Comparison · Las Vegas vs Salt Lake City · United States
Las Vegas 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: Eric Kilby, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Choose Las Vegas for The Strip, Casinos and a milder winter; choose Salt Lake City for Temple Square and Powder skiing. Salt Lake City is generally less expensive, and the two are about 583 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 583 km
- Less expensive
- Salt Lake City
- Best time for Las Vegas
- March–May and October–November
- Best time for Salt Lake City
- January–March, June and September
Side by side
| Las Vegas | Salt Lake City | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Known for | The Strip, Casinos and Shows and residencies | Temple Square, Powder skiing and Great Salt Lake |
| Best time to visit | March–May and October–November | January–March, June and September |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $200–$400 | $200–$330 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 40°C (104°F) | July, 34°C (93°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 14°C (57°F) | January, 3°C (37°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 9 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | LAS | SLC |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Las Vegas for…
The Strip, Casinos and a milder winter. Las Vegas packs giant themed resorts, casinos, shows and restaurants along the 6.8 km Las Vegas Strip, with the older Downtown and Fremont Street a short bus ride north. Beyond the gaming floors, visitors come for Cirque du Soleil and concert residencies…
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
| # | Las Vegas | Salt Lake City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Las Vegas Strip | Temple Square |
| 2 | Fountains of Bellagio | Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square |
| 3 | Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens | FamilySearch Library |
| 4 | Sphere | Utah State Capitol |
| 5 | Fremont Street Experience | Natural History Museum of Utah |
Food compared
| Las Vegas | Salt Lake City |
|---|---|
| Resort buffet | Fry sauce |
| Shrimp cocktail | Pastrami burger |
| Steakhouse dinner | Utah scones |
| Chinatown pho, hot pot and dim sum | Funeral potatoes |
Which is cheaper?
Salt Lake City is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $200–$330 per person there, against $200–$400 in Las Vegas (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Salt Lake City on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Las Vegas and Salt Lake City are about 583 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Las Vegas and 3 in Salt Lake City.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Las Vegas or Salt Lake City cheaper?
Salt Lake City is usually less expensive: about $200–$330 a day mid-range against $200–$400 (estimates).
+Is Las Vegas or Salt Lake City better for a first trip?
Pick Las Vegas for The Strip, Casinos and a milder winter, or Salt Lake City for Temple Square and Powder skiing.
+How far is Las Vegas from Salt Lake City?
About 583 km in a straight line.