Utah Ski Vacation – Should I Stay in Salt Lake City?

Salt Lake City should have the reputation as a top-flight ski vacation destination, because it is. It’s a wonderful home base for a Utah ski vacation. It’s the largest U.S. city near major ski resorts. Not just one ski area, but nine. Yes – nine major ski areas less than an hour from downtown Salt Lake City:

  1. Park City
  2. Deer Valley
  3. Alta
  4. Brighton
  5. Canyons Resort
  6. Snowbird
  7. Solitude
  8. Powder Mountain
  9. Sundance
utah ski vacation
There are nine world-class ski resorts less than an hour from Salt Lake City.

The collectiveives mountain enthusiasts the opportunity to ski a different resort every day of their vacation. Off the mountain, the Salt Lake City metro offers a first-class vacation experience with rich history, intriguing local attractions, fun activities for kids, and excellent fine dining and shopping. Skiers and snowboarders who are looking for variety on the mountain, après-ski excitement and trendy nightlife spots are choosing Salt Lake City for its beauty, convenience and diversity.

World-Class Skiing and Snowboarding

The nearby Wasatch Mountain Range is just outside of Salt Lake City and is home to the nine local ski resorts providing plenty of Utah ski vacation variety. All ski areas are an hour or less from downtown and Salt Lake City International Airport.

Skiers and snowboarders looking for massive powder can head to Alta and Snowbird in the Little Cottonwood Canyon in the southeast corner of the Salt Lake Valley. Brighton and Solitude are in the Big Cottonwood Canyon. These four resorts receive an average snowfall over 500 inches per year. (That’s over 41 feet of snow per year!)

Salt Lake City played host to the 2002 Winter Olympics, and many of the slalom events at the games were held at Park City and Deer Valley just outside of the city. These two popular resorts, along with Canyons Resort, receives more than 350 inches of snow annually and offers some of the driest, softest, most skiable snow in the world. Powder Mountain is located east of Eden, Utah, north of Salt Lake City while Sundance Mountain Resort is a popular destination south of the city between Provo and Heber City and perfect for a Utah ski vacation.

Salt Lake City Attractions

Off the slopes, the number of things to do in Salt Lake City is unparalleled. The first-class city offers symphonies and theater performances, art galleries, museums, churches and other points of interest. There’s also a zoo, planetarium, aviary and a lengthy list of historic homes and sites to explore.

The city is probably best known as the home of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The 35-acre Temple Plaza has nearly 20 attractions related to the religion and is a must-see while in the city.

Of course, the city gets its name from the nearby Great Salt Lake. The lake is the largest natural lake west of the Mississippi River and has plenty of trails, boating, fishing and picnic opportunities. Salt Lake City is also near to 10 National Parks all within a day’s drive. The local mountains and parks offer a plethora of outdoor adventures, including snowmobiling, bobsledding, snowshoeing, ice skating and every type of Utah ski vacation.

Lodging in Salt Lake City

One benefit of staying in Salt Lake City is the number of hotels available. Just like every other major city, Salt Lake City is a competitive marketplace for hotels ranging from affordable to ultra-luxurious. Travelers looking for a deal on lodging should investigate the current lodging specials here. Throughout the ski season, several deals, specials and flash sales will pop up that offer deep discounts on quality lodging. Here’s a peek at a few current specials:

The Ramada of Salt Lake City is about 20-30 minutes from six area ski resorts but is also close to downtown. The hotel has standard hotel rooms and luxury suites available to rent. Guests can choose from standard hotel rooms or luxury suites with a 42-inch flatscreen TV with on-demand cable, microwave, refrigerator and Jacuzzi tub.

Utah ski packages start at $119.10 at the Ramada of Salt Lake City. The deal includes a Ski City Super Pass, free parking and a complimentary Continental breakfast served daily. The hotel has a heated pool and spa with exercise equipment, along with free airport and ski shuttle service. (Restrictions: Per person for two persons daily. All prices are plus tax. Offer expires May 1, 2020 and is subject to change without notice.)

The Super 8 in Midvale is right off Interstate I-215, less than 18 miles from six ski resorts: Alta, Brighton, Deer Valley, Park City, Snowbird and Solitude. Guests can fuel up with a free breakfast served daily before catching the ski bus right across the street. Rooms at the Super 8 have cable TV with HBO and free Wi-Fi. The hotel also has a hot tub open all day and night.

The hotel offers a ski package starting at $127.40 that includes a Ski City Super Pass, free parking and a complimentary Continental breakfast served daily. The Ski City Super Pass is a discounted four-day lift ticket that grants access to four world-class resorts: Alta, Solitude, Brighton, and Snowbird. It also includes public transit fare and rental store discounts. (Restrictions: Per person for two persons daily. All prices are plus tax. Offer expires May 1, 2020 and is subject to change without notice.)

utah ski vacation
It’s possible to ski Park City and stay in Salt Lake City, especially with current specials on SkierDeals.com.

Ski Rentals in Salt Lake City

There are a few excellent ski rental shops in Salt Lake City that can get skiers and snowboarders outfitted for fun on the slopes. Area shops offer excellent prices on the latest gear and even run promotions to save money on rentals. Here are a few local favorites:

  • Breeze Ski & Snowboard Rentals: Always save 30% on rentals, plus kids ski free with parent rentals.
  • AJ Motion Sports: Enjoy 30% off ski and snowboard rentals with advance online reservations.
  • Utah Ski & Golf: Save 30% off ski and snowboard rentals with an advance online reservation using a coupon code.
  • Canyon Sports: Get 25% off gear rentals with an advance online reservation.
  • RentSkis.com: Rent online and save up to 25%.
  • Ski ‘N See: Take 25% off gear rentals by reserving rentals online through the company’s website.

Ski Rental Delivery in Salt Lake City

Don’t feel like waiting in line at the ski shop for a boot fitting? Consider a Salt Lake City ski rental delivery service that will meet you at your hotel, condo, townhouse or private home for a one-on-one fitting and personalized consultation. Ski Butlers offers 20% off ski rental delivery with no promo code needed through a special offered at SkierDeals.com. The nationwide retailer has been outfitting Utah skiers for more than 15 years.

Getting to Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City International Airport is serviced by 10 airlines and their affiliates: AeroMexico, Alaska Airlines, American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, SkyWest, Southwest and United Airlines. The airport is the 23rd busiest in North America and the 85th busiest in the world in terms of passenger numbers. The airport offers are several national and international flights daily during the ski season.

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