Moving from Los Angeles, CA, to Salt Lake City, UT

Leaving the ocean for the Great Salt Lake

Moving nearly 700 miles from Los Angeles, CA, to Salt Lake City, UT, is more than just a change of scenery — it’s a lifestyle change, too. 

Los Angeles is the largest city in its state and the second-largest city in the U.S., with a population of 3.9 million in the city and 13.2 million in the metro.  

While Salt Lake City is the capital and largest city in its state, it is much smaller than LA. Salt Lake City has around 200,000 residents and 1.3 million in the metro. 

Ready for snow?

Moving to Salt Lake City means cold and snowy winters, with lows around 19 degrees and around 54 inches of snow annually. This is quite the contrast to the mild winters in LA, with lows of only 46 degrees. 

Salt Lake City and Los Angeles have yearly rainfall below the national average, with SLC averaging 20 inches and LA averaging 16 inches. 

Summers are warm in Salt Lake City, with temperatures rarely exceeding 91 degrees, compared to the average high temperature of 84 degrees in LA. 

Things to do in your new hometown

Salt Lake City has many things to do, including many family-friendly attractions. Nature lovers will enjoy the Hogle Zoo, the Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, and the Tracy Aviary at Liberty Park. 

For historic architecture, don’t miss Temple Square and the Utah State Capitol. Want more history? Check out the Natural History Museum of Utah and the Salt Lake City Public Library. 

Camping, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and snow skiing are popular in the area, depending on the season. Prefer to be a spectator? Check out pro sports teams Utah Jazz (NBA), the Utah Hockey Club (NHL), Real Salt Lake (MLS) and the Utah Warriors (MLR). There are also minor league teams in baseball, basketball, ice hockey, lacrosse and soccer. 

Interesting facts about Salt Lake City

Brush up on Salt Lake City trivia ahead of your move with these fun facts: 

  • Besides the Great Salt Lake, the city is also known for natural hot springs, including the Warm Springs Plunge. 
  • Intricate irrigation systems allowed early settlers to thrive in the city’s desert environment. 
  • Salt Lake City was a hub for women’s voting rights. 
  • The city is named after the Great Salt Lake, the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. 
  • ZCMI (Zion’s Cooperative Mercantile Institution), established in Salt Lake City in 1868, is considered the oldest department store in the U.S. 

Move from LA to Salt Lake City stress free with U-Pack

U-Pack® has been in business since 1997, and we have service centers nationwide to help with long-distance moves. We’re a self-moving service, which means you do the packing, loading and unloading, and we handle all the driving. Get a free, no-obligation online quote today or give us a call at 844-362-5303844-594-3077.