ugh, just landed at salt lake city international airport and honestly already thinking about the trip back and its always a bit of a trek you know, not like some airports where its basically in the city center and you just jump on a train for two stops its a whole thing here and it makes me think about getting to the airport. i mean ive tried all the ways to get here and back and its always a calculation of convenience versus cost and how much stuff im actually dragging around with me because thats probaly the biggest factor in the whole decision process. its not always straightforward and sometimes you just want to get there without a huge fuss or spending literally a fortune but then other times saving every penny is the priority.
My Go-To Transportation Picks
so for me my absolute go-to transportation picks really depend on the situation and how stressed out i wanna be honestly. if im super light on luggage like just a backpack and maybe a small duffel, the trax train is actually pretty solid and its super cheap and gets you downtown from the airport but its slow and you gotta make sure youre near a trax station on the other end or else you still have a last-mile problem which can be annoying but its reliable. then you have the shared shuttles which can be a hit or miss because sometimes they take forever making a bunch of stops picking up other people and you feel like youre on a grand tour of the city before you even get to your terminal but they can be a bit cheaper than an uber if you have a bit more luggage than trax friendly. and then of course theres uber or lyft which are just plain convenient you know, door-to-door service directly to your terminal without any extra stops and thats great but the price can really jump especially during peak times or if youre coming from outside the immediate salt lake area like park city. i mean its basically the easiest option but its also the most expensive so its always a mental debate.
Is it worth the extra cash?
this is the real question for slc transport in my opinion and honestly yes, its often worth the extra cash for an uber or lyft especially when you consider how much stuff youre dealing with because that makes a huge difference in your travel experience and heres my raw take on it:
- if you have just a backpack or a small carry-on, like you're literally a minimalist, then the trax is perfectly fine and saves you a ton of money but be ready for the extra time and walking involved.
- but if youve got one medium checked bag and a carry-on, so its a decent amount of stuff but not overwhelming, then its a coin toss for a shuttle versus an uber. if you're trying to save money, the shuttle works but know you might sit in that van for a while, but if you want convenience and speed, an uber is definetly worth it for the peace of mind alone.
- now if you're lugging anything more substantial like two big suitcases, or any kind of oversized sports equipment like skis, snowboards, golf clubs, or even a big guitar case, forget the shuttle completely, honestly just call an uber or lyft because trying to cram all that stuff into a shared ride is a nightmare for you and everyone else and its just not worth the hassle and you'll probaly end up paying for a bigger ride anyway.
- and for families with little kids and all the gear that comes with them like car seats, strollers, and multiple bags, seriously just get an uber. the extra cost is 100% worth your sanity because trying to manage all that stuff on public transport or a shuttle is a special kind of hell and you dont need that stress before a flight.
so yeah, its all about assessing your personal situation and how much gear you have but slc is one of those airports where sometimes the convenience of a private ride just cant be beat even if it means shelling out a bit more cash and i honestly recomend planning it out before you land or take off.