North America > United States > Salt Lake City (SLC)
The Car or no Car advice for Salt Lake City can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Salt Lake City ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Salt Lake City ?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Salt Lake City?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
Salt Lake City is a place where geography, urban planning, and transport line up in a very particular way. It looks spread out on a map, but it’s also unusually organised and well connected by American standards. So, should you rent a car in Salt Lake City? For most visitors, the answer is yes — though you may not need it all the time.
📍 Getting Around Salt Lake City — the Reality
Salt Lake City is low-density and wide, but also very legible.
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Streets follow a clear grid system
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Distances between districts are significant
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Walking works only in small areas
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Driving is easy and intuitive
The city is designed around movement by road.
🚊 Better Public Transport Than You Might Expect
Salt Lake City performs better than many US cities on public transport.
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The TRAX light rail system serves downtown, the airport, and key corridors
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FrontRunner commuter rail links Salt Lake City with Provo and Ogden
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Buses fill in gaps reasonably well
For airport access and downtown travel, public transport works surprisingly well.
🏙️ A Compact Downtown Core
Despite the sprawl, downtown Salt Lake City is manageable.
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Central attractions cluster together
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TRAX makes short hops easy
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Hotels and cultural sites are close
You can function downtown without a car for short periods.
🚗 Why a Car Still Makes Sense
Once you step beyond the core, a car becomes the easiest option.
A rental car is useful for:
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Exploring the wider metropolitan area
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Accessing suburban neighbourhoods
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Visiting natural sites near the city
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Flexible movement across the grid
Public transport coverage drops off quickly outside main corridors.
🏔️ A Gateway to Outdoor Landscapes
This is where Salt Lake City really shines — and where a car becomes essential.
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Mountains rise immediately east of the city
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National parks and scenic drives are nearby
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Ski resorts are within easy reach
Outdoor travel is strongly car-dependent.
⚠️ Downsides of Driving
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Peak-hour traffic exists, but is manageable
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Parking is generally easy and affordable
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Winter weather can affect mountain driving
Compared with many US cities, Salt Lake City is forgiving behind the wheel.
Conclusion: should you rent a car in Salt Lake City?
Yes — for flexibility and access beyond downtown.
Public transport can cover airport and central trips, but Salt Lake City’s scale and surroundings mean a car opens up far more of what the region offers.
