Laramie WY to Salt Lake City drive: Distance, time & best stops

The best road trip stops on the Laramie WY to Salt Lake City drive are Rawlins WY, Rock Springs WY and Evanston WY. The distance from Laramie WY to Salt Lake City by car is 390 miles, with a 5h51m driving time.

Planning a Laramie WY to Salt Lake City road trip itinerary

The Laramie to Salt Lake City drive connects Wyoming’s main university city to the capital of Utah.

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 19^th century prison conditions.

Laramie accommodation mainly consists of chain motels. The Best Western and AmericInn are arguably the best bets.

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.

Laramie to Salt Lake City distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Laramie WY to Salt Lake City is 390 miles. You can expect a driving time of around five hours and 51 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-80.

The best stops to add to a Laramie to Salt Lake City road trip itinerary are Rawlins WY, Rock Springs WY and Evanston WY.

Laramie WY to Salt Lake City road trip attractions: Rawlins WY

Rawlins WY is generally used as a pitstop, although you can learn about local history at the Carbon County Museum. Much more interesting, however, is the Wyoming Frontier Prison Museum.

This hulking former prison is hugely atmospheric, and the tours explain how bleak conditions were for inmates. Overcrowding, solitary confinement and bitterly cold winters were all part of the package.

Best stops between Laramie WY 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.

Laramie WY 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.