Expert: Matthew Smith - 10/4/2008

Question
Can I leave the airport during a layover?  I have three hours in SLC, UT and have family there I would like to visit.

Answer
Yes, you may leave the airport.  However, you may want to be sure you have time to leave and return in time to make your connecting flight.

They say that the airport is 10 minutes from downtown Salt Lake city, so you should really consider it at least 30 minutes each way.  So now you are down to two hours.  Of course you'll have to go back through security, which can either be very quick or very slow (or anything inbetween) depending on the day and time.  Subtract another hour.  This leaves you with an hour to spend with your relatives.

It isn't the most ideal, but maybe your relatives can come by the airport and you all can hang out in a restaurant in the non-secured area.  Try to choose one that has a view of the security lines so that you can keep an eye on how long you think the wait will be.

To make it easier on yourself, don't have too many carry-ons because these will all need to be re-screened when you go through security.