Season guide · Salt Lake City · United States
Salt Lake City in winter
December–March: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Powder skiing within 40 minutes of the city; cold, sometimes smoggy valley days and busy holiday weeks. Expect highs up to 12°C (54°F) and lows around -6°C (21°F), with about 36 rainy days across December–March. January–March are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- December–March
- Temperatures
- -6°C (21°F) to 12°C (54°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 36
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3°C (37°F) | -6°C (21°F) | 9 | 9.6 h | 4/5 |
| February | 6°C (43°F) | -4°C (25°F) | 9 | 10.6 h | 4/5 |
| March | 12°C (54°F) | 1°C (34°F) | 9 | 11.8 h | 4/5 |
| December | 3°C (37°F) | -5°C (23°F) | 9 | 9.3 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 6°C (43°F) against a yearly 18°C (64°F), and 36 of the year's roughly 86 rainy days fall in these 4 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- December: Temple Square Christmas lights (through the end of December)
Good choices for winter
Experience · Downtown
Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
The 360-member choir, founded in the 19th century, performs a weekly broadcast on Sunday mornings in the Tabernacle or the 21,000-seat Conference Center, and its rehearsals are usually open to the public.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Museum · Downtown
FamilySearch Library
Create a free FamilySearch account and enter what you know about your grandparents before you go to save time.
- 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
Completed in 1916, the domed Capitol sits on a hill above downtown with views down State Street and across the valley.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Views
- Rainy day
Museum · University and East Bench
Natural History Museum of Utah
Combine it with Red Butte Garden next door; both have hillside views.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
- History
Religious site · Downtown
Cathedral of the Madeleine
Completed in 1909 on South Temple Street, the Catholic cathedral combines a Romanesque exterior with a richly painted Gothic interior, stained glass from Germany and carved gargoyles.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Art
Day trips in winter
- Park City (About 40–50 minutes by car) — A former silver-mining town with a historic Main Street of restaurants and galleries, two major ski areas and the Utah Olympic Park, built for the 2002 Winter Olympics, where visitors watch ski-jump training and try a bobsled ride.
- Antelope Island State Park (About 1 hour by car) — The largest island in the Great Salt Lake has a free-roaming herd of hundreds of bison, pronghorn and bighorn sheep, salty beaches, the historic Fielding Garr Ranch and sunsets over the lake.
What to pack
- Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Salt Lake City?
Yes: January–March are among the best months. Powder skiing within 40 minutes of the city; cold, sometimes smoggy valley days and busy holiday weeks.
+What is the weather like in Salt Lake City in winter?
Highs of up to 12°C (54°F) and lows around -6°C (21°F), with about 36 rainy days over the season.