Explore an ethereal white salt flat with epic stargazing and a famous speedway in Utah's West Desert.
Top-rated campgrounds
The best camping in Bonneville Salt Flats, UT guide
Overview
About
The Bonneville Salt Flats are an ancient evaporated lake bed at the edge of Utah’s Great Salt Lake Basin. With a white sodium chloride crust that spans 30,000 acres, the salt flats make a surreal desert landscape to explore by day and feature excellent stargazing conditions at night. The flats are protected by the Bonneville Salt Flats Special Recreation Area, a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) site. Although camping is not allowed in the Bonneville Salt Flats SRA, dispersed camping is available on adjacent and nearby BLM lands. The park is also home to a famous Bonneville International Speedway, where multiple land-speed records have been set.
Tips for snagging a campsite
- Despite this being a BLM site, dispersed camping is not allowed on the Bonneville Salt Flats SRA.
- For dispersed BLM camping in the area, check out the Silver Island Mountains Backcountry Byway or the Knolls Off-Highway Vehicle Special Recreation Management Area.
- For current info on these and other BLM camping options in the area, call the BLM Salt Lake Field Office at (801) 320-8300.
When to go
The Bonneville Salt Flats are open year-round. Summer heat is intense and can reach triple digits, while winter temps can drop below freezing. One factor to monitor during your visit is rain, which can occur in any season. Driving on the salt flats is prohibited during rain and when surfaces are wet, as this may turn the park’s dirt roads into mud, stranding drivers. Summer is when the Bonneville Salt Flats hosts several major events, including Speed Week in August.
Know before you go
- There are no facilities within the Bonneville Salt Flats SRA. You must pack in all of your water and supplies and pack out all waste when visiting.
- Supplies and services are available a few miles from the park in Wendover. Wendover also has camping facilities like RV parks with full hookups, wifi, and bathrooms.
- Weather conditions at the Bonneville Salt Flats are often intense and may include strong winds, hot sun, and sudden rain storms. Because the white salt ground can reflect the sun’s UV light, sunscreen, sun protection, and good hydration are essential year-round.
- The Bonneville Salt Flats are a 1.5-hour drive from Salt Lake City.