Evacuation Guide

Salt Lake City, Utah Evacuation Routes

Plan your escape with optimized routes and safe zones

Threat Assessment

Earthquake

Wasatch Fault is capable of M7.0+ earthquake. 2020 Magna earthquake (M5.7) was a reminder. Liquefaction, landslide, and infrastructure failure expected.

Wildfire

Foothills and canyon wildfire risk during dry summers. Smoke from regional fires impacts air quality severely.

Air Quality

Winter temperature inversions trap pollution in the valley for weeks. PM2.5 levels routinely exceed federal standards.

Avalanche

Cottonwood Canyons and Wasatch Range have some of the highest avalanche risk in North America.

Flood

Spring snowmelt flooding along Jordan River and mountain creeks. Great Salt Lake rise threatens northwest infrastructure.

Evacuation Routes

I-15 North to Ogden/Idaho

primary

Primary northbound evacuation via I-15 through Bountiful and Ogden toward the Idaho border.

35 miles to Ogden, 115 miles to Pocatello40 min to Ogden (normal), 1.5-3 hours (evacuation)

I-15 through Davis County is heavily congested daily

Wasatch Fault runs parallel - earthquake damage to infrastructure likely

Earthquake

Air Quality Emergency

Urban Disaster

I-15 South to Provo/St. George

primary

Southern evacuation via I-15 through the Utah Valley corridor to Provo and continuing to St. George.

45 miles to Provo, 300 miles to St. George45 min to Provo (normal), 2-4 hours (evacuation)

I-15 through Utah Valley is heavily trafficked

Point of the Mountain is a severe bottleneck

Earthquake

Inversion/Air Quality

Wildfire

I-80 West to Wendover/Reno

secondary

Western evacuation via I-80 across the Bonneville Salt Flats to Wendover and on through Nevada.

120 miles to Wendover1.75 hours (normal), 3-5 hours (evacuation)

Bonneville Salt Flats stretch is 60+ miles with ZERO services

Extreme heat in summer, extreme cold in winter on the salt flats

Earthquake

Urban Disaster

Chemical Spill

I-80 East to Park City/Wyoming

secondary

Eastern evacuation via I-80 through Parley's Canyon to Park City and continuing to Evanston, Wyoming.

30 miles to Park City, 80 miles to Evanston35 min to Park City (normal), 1.5-3 hours (evacuation)

Parley's Canyon is steep and winding - major truck traffic

Winter conditions severe through canyon - chains may be required

Wildfire

Air Quality

Urban Disaster

Jordan River Parkway

foot

On-foot or bicycle evacuation along the Jordan River Parkway trail system running north-south through the Salt Lake Valley.

15 miles to North Davis County4-6 hours on foot, 1.5 hours by bike

Jordan River can flood during spring snowmelt - avoid during high water

Trail is paved and accessible for most of its length

Vehicle Unavailable

Bridge/Road Collapse

Grid Down

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Safe Zones & Rally Points

Salt Palace Convention Center (Emergency Shelter)

shelter • Capacity: 8,000

University of Utah Hospital

hospital • Capacity: 527

Intermountain Medical Center

hospital • Capacity: 504

Primary Children's Hospital

hospital • Capacity: 289

Salt Lake City Fire Station 1

fire station

Liberty Park

rally point

Rice-Eccles Stadium (U of U)

rally point

Salt Lake City International Airport

resource

This Is The Place Heritage Park

rally point

Utah State Fairpark

shelter • Capacity: 5,000

Jordan Park

rally point

Camp Williams (UT National Guard)

resource

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