Denver to Salt Lake City drive: Distance, time & stops
The best road trip stops on the Denver to Salt Lake City drive are Laramie WY, Rock Springs WY and Evanston WY. The distance from Denver to Salt Lake City by car is 521 miles, with a 7h44m driving time.
Planning a Denver to Salt Lake City road trip itinerary
The Denver to Salt Lake City drive connects the capitals of Colorado and Utah.
Top Denver experiences include Rocky Mountain National Park day tours, downtown Denver food tours and chilling guided ghost walks around the Cheeseman Park cemetery.
Also worth considering are whiskey and history tours, guided mountain hikes and craft beer tours.
Memorable Denver accommodation options include the charming Queen Anne Bed and Breakfast and the strikingly stylish Ramble.
Salt Lake City is the home of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, but life here goes beyond the Mormon faith.
Top Salt Lake City experiences include Great Salt Lake boat tours, trips to the world’s largest copper mine and walking tours around highlights such as Temple Square and Pioneer Park.
You can also take introductory bus tours, evening ghost tours and craft brewery tours by bike.
For Salt Lake City accommodation, plump for the SpringHill Suites if you want spacious and downtown. The Grand America Hotel, meanwhile, is more memorable sumptuous.
Denver to Salt Lake City distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Denver to Salt Lake City is 521 miles. You can expect a driving time of around seven hours and 44 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-25, US-287 and I-80.
The best stops to add to a Denver to Salt Lake City road trip itinerary are Laramie WY, Rock Springs WY and Evanston WY.
For more suggestions, read the guides to the Denver to Laramie drive and Laramie to Salt Lake City drive.
Denver to Salt Lake City road trip attractions: Laramie WY
Laramie WY is one of the highest altitude cities in the US – it’s at 7,200ft above sea level. The University of Wyoming is here, and its Geological Museum – with plenty of dinosaurs – is a top attraction.
Others include the 12.5 Abraham Lincoln monument, the Laramie Plains Museum inside the handsome Ivinson Mansion and the Wyoming Territorial Prison Historic Site. The latter brings tales of outlaws and 19th century prison conditions.
Laramie accommodation mainly consists of chain motels. The Best Western and AmericInn are arguably the best bets.
Best stops between Denver and Salt Lake City: Rock Springs WY
Rock Springs WY can be used as a gateway to Flaming Gorge, which lies to the south near the Utah border. But if passing through, the most intriguing attraction is the Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility. This is where wild horses are brought to when captured before being acclimatised and moved elsewhere. The facility is sometimes open for tours, but if not, there’s a viewing area just to the north of the town.
Denver to Salt Lake City drive: Evanston WY
Evanston WY is the hub town for the underrated Bear River State Park. You can visit for picnics and playgrounds, kayaking and river swimming, hiking and biking. But the prime reason to spare a few hours in this western Wyoming state park is the wildlife viewing. The herds of bison and elk are pretty easy to spot from the scenic overlooks.
More Denver road trips
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More Salt Lake City road trips
Salt Lake City to Arches National Park | Boise to Salt Lake City | Cheyenne to Salt Lake City | Colorado Springs to Salt Lake City | Dallas to Salt Lake City | Grand Junction to Salt Lake City | Houston to Salt Lake City | Laramie WY to Salt Lake City | Salt Lake City to Moab | Omaha to Salt Lake City | San Antonio to Salt Lake City.