Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) isn't the same place you remember from five years ago. If you’re looking for the old, cramped terminals where you could walk from security to your gate in three minutes, those are gone. Completely. They tore them down. The new SLC is a massive, shiny, linear hub designed for "The New SLC" project, and honestly, the SLC airport map gates layout is basically one giant straight line. It's beautiful, but it's long.
If you just landed and you’re looking at a map thinking, "Oh, my gate is just right there," check the scale. People underestimate the walking distances here constantly.
The Layout of the Land: Concourse A vs. Concourse B
The airport is split into two primary areas: Concourse A and Concourse B.
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Concourse A is where you’ll find Delta Air Lines. Since SLC is a major hub for Delta, they basically own this entire section. It’s attached directly to the Plaza, which is the big area you hit immediately after clearing security. If your gate starts with an A, you’re in luck. You’ve got the shortest walk. The gates here run from A1 all the way up through the high numbers as the airport continues its eastward expansion.
Then there’s Concourse B. This is where things get a bit more "scenic," if you catch my drift.
Every other airline—United, American, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue, and Frontier—lives over in Concourse B. To get there, you have to use the Mid-Concourse Tunnel. You'll find the entrance to this tunnel right near Gate A13. It’s an underground walkway that connects the two buildings.
The Mid-Concourse Tunnel Experience
It’s about a 1,000-foot walk. That doesn't sound like much until you’re hauling a carry-on and a crying toddler. The airport has installed some pretty cool art installations called "The Canyon" and "The River" to make the trek feel faster, but it’s still a hike.
One thing people get wrong: they think there’s a train. Currently, there is no "people mover" or train between A and B. You walk. There are moving walkways, sure, but your feet are doing the work. However, the airport is working on a permanent tunnel with a train system as part of Phase 3 and 4, but for now, you’re hitting your step goal for the day.
Navigating the Gates: A Breakdown of Who Goes Where
The SLC airport map gates system is actually quite logical once you stop panic-searching for your flight.
Concourse A (South): This is the Delta fortress. If you are flying to London, Paris, or just a quick hop to LAX on a Delta jet, you are here. The gates are laid out linearly. The "Plaza" at the start of Concourse A has the high-end shops and the massive Delta Sky Club—which, by the way, is one of the largest in the country.
Concourse B (North): This is the "everyone else" concourse.
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- Southwest usually occupies the gates on the western end of Concourse B.
- United and American tend to be clustered toward the center.
- Alaska and JetBlue are also in this mix.
The gate numbering starts low near the tunnel and goes higher as you move toward the ends of the concourse. If you're at Gate B24, you're looking at a solid 15-minute walk from the moment you leave the security checkpoint. Plan accordingly.
Why the Walk Is So Long
I hear people complain about the walk at SLC all the time. "Why did they build it this way?"
The engineers at SLC, including the team led by Bill Wyatt, the Executive Director of Airports, opted for a "linear" gate configuration. Why? It’s way more efficient for planes. In the old airport, planes would get stuck in "alleys" waiting for other planes to push back. It was a logistical nightmare for pilots. In the new layout, planes can pull in and out without getting boxed in.
It’s better for the airline's on-time performance, but it’s harder on your calves.
The "Mini" Plaza in Concourse B
A lot of travelers make the mistake of staying in the main Plaza (Concourse A) to eat because they’re afraid Concourse B won't have food. Don't do that.
Concourse B has its own mini-hub of food and retail. You’ll find local Utah favorites like Beans & Brews or Uinta Brewing. If your gate is in the B section, go through the tunnel first, then find your food. There is nothing worse than finishing a burger in Concourse A and realizing you still have a 12-minute sprint to catch your boarding group in Concourse B.
International Arrivals and Customs
If you’re coming in from an international destination, you’ll likely arrive at the west end of Concourse A. The international arrivals area is state-of-the-art. You’ll go through Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and then pop out right near the baggage claim level.
The flow is actually very intuitive. Unlike some airports (looking at you, O'Hare), you don't feel like you're being funneled through a basement.
Tips for Mastering the SLC Map
- Check the App: The Delta app or the general SLC airport website has a live map. Use it. It’ll tell you exactly how many minutes it takes to walk to your gate.
- The "hidden" bathrooms: The bathrooms in the middle of the concourses are usually packed. If you walk just a little further toward the higher-numbered gates, the restrooms are almost always empty.
- Electric Carts: There are some electric carts for those with mobility issues, but they aren't as frequent as you'd see in Denver or Atlanta. If you need help, call your airline ahead of time to arrange a wheelchair or assistance.
- The Central Tunnel Art: Take a second to look at the "River" installation in the tunnel. It’s made of thousands of pieces of fabric and is meant to mimic the topography of Utah. It’s actually pretty soothing if you aren't sprinting for a flight.
Future Changes to the Gates
Salt Lake City isn't done building. Phase 2 opened recently, which added more gates to Concourse A. Phase 3 is currently underway.
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The big game-changer will be the Central Tunnel. Right now, we use the "Mid-Concourse Tunnel" which is a bit of a detour. The future Central Tunnel will connect the security screening area directly to the center of Concourse B. This will cut the walking time significantly for everyone not flying Delta. But until that opens (slated for late 2024/2025), we use the current route.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Trip
Before you head to the airport, keep these specific points in mind to keep your stress levels low:
- Arrive 2 hours early even if you have TSA PreCheck. The walk to the B gates can eat up 20 minutes of your time just by itself.
- Download the SLC International Airport app. It has a 3D map that shows you exactly where you are in relation to the nearest Starbucks or your gate.
- Wear comfortable shoes. This isn't the airport for high heels or stiff dress shoes if you have a connection. You will be walking on hard surfaces for a significant distance.
- Look for the "Time to Gate" signs. Throughout the terminal, there are digital displays that tell you exactly how many minutes it will take to walk to specific gate clusters. Trust them; they are surprisingly accurate.
- Fill your water bottle in the Plaza. There are high-tech water bottle filling stations everywhere. The ones in the main Plaza are easy to find, but there are also plenty located near the restrooms in both Concourse A and B.
Basically, just remember that SLC is a "walking airport" now. It’s clean, it’s efficient, and the mountain views from the floor-to-ceiling windows in Concourse B are some of the best in any airport in the world. Just don't let the distance catch you off guard.