By Car
This is an easy city to explore by car, in large part because of the wide streets and abundant parking. National car-rental companies here include Advantage (tel. 800/777-5500 or 801/531-1199; www.advantage.com), Alamo (tel. 800/462-5266 or 801/575-2211; www.alamo.com), Avis (tel. 800/331-1212 or 801/575-2847; www.avis.com), Budget (tel. 800/527-0700 or 801/575-2500; www.budget.com), Dollar (tel. 800/800-4000 or 801/575-2580; www.dollar.com), Enterprise (tel. 800/261-7331 or 801/537-7433; www.enterprise.com), Hertz (tel. 800/654-3131 or 801/575-2683; www.hertz.com), National (tel. 800/227-7368 or 801/575-2277; www.nationalcar.com), and Thrifty (tel. 800/847-4389 or 801/595-5310; www.thrifty.com). All of these companies either have offices at the airport or will deliver a car to the airport for you.
Many public parking lots are situated in the downtown area, costing from $1 to $7 per day. Some lots are free with validation from participating merchants or restaurants. Street parking downtown is metered, costing 25¢ per half-hour, and is usually limited to 2 hours. Parking for larger RVs and motor homes is limited; you can park for $2 to $6 per hour in one large lot -- the entire block between North and South Temple and 200 and 300 West. You might also try the lot behind the Capitol, with its few designated large-vehicle spaces; East Capitol Street, which is not metered, is a possibility as well.
By Public Transportation
The Utah Transit Authority (tel. 888/743-3882 or 801/743-3882; www.utabus.com) provides bus service throughout the city, with a "free fare zone" in the downtown area, roughly from 400 South to North Temple, continuing up Main Street to 500 North to include the State Capitol, and between 200 East and West Temple. You can ride free within this zone, getting on and off as many times as you'd like. The fee for traveling in the other zones is $1.60 per person; 80¢ for seniors and those with disabilities; or $4.25 for a day pass. Some buses are wheelchair accessible, and all have bicycle carriers. Trax, a light-rail system also operated by the Utah Transit Authority, with the same contact information and same rates as the Utah Transit Authority's bus service (albeit free in the downtown area), runs 15 miles from the Sandy Civic Center in the Salt Lake City suburb of Sandy north to EnergySolutions Arena in downtown Salt Lake City, with another line running east to the University of Utah. The trains are wheelchair accessible and bicycles are permitted. Route schedules and maps for both the buses and light rail are available at malls, libraries, and visitor centers.
By Taxi
For a taxi, contact the City Cab (tel. 801/363-5550), Yellow Cab (tel. 801/521-2100), or Ute Cab (tel. 801/359-7788), all available 24 hours a day.
