Clark Planetarium

Clark Planetarium is a Salt Lake County run science museum and planetarium at The Gateway, the open air shopping and dining center in downtown Salt Lake City. The building works on two tiers, and understanding that split is the key to planning a visit. Its exhibit floors, more than 10,000 square feet across three levels, are free to walk through for anyone who comes in the door. The Hansen Dome Theatre and the Northrop Grumman IMAX Theatre sit inside the same building, but those shows are ticketed separately from the exhibits.

Inside the Hansen Dome Theatre, a 55 foot dome wraps the audience in a 360 degree screen used for star shows, laser light shows, and films that carry viewers through space. The Northrop Grumman IMAX Theatre has a 70 by 50 foot screen and runs documentary films about nature and science. The lineup rotates rather than following a fixed season, so check the official site for what is currently playing and for showtimes before you go. Groups of 20 or more can request a discounted rate on shows through the planetarium’s reservation form.

A visit can be as short as an hour spent browsing the free exhibits, or stretched into a half day by adding a dome show and an IMAX film. A sensible route is to start on the exhibit floors, work up through the levels, then time a show once you know when it plays. The mix suits families with young children, a solo hour downtown, and a rainy, very hot, or cold afternoon, since the entire experience is indoors.

Clark Planetarium sits right at 400 West and 100 South, with a UTA transit stop directly east of the front door and several bus routes nearby, plus GREENbike and scooter share options around downtown. Underground parking is available in The Gateway’s South Parking Garage, with two entrances near the planetarium, and validating at the ticketing desk lowers the parking rate for your visit. The building accommodates wheelchairs and mobility devices throughout, with an accessible entrance and lift, and it holds a Sensory Friendly Saturday each week with adjusted lighting and sound for visitors with sensory needs.

Because it sits inside The Gateway, a stop at Clark Planetarium pairs easily with the shops, restaurants, and open plaza around it, so it is simple to build a full downtown outing around one parking spot. For a first visit to Salt Lake City or a family looking for a dependable bad weather plan, it is a solid anchor for a downtown day.