Brigham City, Utah
Box Elder County's county seat, its largest community, and the front door to one of the best birding destinations in the western United States. Naturally historic, naturally welcoming.
Quick Facts
Known For
County Seat
Population
20,000
Signature Event
Peach Days
To Salt Lake
1 hr
To Golden Spike
45 min
To Bird Refuge
15 min
The Heart of Box Elder County
Brigham City has been Box Elder County's county seat since the county was formed, and it's still the place most visitors start their trip. Historic Main Street runs past the Box Elder Tabernacle and the county courthouse, a handful of restaurants have been open since before your grandparents were born, and just west of town the wetlands open up into the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
It's a small city that does a lot: gateway to the refuge, host to one of Utah's longest running harvest festivals, and a genuinely good place to eat before you head out to Golden Spike, Willard Bay, or the Fruit Way.
Start Here, Then Head Out
Brigham City sits within an hour of the county's biggest draws. Fuel up, grab a map, and go.
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
15 min west
Located just west of town, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge features 74,000 acres of protected wetlands and a 12-mile auto tour route. Stop at the Wildlife Education Center off I-15 for maps and recent sightings—spring and fall migration are peak seasons.
Golden Spike National Historical Park
45 min west
Travel back in time at Golden Spike National Historical Park, where the transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869. Replica steam locomotives run on the original grade in season, and driving tours follow the historic rail line across Promontory Summit.
Willard Bay State Park
10 min south
Head south to Willard Bay State Park, a popular freshwater reservoir on the edge of the Great Salt Lake offering beaches, boat ramps, camping, and fishing for walleye, wiper, and catfish. Bald eagles also winter here in impressive numbers.
Box Elder Canyon & Mantua Reservoir
10 min east
Take a scenic drive up Box Elder Canyon to Mantua Reservoir, a calm mountain spot ideal for bass fishing, paddleboarding, and summer swimming, with shaded national forest campgrounds nearby.
Hotels & Motels in Brigham City
Rest easy in Brigham City with comfortable, full-service accommodations, local motels, and convenient amenities—putting you just minutes from top attractions, historic Main Street, and local dining.
Best Western Brigham City Inn & Suites
Best Western Brigham City Inn & Suites is located off US-91 and I-15 in Brigham City, about six miles from Willard Bay State Park and three miles from Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. The hotel offers a complimentary hot breakfast, an indoor pool and hot tub, and an electric-vehicle charging station.
Bushnell Lodge
Bushnell Lodge is a small motel and extended-stay property in Brigham City offering furnished rooms and apartment-style units for overnight stays or short vacations, with commercial and senior rates available.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Brigham City - North Utah is located off I-15 Exit 363 near the Wellsville Mountains, close to the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and Brigham City Museum of Art. The hotel offers an indoor pool, 24-hour fitness center, and free hot breakfast.
Howard Johnson Inn
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Brigham City is located off I-15 between Bear River Bay and Cache National Forest, within driving distance of Crystal Hot Springs, Willard Bay State Park, and the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. This economy-tier motel offers free Wi-Fi and a light continental breakfast.
Galaxie Motel
Galaxie Motel (also listed as Passport Inn & Suites) is a budget motel located just off I-15 in Brigham City, offering guest rooms with kitchenette, microwave, and refrigerator.
Hampton Inn Brigham City
Hampton Inn Brigham City is located in the historic heart of downtown Brigham City, minutes from the Box Elder Tabernacle and Brigham City Utah Temple. The hotel offers free hot breakfast, free Wi-Fi, an indoor pool, and a fitness center.
Dining in Brigham City
From a Main Street cafe serving hand-dipped chocolates since 1921 to drive-in peach shakes and wood-fired pizza, Brigham City's dining scene is rooted in local tradition.
Bee Bear Bistro
Bee Bear Bistro is a student-run lunch cafe in Brigham City serving paninis, staffed by the Box Elder School District post-high program.
Ricardo’s Mexican Restaurant
Ricardo's Mexican Restaurant serves authentic Mexican cuisine in downtown Brigham City.
Little Caesars Pizza
Little Caesars Pizza is a takeout pizza chain located in Brigham City, offering quick and affordable pizza.
Subway
This Subway location in Brigham City offers made-to-order sandwiches and salads for a quick meal.
Sonic Drive-In
Sonic Drive-In is a fast food drive-in restaurant in Brigham City known for burgers, hot dogs, and slushes.
New Beijing Buffet
New Beijing Buffet is a Chinese buffet restaurant located in Brigham City, offering a wide variety of dishes.
Ruben’s Cocina Mexicana
Ruben's Cocina Mexicana serves traditional Mexican dishes in Brigham City.
Things to Do
in Brigham City
Walk historic Main Street
Pass under the Main Street arch and stroll past the Box Elder Tabernacle, the county courthouse, and blocks of storefronts with local shops, bakeries, and long-running cafes.
See the Tabernacle and Temple
The Box Elder Tabernacle's spires have marked Main Street since the 1890s. The Brigham City Utah Temple, dedicated in 2012, stands across the street with landscaped grounds open to visitors.
Brigham City Museum of Art & History
A small civic museum with rotating art exhibits and displays on the town's pioneer co-operative, orchards, and railroad past.
Drive the Fruit Way
US-89 south of town is lined with family fruit stands. Stop for cherries in early summer, peaches in late summer, and apples and pumpkins into fall.
Come for Peach Days
Held every September, Peach Days brings a parade, car show, arts and crafts, live music, and plenty of peach cobbler and ice cream to downtown.
Soak at Crystal Hot Springs
Ten minutes north in Honeyville, natural hot and cold springs feed a set of outdoor pools. It's open year-round and especially good on a cold winter evening.
Play Eagle Mountain Golf Course
An 18-hole course on Brigham City's east bench with views across the valley toward the Great Salt Lake, plus a grill for lunch after your round.
A Bit of History
How Brigham City came to beBrigham City was settled in the early 1850s, and under the leadership of Lorenzo Snow it grew into one of Utah’s most self-reliant towns. Its pioneer co-operative ran everything from a woolen mill to a tannery, and settlers planted orchards across the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains, laying the groundwork for the fruit-growing tradition the area is still known for.
That history is easy to find today. The Box Elder Tabernacle and the county courthouse anchor historic Main Street, Peach Days has celebrated the harvest for more than a century, and family fruit stands still line the highway south of town. Brigham City is also the starting point for some of Box Elder County’s biggest draws, with the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge just west of town and Golden Spike National Historical Park about 45 minutes away.
Before You Go
Getting here
Brigham City is off I-15 about 60 miles north of Salt Lake City, 25 minutes north of Ogden, and 30 minutes from Logan through Sardine Canyon on US-89/91.
Seasons
Spring and fall bring peak bird migration. Summer and early fall are harvest season on the Fruit Way. Winters are quiet, with bald eagles at Willard Bay and ice fishing at Mantua.
Peach Days
Downtown streets close for the parade and festival. Book lodging early and plan extra time for parking.
At The Refuge
The refuge is free and about 15 minutes west of downtown. Fill up on gas and snacks in town first, since there are no services on the 36-mile round-trip auto tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan Your Visit to Brigham City
Make Brigham City your base for exploring northern Utah. Stay downtown, eat on Main Street, and you're within an hour of the refuge, Golden Spike, Willard Bay, and the mountains.