Cheap Dates in Utah: 6 Adventures Under $35 that Put Hitch to Shame
Looking to add some creativity and adventure to your dating game, without breaking the bank? If you have seen the movie Hitch, it is no secret that Will Smith has some serious skills when it comes to planning awesome dates, even if he does ended up stranded in the Hudson river or drinking Benadryl. Luckily, Utah has endless amount of places to explore safely while still being cautious and careful, have fun and connect with your significant other… and on the cheap. Here are six ideas for cheap dates in Utah that would put Hitch to shame!
6. Go Snowshoeing for a Winter Date in Utah
Utah is home to the Greatest Snow on Earth, but skiing isn’t exactly an affordable date. You could pay upwards of $300 for two lift tickets and food. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get outside and have an adventurous winter date on the cheap. Snowshoeing is the perfect option for a cheap date in Utah. Not only do you get outside for some winter fun but you can actually have a chance to get to the know the person as you’re walking through the snowy woods together. Check out our list of the best snowshoeing trails in Utah for beginners or some fun trails in American Fork Canyon. If you need snowshoe rentals, they only cost $10 per day from JJ’s Rentals!
5. Go to a Drive-In Movie for a Summer Date in Utah
If you live in Utah and have not been to the Redwood Drive-in, you haven’t experienced straight up 50s nostalgia. We think seeing a movie outside on a summer evening and under the stars is magical no matter what you’re watching. Lay on the roof, pop the trunk or bring some camping chairs. If the munchies got you, snacks such as popcorn, drinks, candy and nachos are available at the snack bar.
2 adult movie tix: $20 Snacks: $7-$15
Photo source: Narcity
4. Take a Day Trip Together for the Ultimate Adventurous Date in Utah
Do Utahns realize the awesome places to go within a couple hours of Salt Lake City? Sometimes we need to explore what is close to us to realize how lucky we are. In our opinion, no better way to do that than with a significant other. Better yet, the outdoors are mostly free or pretty cheap. Whether it is window shopping in a fun town, getting ice cream, soaking in hot springs, flying a kite at the Salt Flats or sand sledding at Little Sahara, we think these day trips will light your fire.
- Antelope Island State Park $10 per vehicle
- Bonneville Salt Flats-FREE
- Little Sahara-$18 per Vehicle
- Crystal Hot Springs $12/person
- Eden
- Midway
- Park City
For longer adventures than a day trip, check out our ideas for Utah road trips under $500.
3. Go on a Hike for a Free Date in Utah
What better way to connect than driving up a canyon, climbing a mountain and engaging in genuine conversation? It doesn’t matter if you want to go crazy with a waterfall hike or chill out with a nature walk, we can guarantee you a memorable experience by getting out in nature. Here are some favorites close to both Salt Lake and Utah Counties. This is the cheapest of all cheap dates in Utah because getting outside is free! Plus you get those endorphins flowing with some exercise together. Here are some of our favorite hikes for a quick and cheap date in Utah.
- Neff’s Canyon – Olympus Cove
- Bells Canyon – Wasatch Blvd
- Donut Falls – Big Cottonwood
- Bear Canyon Suspension Bridge – Draper
- Rocky Mouth Falls – Wasatch Blvd
- Mt. Olympus peak – Holladay/Millcreek
- Horsetail Falls – Alpine
- Stewart Falls – American Fork Canyon
- Battlecreek Falls – Pleasant Grove
- Timpanogos Cave – American Fork Canyon
And just in case you’re also looking for some gift ideas in addition to date night ideas, check out this gift guide for the outdoorsy woman.
2. Go on a Picnic Date at a Utah Park
Takeout became a much more common option at restaurants during the pandemic. For a more care-free approach, grab some takeout and take it to a park. Here are some of our favorite restaurant + park combos under $35. Utah has some beautiful parks with romantic mountain views, so take advantage of them. Hitch would definitely approve of this cheap date idea!
- The Dodo + Sugar House Park (SLC – pictured above)
- Chedda Burger + Memory Grove (SLC)
- Pretty Bird Chicken + Liberty Park (SLC)
- R&R BBQ + Dry Creek Park (Lehi)
- The Ridge + Suncrest Ridge Park (Draper)
- Blue Lemon + Creekside (Highland/Alpine)
1. Go on a Paddleboard Date on a Utah Moutain Lake
What isn’t romantic about the water? With Hitch flirtatiously jet skiing on the Hudson, Ally and Noah delightfully rowing on a lake in the Notebook or Jack and Rose sailing across the ocean together on the Titanic, the water is proven to make a date more enjoyable and magical. There are so many lakes to choose from, it’s impossible to list them all here.
Check out this post for the best sandy beaches in Utah.
- Highland Glen Park (Highland)
- Utah Lake (various locations)
- Tibble Fork Reservoir (American Fork Canyon)
- Blackridge Reservoir (Herriman)
- Oquirrh Lake (Daybreak / South Jordan)
Paddleboard rentals in Lehi from JJ’s Paddleboards are just $33 for the date night two-for-one special.
We hope you enjoyed these ideas for cheap dates in Utah and we hope they spark a little sense of adventure. Now, go make those memories with your favorite person!
Our family is on a mission to experience the best our home state of Utah has to offer and help other families find affordable, kid-friendly adventures in the process. You can follow us on Instagram @theminivanbucketlist or download our free Utah Bucket List for the top 100 things to do in Utah.
–JJ