Getting Around Provo
Provo is a car-oriented city, and driving remains the main way both residents and visitors get around. That said, there is a workable public transport backbone, a commuter rail link to the rest of the Wasatch Front, and a compact, grid-based downtown that rewards a bit of walking. The key to a smooth visit is planning ahead: much of the local bus service runs on limited schedules, so it pays to check timetables before you set out.
Rail and Commuter Trains
Provo is served by two rail services, and they play very different roles for a visitor.
- FrontRunner is the commuter rail service operated by the Utah Transit Authority (UTA). It connects Provo to major cities along the Wasatch Front, including Salt Lake City and Ogden. Many stations along the line are intermodal, meaning they link up with UTA bus routes and the TRAX light rail system, so you can chain together a longer journey across the region. The FrontRunner/UTA station in Provo is located at 701 South Freedom Boulevard.
- Amtrak's California Zephyr serves Provo as well, running daily between Emeryville in the San Francisco Bay Area and Chicago. The Amtrak platform is at 600 S 300 W and has no services, so plan to arrive self-sufficient. This is the option for long-distance travel rather than getting around town.
Buses and Public Transport
UTA operates a bus system throughout parts of Provo and Orem, but service in the rest of Utah County is sparse compared with Salt Lake County. You can also use UTA's bus and light rail network to reach Provo from northern Utah and Salt Lake City, though scheduling on those connections is limited.
Within Provo, public transport generally runs on a 30-minute or hourly schedule, with some routes offering more frequent service. Because of this, it's worth planning your transit schedule carefully rather than assuming a bus will appear shortly. For intercity bus travel, Greyhound stops in Provo at 124 N 300 W, with routes connecting to Salt Lake, Las Vegas, and Grand Junction.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
The source material does not describe a local taxi or ride-hailing scene in detail. What it does make clear is that cars are the main method of transportation in Provo, and that car rentals are widely available as an alternative. Several rental agencies operate in the city:
- Enterprise Rent-a-Car, 485 S University Ave
- Avis Rent-a-Car, inside the Sears Auto Center at Provo Towne Centre, 1200 Towne Centre Blvd
- Hertz Car Rental, at the Provo Marriott, 101 West 100 North
Rental cars are also available at the Salt Lake City airport, which is useful if you're flying in and want a vehicle for your whole trip.
Walking and Cycling
Provo's streets mostly follow a grid layout, which makes navigating on foot reasonably straightforward once you understand the pattern. New cycling paths are being built throughout the city, so biking is an increasingly viable option.
Two cautions are worth keeping in mind. First, the city limits between Provo and Orem are often unmarked and unclear, so when following directions or looking for an address, take care that you're actually in the correct city; many newer road signs do indicate the city next to the street address. Second, there are two major streets named "University": University Avenue runs through Provo from north to south, while University Parkway (often called simply "Parkway" or "the Diagonal") runs through both Provo and Orem. Confusing the two can send you well off course.
Parking is generally easy to find around the city, with the notable exception of the Brigham Young University campus, though permit parking there generally opens up to the public in the evenings.
Getting There from the Airport
Provo has its own airport, Provo Municipal Airport (PVU), served by multiple commercial airlines. If your flight doesn't go there, the most common approach is to fly into Salt Lake City (SLC) and then drive or catch a shuttle to Provo.
- By car from SLC: The drive follows I-15 and usually takes between 45 minutes and an hour, but can stretch to an hour and a half during heavy traffic. For better traffic conditions, you can take I-215 through the Salt Lake Valley until it connects to I-15, then continue on I-15 to Provo.
- By shuttle: Shuttles from the Salt Lake City airport are a common alternative to driving yourself.
- By public transport: UTA's bus and light rail system can get you from northern Utah and Salt Lake City into Provo, though scheduling is limited, so build in extra time.
Driving and Road Notes
I-15, which connects Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, runs through the western half of Provo. Useful exits include exit 263 for south Provo; exit 265 for downtown (east) or Utah Lake (west); exits 265 and 271 for north Provo and Riverwoods via Orem; and exit 272 for Provo Canyon, also via Orem.
Be aware that there is heavy construction on I-15 as the freeway is being redeveloped. Slow down, watch for construction workers, and expect delays. From the north, taking State Street (from exit 279) through American Fork, Pleasant Grove, Lindon, and Orem is often, though not always, a viable surface-street alternative to the freeway.