Route details
Distance:
52 km / 33 miles
Driving Time:
45mins
*Subject to weather and traffic conditions.
Shared Shuttles may take longer
Return Route:
People often ask
No, a car isn’t necessary once you’re in Deer Valley. The resort offers excellent ski-in/ski-out accommodation, and Park City Transit provides free shuttle services between Deer Valley and Park City.
Most visitors arrive via airport transfer and rely on shuttles or walking during their stay, avoiding the hassle of renting a car and finding parking, which can be in short supply, altogether.
Deer Valley is ideal if you’re looking for a quieter, upscale, ski-focused experience with excellent grooming and ski-in/ski-out lodging. Park City offers a livelier atmosphere, with more nightlife, dining options, and shopping along historic Main Street.
Many visitors staying in Deer Valley will make use of local transportation (including a free public transit system) to get to Park City.
Deer Valley is just 1–2 miles from Park City’s Main Street, depending on your accommodation. The two areas are connected by free public transit, making it easy to move between them without a car.
The drive from downtown Salt Lake City to Deer Valley typically takes 50 minutes in normal traffic. Travel times can increase during peak ski season, weekends, or when snow is falling, particularly as you approach Park City and the resort area.
Early mornings usually offer the smoothest drive, while Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings tend to be the busiest.
Direct shared shuttle services from downtown Salt Lake City to Deer Valley are limited. Most shuttle options are designed for airport transfers rather than city-to-resort travel.
Private shuttles can be booked through Ridebooker, which provide direct, door-to-door service without multiple stops.
The easiest way to travel without a car is a pre-booked private transfer. This avoids navigating winter roads, parking challenges at the resort, and waiting for limited shuttle services.
Public transportation options require multiple connections and are not practical with luggage or ski equipment.
Uber and Lyft operate in Salt Lake City and Park City, and many travellers do use them for this route. However, availability can be inconsistent during busy ski weekends, snowstorms, or late-night hours.
Surge pricing is also common during peak demand, so rideshare costs can be unpredictable compared to pre-booked transportation.
About travelling from Salt Lake City, UT to Deer Valley, UT
Deer Valley is Park City’s refined counterpart — a ski-only mountain known for velvet-smooth grooming, attentive service, and an atmosphere that leans toward elegance rather than adrenaline. Daily lift tickets are limited, snowboarders are kept off the hill, and the lift system is intentionally built to move people efficiently, making the whole resort feel less crowded.
Across its six mountains, Deer Valley serves up terrain that suits cruisers, carvers and powder hounds alike with long, rolling blues, beginner friendly greens, and steeper pitches like the chutes off Empire for more advanced riders. There are also tree lines and soft, powdery pockets tucked throughout the resort, though the emphasis is often on immaculate grooming and consistency. Utah’s dry climate keeps the snow light and dependable, giving Deer Valley some of the best conditions in the world for snow sports.
Visitors can stay right at the base in high-end, ski-in/ski-out hotels such as the Montage, St. Regis, or Stein Eriksen Lodge, each offering relaxed lounges, strong dining menus, and cozy fireplaces. Those who prefer more bustle can make use of the free Park City Transit shuttle to take you to Park City’s Main Street, which is filled with lively bars, casual eateries, shops and mining era architecture giving you the best of both worlds.
In summer, the resort switches gears to scenic lift rides, well-built mountain bike trails and hiking routes with big Wasatch views. The whole experience stays true to Deer Valley’s identity: peaceful and polished.
If you need to travel to Deer Valley from Salt Lake City, you can book your transfer through Ridebooker. We offer scheduled shuttles as well as a range of private vehicles that offer door-to-door service on your schedule saving you the hassle of renting a car to collect snow during your stay.