Avoiding Salt Lake City

[Roy_Lynne]

No offence, but the last time I drove thru SLC, I felt like I was taking my life in my hands. I always keep a buffer zone and some lady in a little sports car pulled in front of me and then slammed on her breaks. Thank goodness I had good breaks and I bet I came an inch from her bumper. I've avoided SLC ever since. (I know that could happen on any freeway, but that happened to me on that freeway and, well you know) Would taking the 215 help any or is it just as bad. Heading to Brownsville from WA sometime next Spring. Thanks in advance

[Atlee]

If that's enough to cause you to avoid a city, then I would advise you to never, ever venture on the interstates through and around Atlanta, GA.

Roy&Lynne wrote:
No offence, but the last time I drove thru SLC, I felt like I was taking my life in my hands. I always keep a buffer zone and some lady in a little sports car pulled in front of me and then slammed on her breaks. Thank goodness I had good breaks and I bet I came an inch from her bumper. I've avoided SLC ever since. (I know that could happen on any freeway, but that happened to me on that freeway and, well you know) Would taking the 215 help any or is it just as bad. Heading to Brownsville from WA sometime next Spring. Thanks in advance

[pnichols]

The OP makes a great point.

The highways around SLC are way different from when I lived there in the late 60's. Why does "progress" always have to mean moving downhill? The SLC area was great way back then.

What HAS NOT changed much around SLC is the drycampground on Antelope Island. Thank heavens you can still get a feeling of being out in the middle of nowhere in that campground. It's too bad that the GSL fishing is so poor. 😉

[Ozlander]

You have to hit the brakes one time in a big city and you never go back. LOL

[dmcgiffin]

I drive 38' MH with a dolly and our car. Have been thru SLC 4 times this year. Its all about TIMING.......mid morning to early afternoon and easy sailing. I used to take the 215 to bypass downtown area but the merge back onto 15 is a little dicey.

[Flyboy320]

Came thru SLC in mid Oct. All the construction on I-15 appears to be done. Came thru mid day and there was no problem. Better than LA and Seattle IMO.

[ronniedean1234]

Since 1996 I have travel down Hwy 93 through Jackpot, nice 2 lane road, and a lot less traffic to deal with. MapQuest it and you will find it is the shorter way to go if you are going the Vegas route...

[Roy_Lynne]

Oh guys, I'm not saying that Utah has bad drivers, what happened was the lady was traveling to fast for the traffic and she pulled into the lane I was in but at the same time, the traffic all braked and she was in my braking space. I was in a big rig and it took more space for me to stop. Could happen anywhere and I know it but that was the only time in my driving career, 50+ years that I have even been close to hitting someone and it scared the heck out of me. I am going from WA State to Brownsville and I know how to get around every big city but Salt Lake without going hundreds of miles out of my way. Hence my question.

[Bionic_Man]

I travel 12 states in the West for my job. Personally, I think some of the best drivers are in Utah.

Bar none, the WORST are in Seattle.

[RaenMark]

crabbin's suggestion does offer a pretty drive and not a bad climb around the east side of SLC. Living here and having driven both I15 and I215 in both the MH and the fiver, I'll take I15 every time. 215 flows nice, but the merge back onto 15 at the south end is the pits. I agree if you hit the weekend or off rush times, the trip on either is lots better.

[crabbin_cabin]

The last time we went south on I15 we swung west at/near Ogden and went thru' Park City / Heber City and back to I 15 at Provo - a very nice drive for us. Good luck,

[enblethen]

Why do avoid Utah?
Turn south at Twin Falls and take US 93 south to basically Tucson,AZ. Lot less traffic and easier drive.

[2oldman]

SLC's construction is pretty much over. Went through in early October '13 midday, was just fine.

[obgraham]

The only way to avoid SLC is to go through Nevada on US93. That's the way we go.
You could cut back towards I15 on US50 if you wish.

[1492]

I've been going to SLC for 15 years on business, and never a problem. But there is an increasing amount of insurance fraud everywhere, and I've heard of a similar situation involving a Class A in the past.

If you really want a hair raising driving experience, go visit Naples, Italy someday, where traffic lights are only a suggestion. Like being in a James Bond movie. :B