Salt Lake City To Denver Road Trip: The Ultimate Guide

Traveling from Salt Lake City to Denver is one of the best journeys you can experience in the USA. The 519 miles of road trip from Salt Lake City to Denver takes around 7 hours and 50 mins of driving without stops.

This article includes 21 top tips that turn your Salt Lake City to Denver drive into an unforgettable journey. So if you’re looking for the best hotels, restaurants, and places to visit on the road trip from Salt Lake City to Denver, take your coffee and keep reading!

7 Best Hotels On The Way From Salt Lake City To Denver

On the way from Salt Lake City to Denver, you may want to stay at some points on the way. Here are the top seven hotels on the Salt Lake City – Denver route!

1. Best Western Plus Cotton Tree Inn: Best Western Plus Cotton Tree Inn is one of the best hotels where you can stay on the road trip from Salt Lake City to Denver. Driving from Salt Lake City to Best Western Plus Cotton Tree Inn might take around 18 mins. The Best Western Plus Cotton Tree Inn offers modern amenities and thoughtful design. The guest rooms include a spacious work desk and free internet access to ensure that business travelers can stay productive while away from the office. Check the Best Western Plus Cotton Tree Inn, one of the best hotels in Sandy, Utah, on TripAdvisor and Booking.com for recent reviews, prices, and availability.
2. Hampton Inn Provo: Another top hotel where you can choose the stay on the road trip to Denver from Salt Lake City is Hampton Inn Provo. Located in Provo, Utah, the hotel is 46.7 miles away from Salt Lake City, and it would take 45 mins to drive. Experience the stunning natural wonders close to our Provo hotel. Admire stunning views of Mt. Timpanogos in the Wasatch Mountain Range, and visit Provo Canyon, just a few miles away. Join us each morning for Hampton’s complimentary hot breakfast, or if you’re in a hurry, grab a Hampton On the Run® Breakfast Bag, available Monday through Friday. If you want to learn more about the Hampton Inn Provo, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Booking.com.
3. Legacy Inn, Utah: Didn’t our first two hotel suggestions interest you? So we would like to introduce you to the Legacy Inn, Utah. Legacy Inn, Utah, is located in Helper, Utah, and it’s 118 miles away from Salt Lake City. You can arrive there in 1 hour 55 mins of non-stop driving. Just 11.3 km from Nine Mile Canyon Entrance, this Price motel features free Wi-Fi and an expansive continental breakfast. Guests can enjoy free parking in front of their rooms at the motel. Check the TripAdvisor and Booking.com pages of Legacy Inn, Utah, for more information.
4. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Grand Junction: If you are taking the road trip from Salt Lake City to Denver, Grand Junction, Colorado, is must have a place you should visit. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Grand Junction is one of the best hotels in town. It is La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Grand Junction, 284 miles from Salt Lake City, and it would take 4 hours and 19 mins to drive. When searching for a family-friendly hotel in Grand Junction, consider La Quinta Grand Junction Hotel. Guests can enjoy free parking and convenient access to nearby French restaurants, like Chez Lena Restaurant. If you need more info about the price and availability of La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Grand Junction, check the TripAdvisor and Booking.com pages.
5. Glenwood Springs Inn: Our next hotel is Glenwood Springs Inn, Glenwood Springs, Colorado. It will take 5 hours, and 31 mins of car ride o reach this hotel from Salt Lake City. We offer rooms that are both spotlessly clean and affordable. They are also within walking distance of all major attractions, including downtown Glenwood. Our continental breakfast offerings include pastries, bagels, juice, and coffee. Check the Glenwood Springs Inn on TripAdvisor and Booking.com pages of Glenwood Springs Inn for reviews, prices, and availability.
6. Frisco Lodge: Another hotel you can accommodate on the road trip from Salt Lake City to Denver is Frisco Lodge. It’s possible to arrive at this hotel in Frisco, Colorado, within 6 hours and 51 mins drive from Salt Lake City. The Frisco Lodge has been a family-owned and operated business for over 50 years. Our bed and breakfast is charming, and it is located at the center of everything Colorado. You will love the historic ambiance of our guest rooms, the gourmet delights we offer, and our unparalleled hospitality. Before making the reservation, we suggest you read the latest reviews on TripAdvisor and Booking.com.
7. The Silver Lake Lodge: Another hotel that deserves to be on the list is The Silver Lake Lodge. It’s located in Idaho Springs, Colorado, 502 miles from Salt Lake City. You can arrive there within 7 hours and 48 mins of car drive. Romantic Adults Only Bed and Breakfast Nestled at 10,500 ft elevation among towering pines in the Rocky Mountains, The Silver Lake Lodge is both a retreat and home base for authentic Colorado adventures. Blending rustic ambiance with luxurious amenities, the guest rooms are as well-appointed as they are cozy. If you need further information, you can check the TripAdvisor and Booking.com pages of The Silver Lake Lodge.

In this part, we explained seven different hotels you can stay at on the road trip from Salt Lake City to Denver. You can pick one of them that suits your taste. Don’t forget to share your experience by writing a comment to this post. It will help people who will take the same Salt Lake City to Denver route.

Now, it’s time to discover the best restaurants from Salt Lake City to Denver. We have seven restaurant recommendations worth your attention.

7 Best Restaurants On The Way To Denver From Salt Lake City

If dining is a pleasure, some restaurants will please you on your Salt Lake City to Denver road trip. In this section, we list the seven different restaurants to dine at on the road trip from Salt Lake City to Denver. Stay hungry and enjoy!

1. Texas Roadhouse, Utah: We would like to start our restaurant recommendation list on the road trip from Salt Lake City to Denver with Texas Roadhouse, Utah. Texas Roadhouse, Utah, is located in Sandy, Utah, 175 miles from Salt Lake City. It would take 3 hours and 46 mins of driving. I was pleased with the level of service, considering how busy the restaurant was. Our food arrived promptly, and the steaks were tender, well-seasoned, and perfectly cooked. It is great to see a consistent business that delivers a high-quality product with friendly staff. For more information about Texas Roadhouse, Utah, you can visit the TripAdvisor or Google Maps pages of Texas Roadhouse, Utah.
2. Tucanos Brazilian Grill: Another top restaurant you can choose to eat at on the road trip to Denver from Salt Lake City is Tucanos Brazilian Grill. Located in Provo, Utah, Tucanos Brazilian Grill is 589 miles from Salt Lake City and would take 8 hours and 54 mins of driving. Welcome to our Orem location. Come and experience the delicious Brazilian cuisine on offer. Tucanos offers two different, mouth-watering Brazilian dishes every month, giving your taste buds a little trip to Brazil. If you want to learn more about Tucanos Brazilian Grill, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Google Maps.
3. Grogg’s Pinnacle Brewing Company: Another restaurant that can be preferred by those who are fond of food is Grogg’s Pinnacle Brewing Company. It will take 1 hour 52 mins of car drive to take 116 miles from Salt Lake City to Grogg’s Pinnacle Brewing Company, Helper, Utah. I highly recommend the beet salad. The menu is extensive, and the food is excellent. The service is friendly and professional. For more information, you can check Grogg’s Pinnacle Brewing Company on TripAdvisor or Google Maps.
4. Bin 707 Foodbar: Bin 707 Foodbar deserves to be on our list. It is one of the most recommended restaurants in Grand Junction, Colorado. Bin 707 Foodbar is dedicated to sourcing from “local, Colorado & domestic sources” to provide a unique, thoughtful, and accessible experience. Bin 707 Foodbar is a Zero Foodprint member, a 2018 and 2019 Good Food 100 restaurant, and a James Beard Smart Catch “Leader” for its ongoing commitment to sustainability within the industry. Bin 707 Foodbar is 283 miles from Salt Lake City, and it would take 4 hours and 22 mins of non-stop car driving. If you want to learn more about Bin 707 Foodbar, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Google Maps.
5. Riviera Scratch Kitchen: If you enjoy dining, Riviera Scratch Kitchen would be an excellent choice in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. It’s 368 miles from Salt Lake City and would take 5 hours and 30 mins of car driving. Glenwood’s The Riv is an award-winning and top-rated restaurant that offers guests a unique interior, an extensive wine list, inventive cocktails, and a seasonal menu designed around fresh and local ingredients. If you want to learn more about the Riviera Scratch Kitchen, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Google Maps.
6. Butterhorn Bakery and Cafe: Another restaurant we recommend you visit on the road trip from Salt Lake City to Denver is Butterhorn Bakery and Cafe, Frisco, Colorado. It will take 6 hours and 51 mins of driving to reach Butterhorn Bakery and Cafe from Salt Lake City. The Butterhorn Bakery & Cafe has been serving customers for over 40 years. It is the local’s and tourists’ favorite spot for breakfast, lunch, and baked goods. Every recipe is handcrafted from scratch in our kitchen, and we bake our bread and goodies fresh daily in our bakery. For more information about Butterhorn Bakery and Cafe, you can check the TripAdvisor or Google Maps pages of the restaurant.
7. Smokin Yard’s BBQ: Ranked seventh on our list, Smokin Yard’s BBQ appeals to those who want to turn their Denver vacation into a memorable experience. Located in Idaho Springs, Colorado, 522 miles away from Salt Lake City, and it’ll take 7 hours and 49 mins of driving. Smokin’ Yards began in Idaho Springs, Colorado, in 2008. Our style combines many regions’ styles to bring you our “High Elevation BBQ.” Our flagship is located right on the beautiful Clear Creek river. If you want to learn more about Smokin Yard’s BBQ, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Google Maps.

This section lists our seven restaurant recommendations for you to eat on your road trip from Salt Lake City to Denver. We hope these suggestions will help you turn your 519 miles journey into a feast of taste. Of course, you can choose a suitable restaurant from the list according to your preference. Remember, like you, people planning a Denver road trip need your opinion. Therefore, we kindly ask you to share your experience with us in the comment field at the end of the blog post.

In the next section, we list the destinations worth seeing along the route from Salt Lake City to Denver. Keep reading.

7 Places To Visit On The Way From Salt Lake City To Denver

A unique experience awaits you in Denver. However, there are also some unique destinations, like Sandy, Utah, on your road trip. We want to explain the top seven destinations we recommend on the Denver route.

• RioTinto Stadium: RioTinto Stadium will be the first destination we recommend you stop on your Salt Lake City to Denver road trip. Located in Sandy, Utah, RioTinto Stadium is 14.0 miles away from Salt Lake City, and it would take 17 mins to drive. This soccer stadium is located in a beautiful setting with mountains behind it. It has plenty of parking options. If you want to learn more about the RioTinto Stadium, you can check it on TripAdvisor or the official website.
• Bridal Veil Falls, Utah: Bridal Veil Falls, Utah, Provo, Utah, is one of the destinations we recommend you stop by on the Salt Lake City to Denver route. It’s 44.7 miles from Salt Lake City, and it’ll take about 47 mins of driving. Bridal Veil Falls is a beautiful natural waterfall located in the scenic Provo Canyon. It is easily accessible via a trail that connects to the parking lot. The trail to the falls is open year-round, although accessibility may be limited in the winter months due to snow. If you want to learn more about Bridal Veil Falls, Utah, you can check it on TripAdvisor or their website.
• Western Mining & Railroad Museum: One of the stops you should not neglect to stop by when you take the road trip from Salt Lake City to Denver is Helper, Utah. And if you visit Helper, Utah, we suggest you visit Western Mining & Railroad Museum. You can arrive at Western Mining & Railroad Museum after 1 hour 49 mins of driving. This museum is a multi-level building rich in the history of mining and trains. Exhibits in the building include mining equipment and mining equipment outside the building and in a park behind the museum. You can visit TripAdvisor and the official site of the Western Mining & Railroad Museum for more information.
• Downtown Grand Junction: Do you also like to travel and experience new things? Then, it would be best to visit Downtown Grand Junction and Grand Junction, Colorado, on the Salt Lake City to Denver road trip. Downtown Grand Junction is 283 miles from Salt Lake City, and you can arrive there after the 4 hours and 21 mins of drive. Grand Junction is a city located in the Grand Valley of Colorado. It is known for having over 300 days of sunshine a year and being home to dozens of locally-owned shops, music venues, restaurants, and galleries. In addition, you should check TripAdvisor and the official website of Downtown Grand Junction before going there.
• Hanging Lake Trail: Located in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, Hanging Lake Trail ranks fifth in our list of tourist destinations on the road trip from Salt Lake City to Denver. You must take 5 hours and 40 mins of driving to arrive at Hanging Lake Trail. While it may not be warm enough to hike, now is the time to start planning your Hanging Lake hike. Hanging Lake is one of Colorado’s most beloved trails, and it can be challenging to get your desired time and day if you wait. If you want to learn more about Hanging Lake Trail, you can check it on TripAdvisor or the official website.
• Frisco Historic Park and Museum: Another attraction you can visit on the road trip from Salt Lake City to Denver is Frisco Historic Park and Museum, Frisco, Colorado. Frisco Historic Park and Museum are 454 miles from Salt Lake City, and it would take 6 hours and 50 mins to drive. The Frisco Historic Park & Museum strives to preserve and promote the Town of Frisco’s heritage and history. It offers an excellent educational museum experience to the community and its visitors, connecting the past, present, and future to the world around us. For more information about Frisco Historic Park and Museum, you can check their TripAdvisor page or official website.
• Argo Mill and Tunnel: You can visit many destinations on your Salt Lake City to Denver journey. One of these destinations is Argo Mill and Tunnel, located in Idaho Springs, Colorado. You can arrive at Argo Mill and Tunnel after 7 hours and 30 mins of driving.The Argo is a central character in the story of the Colorado gold rush and remains one of the world’s largest, most well-preserved historic gold mills. The tour at the Argo is typically around an hour and a half to two hours. If you want to read the reviews of previous visitors about Argo Mill and Tunnel, you can visit Argo Mill and Tunnel’s TripAdvisor page or their website.

FAQ of the Road Trip From Salt Lake City to Denver

Here we are answering the frequently asked questions about the Salt Lake City to Denver drive.

How Long Is The Road Trip From Salt Lake City To Denver?

• With ideal traffic and weather conditions, the Salt Lake City to Denver road trip takes approximately 7 hours and 50 mins to drive. The distance between Salt Lake City to Denver is 519 miles.
• If you want to make the Salt Lake City to Denver road trip by bike, the time you spend on the road will be one day and 22 hours.
• If you are crazy enough and plan to walk the Salt Lake City-Denver route, you will have to walk for six days and 17 hours.

Where Do You Stop On Driving From Salt Lake City To Denver?

There are many beautiful pit stops along the way to Denver. Here we list seven of them. For more information about the best places on the Salt Lake City to Denver journey, you can check the 7 Best Places To Visit On The Way From Salt Lake City To Denver.

1. RioTinto Stadium: 14.0 miles / 17 mins to drive from Salt Lake City | 512 miles / 7 hours and 54 mins of driving to Denver.
2. Bridal Veil Falls, Utah: 44.7 miles / 47 mins to drive from Salt Lake City | 491 miles / 7 hours and 43 mins of driving to Denver.
3. Western Mining & Railroad Museum: 111 miles / 1 hour 49 mins to drive from Salt Lake City | 414 miles / 6 hours and 17 mins of driving to Denver.
4. Downtown Grand Junction: 283 miles / 4 hours and 21 mins to drive from Salt Lake City | 244 miles / 3 hours and 57 mins of driving to Denver.
5. Hanging Lake Trail: 378 miles / 5 hours and 40 mins to drive from Salt Lake City | 156 miles / 2 hours and 35 mins of driving to Denver.
6. Frisco Historic Park and Museum: 454 miles / 6 hours and 50 mins to drive from Salt Lake City | 72.0 miles / 1 hour 17 mins of driving to Denver.
7. Argo Mill and Tunnel: 493 miles / 7 hours and 30 mins to drive from Salt Lake City | 32.0 miles / 39 mins of driving to Denver.

Where Should You Stay On The Road Trip From Salt Lake City To Denver?

There are many excellent hotels during your road trip from Salt Lake City to Denver. We have selected seven hotels for you. These hotels are listed below. Remember, you can find detailed information about these hotels in the 7 Best Hotels On The Way To Denver From Salt Lake City section.

• Best Western Plus Cotton Tree Inn: 15.6 miles / 18 mins to drive from Salt Lake City | 510 miles / 7 hours and 51 mins of driving to Denver.
• Hampton Inn Provo: 46.7 miles / 45 mins to drive from Salt Lake City | 480 miles / 7 hours and 26 mins of driving to Denver.
• Legacy Inn, Utah: 118 miles / 1 hour 55 mins to drive from Salt Lake City | 407 miles / 6 hours and 11 mins of driving to Denver.
• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Grand Junction: 284 miles / 4 hours and 19 mins to drive from Salt Lake City | 242 miles / 3 hours and 50 mins of driving to Denver.
• Glenwood Springs Inn: 368 miles / 5 hours and 31 mins to drive from Salt Lake City | 157 miles / 2 hours and 36 mins of driving to Denver.
• Frisco Lodge: 454 miles / 6 hours and 51 mins to drive from Salt Lake City | 72.1 miles / 1 hour 18 mins of driving to Denver.
• The Silver Lake Lodge: 502 miles / 7 hours and 48 mins to drive from Salt Lake City | 44.0 miles / 58 mins of driving to Denver.

Where To Eat Between Salt Lake City to Denver?

If you are thinking of taking a break and having a nice meal on your Salt Lake City to Denver drive, you can consider the seven restaurants we have chosen. In addition, you can read detailed information about the restaurants in the section titled 7 Best Restaurants On The Way From Salt Lake City To Denver.

1. Texas Roadhouse, Utah: 175 miles / 3 hours and 46 mins to drive from Salt Lake City | 450 miles / 7 hours and 50 mins of driving to Denver.
2. Tucanos Brazilian Grill: 589 miles / 8 hours and 54 mins to drive from Salt Lake City | 70.9 miles / 1 hour 16 mins of driving to Denver.
3. Grogg’s Pinnacle Brewing Company: 116 miles / 1 hour 52 mins to drive from Salt Lake City | 409 miles / 6 hours and 14 mins of driving to Denver.
4. Bin 707 Foodbar: 283 miles / 4 hours and 22 mins to drive from Salt Lake City | 245 miles / 3 hours and 56 mins of driving to Denver.
5. Riviera Scratch Kitchen: 368 miles / 5 hours and 30 mins to drive from Salt Lake City | 157 miles / 2 hours and 36 mins of driving to Denver.
6. Butterhorn Bakery and Cafe: 454 miles / 6 hours and 51 mins to drive from Salt Lake City | 71.2 miles / 1 hour 18 mins of driving to Denver.
7. Smokin Yard’s BBQ: 522 miles / 7 hours and 49 mins to drive from Salt Lake City | 2.6 miles / 11 mins of driving to Denver.

Conclusion

So, there you have it- a complete guide to planning a road trip from Salt Lake City to Denver. We have listed seven hotels, seven restaurants, and seven places to visit on the way. We have also given you detailed information about each place so that you can make an informed choice about where to stay, eat, and what to see. We hope this guide has helped make your road trip from Salt Lake City to Denver as enjoyable as possible.

Share Your Thoughts

Have you ever taken a road trip from Salt Lake City to Denver? So, it would be perfect if you shared your experience with other travelers who want the same experience. You can share your thoughts about the road trip from Salt Lake City to Denver and your recommendations about this route by using the comment field below.