The Ultimate Park City Travel Guide
Updated: Jan 23
The Ultimate Guide to Exploring Park City, Utah
If you haven’t yet been to Park City, UT, you must start planning a visit! With some of the world's best ski slopes, amazing restaurants, charming houses, and more, you are bound to fall in love with this little US city.
If you don’t want to hit the slopes, check out our article on other great things to do in Park City, UT! Before you go, take a look at our recommendations so you can make the most of your time here.
If you plan on skiing, relaxing, or adventuring another way, here is the ultimate Park City Travel Guide so you can plan and prepare for the trip of your dreams. We loved our time in this amazing city, full of rich history, stunning views, and delicious food; we want to share our recommendations with you so everyone can enjoy Park City!
How to Get to Park City
If you plan on flying to Park City, book your plane ticket to Salt Lake City International Airport. From here, book a shuttle or taxi from Salt Lake City to Park City in advance. We used Salt Lake Express and they were great. Just make sure you know where your drop-off location is and how far it is from your accommodation in Park City.
If you're driving to Park City, be aware that it is in a bit of a "bubble." There is Salt Lake City, Park City, Provo, and a few smaller surrounding towns, but once you're outside of this "bubble" it is much more rural. Always make sure you have enough gas to get to the next stop when you're driving in rural areas.
Transportation in Park City
There are free buses around Park City that you can hop on to get to most places. It's not the biggest city, so between the buses and walking, you'll be able to get pretty much anywhere within Park City.
Another option is to rent a car at Salt Lake City Airport. This would give you a way to get to Park City as well as a means of transportation while staying in Park City. If you want to be able to visit nearby attractions, such as Homestead Crater or Utah Olympic Park, then a car will definitely be useful.
Be aware that parking in Park City, especially downtown, can be very hard to find. And if you're driving to Park City Mountain Resort to go skiing, they also started charging for parking. There is a free bus that drops you off right in Mountain Village though, so park your car in a free lot and catch the bus over.
Once in Park City, be aware that rideshare services, such as Uber and Lyft, are few and far between. We spent about 45 minutes waiting for a driver, and we went through 4 cancellations. So either rent a car or utilize the buses and pack a pair of comfy walking shoes!
Skiing & Boarding
If you plan on skiing or snowboarding in Park City, make sure you know what to pack for a ski trip. Before you hit the slopes, book your lift passes in advance and get any rental gear you might need.
Also, make sure you check out the trail maps so you have an idea of the mountain layout and what runs you want to do! It's a big mountain with a good variety of trails and lifts.
It's always a good idea to have a general idea of your route. While there are many green runs at Park City Mountain, a lot of them meet up with blue and black runs with no other way down.
So if you don’t want to fly down a black run, just check the map before you head out and plan a route. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the scenery of this beautiful mountain resort.
What to Pack
Winter is definitely freezing in Park City. Bring lots of layers; when you go inside you’ll probably get really warm, so having layers to take off for varying temps are handy. A winter coat or ski jacket is necessary for winter, even if you're not hitting the slopes.
If you’re visiting in fall or spring, still bring a fairly thick winter coat as it can be sunny and nice out one day, and bitterly cold the next! A pair of boots will come in handy too, especially if it’s snowy, as well as a hat and some gloves in the winter!
What to Do in Park City
Park City Mountain is one of our favorite skiing and snowboarding spots. It offers a great array of runs for every type of skier and boarder, a variety of shops to venture through, and delicious restaurants for every meal.
However, there is plenty to do if you don’t feel like hitting the slopes! You can visit Olympic Park and bobsled on the actual track from the 2002 Winter Olympics, swim in a geothermal pool at the Homestead Crater, and so much more!
A really fun area to explore on foot is the historic downtown district. Make sure you check out the Park City Museum to learn about the city's neat history! You can also check out our guide on other activities in Park City, UT. There is something for everyone to enjoy in this lovely, historical mining town!
Where to Eat in Park City
You'll be surprised by how great the food options are in Park City. Everything we had was delicious! Park City Mountain Resort boasts a variety of great restaurants for those who plan on visiting the mountains. But even if you aren’t skiing, this area is so worth checking out for a meal.
The historic downtown district also has many restaurants to choose from. Plus it is a super cute area to walk around in. If you’re flying into or out of Salt Lake City International Airport, Gourmandise is also worth checking out.
Some of the best places to eat in Park City are:
Harvest
Salt Box
Atticus Coffee
El Chubasco
Big Dipper
Sammy's Bistro
Pink Elephant Coffee Shop
Yuki Yama Sushi
Park City is definitely well known for its mountains and amazing ski slopes, but it has so much more to offer. Remember to pack warm layers if you’re visiting in the fall, winter, or spring, and plan your transportation in advance if you’ll be traveling from Salt Lake City to Park City.
Happy planning, and enjoy your stay in the wonderful Park City, Utah! Is it your first time visiting?
Follow along on our journey on Facebook and Instagram; we'd love to see you there! We greatly appreciate you being here and supporting us so we can help others travel this wonderful world!
