Park City has long been a hot spot among mountain destinations, and its real estate prices clearly give the town luxury classification. All that said, it is still possible to visit Park City on a budget. Check out my tips and be sure to add your own below.
Come in the Off Season
Try to visit Park City when it’s not busy. Generally speaking, the busiest times are Christmas week, the Sundance Film Festival Week, President’s Week and the month of March. Great times to ski that are not prime season are the first two weeks in December, January and April. Summer starts the 4th of July and ends Labor Day. Fall is a beautiful and less expensive time to visit. Visiting during the downtime garners the best deals and availability on lodging, dining and activities.
Stay on the Outskirts
Like many destinations, it’s all about location. The closer you are to the center of town, the more you’ll pay for lodging. This holds true regardless of whether you are staying at condos, hotels, housing rentals, AirBNB or HomeAway.
In the Park City area, this means checking out lodging in Prospector, The Canyons or Kimball Junction. The Black Rock Ridge, Retreat at Jordanelle and Wasatch Springs neighborhoods off Highway 248 are newer properties and only 10 minutes to town. You may even want to consider neighboring towns such as Heber, Midway or Salt Lake City.
Find Transportation That Suits Your Needs
When considering lodging on the outskirts, you’ll just want to factor in transportation to your total budget. Uber and Lyft work great in the Park City area. Once in town, the free bus is very convenient. Navigating Park City without a car is a breeze. The free bus and electric bike share are favorites, not to mention the Main Street trolley and walkability of town.
Take Advantage of Freebies
When it comes to fun, there are plenty of free activities in Park City to keep you entertained. Some of our favorites include:
- 4th Friday Gallery Stroll
- Free Summer Concerts
- Utah Olympic Park
- Kimball Art Center
- Regis Champagne Sabering
- Silly Sunday Market
- Open space and National Forest (i.e. Uintas)
- Farmer’s Market
- Park City Trail system
The Park City bus system is completely free which is a huge bonus for those wanting to visit Park City on a budget. Within the Kimball Junction area, you’ll also find the Kimball Junction Circulator to be of benefit from the Outlet Malls to Redstone.
No matter where you are, you will find an abundance of art installments for your free enjoyment. There are beautiful historic buildings and barns, which have become symbols of our town’s heritage.
Beyond freebies, there are plenty of Park City “to do’s” that don’t cost an arm and a leg. Check out the various event calendars for concerts, happenings and special events like Spring Gruv, Tour of Utah and Savor the Summit.