Let’s take a little trip west of Salt Lake City to a magical land called Bonneville Salt Flats. The salt flats are a 30,000 acre expanse of hard, white salt crust on the western edge of the Great Salt Lake basin in Utah. The salt flats are 12 miles long and 5 miles wide with total area coverage of just over 46 square miles.

The salt flats are about 2 hours west of Salt Lake City and you really don’t see them until you see them! About an hour in, you’re going to be thinking, “WHERE THE HECK ARE THEY?!” Don’t you worry your pretty little heart, they’re there. When you’re just about 30 minutes from the Nevada border, I swear they just pop out from nowhere. Every single time I visit the salt flats they take my breath away with their natural and wondrous beauty! I mean come on, look at these pictures?! Doesn’t it look like another freaking planet?! We could be aliens on a Star Wars planet right?

I wanted to share everything you need to know about Bonneville Salt Flats before you visit!

WHERE ARE BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS LOCATED?

Bonneville Salt Flats are about 110 miles west of Salt Lake City off Interstate 80. It’s a straight shot once you get on Interstate 80 passing the famous Great Salt Lake on the way. Once you start getting close to the salt flats there is a rest area you’ll see on the side of the road that doesn’t quite look like it would be the main area, but alas it is! Be sure you don’t pass it because it takes a while to actually find a place to turn around if you do! We made that mistake once. Below is where the rest stop is you’ll want to stop at and go to the restroom if needed.

CAN YOU WALK ON THE SALT FLATS?

You can 100% walk on the salt flats, even if there is water, which is an awesome opportunity for reflection photos. When we visited in June, there wasn’t any water, but when I visited in March, there was. I would recommend wearing water shoes like, Chacos, Tevas, or even Crocs. The salt gets sharper in the water and can most definitely cut up your feet. I took some photos barefoot on the salt flats out of the water and it was fine for a country girl who ran around outside barefoot all the time, but still rough.

woman with purple hair standing at BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS

CAN YOU DRIVE ON THE SALT FLATS?

Driving on the salt flats at night or when they are wet from precipitation can be hazardous and is not recommended. It can result in your vehicle getting stuck in the mud as well as easily damaging the salt crust. Here’s some cool information about racing on the salt flats from the Bureau of Land Management.

HISTORICAL INFORMATION
The famous Bonneville Salt Flats International Speedway is located in the western portion of the flats, near Wendover, Nevada and absolutely a destination! The potential for racing at Bonneville was first recognized in 1896 by W.D. Rishel, who was scouting a bicycle race course from New York to San Francisco. Rishel returned and convinced daredevil Teddy Tezlaff to attempt an automobile speed record on the flats. Tezlaff drove his Blitzen Benz 141.73 m.p.h. to set an unofficial record in 1914. Further attempts to promote automobile racing on the Salt Flats failed until the 1930s when Ab Jenkins, a Utah native driving a Studebaker dubbed the Mormon Meteor, began setting endurance speed records at Bonneville. Jenkins was later instrumental in promoting landspeed racing and luring British racing legend Sir Malcolm Campbell to the Salt Flats in 1935. By 1949, the raceway on the Bonneville Salt Flats was the standard course for world land speed records. On this natural straightaway, the 300, 400, 500, and 600 mile-per-hour land speed barriers were broken.

Peek the video below to see us driving around! It was freaking AWESOME!

ARE THERE EVENTS HELD AT THE SALT FLATS?

Yes! There is an event called Bonneville Speed Week hosted by the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association. It’s a six day event that starts on Saturday and ends on the following Friday. What’s really cool is that spectators can walk through the pits, take a peek at the vehicles and even chat with the drivers and crew.

This event also features the biggest rod parties. The USFRA is an ideal event for the first time racers, while the World Finals gather more experienced drivers. If you plan to visit one of these events, don't forget to take a hat, dark glasses, and sunscreen. Binoculars will provide you with a great view of the vehicles that ride down the course.

DOES IT COST ANYTHING TO GO TO THE SALT FLATS?

It’s COMPLETELY free to visit Bonneville Salt Flats.

WHAT’S THE WEATHER LIKE?

Temperatures on the salt flats often reach over 100 degrees in summer and can go below freezing in winter. We checked the temperature gauge while on the salt flats and it was 105!! We also were chugging water because our mouths were super dry! Be sure to wear sunscreen and bring lots of water with you if you visit during the hotter months. I always have notifications for weather on anywhere I travel just in case! I was 100% sweating my butt off in jeans and changing multiple times in the car. By the time we headed out we were both panting and blasting the AC! Honestly, I recommend going for sunrise or sunset to get that gorgeous glow + it’s a lot cooler at that time

woman running in the BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS

MOST IMPORTANTLY, BE RESPECTFUL!

Throw away your trash properly, leave what you find, respect wildlife, and of course, be considerate of other visitors. We were able to drive out away from other people and have our own little area, almost! A couple people drove past us but then went about their business.

EXPLORE THE SALT FLATS WITH US

Take a peek into our trip to this magical land!

Find more about the Salt Flats on the Bureau of Land Management’s website here.

PSA: There is a photo going around the internet of a beautiful blue canal people are kayaking and swimming in.. DO NOT DO IT. I repeat it is not safe. Read this article if you don’t believe me. There is literally industrial waste in the water in that area. I LOVE traveling, but we must respect what we’re allowed to be on and what we’re not, especially when it’s for our own safety.

Overall, Bonneville Salt Flats is a bucket list destination and one you’ll absolutely want to add to your road trip itinerary when you visit Utah! Every time we’ve visited the salt flats it’s been an easy day trip there and back to Salt Lake City.

Convinced you have to visit? You 100% should! Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below or follow me on Instagram for more updates.

XOXO

Tannawasilchak.com uses affiliate links. By clicking on certain links and buying a product, you may help me make a small commission off your purchase. Links like these keep this site going. Thank you for your love and support!