.
• For up-to-the-minute information on what’s going on, check the Friday editions of the Salt Lake Tribune or Deseret News. For additional entertainment news and listings, pick up one of the city’s free papers, including The Event and Salt Lake City Weekly.
• If you’re wondering why there’s so much jelly (or Jell-O) – the people of Salt Lake City consume more of the wobbly stuff than any other city in the United States.

Back to top

What airport do you fly into for flights to Salt Lake City?

Booking a flight to Salt Lake City (SLC) is your only option if you intend on flying to Salt Lake City. It is only a 9.2 km journey from Salt Lake City to Salt Lake City’s city centre.