Road trip from Salt Lake City to Des Moines
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Outdoor Activities
Nature & Parks
Food & Drink
Shopping
Classes & Workshops
Concerts & Shows
Sights & Landmarks
Show more (6+)
All Category
Outdoor Activities
Nature & Parks
Food & Drink
Shopping
Classes & Workshops
Concerts & Shows
Sights & Landmarks
Museums
Water & Amusement Parks
Spas & Wellness
Nightlife
Fun & Games
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ITINERARY
18h 11m1,071 miles26 stops
1
The Depot
2
Abravanel Hall
Abravanel Hall first opened in September 1979, and was originally known as Symphony Hall, but was renamed in May 1993 for Maurice Abravanel, conductor of the Utah Symphony. The building was designed by FFKR Architects and acoustical design services were provided by Dr. Cyril M. Harris with the outcome of creating an environment of acoustic excellence. The hall is rectangular in shape, similar to some of the world’s finest symphony halls. Suspended from the ceiling are six brass chandeliers with 18,000 hand-cut beads and prisms of Bohemian crystals imported from Austria and Czechoslovakia. The lobby is four stories high with a white oak and brass ceiling and a glass wall covering the East face of the lobby. The lobby itself is an architectural marvel due to its many tiers, the staircase that goes upwards with gold leafing that covers all visible sides of the stairs and balconies, and the 30-foot-high Olympic Tower red blown-glass sculpture by renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly.
3
Mormon Battalion Monument
4
Ken Sanders Rare Books
Ken Sanders Rare Books is a full-service antiquarian bookshop founded in 1997. We are located at 209 E 500 S inside the Leonardo Museum in downtown Salt Lake City. Our store has three levels: the main floor, the rare room, and the underground. We have a vast inventory of used and rare books, a handful of new books, and an ever-changing selection of art, ephemera, maps, photographs, and postcards. We also offer book purchasing and appraisal services.
5
Benson Grist Mill
6
Sugar House Park
Once the site of Utah Territorial Prison, this park is a lot more pleasant today, with a gently rolling landscape great for running.
7
Red Butte Garden
Red Butte Garden is the largest botanical garden in the Intermountain West and, together with the University of Utah, is the state arboretum. The Garden has welcomed guests since 1985 and consists of over 21 acres of developed gardens and five miles of hiking trails winding through an extensive Natural Area. All just minutes away from downtown Salt Lake City. The Garden is renowned for plant collections, themed gardens, over 560,000 springtime blooms, gorgeous private rental spaces, a world-class summer concert series, and award-winning horticulture-based educational programs.
8
Great Salt Lake
This 20,000 square mile lake, the second saltiest in the world, is also a wildlife refuge attracting millions of migratory birds every year to the ten islands within it.
9
Cache La Poudre River
Colorado's only designated National Wild and Scenic River provides thrilling whitewater and paddling adventures.
10
Rocky Ridge Recreational Facility
Our facility provides opportunities for water skiing, fishing, upland game bird hunting, and waterfowl hunting. We also offer dog training and boarding services. Rocky Ridge Recreational Facility is conveniently located 5 miles north of Fort Collins, Colorado and 4 miles west of Interstate-25, Mountain Vista Exit #271.
11
Farm Fusion In The Kitchen
12
Therapeutix Mind & Body
Full Service Spa located in the Ogden Junction downtown. Wonderful services and amazing staff. Natural and Organic products!
13
Fun Plex
14
Joslyn Art Museum
This property is temporary closed
15
The Backline Comedy Theatre
The best place to see comedy in Omaha, located downtown near the Old Market. We host standup, improv, sketch, and musical acts each week, and when we're not doing shows, we are a training center for the local comedy scene.
16
Hot Shops Art Center
17
Hollywood Candy
Hollywood Candy is a giant candy store proudly serving Omaha’s Old Market since 2007. We offer a large selection of housemate chocolate candy including our chocolate covered bacon, chocolate potato chips, candy cookie pops and our famous Peanut Butter Surprise. We have all flavors or Jelly Belly jelly beans and a large selection of M&M’s. We offer the largest selection of bulk candy in the area including hard to find retro brands, favorite brands like Hershey’s and Oreo, rock candy, gummies, sour candy, and lollipops. Our Soda Shoppe offers over 200 varieties of familiar and unique soda brands. We have the largest collection of PEZ dispensers for everyone to enjoy plus a large assortment for sale.
18
Fitness Sports
Iowa's first Specialty Running & Walking store with a emphasis on personal service. Ou r stone motto is "Where You have the Right to B-Fit". Est. in 1984.
19
Pappajohn Sculpture Park
Open to visitors since September 2009, the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park features artwork by 22 of the world's most celebrated artists. The 4.4 Acre park, located within a major crossroads of the urban grid, creates a pedestrian friendly entranceway to downtown Des Moines. This accessible setting, coupled with the skilled landscape design and caliber of the art, makes it unlike any other sculpture park in the United States. The Pappajohns' contribution of 28 works for the park is the most significant donation of artwork ever made to the Des Moines Art Center.
20
The Lift
21
4th Street
22
Iowa State Fairgrounds
For 11 days in August, it’s a fairground, but for the other 354 days of the year, the Iowa State Fairgrounds is home to auto shows, livestock exhibitions, flea markets, antique shows, concerts, trade shows and more. See what’s happening this month at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
23
World Food Prize Hall of Laureates
The Norman E. Borlaug Hall of Laureates - home of The World Food Prize - is a public museum, educational facility and a place of inspiration for all. This magnificently restored Beaux Arts space celebrates the spirit of giving, emphasizing the importance of global food security.
24
Brenton Skating Plaza
25
Fort Des Moines Museum & Education Center
26
Capitol Building
Customize this Trip
OVERVIEW
1
Start:The Depot
Salt Lake City, Utah·
2.5
(10) review
13 N 400 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84101-1368
2
Start:Abravanel Hall
Salt Lake City, Utah·
4.5
(91) review
Abravanel Hall first opened in September 1979, and was originally known as Symphony Hall, but was renamed in May 1993 for Maurice Abravanel, conductor of the Utah Symphony. The building was designed by FFKR Architects and acoustical design services were provided by Dr. Cyril M. Harris with the outcome of creating an environment of acoustic excellence. The hall is rectangular in shape, similar to some of the world’s finest symphony halls. Suspended from the ceiling are six brass chandeliers with 18,000 hand-cut beads and prisms of Bohemian crystals imported from Austria and Czechoslovakia. The lobby is four stories high with a white oak and brass ceiling and a glass wall covering the East face of the lobby. The lobby itself is an architectural marvel due to its many tiers, the staircase that goes upwards with gold leafing that covers all visible sides of the stairs and balconies, and the 30-foot-high Olympic Tower red blown-glass sculpture by renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly.
3
Start:Mormon Battalion Monument
Salt Lake City, Utah·
4.5
(9) review
300 North East Capitol Boulevard Southeast lawn, Salt Lake City, UT
4
Start:Ken Sanders Rare Books
Salt Lake City, Utah·
4.5
(9) review
Ken Sanders Rare Books is a full-service antiquarian bookshop founded in 1997. We are located at 209 E 500 S inside the Leonardo Museum in downtown Salt Lake City. Our store has three levels: the main floor, the rare room, and the underground. We have a vast inventory of used and rare books, a handful of new books, and an ever-changing selection of art, ephemera, maps, photographs, and postcards. We also offer book purchasing and appraisal services.
5
Start:Benson Grist Mill
Salt Lake City, Utah·
4.5
(9) review
6
Start:Sugar House Park
Salt Lake City, Utah·
4.5
(99) review
Once the site of Utah Territorial Prison, this park is a lot more pleasant today, with a gently rolling landscape great for running.
7
Start:Red Butte Garden
Salt Lake City, Utah·
4.5
(925) review
Red Butte Garden is the largest botanical garden in the Intermountain West and, together with the University of Utah, is the state arboretum. The Garden has welcomed guests since 1985 and consists of over 21 acres of developed gardens and five miles of hiking trails winding through an extensive Natural Area. All just minutes away from downtown Salt Lake City. The Garden is renowned for plant collections, themed gardens, over 560,000 springtime blooms, gorgeous private rental spaces, a world-class summer concert series, and award-winning horticulture-based educational programs.
8
Start:Great Salt Lake
Salt Lake City, Utah·
4.0
(987) review
This 20,000 square mile lake, the second saltiest in the world, is also a wildlife refuge attracting millions of migratory birds every year to the ten islands within it.
9
Start:Cache La Poudre River
Fort Collins, Colorado·
5.0
(427) review
Colorado's only designated National Wild and Scenic River provides thrilling whitewater and paddling adventures.
10
Start:Rocky Ridge Recreational Facility
Fort Collins, Colorado·
(0) review
Our facility provides opportunities for water skiing, fishing, upland game bird hunting, and waterfowl hunting. We also offer dog training and boarding services. Rocky Ridge Recreational Facility is conveniently located 5 miles north of Fort Collins, Colorado and 4 miles west of Interstate-25, Mountain Vista Exit #271.
11
Start:Farm Fusion In The Kitchen
Fort Collins, Colorado·
(0) review
2627 Cattlemans Rd, Fort Collins, CO 80524-2023
12
Start:Therapeutix Mind & Body
Ogden, Utah·
5.0
(90) review
Full Service Spa located in the Ogden Junction downtown. Wonderful services and amazing staff. Natural and Organic products!
13
Start:Fun Plex
Omaha, Nebraska·
3.5
(92) review
7003 Q St, Omaha, NE 68117-1649
14
Start:Joslyn Art Museum
Omaha, Nebraska·
4.5
(901) review
This property is temporary closed
15
Start:The Backline Comedy Theatre
Omaha, Nebraska·
5.0
(9) review
The best place to see comedy in Omaha, located downtown near the Old Market. We host standup, improv, sketch, and musical acts each week, and when we're not doing shows, we are a training center for the local comedy scene.
16
Start:Hot Shops Art Center
Omaha, Nebraska·
4.5
(96) review
13th & Nicholas, Omaha, NE 68102
17
Start:Hollywood Candy
Omaha, Nebraska·
4.0
(99) review
Hollywood Candy is a giant candy store proudly serving Omaha’s Old Market since 2007. We offer a large selection of housemate chocolate candy including our chocolate covered bacon, chocolate potato chips, candy cookie pops and our famous Peanut Butter Surprise. We have all flavors or Jelly Belly jelly beans and a large selection of M&M’s. We offer the largest selection of bulk candy in the area including hard to find retro brands, favorite brands like Hershey’s and Oreo, rock candy, gummies, sour candy, and lollipops. Our Soda Shoppe offers over 200 varieties of familiar and unique soda brands. We have the largest collection of PEZ dispensers for everyone to enjoy plus a large assortment for sale.
18
Start:Fitness Sports
Des Moines, Iowa·
5.0
(9) review
Iowa's first Specialty Running & Walking store with a emphasis on personal service. Ou r stone motto is "Where You have the Right to B-Fit". Est. in 1984.
19
Start:Pappajohn Sculpture Park
Des Moines, Iowa·
4.5
(739) review
Open to visitors since September 2009, the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park features artwork by 22 of the world's most celebrated artists. The 4.4 Acre park, located within a major crossroads of the urban grid, creates a pedestrian friendly entranceway to downtown Des Moines. This accessible setting, coupled with the skilled landscape design and caliber of the art, makes it unlike any other sculpture park in the United States. The Pappajohns' contribution of 28 works for the park is the most significant donation of artwork ever made to the Des Moines Art Center.
20
Start:The Lift
Des Moines, Iowa·
4.5
(8) review
222 4th St, Des Moines, IA 50309-2206
21
Start:4th Street
Des Moines, Iowa·
4.5
(8) review
4th Street, Des Moines, IA
22
Start:Iowa State Fairgrounds
Des Moines, Iowa·
4.5
(882) review
For 11 days in August, it’s a fairground, but for the other 354 days of the year, the Iowa State Fairgrounds is home to auto shows, livestock exhibitions, flea markets, antique shows, concerts, trade shows and more. See what’s happening this month at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
23
Start:World Food Prize Hall of Laureates
Des Moines, Iowa·
5.0
(81) review
The Norman E. Borlaug Hall of Laureates - home of The World Food Prize - is a public museum, educational facility and a place of inspiration for all. This magnificently restored Beaux Arts space celebrates the spirit of giving, emphasizing the importance of global food security.
24
Start:Brenton Skating Plaza
Des Moines, Iowa·
4.5
(9) review
520 Robert D Ray Dr, Des Moines, IA 50309-1824
25
Start:Fort Des Moines Museum & Education Center
Des Moines, Iowa·
4.0
(8) review
75 E Army Post Rd, Des Moines, IA 50315-5866
26
Start:Capitol Building
Des Moines, Iowa·
5.0
(890) review
1007 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50319-1001
CHECKLIST
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Car charger and portable battery
Water bottles and snacks
Travel pillow and blanket
Sunglasses and sunscreen
First-aid kit
Trash bags
Hand sanitizer and wet wipes
Driver’s license and vehicle registration
Cash and cards
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the driving distance between Salt Lake City and Des Moines?
The distance is 1,071 miles
What's the travel time between Salt Lake City and Des Moines?
The driving time can vary depending on traffic conditions, but it is typically 18h 11m mins in normal traffic
What are some of the best cities to visit between Salt Lake City and Des Moines?
Some popular stops include
Are there any cool sights or attractions I shouldn't miss on my drive to Des Moines?
There are plenty! Here are some stops you shouldn’t miss on your way to Des Moines
What’s the weather like in Des Moines?
The weather in Des Moines is generally mild year-round, with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. See the links below for more information
Weather in Des Moines in January
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Weather in Des Moines in December
Interested in a detailed plan for your time in Des Moines?
Plan your dream Des Moines trip with our daily itineraries featuring must-see attractions! See them here!
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Where else can I travel to if I'm starting my trip in Salt Lake City?
We have a lot of great trip options for Salt Lake City! See the links below for all the itineraries we created for you