State motto: "the *MOST* snow on earth ".
3 nephi 13:33
A lotta people I meet say they don't like hitching thru Utah cuz of all the Mormons but they forget Mormons are people too. Not only that, because of the Mormon custom of treating all travelers as angels, you can usually get thru Utah fairly quickly.
Now it is against Utah law to walk on the interstate but once you get in the rural area this is enforce with a tad more discretion on the highway patrols part.
Also, for your protection, Utah puts the troopers badge # on his issued car's license plate for example "UHP ***" so corrupt cops in Utah are practicaly non-existent.
A potseed IS a felony but generally courtesy goes a long way w/the UHP. They really would rather not do the paperwork involved + they really prefer to use the jails for actual CRIMINALS - y'know murderers, rapists, speed dealers & the like...
Now these are key exits in the Salt Lake metropolitan area:
The Ogden flying "J" (reachable via bus for 75 cents - yta transfers are multidirectional, timed, last at least 90 minutes and good for multiple boardings...)
The Mountain Springs truck stop: 3 dollar showers dr.pepper, good nachos & a cheap laundry...
S.L.C. city airport exit (reachable via bus mon-sat).
The Ogden to Provo runs run on sunday 3 times a day, 90 mile ride.
This is kinda important: when going to SLC you will most likely get dropped off at the 2100 south/I-15/I80 interchange. This looks like a good exit but the infrastructure makes it kinda hard to catch a ride.
Take a UTA bus to the following places depending on direction:
SOUTH: PROVO
NORTH: Ogden
WEST: SLC AIRPORT
EAST: PARLEYs WAY (you will hafta walk back along I-215 to the junction, there is a short stretch where the road is 2 way traffic, you want to be just east of this spot...
Good rural EXITS: I-80 Park City (Jeremy Ranch Rd area).
Any town w/a truckstop on I-15 southbound toward Vegas...
Good NORTHBOUND: Cedar City Texaco truckstop exit (don't walk north of here...nothing for 60 miles...)
WESTBOUND: TOOELE 76 truckstop exit (and the UHP there will let you stay on the interstate 'cuz he knows it's a tough exit...(he will check ID for warrants tho...)
Goofy things people do in UTAH: write their name with rocks in the salt flats...
Buy hiway right of ways in order to put up big artificial trees...(I-80 beteen SLC & Nevada)
The million dollar tree & nobody knows WHO built it...weird huh...
MAJOR CONCERT VENUES: Delta Center (no dp) & the SLC CONVENTION
CENTER: (dp) downtown SLC transit accessible (SLC has pretty good transit for a small western town...they need better service east & west but they run well.) Mon-sat intown aad 'til approx midnite...
SALTAIR PALACE: WEST of SLC on I-80.
WOLF MTN DOME (dp avilable) & AMPITHEATRE (no dp inside) but there is a 7-11 in the parking lot...
PARK CITY EXIT 3 miles south of I-80 good local store: Smith's.
Ripoff local store: the oh-so appropriately named "REAM'S" that add 10% to all bills. Don't ask - marketing ploy...
Final note: if you are going to Colorado and you catch a ride going to Provo go ahead and take it - it's easier to turn at U.S. 6 or I-70 than it is to fight SLC hitchiking, tho due to the elevations and schizophrenic weather on U.S. 6, I only recommend using it if you already HAVE a ride...
avg crossing times:
SLC to: Wendover: 2-4 hrs
to VEGAS: 8-15
to Wyoming: 1-5 hrs
to Idaho on I-84: 1-4 hrs
Idaho on I-15: 2-3 hrs
to Colorado via U.S. 6 or I-70: 10-12 hrs...
from Cedar City to Colorado via I-70: 12-16 hrs
Last note: UTAH does have a *small* speedfreak population so be a lil careful...(mostly in West Valley & Park City areas).
Generally teenagers but some older adults too...
For some reason a lotta drywall installers...
coolness 42
MOAB is a pretty cool place, it's on U.S. 191 (the road to four corners).
The "delicate arch" - that cool rock that you see on some Utah license plates is nearby...
Moab has a minor redneck factor so be a lil careful, generally harm shouldn't befall you tho...
It takes about 7-9 hr to get from Moab to 4 corners or over to Cortez, Co (off U.S. 666).
And about 3 to I-70...
Write to Legendary Rob.