Inexpensive Spring Break Stay-Cation Ideas in Utah's Box Elder County (Brigham City Area)

Are you planning a stay-cation for Spring Break, but need ideas for where to go and what to do? Well here is a list of places you can visit in Utah's Box Elder County (Brigham City Area). Each of these things is open in the spring and costs less than $10 per person. In fact, many of these places are free.

Willard Bay

900 W. 650 N. #A

Willard, Utah

Cost: From October 1 to April 30 the fee to enter the park is only $10 per vehicle. Camping starts at $16 a night.

Hours: 6:00 am to 10:00 pm every day

Phone Number: 435-734-9494
Website: https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/willard-bay/

Willard Bay was once the northeastern shore of the Great Salt Lake. However, thanks to a 14 mile dike the bay is now full of fresh water. It's a beautiful place for a picnic, a boat ride, or an overnight camping trip.

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
2155 West Forest Street
Brigham City, Utah
Cost: Free
Hours: The visitor center is open Tuesday through Friday from 8:00am - 5:00pm. It is open on Saturday from 10:00am - 4:00pm. The Auto Tour is open every day from dawn to dusk - weather permitting.
Phone Number: 435.723.5887
Website: www.fws.gov/Refuge/Bear_River_Migratory_Bird_Refuge

There are many things to do at this widelife refuge. You can enjoy a walk, view wildlife, go fishing, and even go hunting in the right season. The James V. Hansen Wildlife Education Center is open all year long and is located right off of exit 363 on I-15. There is also a 12 mile auto tour loop that runs through the refuge.
 
Crystal Hot Springs
8215 UT-38
Honeyville, UT

Cost: Tickets for just the pool are $7 per adult and $5 for a child. If you want to also use the slide (which just about every child will want as soon as they see it) your ticket will cost $10. The best deal for visiting the hot springs is to go on Wednesday night when they have family night. On that night a family of 6 can swim and slide for only $20. (If your family just wants to swim it’s only $14 on family night.)
Hours: Hours vary depending on the day, but generally the pool is open from noon to 10:00 with longer hours on weekends and holidays.
Phone Number: (435) 279-8104
Website: www.crystalhotsprings.net

This is the perfect place to go when you want to go swimming, but it's not quite warm enough to swim outside in a regular pool. These hot springs have a pool and a water slide. Camping is also available at the resort.

ATK Rocket Garden
9160 North Highway 83
Corinne, UT
Cost: Free
Hours: Dawn to Dusk
Website: www.orbitalatk.com

ATK has built many rockets for NASA. They have created a “rocket garden” to show all the different rockets they have built over the years. Information plaques tell you about many of the rockets.

Golden Spike National Historic Site
6200 North 22300 West
Promontory Summit, Utah
Cost: The winter entrance fee is $5 per vehicle. In the summer it is $7.
Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm every day
Phone Number: (435) 471-2209
Website: www.nps.gov/gosp/index.htm

This the location where the Transcontinental railroad was completed on May 10, 1969. Today you can see displays dedicated to that historic event. You can see full size replicas of the two famous locomotives, The Jupiter and The 119, as well as a replica of the golden spike that was driven to signify the completion of the railroad. Starting in May you can see a reenactment of the driving of the spike ceremony every Saturday. This reenactment includes the full size trains and is especially fun for train enthusiasts.

Spiral Jetty
41.437562, -112.668811
Northern Shore of the Great Salt Lake
Cost: Free - but plan for time and bring plenty of water
Hours: Dawn to Dusk
Website: www.diaart.org/visit/visit/robert-smithson-spiral-jetty

 If you are going to the Golden Spike NHS you should think about adding a visit to Spiral Jetty to your trip. The Jetty is about 15 miles past the Golden Spike area. Spiral Jetty is a piece of earth art created by Robert Simpson in 1970. The large spiral is created by rocks and sits in the Great Salt Lake. Visiting the Jetty is definitely a day trip. It’s 2.5 hours from Salt Lake. The last part of the trip is on a dirt road for approximately 12 miles. There are signs to help you take the correct roads to find the Jetty.



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I hope this list helps you find something fun to do. If you want more ideas for things to do in Northern Utah during Spring Break check out the full list here.

And as always, I'd love to know if there are more fun and inexpensive places to visit in this area. If you know of any feel free to tell me about them in the comments.

Have a great stay-cation!