If you’re visiting for Speed Week or another event, bring chairs and a shade tent if possible. Wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses are also critical. Sunscreen is a must-have, and needs to be applied to the bottom of your nose and chin - the salt crust can reflect the sun upward. Come prepared with a variety of layers for different temperatures. Temperatures at the flats can range from sub-zero in the winter to more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. The Bonneville Salt Flats are remote, so plan accordingly. Contact the West Desert District Office for more details. While camping is not allowed on the flats, there is dispersed camping available on Bureau of Land Management land to the west of the flats. Those looking for the closest overnight accommodations can find ample hotel options in the nearby town of Wendover, which also has casinos, entertainment and nightlife across the border. Just 110 miles west of Salt Lake City, the salt flats can be visited as a day trip from a base camp in Salt Lake, as part of a West Desert itinerary or before heading south toward Utah’s national parks. Summer is a popular choice, but be mindful of high temperatures, lots of sun and occasional afternoon rainstorms.

If you’re going for solitude and the sights, any time is a good time as long as the flats are dry. An updated events schedule can be found here. There are several other auto racing events yearly, a 100-mile endurance run in May, and the National Archery Association holds its National Flight Championships at the end of August.

Speed Week is a Bonneville Salt Flats tradition that takes place at the Bonneville International Speedway in August. The flats are open year-round, but there are events held there throughout the summer and fall.

Utah's salt flats