A practical Park City and Deer Valley guide to choosing the right base, comparing the two ski resorts, finding standout hotels, and planning a year-round mountain trip.
Photo: Don Ramey Logan · CC BY 4.0 · Cropped and resized
Quick Picks: Best Hotels in Park City/Deer Valley, Utah
Best European-style Luxury
Best Modern Resort
Best Overall
Best for Families
Best Luxury
Best Value
Holiday Inn Express Park City
Best Ski-In/Ski-out (Luxury)
Best Boutique / Unique Stay
The historic core of Park City — a walkable Main Street lined with restaurants, galleries, and après-ski bars, and direct ski access via the Town Lift. The social center of the valley year-round.
The base area of the Canyons side of Park City Mountain Resort — a purpose-built village with gondola access, modern hotels, and a quieter, more family-oriented feel than Old Town. Well-suited for convenience and ski-focused stays.
The most polished side of Park City — ski-only terrain, exceptional grooming, and some of the best slope-side hotels in the country. Known for service, consistency, and a quieter, more controlled mountain experience.
The commercial entry point to Park City near I-80 — home to grocery stores, outlets, and large retail. Not scenic, but useful for value stays and easy access to both resorts via the free transit system.
A more residential area east of Old Town with independent restaurants, arts venues, and fewer tourists. Less polished than the resort areas, but a good choice for lower prices and a more local feel.
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Deer Valley Mid-Mountain — Silver Lake — 180 Rooms & Residences
Deer Valley's definitive hotel since 1982 — mid-mountain at Silver Lake, ski-in/ski-out, Forbes Five-Star, with unmatched access to both the upper and lower mountain. Glitretind's Sunday brunch has been a Park City ritual for forty years.
Rates vary substantially by season and room type · Check current availability
Deer Valley — Empire Pass — 154 Rooms & Residences
At 9,000 feet in upper Empire Canyon — Deer Valley's most dramatically positioned luxury hotel. Ski-in/ski-out, a full spa, five dining rooms, and an outdoor pool, at rates well below Aspen's top tier.
Rates vary substantially by season and room type · Check current availability
Deer Valley — Ski-in/Ski-out — 69 Suites & Residences
Sixty-nine suites on a Deer Valley hillside — Utah's most intimate five-star ski property, connected to the Deer Crest chairlift by private funicular. Butler service, Remède Spa, and a heated pool with Wasatch views.
Rates vary substantially by season and room type · Check current availability
Canyons Village · Steps from Frostwood Gondola · Suites and residences
A polished Canyons Village resort steps from the Frostwood Gondola, with spacious fireplace-equipped accommodations, a year-round heated pool, and a substantial spa. Choose it for full-service luxury on the Park City Mountain side rather than Deer Valley.
Rates vary substantially by season and room type · Check current availability
Deer Valley East Village · Slopeside · Reservoir views
The flagship hotel in Deer Valley’s developing East Village, pairing modern rooms and residences with direct access to the resort’s expanded terrain. Best for travelers who want new construction, family amenities, and Jordanelle views rather than historic Park City atmosphere.
Rates vary substantially by season and room type · Check current availability
Silver Lake Village · Steps from lifts · Inn and modern residences
A characterful Silver Lake hotel combining a Bavarian-inspired original inn with modern Tom Kundig-designed residences. Choose it for an intimate mid-mountain setting, lift access, and more design personality than Deer Valley’s larger resorts.
Rates vary substantially by season and room type · Check current availability
Silver Lake Village · Suites with kitchens · Pool and shuttle
A practical Silver Lake option with hotel rooms and large residential-style suites, many with kitchens, fireplaces, and laundry. It suits families who value space and established Deer Valley access over a highly stylized resort experience.
Rates vary substantially by season and room type · Check current availability
Canyons Village · Base-area location · Rooms and residences
A large, highly convenient hotel directly in Canyons Village, with lift access, restaurants, and village services close at hand. It is a logistics-first choice for families and groups skiing the Canyons side of Park City Mountain.
Rates vary substantially by season and room type · Check current availability
Park City Mountain Base — 198 Rooms — Pool
Directly across from the Park City Mountain Resort base — Utah's most practical mid-range ski-access hotel. A pool, free town bus outside the door, and Main Street ten minutes away.
Rates vary substantially by season and room type · Check current availability
Old Town — Boutique — 12 Rooms
Park City's most charming boutique — an 1889 limestone schoolhouse above Main Street. Twelve rooms, a heated pool, and a ski concierge that punches well above its size.
Rates vary substantially by season and room type · Check current availability
Lower Deer Valley · Residential layouts · Resort transportation
A quiet, residential-style Deer Valley option with larger layouts and convenient resort transportation. It is best for families who want more space and a calmer base without paying for mid-mountain slopeside prestige.
Rates vary substantially by season and room type · Check current availability
Lower Deer Valley · Condo-style lodging · Pool and skier shuttle
A condo-style Deer Valley property with hotel services, breakfast, an outdoor heated pool, hot tubs, and a skier shuttle. It is a strong choice for families who want more living space without giving up daily housekeeping and a staffed front desk.
Rates vary substantially by season and room type · Check current availability
Kimball Junction · IHG · Practical
A clean, no-frills hotel near the highway with free breakfast and easy access to both ski resorts. One of the most dependable value options in the area.
Rates vary substantially by season and room type · Check current availability
Mid-Range · Ski Base · Family-Friendly · Value · Mountain Lodge · Central Location · Pet-Friendly · Group-Friendly
A classic, lodge-style Park City hotel with a central courtyard pool and easy access to ski resorts — a reliable, mid-range base that prioritizes location and convenience over luxury.
Rates vary substantially by season and room type · Check current availability
Park City's premier restaurant — a multi-level Victorian building on Main Street serving contemporary American cuisine with impeccable execution. The valley's leading special-occasion destination for over 30 years.
Learn MoreThe top casual-upscale restaurant in Park City — a modern American small plates kitchen on Main Street with wood-fired preparations, excellent natural wine, and the most creative cooking in town at prices well below the white-tablecloth competition.
Learn MoreThe finest on-mountain dining in Utah — Stein Eriksen Lodge's flagship restaurant at Deer Valley's Silver Lake area serves Norwegian-inspired modern American cuisine in a stunning timber and stone dining room with mountain views.
Learn MorePark City's legendary après-ski bar — a raucous two-story Main Street institution with the city's best buffalo burger, a wall of local mining memorabilia, a rooftop deck, and the richest concentration of ski stories you'll hear anywhere.
Learn MoreA globally influenced dinner restaurant emphasizing carefully sourced ingredients and polished, contemporary cooking. Its current Kearns Boulevard location is outside Main Street, so plan transportation rather than treating it as a walk-in brunch stop.
Learn MoreA Park City restaurant that has redefined healthy mountain dining. Fresh juices, grain bowls, and the finest salads in Utah alongside satisfying protein options for active visitors. Multiple locations; the Main Street original has the best atmosphere.
Learn MoreMore than 7,300 acres of lift-accessed skiing and snowboarding across the Park City and Canyons sides, with terrain for a wide range of abilities and unusual access from Old Town via Town Lift. The scale is a strength, but crossing the full resort takes planning.
Learn MoreA ski-only resort known for grooming and service, now undergoing a major East Village expansion. For winter 2026–27 Deer Valley says it will offer 4,500 skiable acres, so lodging location and the terrain operating during your dates matter more than ever.
Learn MoreA defining part of Park City’s cultural history—but no longer a future annual planning anchor. The festival’s 2026 edition was its final Park City event; Sundance has announced that the 2027 festival will take place in Boulder, Colorado, January 21–31.
Learn MoreApproximately 400 miles of connected non-motorized trails make Park City a serious summer mountain-bike destination. The Mid Mountain trail runs roughly 26 miles near 8,000 feet, while resort bike parks and lower-elevation routes serve different skill levels.
Learn MoreA 2002 Winter Olympics venue that remains an active training and visitor complex, with museums, guided tours, seasonal bobsled experiences, freestyle shows, and summer activity passes. Offerings and demand-based prices change, so plan through the official calendar.
Learn MoreExtraordinary high-altitude hiking above Park City — the trails above the ski resorts reach 10,000+ feet with wildflower meadows, wildlife sightings, and panoramic views of the Wasatch Range, Uinta Mountains, and Salt Lake Valley.
Learn MoreTime Zone
Mountain Time (MT) — MST (UTC−7) in winter, MDT (UTC−6) in summer.
Currency
US Dollar (USD).
Language
English.
Getting There
Fly into Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), roughly 35–45 miles from Park City depending on lodging. Clear-weather travel can take under an hour, but snow and traffic can add substantial time. Compare private transfers, shared shuttles, rental cars, and current transit options.
Best Time
December through March is the core ski period; exact opening dates and terrain depend on snow. June through September is strongest for hiking, biking, and outdoor events. Spring and late fall are quieter “mud seasons,” when lifts and some restaurants may close or reduce hours.
Visa
Not applicable — domestic US destination.
FAQ
Choose Old Town for Main Street atmosphere, restaurants, and Town Lift access; Canyons Village for Park City Mountain base-area convenience; Silver Lake or upper Deer Valley for established ski-in/ski-out luxury; East Village for new construction and access to Deer Valley’s expansion; and Kimball Junction for practical value and highway access.
Park City Mountain allows skiing and snowboarding and offers more than 7,300 acres across the Park City and Canyons sides. Deer Valley is ski-only, limits daily skier numbers, and emphasizes grooming and service. Deer Valley’s expansion reaches a stated 4,500 acres for winter 2026–27, so check the current trail map and open terrain.
Winter lodging, lift access, rentals, and dining can be expensive, especially around holidays and peak snow periods. Prices vary dramatically by date and room type. Compare the complete stay cost, buy lift access early when appropriate, and consider Kimball Junction or a larger residence shared by a group.
Not always. Park City Transit and High Valley Transit provide fare-free local service, and ski-focused travelers staying in Old Town or near a resort base can often avoid driving. A car is more useful for dispersed lodging, grocery runs, or trips beyond the local transit network. Old Town parking is limited during busy periods.
Park City is roughly 35–45 miles from Salt Lake City International Airport, depending on your exact lodging. Drive time can be under an hour in clear conditions but increases with snow and traffic, so leave a substantial buffer for flights.
The 2026 festival was the final Park City edition. Sundance has announced that its 2027 festival will take place in Boulder, Colorado, January 21–31. Check current Park City calendars for local film and arts events rather than relying on older Sundance travel advice.
Yes. Summer brings hiking, mountain biking, outdoor dining, concerts, and Olympic Park activities, generally with lower lodging demand than peak ski season. Trail, lift, and event schedules vary, so confirm current operations before building the trip around a specific activity.
Park City sits around 7,000 feet and mountain terrain rises higher. Some visitors need time to adjust. Hydrate, limit the intensity of the first day, and seek medical guidance if symptoms are significant or persistent.
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