Riding the FrontRunner Train from Salt Lake City to Ogden: A Window Seat Kind of Day
There’s something special about boarding a train without the rush. No traffic. No parking. Just a simple platform, a rhythm of wheels on tracks, and a view that unfolds slowly.
A few weeks ago, I took the frontrunner northbound from Salt Lake City to Ogden. The ride is just under an hour, but long enough to feel like a small adventure. It’s one of my favorite kinds of day trips: easy, scenic, and entirely doable without a car.
The Ride Itself
I started at Salt Lake Central Station, where the city’s light rail (TRAX), regional buses, and FrontRunner all meet. There’s a quiet hum to the place in the morning—a mix of commuters with coffee cups and travelers with carry-ons. The train pulled in right on time and I found a window seat upstairs, because that’s where all the beautiful views are best enjoyed.
The ride from Salt Lake to Ogden is the kind that makes you slow down without even trying. You pass industrial yards and grain elevators. Open fields with wildflowers. Rows of mountains that feel like they’re watching over you. The train glides past towns like Woods Cross and Farmington, each with their own stories and stops. You see glimpses of people’s backyards, graffiti-tagged underpasses, and the gentle sprawl of Northern Utah.
If you sit on the east side of the train, you get views of the Wasatch Mountains the whole way up. If you sit on the west, you catch glimpses of marshlands and lake flats, depending on the season.
Why Take the Train?
There’s a rhythm to riding that’s different from driving. You’re not focused on the road or the next turn. You can just… look. Think. Breathe.
It’s also surprisingly affordable—one-way fare is just $5.50 (at the time of this writing) and you can grab a ticket from a kiosk or use the Transit app. And unlike a car, the train lets you arrive in downtown Ogden ready to explore without circling for parking.
Plus, there’s something empowering about using regional transit to connect cities—like reclaiming a kind of independence that often gets lost in car-centered travel.
Arriving in Ogden
As the train pulls into Ogden Station, you’re greeted by a beautiful red brick terminal with wide platforms and mountain views. From here, you can walk directly into Historic 25th Street—just a few blocks away. It’s full of character: local shops, vintage signs, murals, and cozy cafés.
On my visit, I strolled past lovely little stores and grabbed a slice of pizza from Lucky Slice. If you want more structure, check out Union Station. It’s home to a mix of small museums, where you can explore everything from historic locomotives to retro cars and regional art exhibits.
For those who love walkable city centers with a strong sense of place, Ogden’s downtown is a gem.
Final Thoughts
Taking the train from Salt Lake City to Ogden doesn’t feel like a big trip—and that’s exactly what I love about it.
It feels accessible, like a reminder that adventure doesn’t have to be far away, expensive, or meticulously planned. Sometimes, it can begin with a spontaneous decision, a warm cup of coffee, and a few minutes at a downtown platform with a backpack and a window seat.
So the next time you find yourself with a free afternoon or just need a break from the noise, consider heading north by train. It’s a small journey packed with big scenery, calm energy, and the kind of quiet discovery that sticks with you long after the ride ends.
Want more car-free adventures?
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