UNAFFORDABLE UTAH
Unaffordable Utah: Budget-friendly family summer fun
May 17, 2022, 10:06 PM | Updated: Feb 13, 2023, 1:33 pm
SALT LAKE CITY — After two summers of pandemic restrictions, families wanting to travel this summer will face new obstacles: inflation, high gas prices and expensive plane tickets.
“I think you need to expect that costs are going to be higher, that demand is going to be higher, that places are going to fill up,” said Allison Laypath, travel writer and owner of Tips for Family Trips.
The most recent Consumer Price Index showed that airline fares rose sharply in April. The 18.6% increase was the largest one-month increase since the index started tracking airfares in 1963.
“I think you need to expect flight delays,” Laypath said.
Utah families are already battling 40-year-high inflation that’s putting a big question mark over out-of-state travel this summer.
“I think that’s hard when so many of us are so excited to travel,” Laypath said.
Laypath said the bad economic news shouldn’t keep families from making memories this summer.
“Just create those opportunities for your family to be together and go forward with a positive attitude,” she advised.
Laypath said Utahns are lucky to live in a state where budget-friendly getaways and day trips are all around.
“Two of the biggest expenses when a family travels are lodging and transportation,” she said. “So the closer you stay to home, the lower those costs are going to be.”
Anna Loughridge with the Utah Office of Tourism said the options are limitless for locals and that families can cut down on fuel costs by visiting attractions that are huddled together.
“The best way to minimize the pain at the pump is to plan ahead,” she said.
For popular spots, Loughridge recommends visiting in the middle of the week and early in the morning.
“A lot of our state parks offer incredible programming that is free and accessible once you’re within in the park, from dark skies, scorpion hunts,” she said.
Families can opt to skip the hotel and use their home as basecamp for a series of day trips.
Consider using passes to save money. The Salt Lake Connect Attractions Pass includes access to 16 attractions at 13 destinations, including Thanksgiving Point, Hogle Zoo, Tracy Aviary, Clark Planetarium and more.
“When my family did it, we just did one or two activities a month and it lasted us the entire year,” Laypath said.
The Connect Pass is available in one-, two-, three-day or year-round passes.
There’s also the Get Out Pass for Utah. It lasts a year and includes dozens of venues, like Lagoon, Splash Summit, SeaQuest, Provo Beach, bounce houses, arcades and sport activities.
“If you buy the pass, instead of buying all those admissions individually, it can save you hundreds of dollars,” Laypath said.
The Get Out Pass is currently $70 off because of a Memorial Day sale. There is a less expensive option without admission to Lagoon.
If your family has a favorite go-to attraction, Laypath suggests investing in an annual pass or membership.
“If you want to go at least three times this summer or this year, that pass is going to pay for itself,” she said.
Laypath and Loughridge also recommend rediscovering free activities this summer.
“Rediscover the trail that you haven’t been on in ten years or try something new,” Loughridge said.
Options include splash pads, city parks, nature hikes, museums, concerts and movies in the park, and educational spots like Wheeler Farm and the Utah Capitol.
Families with a fourth grader can get into national parks for free with the Every Kid Outdoors Pass. It’s easy to print the pass online.
No matter how families choose to have fun, Laypath cautions to not let eating out ruin the travel budget.
“It’s easy to drop $80 to $100 on a single meal,” she said.
Instead, have a picnic in the park. Even if you’re traveling to a hotel, book a room with a kitchenette and bring as much food as you can from home.
“You’re going to eat whether you’re at home or whether you’re on the road, and so if you plan ahead, you can completely control that expense,” Laypath said.
Laypath said it doesn’t matter if families spend a little or a lot this summer, it’s the togetherness that counts.
“Start with a positive attitude yourself and treat it like it’s something special,” she said.
To help your family plan some summer fun, KSL TV compiled this list of possible activities:
Northern Utah
Take a journey to space for free, seven days a week. Exhibits are free. Tickets for feature films cost $7 to $9.
Free admission
Gaze at distant stars and galaxies with the Salt Lake Astronomical Society through the telescopes of the Stansbury Park Observatory Complex.
Free admission
One of the largest botanical gardens in the Intermountain West.
Adults $14, Kids (ages 3-17) $7. Admission is free for SNAP recipients with an EBT or WIC card for up to four guests.
Free admission on Pioneer Day and Labor Day
Summer Saturdays offer free entry into a huge variety of recreational and cultural facilities.
Free admission
How about catching a professional soccer game in beautiful Rio Tinto Stadium? Cheer on Real Salt Lake’s farm team, the Real Monarchs.
Adults and Kids, $5
The Orem Arts Council hosts summer concerts featuring a variety of bands – rock, soul, pop, country, folk – on Monday nights in July and August at 7 p.m.
Free admission
Children’s Entrepreneur Market
25 farmers markets up and down the Wasatch Front with booths run entirely by kids ages 5 through 16.
Free admission, shopping encouraged.
Every Sunday from June 5 to Sept. 25 (except Aug. 7, 14, and 21), local vendors, artists and entertainment swarm Park City’s Main Street for a street festival and farmers market.
Free admission
Provo Summer Concerts in the Park
The Utah Premiere Brass performs every Sunday in North Park in June. They’re considered Utah’s only British-style brass band, playing a variety of music.
Free admission
Mountain Town Music Concert Series
MTM puts on countless free concerts by talented artists in all types of music at several venues in and around Park City
Free admission
Dejoria Center Summer Concert Series
Located at the High Star Ranch in Kamas, the Dejoria Center hosts a free summer concert every Thursday night at 6:30 in June and July.
Free admission.
Gallivan Center Big Band Dance Night
Live jazz music on Tuesday evenings with big band and swing sound, dance lessons and more.
Free admission.
A four-day event hosted at the four Cottonwood Canyons ski areas to celebrate the beauty and diversity of wildflowers in the Wasatch Mountains.
Free admission, but registration is required.
Gardner Village Historic Scavenger Hunt
Get a group together and find ten items that’ll help you discover Gardner Village’s pioneer history. Find them all and get a piece of saltwater taffy from the Chocolate Covered Wagon. Its taffy puller has been pulling taffy for nearly 150 years.
Free admission
South Weber Model Railroad Club
We’re not talking model trains for the basement; these model trains are built to 1/8th scale and can hold up to 900 pounds. Every third Saturday of each month, club members invite the public to ride their trains.
Free admission
Explore UMFA’s exhibits for free on the first Wednesday and third Saturday of the month. Also on third Saturdays, families are invited to create their own art. And check out a free family backpack for an even more hands-on experience.
Free admission.
Considered America’s oldest aviary, Tracy Aviary boasts extensive exhibits featuring more than 130 different species of birds.
Bonus: Admission drops down to $5 after 5pm on Monday evenings from June to August
Adults $14, Kids (ages 3-12) $8.95. Admission is free for SNAP recipients with an EBT card for up to four guests.
Natural History Museum of Utah
Kids and their families can explore over 5,000 artifacts emphasizing on Utah and Intermountain West.
Adults $19.95, Young Adults (ages 13-24), Kids (ages 3-12) $14.95
Free admission for all active military ID holders for up to five guests from May 21 through Labor Day.
$2 admission for SNAP recipients with an EBT or WIC card for up to six guests.
Boasting four screens, digital projectors and crisp stereo sound through its powerful FM system, the Redwood Drive-In offers affordable blockbuster entertainment.
Adults $10, Kids (ages 5-9) $1
Extensive displays of more than 70 historic aircraft – everything from a SR-71 Blackbird to the B-17 Flying fortress – and thousand of artifacts from the history of aviation.
Free admission. Donations appreciated.
George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park
Scores of life-sized dinosaur sculptures fill this interactive park, and exhibits include everything from 500-million-year-old stromatolites to a 9-thousand-year-old wooly mammoth skeleton and everything in-between, including many fossils unearthed in Utah.
Adults $7, Students (ages 13-17) $6, Kids (ages 2-12) $5.
Zootah is a relatively small zoo but big on experience. It even includes its own petting zoo open from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Buy a bag of duck food for $1.25, so kids (and you) can feed the ducks.
Adults $7, Kids (ages 2-11) $5
800,000 gallons of water in three separate pools and boasts the Speed Slide and the Circular Slide. Summer seasons starts the first Saturday in June, and then open seven days a week through Labor Day.
Adults and Kids (ages 4-17) $7, $3.25 for active military ID holders.
An adventure for families who love to see all things firefighters. Dozens of firetrucks and equipment dating back to as early as the 1890s.
Free admission. Donations appreciated.
It claims to have the largest pool in Utah – 750,000 gallons of water to be explored. Water features, diving boards, water slides, wading area and a deep end that sinks to 12 feet below the surface.
Adults and Kids, $4
A working 19th century farm where the public can check out the farm animals, playground, and hiking trails
Free admission. Historic farmhouse tours – Adults $4, Kids (ages 3-12) $2. Wagon rides – $3.
Filled with collection of over 2.8 million specimens, live animal shows, and hands-on activities for kids.
Free admission.
Billed as Utah’s only butterfly conservatory and insectarium, the biosphere holds over a thousand live butterflies and hundreds of live insects from around the world.
Adults $24, Youth (ages 13-24) $19, Kids (ages 3-12) $17
$3 admission for SNAP recipients with an EBT or WIC card up to six guests. Book in advance.
More than 400 hands-on exhibits plus hidden treasures and secret passageways for curious minds.
Adults $24, Youth (ages 13-24) $19, Kids (ages 3-12) $17
$3 admission for SNAP recipients with an EBT or WIC card up to six guests. Book in advance.
Technically, not a Utah thing but very close to Bear Lake. Take a cave tour through a half-mile of stalactites, stalagmites, and travertine in nine rooms that at a brisk 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Adults $12, Kids (ages 6-15).
Uintah Basin
Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum
Chock full of dinosaurs and fossils for dino lovers, complete with interactive games, puzzles and more.
Adults $8, Kids (ages 6-12) $4.
Impressive ancient artwork near Vernal covering 200 feet of cliff face dating from 100 – 1200 C.E.
$5 donation per car.
Central Utah
Family-friendly comedy, music and magic magically appears Friday and Saturday evenings. 2022 summer schedule is to be determined.
Adults $10, Kids (ages 4-17) $5.
Moab Recreation and Aquatic Center
Beat the heat in two outdoor pools and an indoor pool with slide and play structures.
Adults $10, Kids (ages 4-17) $5.
Cool off and ride the waves in ten minute intervals and master the indoor aqua climbing wall.
Adults $12, Kids (ages 4-11) $3.
On your way down to Southern Utah or up to Northern Utah? Gas up in Scipio and check out this petting zoo with some unusual residents that is officially recognized as a zoo by the USDA.
Free admission.
Southern Utah
Thunder Junction All Abilities Park
An awesome wheelchair accessible play space with an erupting volcano, ziplines, splash pad and a 1/4 C.P. Huntington train on a 2,700-foot track.
Free admission.
Explores twelve exhibit rooms designed for minds both young and old to play and interact.
Adults and Kids, $5.
St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site
Unearthed in 2000, these very well-preserved footprints left by dinosaurs millions of years ago can be explored by families. It includes an interactive area, a Dino Park and a Walk-through Time exhibit.
Adults $8, Kids (ages 4-17) $4.
Hurricane Concerts in the Park
Free live music twice a month from May through September at Hurricane City’s Pioneer Park.
Free admission. Bring your own chairs/blankets.
The Utah Shakespeare Festival’s Greenshow
Held on the lawn in front of the Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre on the Southern Utah University campus, the nightly Greenshow celebrates the Elizabethan era through song and dance.
Free admission. Bring your own chairs/blankets.
Hit the beach at Cedar City’s man-made Lake at the Hills. It’s open for fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing, swimming, and picnicking on the beach. Who doesn’t love building sandcastles?
Free admission.
Brian Head Ski Resort Life Ride
Ride to the top of Brian Head Peak and check out the views stretching across Utah and into Arizona and Nevada.
Adults $15, Kids (ages 4-12) $10.
Star Gazing at the Ashcroft Observatory
On Monday nights, the public is invited to learn about the star constellations and view distant parts of the galaxy from the Ashcroft Observatory on the SUU campus.
Free admission. Subject to weather conditions.
Explore ancient rock art spanning over a hundred yards and several Native American eras ranging from 800 to 2,500 years ago.
Free admission.
Canyon Country Discovery Center
Leaners young and not-as-young can explore interactive exhibits related to science, nature and the local geology and culture and includes an observatory for dark sky discoveries.
Adults $10, Students $8, Kids (ages 1-11) $6.
Free Splash Pads
Box Elder County
Cache County
333 East 2700 North, North Logan
310 West 250 North, Providence
100 North 25 West, Smithfield
510 East 300 South, Millville
176 South 1300 East, Hyrum
350 West 100 North, Hyrum
Davis County
600 East Mill Street, Bountiful
700 North 2200 West, Layton
1140 West 1100 North, North Salt Lake
250 North Fairfield Road, Kaysville
1800 South 2000 West, Syracuse
200 North Tremont St., Tremonton
Emery County
1-99 E Center St, Huntington
Salt Lake County
3601 South 2700 West, West Valley City
14148 South 2700 West, Bluffdale
6293 Holladay Boulevard E, Holladay
3250 West 13680 South, Riverton
1452 West 12600 South, Riverton
4570 South Goshute Drive, Riverton
1245 East 9400 South, Sandy
Oquirrh Shadows Park and Splash Pad
4000 West South Jordan Parkway, South Jordan
6000 West New Bingham Highway, West Jordan
12790 Brundisi Way, Herriman
5373 West Main Street, Herriman
Olympic Legacy Plaza Snowflake Fountain
10 North Rio Grande Street, Salt Lake City
150 East 13400 South, Draper
6059 South Murray Parkway Avenue, Murray
14180 South Loumis Parkway, Bluffdale
15245 South Noell Nelson Drive, Bluffdale
Utah County
1313 East 800 North, Orem
5806 North Pony Express Parkway, Eagle Mountain
7862 North Tinamous Road, Eagle Mountain
Shops at Riverwoods Splash Pad
4801 North University Avenue, Provo
1417 South 350 East, Provo
1321 East Canyon Road, Spanish Fork
350 North 100 East, Vineyard
3200 North 560 West, Lehi
50 South Main Street, Springville
5400 West Civic Center Drive, Highland
Summit County
The Basin Recreation Fieldhouse
1388 Center Drive, Park City
Washington County
50 South Main Street, St. George
3505 South Barcelona Drive, St. George
Thunder Junction All Abilities Park
1851 South Dixie Drive, St. George
2995 South 2350 East, St. George
200 West 400 South, Ivins
Sullivan Virgin River Soccer Park
965 South Washington Fields Drive, Washington City
2050 South Alveo Drive, Washington City
500 North Redstone Road, Washington City
1760 North Vista Park Way, Washington City
2375 Rachel Drive, Santa Clara
Community Center and Splash Pad
63 South 100 West, Hurricane
Weber County
575 South 1175 East, Ogden
4300 Madison Avenue, South Ogden
4200 South 2175 West
Community Movies / Movies in the Park
These are free or low-cost, outdoor showings under the stars throughout Utah.
Grab your blankets, chairs and anything that makes movie watching more comfortable.
Cache County
It’s all about Cars on Friday, July 15th with a car show, a kids cardboard car show and the movie, “Cars.”
Davis County
Friday night films at Layton’s Kenley Amphitheater from June 3 through August 26.
Kaysville will host three family-friendly movies this summer at Heritage Park and Barnes Park.
Centerville Movies in the Park
From June through August at Smith Park, 2022 season to be determined.
Salt Lake County
Movies on the Plaza at The Gateway
Wednesday nights from July 7 through August 11.
Cottonwood Heights Movies at the Park
Friday nights from June 24 into August.
Watch “Encanto” on a giant outdoor screen at the Draper Amphitheater, July 14.
The dates of the 2022 Summer Series to be determined.
Taylorsville Dayzz Movie Night
“Ghostbusters: Afterlife”, 9:30 at Valley Regional Park
Friday Night Flicks at Kearns Oquirrh Park
Fridays from June 4 through August 13 at Chomper’s Cove or the Park’s Pavilion.
Midvale Venture Out! Movie Nights
Every Friday night in July, spread out amongst five different parks.
Magna Music and Movies in the Park
A concert and a movie at Magna’s Pleasant Green Park, most Friday nights from mid-June into August. 2022 season to be determined.
The Sundance Institute presents an array of films from the 2022 Sundance Festival on July 14 and July 21 at Red Butte Garden.
Friday night family film fun at various Sandy City venues from June 10 through July 29.
Movies on Fridays from June 3 through August 5. You’ll need to pre-register.
South Jordan Movies in the Moonlight
At various parks. 2022 Summer season to be determined.
Sanpete County
Tons of pre-movie activities to enjoy at Manti City Park before the movies get rolling from June 17 through August 5.
Summit County
Basin Recreation Movies in the Park
Three family-friendly movies throughout the summer at Park City parks
Bring your own drinks, they’ll supply the popcorn for Friday afternoon screenings throughout the summer
Uintah County
Vernal Free Family Movie Friday
2022’s lineup includes four films at the Uintah Community Center grounds from June into August.
Utah County
Provo is switching it up this summer, going from showing movies in the park to a drive-in screenings. 2022 season is to be determined
Movies at the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre in Orem with on a big screen with big sound.
Adults $4, Kids (ages 3-11) $3.
Lehi Outdoor Movie
Catch the Goofy Movie at Lehi’s Vets Park on June 22
Lindon hosts four free films from June through September at City Center Park and Pioneer Park.
2022 season to be determined.
Springville Movies in the Park
Free family movies at Spring Acres Arts Park’s outdoor amphitheater. 2022 season to be determined.
Weber County
From June into August, 2022 season to be determined.
Cool off by catching a couple of movies playing inside Peery’s Egyptian Theater in Ogden on June 25 and July 9.
Weber Library Cinema Saturdays
Free films every Saturday at the Weber Library’s branches.
Washington County
St. George Sunset on the Square
Friday night flicks every 2nd and 4th Friday of each month this summer at St. George’s Town Square
Santa Clara Family Camping in the City
Spend the night of August 5, camping in Santa Clara’s Central Park. Among many other activities, campers will get to watch the Pixar film, “Up.”
Summer Movie Ticket Deals
Kid-approved movies up on the big screen with tickets at a big discount.
$1.50 per ticket / June 15 – August 3
$1.50 per ticket, or buy a digital pass for 10 movies for 10 weeks at 10 a.m. for $10 / June 1 – August 11
2022 season pricing and schedule to be determined
