Is Salt Lake City safe?
Safe in most visitor areas with normal care. Homelessness and drug activity near Rio Grande and downtown shelters are the main street concerns.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- Homicide rate in United States: 5.8 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in United States: 12.7 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · All emergencies 911.
Safety in Salt Lake City at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Car break-ins and theft are common; drug use and aggressive panhandling in the Rio Grande district; violent crime is mostly outside visitor areas. |
| At night | Downtown is quiet after 10 pm; bars close early by US standards. Use rideshare or TRAX before 11 pm rather than walking west of downtown. |
| Solo women | Generally comfortable for solo women. Use rideshare late and avoid the Rio Grande area at night. |
| Other risks | Winter inversion smog (Dec–Feb); Avalanches in the backcountry; Altitude of 1,300 m and dry air |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Card skimmers at gas pumps and standalone ATMs
- Fake ticket sellers outside concerts and Jazz games
- Parking-lot 'attendants' demanding cash
Take care
- Rio Grande district and around The Road Home shelter: avoid at night
- Canyon trails in spring: avalanche, rockfall and flash floods
- Leaving valuables visible in cars
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Drinking age is 21 everywhere; bars and shops check ID, so carry your passport.
- Open alcohol containers in public and in cars are illegal in most places.
- Cannabis is legal in some states but federally illegal; never carry it across borders or onto federal land.
How Salt Lake City compares in United States
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Sedona | 5/5 · Very safe |
| New York City | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Las Vegas | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Orlando | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Honolulu | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Boston | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| San Diego | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Maui | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nashville | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Austin | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Miami Beach | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Key West | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Denver | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Portland | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| San Antonio | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Charleston | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Savannah | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Fort Lauderdale | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kauai | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Big Island | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Salt Lake City | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Los Angeles | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Miami | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| San Francisco | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Washington, D.C. | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Chicago | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| New Orleans | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Seattle | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Philadelphia | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Atlanta | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Salt Lake City safe for solo female travelers?
Generally comfortable for solo women. Use rideshare late and avoid the Rio Grande area at night.
Is Salt Lake City safe at night?
Downtown is quiet after 10 pm; bars close early by US standards. Use rideshare or TRAX before 11 pm rather than walking west of downtown.
What is the crime rate in Salt Lake City?
Car break-ins and theft are common; drug use and aggressive panhandling in the Rio Grande district; violent crime is mostly outside visitor areas. Nationally, United States records 5.8 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Salt Lake City?
Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · All emergencies 911.
More about Salt Lake City
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Going to Salt Lake City solo?
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Sources
- UTA (Utah Transit Authority)
- Salt Lake City International Airport
- Visit Salt Lake
- University of Utah Health
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.