Month guide · Salt Lake City · United States
Salt Lake City in January
What January is really like in Salt Lake City: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Beneathtimp, CC0
Quick answer
January is one of the best months to visit Salt Lake City. Expect average highs of 3°C (37°F), lows of -6°C (21°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 9.6 hours of daylight. Cold, with prime ski conditions in the canyons; valley inversions can trap smog for days, while the mountains above are sunny.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 3°C (37°F) / -6°C (21°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 9.6 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in January
January is the 11th-warmest month in Salt Lake City: days average 3°C (37°F) against a yearly average high of 18°C (64°F), and nights fall to about -6°C (21°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with December (3°C (37°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs climb to around 6°C (43°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:49
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:24
- Daylight
- About 9.6 hours
Autumn (September–November). Warm September days, golden aspens in the canyons in early October and a quiet November before ski season.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 4 for crowds (the peak is January at 4) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in January). Book accommodation early: January is one of the pricier months.
Events in January
January has no major recurring festival in Salt Lake City, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Experience · Downtown
Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
Arrive early for the Sunday broadcast; doors close before it begins and do not reopen until it ends.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Museum · Downtown
FamilySearch Library
Next to Temple Square, the world's largest genealogy library has billions of digitised records and volunteers who help visitors trace their ancestry for free.
- Time needed
- 1–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
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Architecture · Capitol Hill and Marmalade
Utah State Capitol
Walk up through Memory Grove Park and City Creek, then continue to Ensign Peak for the best view.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Views
- Rainy day
Museum · University and East Bench
Natural History Museum of Utah
In the copper-clad Rio Tinto Center on the foothills, the museum's Past Worlds hall displays one of the world's largest collections of horned dinosaur skulls alongside other Utah fossils.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
- History
What to pack
For highs near 3°C, lows near -6°C and 9 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Salt Lake City?
One of the best months to visit Salt Lake City. The other best months are February–March, June and September. Compare every month.
Salt Lake City in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Salt Lake City?
It is one of the best months to visit Salt Lake City. Cold, with prime ski conditions in the canyons; valley inversions can trap smog for days, while the mountains above are sunny.
+How warm is Salt Lake City in January?
Average highs are around 3°C (37°F) and lows around -6°C (21°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Salt Lake City in January?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.