Bonneville Salt Flats

State: Utah. Type: natural salt pan and land-speed-racing venue in Tooele County, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Size: about 30,000-40,000 acres (roughly 12 miles by 5 miles). Bordered by Interstate 80 and West Wendover, Nevada. Salt crust up to nearly 5 feet thick at the center. First land speed record set here in 1914 (Teddy Tetzlaff); wheel-driven record of 449 mph set in 2018. No day-use fee.

The Bonneville Salt Flats form one of the largest and flattest salt pans in the United States, a stark white expanse of Tooele County desert left behind as the Pleistocene-era Lake Bonneville evaporated thousands of years ago. Named after 19th-century explorer Benjamin Bonneville by geologist Grove Karl Gilbert, the flats became famous in the early 20th century as a natural speedway: Bill Rishel tested the salt's suitability for vehicles in 1907, and the first land speed record here was set in 1914. Today the BLM-managed flats host several annual land-speed events, including Speed Week each August, drawing racers seeking record runs on the hard, level salt surface. Beyond racing, the flats are a striking stop for photography and stargazing, though the salt crust has been thinning in recent decades, a trend attributed partly to nearby potash mining, prompting a BLM brine-return program aimed at restoring it.

The Bonneville Salt Flats lie in Tooele County in northwestern Utah, alongside Interstate 80 and just east of West Wendover, Nevada, roughly 120 miles west of Salt Lake City.

The flats sit in an arid, high-desert basin with hot summers and cold winters typical of Utah's western desert. Seasonal moisture affects the salt surface directly: in spring the salt can be moist or have standing water, prompting the BLM to close motor vehicle use on the crust until it dries.

Late spring through summer, outside of scheduled racing events, is generally the best window for a dry, drivable salt surface, per BLM guidance; visitors should check the BLM's event calendar and current closure notices, since parts of the flats close during permitted races and during the wetter spring period.

Geologist Grove Karl Gilbert named the flats after explorer Benjamin Bonneville in the 1830s survey era, and the salt pan itself is a remnant of the much larger Pleistocene Lake Bonneville. Bill Rishel first tested the salt's suitability for vehicle travel in 1907, and a permanent railway crossing was completed in 1910. Teddy Tetzlaff set the first land speed record on the flats in 1914, launching a century of land-speed racing at the site; records since have included wheel-driven vehicles reaching 449 mph in 2018 and rocket/jet-powered vehicles reaching 630 mph in 1970. NASA's Stardust spacecraft landed its sample-return capsule on the flats in 2004.

Visitors come to see the flat expanse of white salt, photograph the landscape (especially popular at sunrise, sunset, and for reflection shots after rain), and stargaze given the open, dark desert setting. Racing enthusiasts can attend annual events such as Speed Week (mid-August), World of Speed (September), World Finals (early October), the Bub Motorcycle Speed Trials, and the Mike Cook Shootout, though these require BLM permits for participants. General visitation for sightseeing does not require a permit or fee.

The open salt flats themselves are the main attraction, along with the Bonneville Speedway area where land-speed events are held. Nearby Wendover and West Wendover mark the Utah-Nevada border and offer additional stops for travelers passing through on Interstate 80.

From Interstate 80, take Exit 4 near Wendover, Utah, and follow signs north toward the Speedway via Leppy Pass Road, where parking is available at the road's end. The site is about 120 miles west of Salt Lake City by car.

The flats are open to public day-use visitation with no set opening hours found on the BLM site checked, though motor vehicle access to the salt surface is seasonally closed in spring when it is wet, with closure dates posted by sign; temporary closures also occur during permitted racing events.

There is no fee for general day-use visitation, per the BLM. Special recreation or film permits, obtained from the BLM Salt Lake Field Office, are required for commercial events, racing and filming.

A stop of 30 minutes to an hour is typical for sightseeing and photos; racing enthusiasts attending a scheduled event may spend a full day or more.

Wendover, Utah and West Wendover, Nevada, straddling the state line a few miles from the flats, offer the closest lodging, including casino hotels on the Nevada side. Salt Lake City, about two hours east, offers a much broader range of accommodation for those not staying overnight near the flats.

Wendover/West Wendover has a range of casual dining and casino restaurants serving travelers along Interstate 80; options directly on the flats themselves are essentially nonexistent, so most visitors eat before or after their visit in town.

West Wendover, Nevada, just across the state line, offers casinos and additional traveler services. The wider Great Salt Lake Desert and other Interstate 80 stops in western Utah are also within reach for visitors extending a desert road trip.

The site is reached almost exclusively by car via Interstate 80; there is no scheduled commercial airport directly at the flats, with Salt Lake City International Airport, about two hours east, the nearest major airport.

Avoid driving on the salt when it is wet or has standing water, both for your own safety and to protect the fragile crust, and follow posted seasonal closure signs. During scheduled racing events, respect closures and barriers, since these are active speed-record runs. The open, shadeless terrain means sun exposure is a real concern even for a short visit; carry water. For any emergency, dial 911.

Sunscreen, sunglasses and water are essential given the shadeless, reflective terrain. Sturdy, closed shoes are recommended, since the salt crust can be rough or sharp in spots, and a camera is popular for the stark landscape.

Check the BLM's current event schedule and closure notices before visiting, since parts of the flats close for scheduled races and during the wetter spring season. Sunrise and sunset offer the most striking light for photography on the white salt surface.

Dial 911 for any emergency. For general information or permit questions, the BLM Salt Lake Field Office can be reached at 801-320-8300.

Bureau of Land Management - Bonneville Salt Flats - https://www.blm.gov/visit/bonneville-salt-flats

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.