📷 Mx. Granger, CC0Great Salt Lake: salt flats, Antelope Island and Golden Spike
Cross the Bonneville Salt Flats, see the bison of Antelope Island, and follow the first transcontinental railroad to Spiral Jetty.
- Distance
- approx. 445 km (276 mi)
- Driving
- 4 h 56 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 8
- States
- UT
- Best time to go
- May and September–October
- Tolls and vignettes
- None expected
- Updated
- July 9, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 445 km (276 mi) with 8 stops, from Wendover to Brigham City. About 4 h 56 min of driving in total. Best time to go: May and September–October. No toll roads expected for a car.
More road trips in Utah
Photos along the route
Route description
Start in Wendover, on the Nevada line, and drive east on I-80. The Bonneville Salt Flats begin almost at once, and a rest area about 15 km from town has a viewing platform and information boards. Races are held on the salt in late summer and autumn. Do not drive onto the flats when they are wet, as vehicles sink into the mud and salt corrodes the underside.
The next 170 km of I-80 cross an empty desert with few services, so fill up before leaving Wendover. Great Salt Lake State Park, at exit 104, is the closest place to Salt Lake City to walk down to the water and watch the sunset. The lake level varies greatly from year to year. Continue into Salt Lake City for Temple Square and supplies.
Drive north on I-15 to exit 332 and cross the 11 km causeway to Antelope Island State Park. Bison, pronghorn and mule deer roam freely; the paved road runs down the east side to the Fielding Garr Ranch. The island’s campgrounds are simple, with no hookups at most sites. Biting midges can be fierce in May and June, so bring repellent.
From I-15, take Utah 13 and Utah 83 west past Corinne to Golden Spike National Historical Park at Promontory Summit, where replica locomotives run on summer days. Spiral Jetty lies about 25 km further on gravel roads, with a signposted route from the visitor center; the lake may have retreated far from the coil. Return the same way to Brigham City, known for its peach orchards and Mormon tabernacle.
Which stops are on Great Salt Lake?
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Wendover
UT - 215 km
Bonneville Salt Flats
OdditiesWendover, UTA vast white crust of salt west of the Great Salt Lake, famous for land speed records. A rest area on I-80 has a viewing platform; driving onto the salt is only advisable when dry, usually late summer.
- 3170 km
Great Salt Lake State Park
NatureMagna, UTA marina and visitor center on the south shore beside the old Saltair pavilion, the easiest place from Salt Lake City to walk to the salty water. Exit 104 from I-80; sunsets over the lake are the draw.
- 433 km
Salt Lake City
UT - 553 km
Antelope Island State Park
NatureSyracuse, UTThe largest island in the Great Salt Lake, reached by an 11 km causeway, with a free-roaming bison herd, pronghorn and beaches. Fielding Garr Ranch dates from 1848. Bring insect repellent in late spring.
- 681 km
Golden Spike National Historical Park
HistoryBrigham City, UTPromontory Summit, where the first transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869. Replica locomotives are steamed up in summer, and a short auto tour follows the original grades.
- 727 km
Spiral Jetty
OdditiesCorinne, UTRobert Smithson’s 1970 earthwork, a 460 m basalt coil reaching into the pink water of the lake’s north arm. It is reached by about 25 km of gravel past Golden Spike; there are no facilities.
- 866 km
Brigham City
UT
How do you drive Great Salt Lake in 3 days?
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Wendover → Great Salt Lake State Park · 115 mi · 2 h 03 minOn the way: Bonneville Salt Flats.Overnight nearby, for example: Salt Lake City KOA Holiday (15 mi); Pony Express RV Resort (16 mi).
- Day 2: Great Salt Lake State Park → Antelope Island State Park · 53 mi · 0 h 57 minOn the way: Salt Lake City.Overnight nearby, for example: Cherry Hill Campground (18 mi); Valley View RV Resort (15 mi).
- Day 3: Antelope Island State Park → Brigham City · 108 mi · 1 h 56 minOn the way: Golden Spike National Historical Park, Spiral Jetty.Overnight nearby, for example: Love's RV Stop (2 mi); Mantua Waterfront RV Resort (4 mi).
When is the best time for Great Salt Lake?
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and June. Hot in July–August. Cold, short days in December–February. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
More routes for the best months
Practical guides for this route
Photo by Malivez on UnsplashDriving in the US: The Rules European Visitors Most Often Get Wrong at the Wheel
Photo by Aleksandr Dalakian on UnsplashFuel, Tolls and Distances: Practical US Driving Math for Motorhome and Camper Travelers
Photo by Tracy Zhang on UnsplashUS national parks: entry fees, passes and reservations in plain terms
Themes
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FAQs
How long is Great Salt Lake: salt flats, Antelope Island and Golden Spike?
3-day road trip of about 445 km (276 mi) with 8 stops, from Wendover to Brigham City. About 4 h 56 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Great Salt Lake: salt flats, Antelope Island and Golden Spike?
We suggest 3 days: about 4 h 56 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Great Salt Lake: salt flats, Antelope Island and Golden Spike start and end?
It starts in Wendover and ends in Brigham City.
Which states does Great Salt Lake: salt flats, Antelope Island and Golden Spike pass through?
Utah.
Where can you camp along Great Salt Lake: salt flats, Antelope Island and Golden Spike?
OpenStreetMap lists 104 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Wendover KOA, Salt Lake City KOA Holiday and Pony Express RV Resort.
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