A fellow ski resort town, Salt Lake has lots of great winter activities to keep residents happy. But at such close proximity to Sun Valley—potentially just a one-hour flight—it’s worth it to invest in a little winter vacay time at this Idaho resort. Whether traveling here entails flying or driving, it’s a quick trip to come experience a fellow western ski resort, albeit one with its own delights and attractions.

Flying Direct to Sun Valley

If you want to book a flight to Sun Valley, you have two options: fly direct into Sun Valley’s Friedman Memorial Airport (actually located in Hailey, 13.5 miles south of Sun Valley) or into Boise which is 2 ½ hours away by car. The easiest and quickest way from Salt Lake to Sun Valley is the direct flight from Delta, flying nonstop three times daily this winter. While this option is the easiest, keep in mind that occasionally extreme winter weather will affect flights into and out of our airport (SUN). Weather-related diversions into the Friedman Memorial Airport have been drastically reduced thanks to new landing system approach technology. As a result, there is no longer a winter busing program. If you are traveling by air to SUN this winter, please take the necessary steps to keep informed and updated on your flight status, and plan accordingly, read more HERE.

Flying to Boise

A little less convenient but ultimately more reliable option in the winter is to fly into Boise Airport. With five flights departing to and arriving from Salt Lake through Delta—and no winter weather factor—you’ll have your choice of arrival time and can rest assured that there will be no surprises.

You’ll need to get from Boise to Sun Valley which means either renting a car to drive or taking a shuttle. The Sun Valley Express is a daily shuttle departing Sun Valley at 8:20am or Boise at 3:30pm. For ticket pricing, to book and additional information click HERE. If you’d like to rent your own car, Boise Airport has cars from Avis, Alamo, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and National available to rent. Don’t let the Idaho roads intimidate you if you go this route! The drive has some curvy spots and spotty cell service but the beauty and open space of Idaho won’t be lost on you. Be sure to grab snacks in Mountain Home before you get up in the mountains as the next gas station isn’t until Fairfield.

Driving from SLC

If you’d rather have your own car while visiting and plan to drive from Salt Lake City to Sun Valley, there are two routes to take. The first route clocks in at just under five hours and takes I-84W through Ogden and Twin Falls to arrive in Sun Valley. The second is a little longer at roughly 5 ½ hours via I-15N through Pocatello and Arco. The second route is a bit more scenic but less dependable in terms of the roads you’ll be driving on so winter travel via I-84 is recommended. If you do decide to take the long way, stop at Pickle’s Place in Arco to try their famous burgers! Before driving, make sure to check road reports for any ice, accidents, or diversions.