Salt Lake City International Airport

Salt Lake City International Airport is a significant airport with two terminals, five concourses, and 71 gates that accommodates more than 26 million people annually. Despite being large enough to manage roughly 370 domestic and international departures each day, the airport is often not congested and is simple to navigate. 

It's also simple to get to because the airport is only six miles from downtown Salt Lake City (directly off I-80). SLC continues to operate flights even in extremely bad weather; in fact, it has been recognized for its capacity to clear snow and de-ice aircraft.

Know Before You Go

Salt Lake City International Airport is a well-kept airport that is big enough to accommodate major airlines but not so big that it presents a navigational challenge. Although there are two terminals and five concourses, getting from one to the other does not require using a bus or rail.

You should be OK arriving one and a half to two hours prior to your planned flight, however you should be prepared for the regular lineups at ticket offices, kiosks, and security lines. There will probably be time left over for you to browse the stores, take a bite to eat, or relax at your gate.

Since SLC is a Delta hub, Delta serves the vast majority of the incoming and leaving planes. AeroMexico, Alaska Carriers, American, Delta Air Lines, Frontier, JetBlue, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, SkyWest, Southwest, and United are the other 10 airlines that fly into this airport.

The pick-up location is in the far left lane, while the drop-off area is outside Terminals 1 and 2. You will need to cross a street to get to the pick-up location if you are hailing an Uber or Lyft when you first arrive in the city; numbered portions make it simple for your transport to find you. There are several car rental agencies on the parking garage's bottom level if you need to hire a vehicle.

Salt Lake City International Airport Parking

There are several parking spaces at Salt Lake City Airport. The terminals' close proximity to short-term parking makes it easy to pick up and drop off passengers. Long-term parking is available to the south and west of the terminals if you require it. To travel to and from those locations, you will require a shuttle; free shuttles operate every five minutes.

Where you park will affect the cost. For 24 hours, premium reserved parking on the garage's first level costs $55, while parking on floors 2 and 3 costs $35. The cost of hourly parking on the garage's first level is $2 for the first 30 minutes and $1 for each additional 20 minutes. 

The cost of long-term economy parking is $10 per day; shuttle service is required to travel to and from the lot. In addition, 41 spots are available for people with impairments. These bathrooms cost $10 for 24 hours and include extra-wide stalls.

Driving Directions

Getting to and from Salt Lake City International Airport is relatively straight forward. The airport is located about 15 minutes from downtown (just off I-80 exit 115B), and is also easy to get to from other parts of town. You may find some traffic during peak times or rush hour, but traffic is rarely extreme. 

You can also reach the airport from Bangerter Highway. The speed limit is lowered once you’re on the approach to the airport; take note that police officers can and do pull people over for going over the speed limit.

Public Transportation and Taxis

TRAX Light Rail: SLC is rather simple to reach using public transportation. Every 15 minutes throughout the week and every 20 minutes on the weekends, the TRAX light rail green line makes a stop near the southern end of Terminal 1. On weekdays, trains run from 5:42 a.m. to 11:27 p.m.; on weekends, they run from 6:31 a.m. to 11:11 p.m. UTA Buses: UTA buses are also available outside the UTA Welcome Center at the southern end of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2's baggage claim 8 area. On weekdays, UTA routes 453 and 454 both have sporadic service. On weekends, there is no bus service to the airport. Shuttles, Limousines, and Taxis: Outside airport baggage claim, at doors 7 in Terminal 1 and door 11 in Terminal 2, shuttles, limousines, and taxis are accessible. Both Uber and Lyft are authorized to operate at the airport; the pick-up locations are indicated by signage in the middle lanes of the road outside of baggage claim for each terminal.

Where to Eat and Drink

A wide variety of dining options are available at Salt Lake City International Airport, including sit-down restaurants and quick-service eateries. A great fast-casual restaurant, Cafe Rio is located in the food court of Terminal 2. 

The restaurant's freshly cooked tortillas and creamy tomatillo dressing are both excellent. For food and beer, head to the Gordon Biersch Brewery in Terminal 1 and Squatters Airport Pub in Concourse C. For wine, head to Vino Volo in Concourse E. 

If you're craving something sweet, head to Starbucks (Terminal 2 and Concourse E) or Pinkberry cupcakes (Concourse C). Fresh Market (Terminal 1) and Cat Gora's Gourmet Market (Concourse F) are both wonderful choices if you're looking for a dinner that can be easily transported on a plane.

How to Spend Your Layover

Since downtown Salt Lake City is only six miles from Salt Lake City International Airport, you could theoretically leave the airport during a lengthier stay. Outside of Terminal 1, board TRAX, and proceed straight downtown for your layover excursion. The Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, Clark Planetarium, Temple Square, shopping, dining out, and visiting Temple Square are all things you may do while you're in the city.

There are several shops to browse in the airport, such as Brookstone, Salt Lake Duty Free, and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, as well as massages and mini-spa services at XpresSpa, if you'd like to remain there (Concourse F).

Wi-Fi and Charging Stations

Open your network connections, choose SLCAirport.wifi, and accept the conditions in a browser window to connect to the free Wi-Fi at the airport. Although there are outlets and charging stations available throughout the airport, if your gate is congested, you may discover that many of them are already occupied.

Facts & Advice 

• SLC performs well in terms of departure and arrival times.
• Within an hour's drive, you can reach ten significant ski resorts, and within a couple hours, you can reach many national parks.
• There are 113 works of art from Utah artists in the airport's collection. The collection is accessible by passenger links, the top of Concourse F, or the length of Concourse G. Find the "Art Tour" placards to find out more information about each item.
• While in the airport, you may take in some really stunning views of the Wasatch Mountains. For a look, go to the windows on the east side of SLC.

FAQs about Salt Lake City International Airport