National Historical Park · Utah

Golden Spike National Historical Park

Golden Spike National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park located at Promontory Summit, north of the Great Salt Lake in east-central Box Elder County, Utah, United States.

Photo: Unknown, Public domain

Visitors in 2025

54K

record 108K in 2019 · National Park Service

Busiest month

May

57% of visits May–Aug

Where

12 mi southwest of Howell

1 place to stay in Howell

Established

1957

National Park Service

In brief

A national historical park, 12 mi southwest of Howell

Plan where you’ll sleep

The nearest town with many places to stay is Brigham City, 27 miles east. Where to stay ↓

57% of visits come in May–Aug

May is the busiest month, with about 8,636 visitors. January sees about 1,050. When to go ↓

Winters are cold

January nights drop to 15°. When to go ↓

Best months: May, Jun and Sep

May, June and September are the mild months, with highs of 69–80°. When to go ↓

Established in 1957

Golden Spike National Historical Park dates from 1957 and is run by National Park Service. About ↓

Written from National Park Service visitor counts, NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia. Updated when the Park Service posts a new month.

When to go

Crowds and weather, month by month

Bars: average monthly visitors, 2022–2025. Line: the typical afternoon high. Green months are mild and quieter than average.

Jan33° / 15°1.1K

Feb40° / 19°1.5K

Mar51° / 28°2.7K

Apr59° / 33°4K

May69° / 41°8.6K

Jun80° / 49°7.9K

Jul90° / 56°7.7K

Aug89° / 55°5.9K

Sep78° / 45°5.6K

Oct63° / 33°3.1K

Nov47° / 24°1.7K

Dec35° / 16°2.9K

Visitors: National Park Service visitor use statistics, recreation visits. Weather: NOAA 1991–2020 normals for Howell. Howell’s full climate →

About

Golden Spike National Historical Park

Golden Spike National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park located at Promontory Summit, north of the Great Salt Lake in east-central Box Elder County, Utah, United States. The nearest city is Corinne, approximately 23 miles (37 km) east-southeast of the site.

It commemorates the completion of the first Transcontinental Railroad where the Central Pacific Railroad and the first Union Pacific Railroad met on May 10, 1869. The final joining of the rails spanning the continent was signified by the driving of the ceremonial golden spike.

Type: National Historical Park
Established: 1957
Area: 2,735 acres
Elevation: 4,882 ft
Run by: National Park Service
Listed: Historic Civil Engineering Landmark
Wikipedia readers: 11K a year
Official site: nps.gov/gosp

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Facts: Wikidata.

Plan your visit

Before you go

Address6200 North 22300 West, Promontory, Utah, UT 84307(435) 471-2209

HoursSummer and Winter The Park Visitor Center features exhibits, a theater, bookstore, picnic areas, and a welcoming staff that will help visitors get the most out of their trip. Summer, from early-May to late-October the visitor center is open daily, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM MDT. Winter, from late-October to late-April the v…

Entrance fees

Private Vehicle$20
Motorcycle$15
Per Person$10
Commercial Entrance - Sedan$20

Getting thereGolden Spike National Historical Park is 32 miles west of Brigham City, Utah. NB travelers on I-15: use exit 365 and drive west on Utah 13 and 83 through Corinne (follow brown directional signs) to Golden Spike Drive. Turn left and follow signs to the visitor center (8 miles). SB travelers on I-84: use Howell exit 26 and drive south on Utah 83 (follow brown…

National Park Service. Check the park’s site for closures and alerts.

Where to stay

Where to stay near Golden Spike National Historical Park

The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are Brigham City (10) and Tremonton (4).

Visitor centerPark landHighways12Places to stay in town

40 min drive

Brigham City

10 places to stay · 6 hotels · 2 motels · 2 RV parks

The closest town with somewhere to stay.

20,633 people

27 mi east of Summer and Winter Seasons · 23 mi to the park

30 min drive

Tremonton

4 places to stay · 1 hotel · 2 motels · 1 RV park

12,934 people

20 mi east of Summer and Winter Seasons · 14 mi to the park

20 min drive

Howell

1 place to stay · 1 campground

235 people

12 mi northeast of Summer and Winter Seasons · 7 mi to the park

40 min drive

Snowville

2 places to stay · 1 motel · 1 campground

172 people

26 mi north of Summer and Winter Seasons · 25 mi to the park

Compare 8 towns

Town	From the visitor center	Drive	Places to stay	People	Typical home	Safety
Brigham City	27 mi east	40 min	10 6 hotels · 2 motels · 2 RV parks	20,633	$369K	B
Tremonton	20 mi east	30 min	4 1 hotel · 2 motels · 1 RV park	12,934	$365K	—
Howell	12 mi northeast	20 min	1 1 campground	235	$263K	—
Snowville	26 mi north	40 min	2 1 motel · 1 campground	172	$252K	—
Corinne	22 mi east	35 min	1 1 campground	881	$378K	—
Perry	28 mi east	45 min	2 1 hotel · 1 campground	6,226	$465K	C⁺
Mantua	33 mi east	50 min	3 2 campgrounds · 1 RV park	1,389	$607K	A
Willard	30 mi southeast	45 min	2 2 campgrounds	2,486	$451K	B⁺

Day trip from

Straight-line miles.

Salt Lake City67 mi southeast

Getting there

Nearest airports with airline service, from the visitor center

OGDOgden Hinckley40 mi

SLCSalt Lake City · major hub64 mi

PIHPocatello Regional89 mi

Places to stay: Overture Maps (hotels, motels, inns, lodges, campgrounds, RV parks; not vacation rentals) · roads: Overture Maps / OpenStreetMap contributors · park boundary: National Park Service · town figures: U.S. Census ACS · Safety: TownRatings Safety grade · airports: OurAirports. Distances are from Summer and Winter Seasons; drive times are estimates.

Make a day of it

Also near Golden Spike

Other well-known places within 70 miles. Numbered ones are on the map above.

Big draw131 mi LakeGreat Salt Lake

214 mi LandmarkSpiral Jetty

Big draw68 mi Stadium & arenaDelta Center

70 mi Stadium & arenaRice–Eccles Stadium

35 mi MountainBen Lomond Mountain

55 mi Theme parkLagoon Amusement Park

68 mi LakeBear Lake

68 mi GardenTemple Square

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

Great Salt Lake: Copernicus Sentinel-2, ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 igo · Spiral Jetty: Sculpture: Robert Smithson 1938-1973Image:Soren.harward at en.wikipedia, Public domain · Delta Center: Lomrjyo, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rice–Eccles Stadium: Brenton Walker, CC BY 2.0 · Ben Lomond Mountain: Joe Tordiff, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Lagoon Amusement Park: Davehi1, Public domain · Bear Lake: kla4067, CC BY 2.0 · Temple Square: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain

Visitors

53,696 visitors in 2025

Every full year the Park Service has counted. 2020 (gold) was the pandemic year. Green is the record (2019).

National Park Service visitor use statistics, recreation visits by calendar year.

Common questions

Visiting Golden Spike

What town is Golden Spike National Historical Park near?

Howell, UT, about 12 miles northeast.

When is the best time to visit Golden Spike National Historical Park?

May, June and September, with highs of 69–80°. May is the busiest month (about 8,636 visitors).

How many people visit Golden Spike National Historical Park each year?

53,696 in 2025, according to the National Park Service. The record is 108,154, set in 2019.

What is the closest airport to Golden Spike National Historical Park?

Ogden Hinckley (OGD), about 40 miles away. The nearest big hub is Salt Lake City (SLC), about 64 miles.

Where should I stay near Golden Spike National Historical Park?

Brigham City (27 mi, 10 places to stay), Tremonton (20 mi, 4 places to stay) and Mantua (33 mi, 3 places to stay).

From locals

Tips from people in Howell

No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in Howell’s Town Square.

When do you go to beat the crowds at Golden Spike? Where do you eat after a visit to Golden Spike? Is Golden Spike worth it with small kids? What do visitors to Golden Spike usually miss?

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · National Park Service visitor use statistics · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.