Getting Around Salt Lake City: A Primer for Prospective Transplants

[mtolympus]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

Driving east from Temple Square, you’ll find that the numbers on the street signs get larger. You’ll come to 5th East, 9th East, 13th East, etc. These streets run parallel to Main Street, which borders Temple Square on the East. Driving south from Temple Square, you’ll reach 4th South, 17th South, 39th South, 45th South, etc. These run parallel to South Temple, which borders Temple Square on the south. The same principle holds true, of course, when traveling north from North Temple or west from West Temple. Simple so far, right?

Interesting. I was raised in the Salt Lake Valley, so I never thought of how this graphic system could be confusing to visitors.

My problem, however, is driving in the smaller cities Bountiful, Centerville, Farmington, Kaysville and Layton. Roads in each of these towns are numbered with their own grid system. As you drive North-South along the Wasatch front you enter a new town ever 3 or 4 miles. This will drive you crazy if you are not familiar with the area.