Is Lehi Safe for Travel RIGHT NOW? (2024 Safety Rating)

Safety Index:

* Based on Research & Crime Data

Lehi, Utah, sits at the northern end of the Utah Valley, with the Wasatch Mountain Range displayed to the east and Utah Lake to the south.

In fact, there’s one part of Lehi that will look especially familiar if you’re of a certain age.

The Lehi Mill used in the 1984 movie Footloose is here.

Just looking at it then and now shows how fast this city has grown.

Utah County is one of the fastest growing in the state, and Lehi has seen a 90% population explosion since 2010.

The Lehi Mill was seen surrounded by farmland and dirt roads in the movie, but it’s now right in the center of town.

Lehi Mills actually helped Lehi, founded in 1850, grow from a small agricultural community to an industrial hub.

In recent decades, Lehi has experienced rapid growth and technological development, becoming a part of Utah’s “Silicon Slopes,” home to many tech companies and startups.

One of the biggest attractions in Lehi (and Utah, for that matter) is Thanksgiving Point, a collection of museums and attractions founded by two “thankful” locals, Alan and Karen Ashton.

The couple were once listed among the richest people in the world after having co-invented WordPerfect, one of the most popular word-processing software programs of the late 20th Century.

As of 2023, about two million people visit Thanksgiving Point, and Lehi is growing at a pace that can keep accommodating the crowds.

Warnings & Dangers in Lehi

OVERALL RISK: LOW

The risk is low, but I'll explain later on why I don't have crime data to back that up. Because of the lack of transparency, it's wise to keep your guard up, but the city is surrounded by other safe cities and has plenty of attractions in safe and exciting places.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Utah Transit Authority offers routes through Lehi and the Utah Valley, then back to Salt Lake City, and some routes around town. Taxis and rideshares are easy to find, and rental cars are available at the airport or in town.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

The risk is low, but news articles show patterns of theft, from shoplifting to stolen construction equipment. No matter how safe a city appears, you should still practice smart safety habits when choosing what to carry with you as you explore.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

Lehi has a low risk, but there's always a chance of an earthquake due to the nearby Wasatch Fault. Winter snowstorms happen each year, but this is one region that knows how to handle winter safety steps. Flash flooding from storms or melting snow in spring can happen, but that risk would come with plenty of warning. One thing to note is that the winds can be intense in this part of the valley. They could make driving challenging at their worst.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

This is another low risk, with most armed robberies reported at businesses, not by people on the street. You have to go back more than a decade to find an armed robbery anywhere near Lehi.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

The risk is low, but with the presence of important technology companies, there's still a valid reason to take note of suspicious activity and report it to the police.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

Check local law enforcement social media sites for the latest scams. I've seen Facebook Marketplace scams or thefts in several Utah cities, so I'd avoid using that system. The police department also posted a Cash App and Venmo scam, so it's worth reading that. Overall, the risk is largely against residents, not tourists. However, knowing the risks can keep the risk low.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

This is a safe place for women with low risk, and it is especially great for women traveling with kids. There are a lot of people under the age of 18 here, and many of the attractions are designed for kids and adults to enjoy.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

The U.S. has strict standards for tap water per the Safe Water Drinking Act. Communities are required to provide a Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report) once a year by July 1. The 2022 report for Lehi shows full compliance and no violations. Please keep reading to learn more about an E. coli health issue connected to irrigation water, which has nothing to do with the tap water.

Safest Places to Visit in Lehi

The website UtahValley.com is the best place to find information about Lehi and other communities in the valley.

Lehi is the beginning of the Utah Valley region, and it runs around the east side of Utah Lake to around Payson.

Thanksgiving Point is a sprawling complex offering a diverse range of attractions and activities.

It includes:

The Museum of Natural Curiosity, a hands-on science and curiosity museum perfect for families.
The Museum of Ancient Life features one of the world’s largest collections of mounted dinosaurs.
Ashton Gardens encompasses 55 acres of themed gardens and walking paths, including a large artificial waterfall.
Farm Country, where visitors can interact with farm animals and learn about agriculture.

The John Hutchings Museum of Natural History is a community-driven museum showcasing local natural history collections, including fossils, minerals, and pioneer artifacts.

It provides educational exhibits on the area’s prehistoric life and early settlers.

Lehi Roller Mills, an iconic landmark, is more than just a working flour mill.

It gained fame as a filming location for the 1984 movie “Footloose” and continues to produce high-quality baking products.

While it has been renovated since Kevin Bacon shouted, “LET’S DANCE!”, it still looks the same.

When you want to see Lehi from above, head to Flight Park State Recreation Area.

This is a premier destination for paragliding and hang gliding.

The location at the north end of Utah Valley offers optimal wind conditions and stunning panoramic views of the Utah Valley.

The park provides launch sites, landing zones, and training opportunities for both beginners and experienced adventurers.

If going underground is more your thing, head up the highway to Timpanogos Cave National Monument, located in the Wasatch Mountains.

This amazing cave system has intricate formations, and guided tours are limited to 16 people, with tickets sold in advance.

You should know that the hike to get to the cave is strenuous, with steep drop-offs and a summer temperature into triple digits.

The hike has breathtaking views of American Fork Canyon, but the trail is 1.5 miles with an elevation gain of 1,000 feet on the way there.

It might not be the most kid-friendly hike, especially if your kid can’t resist touching the cave wall, which isn’t allowed.

NOTE:

I debated if the cave should go in the “safe places to visit” or “places to avoid” section, but you can decide that.

It’s awesome if you like this kind of adventure, but people like me who are scared of heights and tight spaces wouldn’t fare well.

Places to Avoid in Lehi

You don’t need to worry about dangerous parts of town or bad neighborhoods here.

The city has a lot of things to do, and you can freely explore it without concerns beyond basic safety steps.

I would recommend you avoid getting a rental home or room near the lake in the warmer months due to the midge flies.

We’ll address that in the next section.

If you don’t like crowds, you might want to stay in a different Utah Valley community, as Lehi is growing at an alarming rate.

That means roads will have to undergo more construction, and different areas will have construction projects, which could be next to a group of hotels.

Also, avoid speeding on the I-15 through Utah Valley.

The highway patrol loves to set up on the side of the interstate and catch people speeding.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Lehi

Lehi has a local police department, and you can follow them on Facebook @lehipd. Call (385) 201-1005 if you have specific safety questions.
Like several other Utah Valley communities, Lehi uses the Everbridge program to send out emergency alerts. You can easily sign up for this free program. It’s important to get winter weather, severe weather, and other public safety notices when you’re visiting this city.
The police department offers a comprehensive incident reporting system online, which can save a lot of time and help keep the community safe. For example, if you have information about a crime, you can fill out the Crime Tip form. If you see graffiti, fill out the Vandalism form. Even car break-ins or lost personal property have forms. Once the form is complete, the police can review it and get in touch with you if needed.
Utah Lake is swarmed with midge flies and mosquitoes during the warm months. There’s really no way to get around this, as it’s as much part of life here as alligators are part of life in Florida. Limit exposure to bugs by avoiding lake activities near dawn or dusk.
Lehi dealt with an E. coli issue possibly connected to irrigation water, also known as secondary water. The emergency management section has an updated section to help everyone understand the potential risks of secondary water and what has been done to fix the E. coli issue.
Anglers are required to carry a Utah fishing license whenever they are fishing. You can purchase them online through the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
Alpine Loop Road is the fastest way to get to the mountains, but the road is closed in winter. You can check the status of that or any other road using the UDOT website or app.
The Utah Valley population is heavily Latter-Day Saints religion, which means Sundays could have many businesses closed or with limited hours. That’s a perfect day to do more outdoor stuff. If you were moving there, you might be a bit concerned about making friends if you aren’t a member of the church, but as a visitor, it’s not a problem.
If you like drinking alcohol, you should know that Utah has some strict and irregular liquor laws. It impacts where you can buy alcohol if you can get a drink in a restaurant, and how a restaurant is defined versus how a bar is defined. You can read the rules on the tourism website. You should also know that the legal limit for driving under the influence is 0.05%, compared to 0.08% in many other states.
Overnight street parking is banned from November 1 through March 30 to allow snow plows to get through when needed. During a snowstorm and 24 hours later, all street parking is banned. If you don’t move your car off the street, you’ll face a ticket, fine, and costs for towing the vehicle.

So... How Safe Is Lehi Really?

Here’s the second most important thing to tell you before you go to find it somewhere else: any site that claims they know the crime data for Lehi is lying to you, again, unless they are transparently telling you their information is at least five years old.

The reason why is that in 2020, crime data reporting went from a system known as UCR to the new NIBRS system.

This changed the way crimes were counted, reported, and categorized.

It was a lot of work to get that done, and it happened during a pandemic.

Moreover, reporting crime data is not required in American cities, but it is strongly preferred by the FBI.

So that leaves us with Lehi, a city that has almost doubled since 2010, in a world of unknowns.

What I can tell you is that even at the highest violent crime rate year, assuming the lowest, realistic population, Lehi’s violent crime rate was still one-third lower than the state average, which is 40% lower than the national average.

Then, there was a survey done in 2023, asking Lehi residents about what was most important to them and what their biggest concerns were.

Crime didn’t make the list.

“Growth and housing costs are the greatest concerns,” said Michael Call, founder of Civicus Consultants.

“These public policy issues have, in many ways, overtaken traditional issues such as education, crime and jobs as the most worrisome.”

Even as I scoured through page after page of news reports dating back to 2022, random acts of crime didn’t make the headlines.

We also know that Lehi is a family-friendly town, with nearly 38% of people living there under the age of 18.

The average income is $117,000, which generally means community involvement and low tolerance for increasing crime trends.

You should feel safe visiting Lehi and the Utah Valley, as the neighboring communities like Orem and Provo are also very safe.

How Does Lehi Compare?

City	Safety Index
Lehi	74
Baltimore	56
Boston	67
Washington DC	56
New York City	67
Detroit	56
San Diego	67
Calgary (Canada)	82
Buenos Aires (Argentina)	60
Vancouver (Canada)	82
Cordoba (Argentina)	61
Toronto (Canada)	81
Melbourne (Australia)	80

Useful Information

Visas

All international visitors need either a visa defining the purpose of the trip (tourist, work, school, etc.) or a visa waiver. Start the process using the Visa Wizard module on the U.S. State Department website. You’ll quickly find out which one you need. Also, keep in mind that your passport must be valid for at least six months after your trip, or you’ll need to apply for a new one.

Currency

Only the U.S. Dollar (USD) is accepted in the United States. Salt Lake City International Airport doesn't offer currency exchange services, so I would strongly recommend taking care of that at your home bank to get the lowest rates and fees. For those using credit cards, check to see if there’s a foreign transaction fee before you start racking up charges.

Weather

Lehi gets all four seasons, with summers that get into the 90s for daytime highs. You'll see a lot of snow in the winter, but it will cover the mountains in the distance, mostly. The city only gets about two feet of snow a year. You'll want to bring sunscreen, bug spray, comfortable clothing, and good walking shoes. Hiking boots should be worn before you trek through the nearby mountains.

Airports

You can get to Salt Lake City International Airport in about 30–40 minutes, and that's really the only option you have unless you want to take a very long road trip.

Travel Insurance

Comprehensive insurance offers the best protection and peace of mind. If you're renting a car, be sure you have uninsured motorist coverage and roadside assistance.

Click here to get an offer for travel insurance

Lehi Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Jan -4° C

Feb 0° C

Mar 5° C

Apr 9° C

May 14° C

Jun 20° C

Jul 24° C

Aug 22° C

Sep 17° C

Oct 10° C

Nov 3° C

Dec -2° C

Average High/Low Temperature

Temperature / Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °C	2	6	11	16	22	29	33	31	26	18	9	4
Low °C	-9	-6	-2	1	6	10	14	13	8	2	-3	-7
High °F	36	43	52	61	72	84	91	88	79	64	48	39
Low °F	16	21	28	34	43	50	57	55	46	36	27	19

Utah - Safety by City

City	Safety Index
Bicknell	81
Brigham City	82
Bryce Canyon City	82
Cedar City	86
Green River	83
Hurricane	83
Kamas	79
Kanab	79
Layton	81
Lehi	74
Moab	84
Ogden	72
Orem	82
Panguitch	78
Park City	78
Provo	94
Salt Lake City	55
Sandy	93
St. George	94
Vernal	83
West Jordan	94
West Valley City	65

Is Lehi Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Utah : Safety by City