Your Camera Roll Will Thank You: 5 Utah Day Trips to Add to eXpcon
As you're heading to Salt Lake City for eXpcon, consider adding an extra day (or three) to your itinerary.
All of the official eXpcon hotels are clustered around downtown Salt Lake City, near the Salt Palace Convention Center, which makes it surprisingly easy to turn your conference trip into a full Utah adventure. Within a few hours, you can find roaming bison, underground craters, mountain towns, hidden caves, and landscapes so surreal they look like they belong on another planet.
Here are five road trips worth adding to your eXpcon itinerary.
Pick Your Adventure
🌎 The Mars Route (Worth Extending Your Trip For)
Goblin Valley → Little Wild Horse Canyon
🌊 The Great Salt Lake Route
Antelope Island → Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge → Spiral Jetty
🏔️ The Mountain Town Route
Park City → Guardsman Pass → Silver Lake
🌕 The Moon Route
Bonneville Salt Flats → Silver Island Mountains
🕳️ The Hidden Wonders Route
Timpanogos Cave → Homestead Crater → Alpine Loop
🌎The Mars Route
Total Drive Time: Approximately 8 hours
Best For: Hoodoos, slot canyons, and landscapes that genuinely look like another planet
Plan For: An extra-day adventure
6:00 AM | Leave Downtown Salt Lake City
This is not a casual afternoon trip. This is the route for attendees who want to extend their Utah stay and see the kind of landscapes that make people ask if the photos are real.
Stop 1: Goblin Valley State Park
Drive Time: ~3.5-4 hours
Home to thousands of strange mushroom-shaped rock formations known as hoodoos, Goblin Valley looks more like a movie set than a state park. The unusual landscape has been featured in films and frequently appears on lists of Utah's most otherworldly destinations.
Recommended Stay: 2 hours
Arrive: 10:00 AM
Depart: 12:00 PM
Stop 2: Little Wild Horse Canyon
Drive Time: ~30 minutes
Little Wild Horse Canyon offers the narrow sandstone walls and winding slot canyon experience many travelers associate with southern Utah. The hike takes visitors through sculpted passages, warm-toned rock and dramatic canyon curves that photograph beautifully.
Note: A partial slot-canyon visit can be 2–3 hours, but the full Little Wild Horse/Bell Canyon loop is about 8 miles and usually 4–5 hours.
Recommended Stay: 2-3 hours
Arrive: 12:30 PM
Depart: 3:30 PM
Return to Downtown Salt Lake City
Drive Time: ~4 hours
Arrive: ~7:30 PM
🌊 The Great Salt Lake Route
Total Drive Time: Approximately 6-7 hours
Best For: Wildlife, Great Salt Lake views and uniquely Utah experiences
Plan For: A full day
7:30 AM | Leave Downtown Salt Lake City
Grab coffee before you hit the road. We recommend stopping at a local favorite like Publik Coffee or taking one to-go from near your hotel.
Stop 1: Antelope Island State Park
Drive Time: ~55 minutes
Located in the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island is home to one of the country's largest publicly owned bison herds. Keep your eyes peeled for bison, pronghorn antelope and bighorn sheep as you explore the island's scenic overlooks and shoreline.
Recommended Stay: 2 hours
Arrive: 8:25 AM
Depart: 10:25 AM
Stop 2: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
Drive Time: ~45 mins to 1 hour
Spanning more than 74,000 acres of wetlands, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is one of the most important bird habitats in the western United States. The refuge's 12-mile auto tour route takes visitors through marshes, open water and grasslands that attract hundreds of bird species throughout the year. In October, migratory birds begin passing through in huge numbers, creating a surprisingly peaceful and photogenic stop.
Recommended Stay: 1 hour
Arrive: 11:30 AM
Depart: 12:30 PM
Lunch Stop: Brigham City
Drive Time: ~10-20 minutes
Grab lunch before heading to the most remote stop on the route. Brigham City is one of the easiest places to stop before continuing toward Spiral Jetty.
Recommended Stay: 1 hour
Arrive: 12:40 PM
Depart: 1:40 PM
Stop 3: Spiral Jetty
Drive Time: ~1 hour 15 minutes
Created in 1970 by artist Robert Smithson, Spiral Jetty remains one of the world's most famous works of land art. The giant spiral extends into the Great Salt Lake and depending on lake conditions, visitors may even see the area's famous pink water.
Recommended Stay: 30-45 minutes
Arrive: 3:00 PM
Depart: 3:45 PM
Return to Downtown Salt Lake City
Drive Time: ~2.5 hours
Arrive: ~ :15 PM
🏔️ The Mountain Town Route
Total Drive Time: Approximately 2.5-3 hours
Best For: Coffee shops, fall colors, mountain views, and charming downtowns
Plan For: A relaxed day
8:30 AM | Leave Downtown Salt Lake City
Stop 1: Park City
Drive Time: ~45 minutes
Originally founded as a silver mining town, Park City has transformed into one of the country's most charming mountain destinations. Historic Main Street is lined with boutiques, galleries, restaurants and coffee shops, all surrounded by the mountains that made the town famous. October offers smaller crowds, crisp mountain air and hints of fall color throughout the surrounding hillsides.
Coffee Stop: Atticus Coffee & Teahouse
Recommended Stay: 2.5 hours
Arrive: 9:15 AM
Depart: 11:45 AM
Stop 2: Guardsman Pass
Drive Time: ~25 minutes
Connecting Park City and Big Cottonwood Canyon, Guardsman Pass is one of the most scenic drives in northern Utah. The route winds through alpine forests, golden aspen groves and mountain overlooks that become especially beautiful during the fall. Pull over at one of the viewpoints and you'll quickly understand why this road appears on so many Utah bucket lists.
Recommended Stay: 1.5 hours
Arrive: 12:10 PM
Depart: 1:40 PM
Stop 3: Silver Lake
Drive Time: ~15 minutes
Located near Brighton, Silver Lake is an easy and incredibly scenic stop surrounded by mountain peaks and aspens. A flat boardwalk circles the lake, making it one of the most accessible alpine experiences in the area. In October, golden aspens reflect off the water while the surrounding mountains create one of the most photogenic landscapes near Salt Lake City.
Lunch Option: Grab lunch in Park City before heading to Guardsman Pass, or pack something to enjoy near the lake.
Recommended Stay: 1 hour
Arrive: 1:55 PM
Depart: 2:55 PM
Return to Downtown Salt Lake City
Drive Time: ~45 minutes
Arrive: ~3:40 PM
🌕 The Moon Route
Total Drive Time: Approximately 5 hours
Best For: Bucket-list photos, remote desert landscapes and wide-open roads
Plan For: A full day
8:00 AM | Leave Downtown Salt Lake City
Grab breakfast before heading west.
Stop 1: Bonneville Salt Flats
Drive Time: ~1 hour 50 minutes
A 12-by-5-mile stretch covering about 46 square miles, Bonneville Salt Flats is one of Utah's most recognizable landscapes. The vast white expanse was formed when ancient Lake Bonneville dried up thousands of years ago, leaving behind a thick layer of salt that stretches to the horizon. On calm days, the flats can create mirror-like reflections that make the landscape feel almost unreal.
Recommended Stay: 2 hours
Arrive: 9:50 AM
Depart: 11:50 AM
Stop 2: Silver Island Mountains
Drive Time: ~30 minutes
Rising from the edge of the Great Salt Lake Desert, the Silver Island Mountains offer rugged peaks, remote roads and expansive views across the surrounding salt flats. It feels like a completely different planet from the busy Wasatch Front.
Note: The full backcountry byway is a 54-mile loop and can take 3–4+ hours, but a 1.5-hour stop works great for a short scenic taste. Roads should be dry, and visitors should bring water, fuel, and a spare tire.
Recommended Stay: 1.5 hours
Arrive: 12:20 PM
Depart: 1:50 PM
Lunch Stop: Wendover
Drive Time: ~40 minutes
Recommended Stay: 1 hour
Arrive: 2:30 PM
Depart: 3:30 PM
The Drive You'll Actually Remember
Fair warning: you'll spend a good portion of this route on the road. The good news? That's part of the experience.
The roads around the Silver Island Mountains and Bonneville Salt Flats cut through miles of remote desert, mountain backdrops and wide-open landscapes that make you feel like you've wandered onto the set of an indie film. Roll down the windows, turn on your favorite playlist and enjoy one of Utah's most cinematic drives.
Return to Downtown Salt Lake City
Drive Time: ~1 hour 50 minutes
Arrive: ~5:15 PM
🕳️ The Hidden Wonders Route
Total Drive Time: Approximately 3.5-4 hours
Best For: Adventure seekers, caves, geothermal springs and scenic drives
Plan For: A full day
7:30 AM | Leave Downtown Salt Lake City
Stop 1: Timpanogos Cave National Monument
Drive Time: ~50 minutes
Hidden high above American Fork Canyon, Timpanogos Cave features underground chambers filled with colorful formations, crystal-covered walls and delicate helictites. Reaching the cave requires a steep hike, but the reward is one of the most fascinating cave systems in the western United States.
Note: The official experience is about 3 hours, including the hike and cave tour, and reservations are strongly recommended.
Recommended Stay: 3 hours
Arrive: 8:20 AM
Depart: 11:20 AM
Stop 2: Homestead Crater
Drive Time: ~50 minutes
Hidden inside a 55-foot limestone dome, Homestead Crater is one of Utah's most unusual natural attractions. The geothermal spring inside remains warm year-round and allows visitors to swim, soak, snorkel and even scuba dive.
Note: requires reservations.
Recommended Stay: 1.5 hours
Arrive: 12:10 PM
Depart: 1:40 PM
Stop 3: Alpine Loop Scenic Byway
Drive Time: ~45 minutes
The Alpine Loop winds through some of northern Utah's most beautiful mountain scenery and is especially stunning during October.
Recommended Stay: 2 hours
Arrive: 2:25 PM
Depart: 4:25 PM
Return to Downtown Salt Lake City
Drive Time: ~1 hour 15 minutes
Arrive: ~5:30 PM
eXpcon may be the reason you're coming to Salt Lake City, but Utah's landscapes are a pretty good reason to come early and stay a little longer. From mountain towns and hidden caves to salt flats and slot canyons, some of the state's most unforgettable experiences are just a road trip away.
Ready to start planning? Visit the eXpcon website to book your hotel, lock in your travel plans and add a Utah adventure or two to your itinerary before registration fills up.
