Utah has spent a lot of money on I-15 thru the SLC area. It is now 6 lanes in places, and the traffic at afternoon rush hour was traveling 70 MPH in the left two lanes, 60-65 in all other lanes.
Left two lanes are truck thru traffic. I run the second lane from the right, at 65 because the highway improvements start at Ogden south.
Getting thru SLC area is not a problem any more.
Well, not always. If there is an accident or construction (and there is always at least some construction, somewhere in the area), traffic can back up to a stop. There is currently construction around Ogden with narrow, uneven lanes, so not exactly a joy to tow through, but it's manageable. Haven't tried the alternate routes, but I think I would concur that, despite the traffic, I-15 is still the way to go thru the SLC area. But definitely avoid rush hour!!!
I second the mention of Village of Trees. Good RV park, convenient to the interstate (there may still be some construction in that area - haven't been in a while), lots of grass, a welcome change from gravel. :)