Provo

Provo, a city in the Wasatch Range region of Utah, is known as a base for exploring the surrounding countryside and national parks. Approximately 90% of the residents are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormon). It is also the location of Brigham Young University, an LDS-owned university; the public Utah Valley University is located in the adjacent city of Orem.

Provo has a population of about 115,000 people, but the Provo-Orem metropolitan area that encompasses Utah Valley is home to over half a million people. Other cities in the valley are very accessible, especially Orem, which sits side-by-side with Provo.

The climate features cold, snowy winters and hot, dry summers. Winter temperatures range from 24°F to 41°F (-4°C to 5°C), with significant snowfall. Summer temperatures range from 62°F to 95°F (17°C to 35°C). The LDS church dominates here, and many businesses (including some gas stations) are closed on Sunday. BYU students are not required to practise the Mormon faith, but are required to abide by the Mormon code of conduct while enrolled.

By Plane

Multiple commercial airlines offer flights to Provo Municipal Airport (PVU). Alternatively, the most common way to get to Provo is to fly into Salt Lake City (SLC), and drive or catch a shuttle from the airport. The drive follows I-15 and usually takes between 45 minutes and an hour.

By Train

Amtrak serves Provo with the California Zephyr, which runs daily between Emeryville (San Francisco Bay Area) and Chicago. The train platform (PRO) is at 600 S 300 W. FrontRunner is a commuter rail service that connects Provo to major cities along the Wasatch Range, including Salt Lake City. The time from Provo to Salt Lake City is 55 minutes.

By Car / Road

I-15, which connects Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, runs through the western half of Provo. By car, Provo is about 45 minutes from Salt Lake City, 6 hours from Las Vegas, and 8 hours from Denver. Greyhound also stops in Provo (124 N 300 W) on routes from Salt Lake, Las Vegas, and Grand Junction.

UTA operates a bus system throughout parts of Provo and Orem. Cars are the main method of transportation. Parking is generally easy to find except on the Brigham Young University campus. The majority of streets follow a grid layout.

• Bridal Veil Falls — 2.5 mi north on Highway 89 up Provo Canyon. A 607 ft (185 m) waterfall popular with cyclers and hikers.

• Brigham Young University (BYU) — 1 N University Avenue. Free campus tours available. Features the Museum of Art, Museum of Paleontology, and Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum.

• BYU Museum of Art — North Campus Dr. Rotating, world-class exhibits. Free admission.

• BYU Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum — 645 E 1430 N. Taxidermied animals in natural habitats. Free admission.

• BYU Museum of Paleontology — 1683 N Canyon Rd. Dinosaur fossils including a top-rated Jurassic Period exhibit. Free.

• Downtown Provo — 1 W Center St. Incredible collection of historic architecture, restaurants and shops. Free.

• Hiking — Trails in Provo Canyon and surrounding mountains, including the popular Y Mountain trail.

• BYU campus — Visit museums, art galleries, and campus grounds.

• Outdoor recreation — Skiing at Sundance Mountain Resort in winter, mountain biking and hiking in summer.

• Historic Provo Walking Tour — Self-guided tour of historic buildings including the County Courthouse and Provo City Center Temple.

Provo has a variety of dining options, though many are closed on Sundays.

• Black Sheep Cafe — Downtown. Creative Southwestern cuisine with Native American influences.
• Station 22 Cafe — 22 W Center St. American comfort food in a historic fire station.
• Communal — 102 N University Ave. Farm-to-table cuisine in a communal dining setting.
• Los Hermanos — 350 S Main St. Popular Mexican restaurant.

Note that BYU campus services are closed Tuesdays between 11AM and noon due to weekly campus devotionals and forums. Many restaurants do not serve alcohol. The Utah Valley area has limited bar options.

• Budget: Various motels along I-15 and University Avenue.
• Mid-range: Marriott Provo, 101 West 100 North. Comfortable rooms near downtown.
• Upscale / heritage: The Provo Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. Full-service hotel with restaurant and meeting facilities.

Provo has shopping along Center Street downtown, at the Provo Towne Centre mall, and at University Place. The BYU Bookstore is a popular destination for university merchandise.

• Salt Lake City — 45 minutes north. The state capital with Temple Square, museums, and cultural attractions.
• Sundance Mountain Resort — 30 minutes northeast. Robert Redford's resort with skiing, hiking, and arts.
• Utah Lake — West. Boating, fishing, and watersports.
• Timpanogos Cave National Monument — 20 minutes northeast. Three colorful caverns with guided tours.
• Park City — 1 hour northeast. World-class skiing and the Sundance Film Festival.
• Spanish Fork Canyon — East. Scenic drives and outdoor recreation.