Park City in 3 days

Two huge ski resorts, Sundance glamour and a silver-mining Main Street. Best time to visit: December-March, June-September. Average daily budget: $250 to $700 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: Old Town / Main Street, Historic core with bars, galleries and ski-in access via the town lift.

Morning: Ski or ride Park City Mountain. 7,300 acres, the largest single resort in the United States.

Afternoon: Explore Old Town / Main Street, Historic core with bars, galleries and ski-in access via the town lift.

Evening: Deer Valley. Immaculate grooming, no snowboarders and legendary slopeside lunches.

Eat: Slopeside turkey chilli at Deer Valley, a genuine institution

Day 2, Go deeper

Base: Canyons Village, Modern base area on the Park City Mountain side, good for families.

Morning: Historic Main Street. Mining-era buildings, tasting rooms, galleries and the town lift.

Afternoon: Explore Canyons Village, Modern base area on the Park City Mountain side, good for families.

Evening: Utah Olympic Park. 2002 Olympic venue with bobsled rides and ski-jump training pools.

Eat: Utah craft beer and elk burgers on Main Street

Day 3, Hidden side

Base: Deer Valley, Ski-only luxury resort with groomed runs and famous on-mountain dining.

Morning: The Homestead Crater near Midway, a warm geothermal spring inside a limestone dome. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Deer Valley, Ski-only luxury resort with groomed runs and famous on-mountain dining.

Evening: Night skiing and sleigh-ride dinners at Canyons Village. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: High-end tasting menus in restored mining buildings

Hidden gems

The Homestead Crater near Midway, a warm geothermal spring inside a limestone dome
Night skiing and sleigh-ride dinners at Canyons Village
Empire Pass views on a summer hike when the wildflowers peak in July
The free town shuttle, which locals use instead of ever moving their car

Getting around

Salt Lake City International (SLC) is 35 to 40 minutes away, with shared shuttles, rideshares and rental cars. Once here you rarely need a car: the free town bus network links Old Town, both resort bases and most condos every 15 to 20 minutes. Winter parking on Main Street is limited and snow tyres or AWD matter on canyon roads during storms.

Safety

Park City is very safe. The real issues are altitude (2,100m in town, 3,000m+ on the peaks), so hydrate and ease into day one, and mountain hazards: avalanche risk in the backcountry, cold exposure and sun intensity at elevation. Summer brings afternoon thunderstorms and occasional moose on the trails, which you should give a wide berth.

Park City in 5 days | Park City in 7 days | Full Park City guide