Bonneville Salt Flats tour: 47 sq miles of white salt flats

The salt flats stretch so far that mirages shimmer across the horizon.

A guided tour of the Bonneville Salt Flats from Salt Lake City includes hotel pickup, professional guide, and a small-group ride in a comfortable Mercedes Sprinter van. The route covers the otherworldly salt expanse, the 85-foot Tree of Utah sculpture, the Blue Canal engineering landmark, and panoramic views of the Silver Island Mountains and Great Salt Lake. The tour runs 6 to 7 hours and operates on multiple morning and afternoon departures throughout the week.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Bonneville Salt Flats and landmarks

• Travel west along Victory Highway
• See white salt pyramids from mining
• Visit the Tree of Utah sculpture
• View the Blue Canal flood solution
• Explore the Bonneville Salt Flats
• Stop at panoramic Silver Island Mountains overlook
• Return to Salt Lake City

The experience

What makes the Bonneville Salt Flats feel so strange is the scale: 47 square miles of white stretching flat enough to see the curve of the earth. The tour starts with a drive west along the Victory Highway, the nation's historic second transcontinental route, where the landscape shifts from mountain peaks to desert. You'll pass towering white salt pyramids from mining operations before arriving at the flats themselves. Once there, you walk out onto the crystalline surface, photograph the shimmering mirages, and stand where land speed record holders have tested their machines for decades.

The route weaves in three other stops that anchor the region's story. The Tree of Utah is an 85-foot sculpture rising from the desert floor, a symbol of endurance that breaks the monotony of salt and sky. The Blue Canal, a brilliant engineering channel, once protected Salt Lake City from historic flooding. It's a reminder that even this remote landscape shaped the settlement of the valley. From a panoramic overlook, you see the ancient Bonneville Lake basin framed by the Silver Island Mountains, and the Great Salt Lake spreads across the horizon. A professional guide narrates the geology, the speed racing history, and the human effort that built this region, while the Mercedes Sprinter keeps the group small and the ride comfortable.

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Salt Lake City are included, along with bottled water and binoculars for viewing. The tour operates on multiple morning and afternoon departures throughout the week, so you can choose the schedule that fits your trip. Gratuities for the guide are optional.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Salt Lake City.
• professional guide in English.
• comfortable Mercedes Sprinter van transportation.
• bottled water.
• binoculars for viewing.
• applicable taxes and fees.

Options for this experience

5 options

Monday afternoon tourGuide in English · 14:30Monday tour

Wednesday afternoon tourGuide in English · Available from 18 Nov · 14:30Wednesday tour, pickup is included

Friday morning tourGuide in English · Available from 13 Nov · 08:30Friday tour, includes pickup

See 2 more options

Saturday afternoon tourGuide in English · 14:30Saturday tour, pickup is included

Thursday morning tourGuide in English · Available from 19 Nov · 08:30Thursday tour, includes pickup

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Tuesday and SundayDepartures at 08:30 and 14:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (4 to 15 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 13

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Matei Travel

Is this one for you?Book a morning departure if you want the clearest light for photographs across the salt flats and the strongest contrast against the sky. Afternoon tours work equally well if your Salt Lake City schedule runs later. The small-group format and fixed itinerary mean the day holds together without you building it: guide, transport, timing and entry are all arranged.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 15 years); Infant (under 4): free.

How far is the Bonneville Salt Flats from Salt Lake City?

The Bonneville Salt Flats lie west of Salt Lake City along the Victory Highway, the nation's historic second transcontinental route. The tour includes the full drive from your hotel, taking you through the landscape transformation from mountains to desert.

What is the Tree of Utah?

The Tree of Utah is an 85-foot sculpture standing in the desert, symbolizing endurance and imagination. It's one of the stops on the tour route between Salt Lake City and the salt flats themselves.

Can I walk on the Bonneville Salt Flats?

Yes, the tour takes you out onto the crystalline salt surface of the Bonneville Salt Flats, where you can walk, photograph the shimmering mirages, and stand on the same ground where land speed record holders have tested their machines.

What's included in the tour?

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Salt Lake City, a professional guide, comfortable transportation in a Mercedes Sprinter van, bottled water, and binoculars. Applicable taxes and fees are also covered.

How long does the tour take?

The tour runs 6 to 7 hours from pickup at your hotel through all the stops and back to Salt Lake City.

When can I book this tour?

Morning and afternoon departures are available throughout the week. Choose from morning tours on Friday, Tuesday, or Thursday, or afternoon tours on Monday, Wednesday, or Saturday.