Bonneville Salt Flats

The Bonneville Salt Flats are a vast, flat salt crust in western Utah, on Interstate 80 near Wendover on the Nevada border. Depending on how it is delimited, the area is given as roughly 120 square kilometres (over 30,000 acres, about 19 by 8 kilometres, according to the BLM recreation area) up to roughly 260 square kilometres (Britannica); it lies almost entirely on federal land. It formed when ancient Lake Bonneville dried up; the lake once covered about a third of Utah. The Great Salt Lake is its remnant.

The Bonneville Speedway is famous for land speed records, because the flat surface is ideal for testing vehicles. Visitors come from around the world for the race weeks. Near mile 10 of I-80, a rest area offers the best overall view; you can walk onto the salt, but the crystals are sharp, so sandals are unsuitable. A wash station is available. To reach the flats, take Exit 4 and Leppy Pass Road.

Salt water is corrosive and can damage vehicle electrics. Driving is allowed only on existing tracks and not when wet, and a closure often applies in spring. During the big racing events (Speed Week in August, World of Speed in September, World Finals in October) the flats are partly closed; check dates with the BLM in advance. Camping on the salt is prohibited but allowed on surrounding public land, and private sites are available in Wendover. There are no facilities.