Comparison · Denver vs Salt Lake City · United States
Denver vs Salt Lake City
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
Choose Denver for Mile High City and Red Rocks Amphitheatre; choose Salt Lake City for Temple Square and Powder skiing. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 596 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 596 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Denver
- June–September
- Best time for Salt Lake City
- January–March, June and September
Side by side
| Denver | Salt Lake City | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | Mile High City, Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Craft beer | Temple Square, Powder skiing and Great Salt Lake |
| Best time to visit | June–September | January–March, June and September |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $210–$350 | $200–$330 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 31°C (88°F) | July, 34°C (93°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 6°C (43°F) | January, 3°C (37°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 9 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | DEN | SLC |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Denver for…
Mile High City and Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Denver sits on the high plains at about 1,609 metres — one mile above sea level — with the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains filling the western skyline. Its compact downtown links the restored Union Station, Larimer Square and LoDo with the Golden…
Choose Salt Lake City for…
Temple Square and Powder skiing. Salt Lake City was founded in 1847 by Latter-day Saint pioneers led by Brigham Young, and its very wide streets are laid out on a numbered grid radiating from Temple Square. Today it is a compact, outdoorsy capital at the foot of the Wasatch Range: four ski…
Top sights compared
| # | Denver | Salt Lake City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre | Temple Square |
| 2 | Denver Art Museum | Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square |
| 3 | Colorado State Capitol | FamilySearch Library |
| 4 | Denver Union Station | Utah State Capitol |
| 5 | Larimer Square | Natural History Museum of Utah |
Food compared
| Denver | Salt Lake City |
|---|---|
| Green chile | Fry sauce |
| Smothered breakfast burrito | Pastrami burger |
| Denver omelette | Utah scones |
| Rocky Mountain oysters | Funeral potatoes |
Which is cheaper?
Denver and Salt Lake City cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $210–$350 in Denver and $200–$330 in Salt Lake City (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Salt Lake City on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Denver and Salt Lake City are about 596 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Denver and 3 in Salt Lake City.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Denver or Salt Lake City cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $210–$350 in Denver and $200–$330 in Salt Lake City (estimates).
+Is Denver or Salt Lake City better for a first trip?
Pick Denver for Mile High City and Red Rocks Amphitheatre, or Salt Lake City for Temple Square and Powder skiing.
+How far is Denver from Salt Lake City?
About 596 km in a straight line.