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Salt Lake International Airport has been described as a big small airport. It is right-sized with the amenities and flight options you expect from a major hub with less of the hassle. There are no trams and with the exception of the E gate expansion most of the gates are less than 10 minutes walking distance from the security checkpoints and baggage claim areas.
The airport is just 5 miles northwest of downtown Salt Lake City and is less than an hour to 11 of the world’s best ski resorts. It is also convenient to Park City, home of the world famous Sundance Film festival.
SLC has three air carrier runways and one general aviation runway. In 2010 the airport served 21 million passengers making it the 25th busiest airport in North America and 62nd busiest worldwide. Despite all that traffic the airport is frequently first in the nation for on-time performance. Many have seen this airport operate smoothly and safely through snowfall that would grind lesser airport’s traffic to a halt. Their system for handling winter weather has garnered a number of awards. The airport has 2 terminals. It is a Delta hub, so Delta occupies all of terminal 2 with all other airlines: American, Continental, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, United and US Airways housed in T1.
Several options exist for folks looking to rent a car from the Salt Lake City Airport. Alamo, Advantage, Budget, Hertz, Dollar, Enterprise, National and Thrifty all service passengers wanting to travel the area via rented car. Car rental facilities are situated across from the Terminal Buildings 1 & 2, in the short-term parking garage.
Getting out of the airport in your rental car you will travel Southwest on Terminal Drive towards I-80. If your eventual destination is Salt Lake City, you will want to stay left, going East on I-80. Watch for overhead signage directing you towards the "City Center", Provo and Ogden. Watch for a fork in the road after overhead signage, and keep left at the fork and you will soon merge with larger traffic on I-80 traveling East. After hopping on I-80, drive for a few miles until you can take the exit 121, 600 South. This road, 600 South, will take you to the city center.
When returning your vehicle, just reverse the directions above. Remember to re-fuel your rental car before you return the vehicle. There are several fueling stations near the airport. However, each choice near the airport requires you getting off of I-80 at some point. We recommend (if coming back from the Salt Lake City center headed West) to overshoot the airport terminal exit. Continue past the terminal exit for about 2 Miles until you can take the 113 Exit towards 56th Street. After taking the exit, turn right on N. 5600 W. Travel about one-quarter of a mile until you reach W. Amelia Earhart Dr., then turn right at the station. The station is called Roy's 66.
There are other gas stations on the East side of the airport, towards Salt Lake City. These may be a better fit for more experienced travelers in particular. However, many drivers would rather drive past an intended turnoff, like the airport terminal road, then backtrack. Intentionally backtracking gives tourists a second look at turnoffs and more information to make decisive driving decisions.
The free wireless internet is one of the most popular perks at the SLC airport. Be forewarned that at peak travel times it can be difficult to get a connection. Delta provides extra electric plugs at their gates giving you the ability to juice up your gadgets for your connecting flight without having to wrestle with other passengers for a free socket.
Parents will love the fully-equipped play areas located on Concourses A, B and the top of E where kids can get excess energy out before boarding time. Smokers will be surprised to find that SLC is one of the few airports that provides smoking areas within the secured areas of the airport, so they will not have to go through security screening again if they want to smoke between flights.
The airport has an extensive collection of fine art displayed along the moving walkways. Busy travelers often fail to notice this hidden treasure as they rush to catch a flight but it is well worth a pause as you walk or ride the moving walkways between concourses. The displays are rotated periodically so there is always something new. One of my favorite collections is a grouping of photographs illustrating the amazing diversity of Utah’s landscape from tranquil mountain scenes to amazing red rock formations.
A tip if you have no bags to check and are flying out of terminal 2 you can bypass the crowds near the ticket counter and use the kiosks located at the top of the baggage claim escalators next to the security check point. Few people are aware of those machines and there is never a wait.
There is a decent range of food options available from fast food to sit down dining. I recommend grabbing a chocolaty treat from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Co. between concourses A & B at the top of the security checkpoint escalators. Krispy Kreme doughnuts are a favorite and passengers frequently stock up on a dozen to share with friends back home. If you have time to sit down for a bite or a drink Squatters Brew Pub and Wasatch Brew Pub have great food and excellent microbrews. Other dining options include Burger King, Blue Burrito Grille, California Pizza Kitchen, Cinnabon, City Deli, Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Grill, Finnigan’s, Freshens, Grantano’s Italian Deli, The Great American Bagel Bakery, The Grove Natural Snacks, The Hive, Manchu Wok, Millcreek Coffee Roasters, On the Fly Urban Market, Pizza Hut, Quiznos, Sbarro, TCBY, The Terrace, Starbucks, Wall Street Deli, Wolfgang Puck Express, and Yovana.
LDS church offers a complimentary shuttle to temple square in downtown Salt Lake if you have a few hours to spare and are interested in learning more about local history and culture. If you have less time you can always just enjoy the beautiful panoramic mountain views from the windows at the end of each concourse.
The drawbacks to this airport are the fair amount of walking to the E and D gates especially if your plane is leaving from the end of the concourse. The E gates are universally unpopular. This portion of the airport was added on prior to the Olympics to accommodate the growing number of regional aircraft using the airport. The most common complaint is that they simultaneously board multiple flights out of one gate door making it crowded and confusing. Another annoyance unique to this airport is the crowds of family members clustered around the bottom of the escalator to the baggage claim welcoming home missionaries. While their enthusiasm is heartwarming they impede the flow of traffic and create an obstacle course for those who are trying to access the luggage carousels.
As mentioned earlier, the driving distance from the airport to Salt Lake City is about 8 Miles. For folks traveling via rental car to other areas nearby, we have listed driving distances for your review. These are only estimates, and are based from the airport.
Bountiful, UT 15 Miles.
North Salt Lake, UT 12 Miles.
Magna, UT 12 Miles.
Taylorsville, UT 12 Miles.
West Valley City, UT 8 Miles.
Sandy, UT 21 Miles.
Ogden, UT 41 Miles.
Layton, UT 27 Miles.
Provo, UT 46 Miles.
Every type of car available anywhere else, is available here. Economy cars, standard vehicles, fuel-savers, compacts, SUV's, minivans, luxury cars, and just plain 'ole rent cars are waiting on you at the Salt Lake City Airport. Remember to reserve your GPS, child-seat, infant seat or additional drivers.
Fox Rent-a-Car and Affordable Car Rental each have "off-airport" car rental lots near the facility. Off-airport car rental companies generally don't have an office at the airport, but will shuttle to their location near the airport for free. Use our booking engine to view your options. Often, the cheapest result will sometimes be an "off-airport" car rental choice. Thanks for shopping with Eurocar Rental and we hope you enjoy your stay in Salt Lake City!!
Source: http://www.slcairport.com