Moving to Alpine, Utah

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, NOAA, USGS, the Utah State Tax Commission, and Alpine City. Prices move, so ask me for current numbers.

Alpine sits in the north end of Utah Valley, at the foot of two big peaks. Lone Peak is about 5 miles north-northeast of City Hall, on the Salt Lake County line. It is 11,253 feet high. Box Elder Peak is about 5 miles east-northeast, at 11,101 feet. The Lone Peak Wilderness, a protected part of the national forest, touches the city line on the east. The forest wraps the north side too.

Highland wraps the whole south side and much of the west, so about half the city line is shared with it. The Utah County part of Draper touches the west line near Hog Hollow, but no through road crosses there. American Fork and Cedar Hills do not touch Alpine. Both sit just beyond Highland.

About 10,400 people live here, by the 2025 Census estimate. The 2020 count was 10,251. The number has stayed close to the same for five years. The city covers about 8 square miles of land. The city line runs about 4 miles from north to south and about 3 miles from east to west.

The lay of the land

City Hall is at about 5,000 feet. The lowest ground is about 4,840 feet, by the Highland line in the southwest. The streets climb to almost 5,900 feet on the north edge, so homes in town span about 1,000 feet of height. The city calls any ground above 5,350 feet “Hillside Lands.” About three in ten acres of the city sit above that line. The neighborhoods topic walks through the town from the low west side to the high north edge.

American Fork Canyon is not at the town’s edge. Its mouth on SR-92 is in Highland, about 6 minutes southeast of City Hall. The smaller canyon on Alpine’s own north edge is Fort Canyon, near Three Falls. The outdoors topic covers the trails and the big canyon.

How the town began

The William Wordsworth family and six other families came in early September 1850. They settled on the northwest side of a knoll at the north end of Utah Valley. The census taker that year counted 29 people. The city’s history page lists three old names: Upper Dry Creek, Lone City and Mountainville.

Settlers built a small fort in 1853 and a larger one in 1855. The city charter was granted on January 19, 1855. The city says the first twelve years of its records are missing. The count was 135 people by 1860 and 520 by 1900. By 1962 it was about 900. A 1936 history by Andrew Jenson called Alpine “the smallest city in the United States.” That was his claim, and the city page quotes it. The name Alpine is said to come from the mountain views.

The plans for the town

The city’s General Plan for 2021 to 2041 was adopted on November 30, 2021. It aims for a rural feel, with few homes on each acre. Lots are smallest in the center and get larger toward the edges. The city counted about 2,918 homes in 2025, and about 41 new homes a year from 2021 to 2024.

A Main Street plan is in its final draft. The Planning Commission held a hearing on March 31, 2026. The City Council went through it from April to July 2026 and sent changes back to the consultants. It is not adopted. Read the city’s plan page before you count on any change near an address.

Where the state highway stops

The state highway, SR-74, runs about 5 miles north from American Fork and ends in Alpine, near 400 South Main. The city has no freeway exit and no rail line. Most trips to I-15 go through Highland, American Fork or Lehi. The getting around topic has the drive times.

Want the street level view? Alpine on The Local has six guides to the town. Weighing the whole state? Start with my relocating to Utah guide. I did the homework here, and a partner agent I trust does the work on the ground.

Sources: the U.S. Census Bureau (2020 count, 2025 estimate, land area), USGS elevations and peak names, the Forest Service, the city’s history page, the General Plan and the 2026 city meeting records.

Alpine has four true seasons. Summers are warm and dry. Winters are cold and snowy. Spring is cool and changeable, and fall is warm early and crisp late. The numbers on this page come from a weather station inside the city. It sits about 0.8 miles north of City Hall and about 120 feet higher.

Month by month

These are the normal highs and lows for each month. The swing from day to night is big in every season. A normal July day runs from about 90°F down to about 59°F.

• JanuaryHigh 39°F, low 22°F
• FebruaryHigh 44°F, low 25°F
• MarchHigh 54°F, low 32°F
• AprilHigh 61°F, low 37°F
• MayHigh 71°F, low 44°F
• JuneHigh 82°F, low 51°F
• JulyHigh 90°F, low 59°F
• AugustHigh 87°F, low 58°F
• SeptemberHigh 79°F, low 49°F
• OctoberHigh 65°F, low 39°F
• NovemberHigh 50°F, low 29°F
• DecemberHigh 39°F, low 22°F

Source: NOAA climate normals, 1991 to 2020, Alpine station. Months are rounded to the nearest degree.

About 21 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a year. January is the wettest month, with about 2.5 inches. July is the driest, with about 0.6.

Frost dates matter if you garden. The last spring freeze is usually around May 3, and the first fall freeze around October 12. That leaves about 159 days between them.

Nights are cold in winter. About 133 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. About 19 days a year stay below freezing all day. Nights of 0°F or colder are rare, about one a year.

For the day to day side, see Alpine on The Local.

Alpine gets about 74 inches of snow in a normal year at the weather station. That is about 2.8 times the snow at the station on the Lehi lakeshore, 6 miles away, which gets 26 inches. Most of it falls from November through April.

December is the snowiest month, with about 17.5 inches. January is close behind at 17.4. February brings about 13.6, March about 9.6, and November about 8. April adds about 6. October averages about 1.6 inches, and May less than an inch. No snow falls from June through September.

About 19 days a year stay below freezing all day, so what falls tends to stay for a while. Winters here are real winters.

The winter parking rule

The city bans overnight parking on the street from December 1 to March 31, from midnight to 8 a.m. The ban also applies at any time when snow is on the street. Check the city’s notice for the plow routes. If a home has a short driveway, ask where the cars go on a snowy night.

For the bigger picture on snow and water in Utah, read my guide on Utah water and snowpack.

Summers are warm and dry, and the nights cool off. A normal July afternoon reaches about 90°F. A normal July night drops to about 59°F.

About 36 days a year reach 90°F or hotter. A day at 100°F or hotter is rare, about one year in five. June is milder, with highs near 82°F. August is close to July, near 87°F.

Alpine runs a few degrees cooler in July than the lake towns. The Lehi lakeshore station averages 92°F, and Provo averages 95°F.

Summer can also bring poor air. The air quality topic below has the details.

No weather station keeps wind records for Alpine, and no source gives a wind figure for the city. This topic gives none. I would rather say so than guess.

Judge wind one home at a time. Shelter changes from street to street, and the cards below show what I would check.

Yes, Alpine sits in Utah Valley, and Utah Valley gets winter inversions. An inversion is when cold air sinks into a valley and gets trapped under a lid of warmer air. On calm winter days, haze builds in that trapped air until a storm clears it.

Alpine sits 400 to 1,400 feet above the towns by the lake. In winter the haze often lies below it. Summer brings a different problem. Ozone is a gas that forms on hot, sunny days, and it brings some poor air days in summer. Wildfire smoke can add to both. The what to check topic covers the fire edge of town.

What the EPA says

Utah County is in the Southern Wasatch Front area for the 2015 ozone standard. EPA lists the area as Marginal, so it does not yet meet that standard. For fine particles, called PM2.5, EPA ruled in 2025 that the Provo area met the federal standard for the 2006 daily limit. That took effect on December 19, 2025.

Here is what I would do. Check the air each day on the county air quality page or the state’s air quality site, the way you check the weather. If air matters to you, visit during a gray winter stretch and a hot summer afternoon before you buy.

Car emissions tests are part of the same story. The first 90 days topic covers the test.

Sources: EPA Green Book (current as of September 30, 2026), the EPA news release on PM2.5 and the Utah County Air Quality Bureau.

Housing is the biggest cost in Alpine. The town is one of the higher-priced in Utah County, and land here is costly. The glance box at the top of this page shows the latest typical home value, from the U.S. Census. That number is the middle of what owners say their homes are worth. It is not a sale price, so judge any home against recent sales of homes like it.

The city sends one bill for most of the rest. One city account covers drinking water, yard water, sewer, storm drains, garbage and recycling. Power comes from Rocky Mountain Power and gas from Enbridge Gas Utah. The utilities topic has every fee, the sign-up steps and the watering rules.

Each service is its own charge on that bill. Yard water is billed all year, by the size of the lot plus the water you use. So the bill depends on your lot and your use, and no single total fits every home.

Alpine is studying its water and sewer rates in fall 2026. Check the city fee schedule for the current numbers before you set a budget.

With no rail in town, fuel and drive time are a real budget line too. The mean commute for Alpine workers is about 30 minutes, and about three in ten work from home. The economy topic has the numbers.

Weighing Alpine against a town nearby? Ask me and I will run the numbers side by side for the towns on your list. You can also open Highland, American Fork and Lehi.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 2020 to 2024), the Utah State Tax Commission, and Alpine City’s utility billing page and fee schedule (January 2026). Costs change, so ask me for current numbers.

For general information only. This is not tax or financial advice. Tax rates and home prices change. Consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.

Three taxes matter most when you move here: sales tax, state income tax and property tax. Alpine also kept its own property tax rate the same for the 2026-27 budget.

The city kept its rate for 2026-27

At its June 23, 2026 budget hearing, the City Council adopted what is called the certified tax rate. That rate brings the city the same property tax money as the year before, plus about $38,000 from new growth. So there is no city property tax increase this year.

A city that wants to raise its rate must first hold a public hearing, called a Truth in Taxation hearing. Alpine did not need one. Nearby Highland and Cedar Hills both held one in August 2026.

Where the tax bill goes

Most of a property tax bill does not go to the city. The city says it gets about 14 cents of each property tax dollar. The schools get about 70 cents.

The schools will change the bill again. The new Aspen Peaks School District takes over Alpine’s public schools on July 1, 2027, and it will set its own levy. A levy is the tax rate one group sets. No rate exists yet, so no one can tell you what it will be. The schools topic has the details.

The primary home exemption

Utah gives a tax break to the home you live in. A primary home is taxed on 55% of its market value. The Utah County Assessor asks owners to declare a home as primary or secondary.

A new owner has to apply for the break. From January 1, 2027, that application is required statewide when a home changes hands. Ask your agent about it at closing.

The parks tax

Alpine voters approved a 0.1% sales tax for parks in 2024, called the PARC tax. The city estimates it brings in about $120,000 a year for park improvements. The first projects include a rebuilt pavilion at Burgess Park and new park seating.

The emissions test

Utah County requires an emissions test to register most cars. The first 90 days topic walks through the test and the steps to register.

Sources: the Utah State Tax Commission (the 2025 county rate and the October 2026 sales tax table), the Utah Legislature, Alpine City’s June 23, 2026 budget minutes and its FY2026 Citizen’s Budget, and the 2026 Truth in Taxation list. Questions about your own bill go to the county assessor.

For general information only. This is not tax or financial advice. Tax rates and home prices change. Consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.

The glance box at the top of this page shows the latest typical home value for Alpine, from the U.S. Census. That number is the middle of what owners say their homes are worth, from Census surveys over five years. It is not a sale price. Prices shift through the year, so judge any home against recent sales of homes like it.

The 2020 Census counted 2,783 homes in Alpine. The city counted 2,918 in 2025. About 89% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, according to the Census survey. The city’s own housing report says 87%.

About 91% of homes are detached houses. Another 4% are attached or twin homes. The rest are a few small multi-unit buildings and the senior housing.

Most sales are resale homes, custom homes on foothill lots, and land. Only a few homes are for sale at one time. That leaves little to compare, so recent sales of similar homes are your best guide.

How old the homes are

The median home was built in 1998. About three homes in four were built from 1990 to 2019. That is 34% in the 1990s, 27% in the 2000s and 15% in the 2010s. Another 12% date from the 1970s and 6% from the 1980s. About 5% were built before 1970.

The city counts about 41 new homes a year from 2021 to 2024. The new construction topic tells what is being built now.

Lot sizes

Alpine’s General Plan 2021-2041 says the city wants a rural feel. It zones the smallest lots in the old town center and larger lots toward the edges. Four zones cover most homes.

Main Street has its own commercial zone, with a senior housing overlay. An overlay adds extra rules on top of the zone. Ask the city which zone a lot is in before you count on a use.

Backyard cottages

A backyard cottage is a second, smaller home on the same lot. The term is accessory dwelling unit, or ADU. State law requires cities to allow them. Alpine is writing its rules for detached ones in 2026. The state opens them to lots over 11,000 square feet. At a Planning Commission meeting, the chair said "almost everybody in Alpine can build an ADU." Check the current rule before you count on one.

Shop by price

Shop by kind of home

Sources: U.S. Census ACS 2020 to 2024 and the 2020 Census, Alpine City’s General Plan 2021-2041 and housing report, and Alpine Planning Commission records from August and September 2026. Prices shift through the year, so ask me for the latest Alpine numbers.

Alpine does not sell itself by branded neighborhood names, so the useful map is the ground and the roads. This list has six areas. It starts in the middle of town and then moves around and up the slopes, from south to north. Homes span about 1,000 feet of elevation, and the ground sorts lot size and hazard checks more than any name does. The overview explains the lay of the land.

• CenterThe old town grid around Main StreetAbout 4,950 feetCity Hall, Legacy Park, Creekside Park, Alpine Elementary and the fire station are here. So are the small shops at 400 South Main, where the state highway ends. This ground has the city’s smallest lots, 10,000 square feet, and its oldest homes.
• WestThe west and southwest sideAbout 4,850 to 4,950 feetThis is the lowest ground in town, by the Highland line. Westfield Elementary, Timberline Middle on Canyon Crest Road and Burgess Park are here. Most lots are about half an acre, on old farm ground. Dry Creek runs southwest through here into Highland.
• EastThe east side toward Lambert ParkAbout 5,050 to 5,250 feetMoyle Park is here, and Smooth Canyon sits in the southeast corner. A new phase of Smooth Canyon is in review, as the new construction topic tells. Farther up are the Lambert Park trailheads and the poppy garden. The outdoors topic covers the park. Homes along the Lambert Park edge sit next to open space.
• NorthwestThe northwest slopesAbout 5,050 to 5,150 feetMatterhorn Drive and Heritage Hills are here, and the Hog Hollow trailhead sits at the Draper line. The mapped fault zone crosses this side. The home checks topic explains.
• NorthThe north edge, Fort Canyon and Three FallsUp to about 5,900 feetFort Canyon Road and Three Falls, with its trailheads, are here. These are the highest streets in town. The mountain zone starts here, with the biggest lots. The state maps its higher wildfire risk areas on this edge.
• NortheastBox Elder and Willow Canyon, the northeast cornerAbout 5,400 to 5,650 feetBox Elder Drive, Alpine Cove and Grove Drive are here. Grove Drive climbs to the Dry Creek trailhead. Box Elder and parts of Willow Canyon have no pressurized irrigation, so yard water works differently. The utilities topic explains. The state also marks high wildfire risk on this edge.

Slope, water and hazard maps change lot by lot. So the partner agent walks the lot with you, and I stay on the homework behind it.

Which school a home goes to depends on its exact address. The boundaries may shift with the district change in July 2027. The schools topic has the details.

Want the story on a certain block? Tell me what you are after. My Alpine guides on The Local cover Lambert Park, the wilderness trails and the end of the state highway.

Areas follow the ground and the roads, since the city names no neighborhood map. Elevations come from the U.S. Geological Survey and are rounded. Which school a home goes to depends on its exact address, so check with the school district.

Most new building in Alpine is one-off custom homes on the lots that remain. The city counts about 41 new homes a year from 2021 to 2024. There is little open land left against the foothills, so a few small subdivisions are the other path.

If you want something new, you are often buying a lot and building a custom home. That makes the lot homework the real first step. The questions below come before any design talk.

What is in the city’s 2026 record

These are plans in the city’s records, not homes for sale. Builder sites are the place to check what is open.

• Smooth CanyonSmooth Canyon Phase 2Southeast cornerPatterson Homes is the applicant. The plan is for 23 lots on about 14 acres, with lots of about half an acre. It went before the Planning Commission as a preliminary plan on March 31, 2026, and it is in review. As of October 2026, the builder’s own site lists no Alpine community for sale.
• Main StreetPage Senior HousingRed Pine DriveA plan for 20 lots on 3.23 acres, in the Main Street zone with the senior housing overlay. The city’s June 2026 records show the application. Approval is not on the record.
• Healey BoulevardA five-lot plan on a private roadNear the Healey WellA developer asked to build five lots on a private road. The city does not allow private roads today, so the plan needs an exception. The public hearing was September 15, 2026, and no outcome is on the record.

A few areas of town are on septic instead of city sewer, so ask about it at any lot. No city map of septic areas was found.

Wildfire rules for new building

The city adopted state-required wildland-urban interface rules in January 2026. That is the set of fire rules for homes near wild land. Plan on them for any new home near the foothills. The home checks topic tells where they stand.

Before you plan around a lot, line up these checks in order.

1. Culinary water. Ask whether the lot has a city drinking-water connection.
2. Yard water. Ask whether pressurized irrigation reaches the lot. It does not reach Box Elder or parts of Willow Canyon.
3. Sewer or septic. Ask which one serves the lot.
4. The ground study. Ask which geologic hazard study the lot needs before you build.
5. Slope and access. Ask about the slope, the road width and the fire access.
6. The fire rules. Ask whether the lot falls on the city’s wildfire map.

Builders often cover the buyer agent fee, and your agent puts that in writing before you sign. Buying new works differently from buying a resale home, so read how it works before you tour.

Sources: Alpine City’s Planning Commission records for March 31, June 16 and September 15, 2026, its General Plan housing report, and Patterson Homes’ own site. A plan in the records is not a home for sale. Plans change, so ask me for the latest status.

Every town has its own list of things to check. These are the questions I would ask about any home in Alpine. A map or a test can answer each one for a single address, so check them one home at a time.

Wildfire rules are changing

The city adopted state-required wildfire rules in January 2026. A 2026 state law then moved the standard to the 2024 code. It also ties local maps to the state’s risk score. A draft wildfire map went to the Planning Commission on September 15, 2026. It is being redrawn, so check which map applies to an address.

The city’s own guide for building near wild land asks for roads at least 20 feet wide, ignition-resistant building and defensible space. The city is updating it for the 2026 state code. The Lone Peak Fire District has a fuel reduction guide and checklist for homeowners.

The fire chief told the council in August 2026 that "98 percent of cities in the U.S. have a lower risk than we have." You can check an address on the state’s Utah Wildfire Risk Assessment Portal.

The city’s hazard rules

Alpine’s Sensitive Land Ordinance has a geologic hazards overlay and a hillside protection overlay. They cover fault breaks, landslides, debris flows, rock fall and soft ground. The Planning Commission took up changes to the ordinance on September 15, 2026. Ask the city which rules apply to a lot.

Ask for the school assignment by address too. The schools topic covers the district change in July 2027.

Ask me about any of these on a home you like, and I will tell you what the record shows. Your agent on the ground can set up the radon test and the inspection.

More on inspections

This is general information, not legal, engineering, or insurance advice. Sources: the Utah Geological Survey, the U.S. Geological Survey, FEMA, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Alpine City’s General Plan and Planning Commission records, and the Lone Peak Fire District. Have a licensed inspector look at any home before you buy.

Sort out the financing before you start the search. Much of what sells in Alpine is not a standard subdivision home. A custom home on a foothill lot follows its own loan path. So do a high-priced home in a town with few sales and a lot you plan to build on.

The best first step is to get pre-approved. That means a lender checks your finances and tells you how much you can borrow. It shows what you can spend, and it makes your offer stronger.

With few recent sales to compare, the appraisal matters more, not less. The appraisal is the lender’s check of what the home is worth. Knowing from day one how a specific property will finance keeps an Alpine purchase smooth.

On the loan side I stay on your file myself. If I am your lender, I can tell you early if a home could be hard to get a loan on. The loan guides on this site explain each loan type in plain English. Utah Housing Corporation runs statewide homebuyer programs, so ask me what is open now.

One loan type does not apply here. USDA loans are for rural homes, and the USDA map shows every Alpine point tested as inside the ineligible area. That map result covers only the city itself. Conventional, FHA and VA loans are the ones to look at.

How my dual role works. I am licensed in both real estate and lending. On any one purchase I take one role. Every role is disclosed, and you are always free to choose your own agent and your own lender. In Alpine, a partner agent I trust does the work on the ground. The full explanation is on How I Work. This section is general information, not financial, legal, or tax advice.

Alpine has few jobs of its own. About 4,300 Alpine residents have jobs, and most of them work outside town or from home. The jobs I could find inside the city are public and small: the schools, the city and the fire station.

How people get to work

The Census counts about 30 workers in 100 who work from home. That is well above the county share of 19 in 100. About 62 in 100 drive alone, and about 6 in 100 carpool. Almost no one rides transit.

The average trip to work is about 30 minutes. American Fork averages 23, and so does Utah County. About 24 workers in 100 reach work in under 15 minutes, and about 18 in 100 spend 45 minutes or more. These numbers count people who live in Alpine, wherever the job is.

Where the jobs are

Lehi has the nearest large group of tech offices. Adobe is about 11 minutes from City Hall, and Thanksgiving Point is about 12. Lehi’s own budget lists Texas Instruments and Adobe at 1,000 to 1,999 workers each. The Lehi hub has more on its employers.

American Fork, Orem and Provo hold the rest of Utah Valley’s jobs, and Salt Lake City is about 36 minutes north. Utah County had about 302,200 jobs in March 2026. The traffic topic shows how the roads out of town work.

If you work from home, the internet at the exact address matters. The internet topic shows what the state map reports, and my guide for remote workers in Utah covers what to ask before you move.

Sources: Census ACS 2020 to 2024, the Lehi budget (principal employers, in ranges), BLS County Employment and Wages, and a router drive table. The city does not publish a list of its employers.

Not in the city. The nearest is American Fork Hospital, at 170 North 1100 East in American Fork, about 11 minutes from City Hall. Intermountain Health runs it, it has an emergency room, and the state licenses it for 70 beds. The state trauma list rates it Level III.

Trauma centers are ranked from Level I, the most complete, to Level V. Three more hospitals sit within about half an hour.

Hospitals nearby

On military orders? My military PCS guide covers VA loans and timing the move. Ask which clinics sit closest to your address when you set up care, and check hours before you go.

Sources: Intermountain Health, the Utah DHHS licensed facility list, the Utah trauma center list (May 2025), and a router drive table. Drive times are map estimates from City Hall.

Alpine School District runs every school in Alpine through June 30, 2027. On July 1, 2027, the new Aspen Peaks School District takes over. The buildings stay where they are. The board and the district office above them change.

Schools in the city

High school

Lone Peak High School teaches 10th to 12th grade. It is at 10189 North 4800 West in Highland, about 6 minutes from City Hall, and had 2,436 students in October 2025.

A charter school is a public school you apply to, not one set by your address. Alpine School District had 84,215 students on October 1, 2025.

Confirm the school for an address with the district. Do not guess from a listing, because a street on the edge of a school zone can go either way.

The 2027 district change

Voters approved Proposition 11 in November 2024, and it created Aspen Peaks. The district covers Alpine, American Fork, Cedar Hills, Highland and Lehi, plus the Utah County part of Draper. It will have about 36 schools and 35,000 students. Its first superintendent is Dr. Joel K. Perkins.

School boundary lines may change at the edges. The new district also sets its own property tax rate, and no rate has been set, so I will not guess at one. The taxes topic shows what the school share looks like today.

I do not rate schools, and I would be wary of anyone who says which one is best. Check boundaries and programs yourself, with what matters to you in mind. The links below go to the districts and to independent sites.

Sources: the Utah state school map (October 1, 2025 counts), the Alpine School District page on the three new districts, and the Aspen Peaks About page. Ratings come from independent third parties, not from me.

Alpine has no campus. Two large universities are in Utah Valley to the south. Utah Valley University (UVU) is in Orem, about 22 minutes from City Hall. Brigham Young University (BYU) is in Provo, about 29 minutes away.

The University of Utah is in Salt Lake City, and downtown Salt Lake City is about 36 minutes north. With no campus in town, school here means a commute. Weigh the drive against the semester calendar.

Times are map estimates in normal traffic, not to the campus door. Rush hour and parking change them.

The defining road fact is that the state highway ends in Alpine. SR-74, the Alpine Highway, runs about 5 miles north from American Fork and stops near 400 South Main. There is no freeway exit in town.

To reach I-15, you drive through the next town. Local streets and SR-92, the Timpanogos Highway, lead through Highland to I-15 in Lehi or American Fork. Rush hour on I-15 makes every drive longer.

From City Hall

• Lambert Park trailhead~6 min
• Lone Peak High~6 min
• Timpanogos Cave~9 min
• American Fork Hospital~11 min
• Thanksgiving Point~12 min
• Lehi FrontRunner~13 min

The average trip to work is about 30 minutes. The jobs topic has the commute numbers. Test your own route at the hours you would drive it before you buy.

Sources: Census ACS 2020 to 2024 and a router drive table. Drive times are map estimates in normal traffic.

No. No pack or schedule I checked names a train or bus route that runs in Alpine. Census counts fewer than 1 in 100 Alpine workers who ride transit. Plan on a car.

The nearest FrontRunner stations are in Lehi and American Fork. The Lehi station, at 3101 North Ashton Boulevard, is about 13 minutes from City Hall. The American Fork station, at 782 West 200 South, is about 14 minutes away and has a free park and ride lot.

Check the schedule before you ride. Routes and times change.

Sources: the UTA FrontRunner (Route 750) fall 2026 schedule, the UTA On Demand page, Census ACS 2020 to 2024, and a router drive table. Check rideuta.com before you ride.

Alpine has no airport. Provo Airport (PVU) is the close one for commercial flights, about 20 miles and 28 minutes away. Its website lists Allegiant, American and Breeze. Check which cities each airline flies to from Provo before you plan around it.

Salt Lake City International (SLC) is the full-service airport. It is about 40 miles and 47 minutes from City Hall.

• Provo (PVU)~20 mi · ~28 min
• Salt Lake City (SLC)~40 mi · ~47 min

These are drive times to the airport, not to the terminal door. Rush hour and winter storms change the Salt Lake City run the most, so leave extra time.

Sources: the Provo Airport website and a router drive table. Drive times are map estimates from City Hall in normal traffic.

Alpine sits at the north end of Utah Valley. Highland wraps the south and much of the west side, so most drives out of town begin in Highland. The towns below are the ones closest to City Hall.

Highland

~2 mi · ~5 min

Cedar Hills

~4 mi · ~7 min

American Fork

~6 mi · ~10 min

Pleasant Grove

~8 mi · ~13 min

Lehi

~8 mi · ~15 min

Provo

~19 mi · ~27 min

Salt Lake City

~32 mi · ~36 min

Park City

~55 mi · ~62 min

Here are more drives people ask about, all from City Hall at 20 North Main.

These are map estimates in normal conditions, not official figures. Add time for snow and rush hour, and check your own route. Canyon roads can close in winter.

Highland is the next town on most drives, and Highland, Cedar Hills, American Fork and Lehi each have a hub. The national parks topic has more on the long drives. More towns and day trips are in the nearby topic.

Want any other pair of towns? Look up any Utah drive between 138 towns.

Alpine City bills culinary water, pressurized irrigation, sewer, garbage and recycling, and storm drain on one city account. New customers fill out a utility application and a pressurized irrigation agreement. The city asks for a $100 deposit, which it refunds after a year of on-time payments, and a $25 transfer fee. Call 801-756-6347, extension 0, for the forms. You can pay online.

Two water systems

Most homes use two kinds of water. Culinary water is the treated water you drink and wash with. Pressurized irrigation, also called secondary water, is for lawns and gardens. It is not drinking water.

Pressurized irrigation is not available in Box Elder or in parts of Willow Canyon. Homes there pay a large-use scale on culinary water instead. It is $0.90 for each 1,000 gallons up to 60,000, then $1.40 up to 175,000, then $2.80. Confirm what serves a lot on those edges before you rely on it.

Culinary water

The base charge is $17.00 a month and covers the first 8,000 gallons, plus a meter fee. Homes on pressurized irrigation then pay by the steps below. The city says it bills culinary water on your average use for 10 months of the year.

Pressurized irrigation

The city bills pressurized irrigation all year. The base charge is $43.71 per acre of lot each month, plus a $1.00 meter fee. Metered use is then priced in six steps against an allowance set by lot size and month. A shareholder in Alpine Irrigation Co. pays a lower rate per square foot. The city posts a bill estimator.

In 2026, the city set watering hours at 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Even addresses water on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and odd addresses on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The city said the system would shut off the week of October 15. After a dry winter, it asked every home to use the free EyeOnWater app. Check the city’s page for each year’s rules.

Sewer and storm drain

The city collects sewage, and the Timpanogos Sanitary Sewer District treats it. The sewer base is $14.40 a month and includes 2,000 gallons. Each added 1,000 gallons costs $3.94, based on your winter water use from October to March. The district adds a $10 charge to each account every month. Storm drain is $5 a month, and the utility page also lists a $1 monthly EMT fee.

Trash and recycling

Ace Disposal picks up under a city contract. The first can is $11.85 a month, and each extra can is $7.60. A recycling can is $7.50. Trash is picked up weekly, and recycling every other week. For a missed pickup, call Ace Disposal at 800-724-9995.

Power, gas, fire and police

Rocky Mountain Power (888-221-7070) serves Alpine, and Enbridge Gas Utah (800-323-5517) supplies natural gas. The Lone Peak Public Safety District provides fire and police for Alpine and Highland. Lone Peak Fire District runs Alpine Station 202, and its non-emergency line, 801-763-5365, is where you ask about burn permits. The city is remodeling that station and adding a citizen center.

Alpine is studying its water and sewer rates in fall 2026, so check the current fee schedule. I have not added these charges into a monthly total, because use and lot size change the sum.

Sources: the Alpine City utility billing and water pages, the fee schedule dated January 27, 2026, the sewer district site, and Lone Peak Public Safety. Fees change, so check with the city.

For general information only. This is not tax or financial advice. Tax rates and home prices change. Consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.

Cable reaches almost every street in Alpine, and fiber reaches only a few. The state broadband map shows Xfinity cable at 34 of the 35 spots with data. It shows CentraCom fiber at 8, all on the west side near and west of Main Street. It shows Quantum Fiber at 6, Xfinity fiber at 5 on the northeast slopes, and CenturyLink fiber at 4. Fixed wireless and satellite show at every spot. The map shows no UTOPIA or Google Fiber.

The mayor said in August 2026 that the city is talking with CentraCom about bringing fiber to town. She said there would be no infrastructure cost to the city, and that Alpine schools and City Hall already use CentraCom. No agreement has been signed.

I list who reports service, not speeds or prices. That is what the companies report, not a promise for a given house. Check an address on the state broadband map. For cell service, look at each carrier’s own coverage map for the address.

Sources: the Utah state broadband data (UGRC, October 2026) and the Alpine City council minutes of August 25, 2026. Plans and companies change, so check before you sign.

Moving day is only the start. Here is the short list for your first 90 days in Alpine, in a sensible order.

1. Set up the city accountFill out the utility application and the pressurized irrigation agreement with the city. Then set up Rocky Mountain Power and Enbridge Gas Utah, and pick an internet company. The utilities topic has the fees.
2. Get your Utah driver licenseThe Driver License office is in Orem, at 759 North 1370 West. The fee to transfer an out-of-state license is $52 for ages 21 and up, and $39 for 20 and under.
3. Get an emissions testUtah County requires one for most cars. See the box below.
4. Register your carUtah gives you 60 days after you make a permanent home here. The DMV office is at 150 East Center Street in Provo. North county residents also use the South Valley office in Draper, at 14555 South Minuteman Drive. Pass the emissions test first.
5. Declare your homeTell the Utah County Assessor whether the home is your primary home or a second home. The county offices are in Provo, at 100 East Center Street.
6. Test for radonRadon is a gas that can seep into a home from the ground. Test even a new home. The home checks topic has the local numbers.
7. Call before you digCall 811 before any digging. It is free, and it marks buried lines.
8. Learn the burn and parking rulesAsk Lone Peak Fire for a burn permit before you burn anything. The overnight parking rule for winter is in the snow topic.
9. Get a library cardAlpine has no public library, but the city pays back $50 a household each year for a card elsewhere. The things to do topic has the details.
10. Register to voteDo it online at vote.utah.gov, or through the county.
11. Sign up for schoolConfirm the school for your address with the district, then register. The district changes on July 1, 2027. See the schools topic.

The emissions test

Utah County is one of five Utah counties that require an emissions test. Salt Lake, Davis, Weber and Cache are the others. A new gas car is exempt for its first two years. A gas car six model years old or newer is tested every two years. An older gas car, seven model years or more, is tested every year. Even model years test in even years, and odd model years in odd years.

Diesel rules differ. A diesel from 1997 or older is exempt, so check the county page for the rest. Testing stations set their own prices, and they must post them.

Rules and office hours change. Check each office before you go.

There is no supermarket inside Alpine. The nearest full grocery store is Macey’s in Highland, about 4 minutes from City Hall. It is open Monday to Saturday and closed on Sundays.

The city’s own draft Main Street plan describes a small business district of about a dozen businesses. It says residents often shop in neighboring cities. In the plan’s numbers, groceries top the list of spending that leaves town. The plan is a draft, and the council has not adopted it.

Times are map estimates in normal traffic. The store list was checked in October 2026. Hours change, so check before you go.

What Alpine has

Burgess Orchards, at 500 Bateman Lane, sells peaches, apples and local vegetables in season. It is the one food store in town. Highland also holds a farmers market on Thursday evenings, so check the dates.

Walmart in Cedar Hills and Smith’s in north Lehi are the next nearest full stores, about 7 minutes away. Check their Sunday hours before you go.

Bigger shopping

The restaurants topic has the places to eat and where food clusters.

Sources: the stores’ own pages, the Cherry Hill Farms page, the page for The Meadows, the draft Main Street plan (November 2025), OpenStreetMap, and a router drive table. Hours change, so check before you go.

Alpine sits at the foot of the mountains, so the trails start inside the city. Lambert Park is about 6 minutes from City Hall. The Lone Peak Wilderness touches the city line on the east. American Fork Canyon is a different place. Its mouth is in Highland, about 6 minutes southeast on SR-92. Alpine's own north edge is Fort Canyon and Three Falls, a smaller canyon.

Lambert Park and the poppy garden

Lambert Park is 255 acres of city open space at Grove Drive and Box Elder Drive. It has miles of trail for hiking, horses and biking. It also has camping in set areas and a pavilion called the Bowery. Since the City Council voted on April 24, 2018, motor vehicles are not allowed. Maintenance and emergency vehicles are the only exception. No fires are allowed anywhere in the park, and no shooting is allowed in the park or in the city.

The park has four parking entries. The South entry is by the stake building. The North entry is by the rodeo grounds, which sit at the north end of the park. The West entry is off Moyle Circle, and the East entry is at Box Elder Way. Do not park on Prospector Way, because the access there is through private land. The Lambert Park south trailhead is about 6 minutes from City Hall. A link from the park to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail was built in 2024.

The poppy garden is the park's best-known sight. The city opens it for two to three weeks, from late May into early June. It posts the dates each year. In 2025 the garden ran from May 22 to June 8. In 2026 the city warned that a dry year could shorten the bloom. Follow the red flags, stay on the paths, keep pets on a leash and take nothing home. The garden is not wheelchair accessible. If walking is hard, call City Hall about a one-use pass.

The wilderness and the trailheads

The Lone Peak Wilderness covers about 30,088 acres. Congress designated it in 1978. Lone Peak (11,253 feet) is about 5 miles north-northeast of City Hall. Box Elder Peak (11,101 feet) is about 5 miles east-northeast. Three trailheads serve the Alpine side.

• TrailheadDry CreekTop of Grove Drive, about 9 minutesThe way to Horsetail Falls, about 4.5 miles out and back by the Local guide's count. The long route to Box Elder Peak starts here too.
• TrailheadThree Falls upper trailheadBy the pond at the top of Three Falls Way, about 9 minutesThe 2026 Alpine Days hike to Lake Hardy started here. It was about 11 miles round trip, with about 4,500 feet of climbing.
• TrailheadLambert ParkFour park entries, south trailhead about 6 minutesThe closest trails to City Hall, on city land.

The old road toward the Schoolhouse Springs trailhead crosses private land. Ask Alpine City before you go. The Lambert Park guide, the Horsetail Falls guide and the Box Elder Peak guide tell more.

American Fork Canyon and the cave

American Fork Canyon is national forest land. The road, SR-92, enters the canyon in Highland, about 6 minutes southeast of City Hall. At the developed sites you need a Forest Service pass. It costs $10 for three days, $20 for seven days or $60 for a year. Interagency passes are honored.

Timpanogos Cave National Monument is about 9 minutes from City Hall. The trail to the cave is a strenuous 1.5 miles. Tickets are sold on Recreation.gov up to 30 days ahead, and the Park Service takes cards only. Cave tours generally open in late May and run through early October.

The Alpine Loop is the scenic road over the mountain to Provo Canyon. It tops out near 8,000 feet. UDOT reopened it on May 22 in 2026, and it usually opens in late May and stays open into the fall. The upper gates close for winter. Tibble Fork Reservoir is about 22 minutes away. Silver Lake Flat is about 32 minutes. Cascade Springs is about 42 minutes over the loop in summer.

Mount Timpanogos stands at 11,750 feet. The Timpooneke trailhead is about 22 minutes from City Hall. On summer and fall weekends and holidays, parking there needs a timed ticket from Recreation.gov. The dates and hours reset each year, so read the Forest Service page first. The American Fork hub tells more about the canyon, and the Mount Timpanogos and Alpine Loop guide covers the climb.

City parks

The city runs parks across town. None allows weddings or alcohol. Creekside Park does not allow club or organized sports.

Park work is paid in part by a small parks sales tax that voters approved in 2024. The taxes topic has the figures. The city is also writing a parks master plan.

Alpine runs no recreation programs of its own. Cedar Hills Recreation takes Alpine residents at the resident rate. The Murdock Canal Trail has no trailhead in Alpine. The nearest ones are in Highland.

City and trail details come from Alpine City, the Forest Service and the Park Service, read in October 2026. Drive times are map estimates from City Hall at 20 North Main. Hours, closures and trail rules change, so check before you go. I do not rate trails.

No national park is close. They lie to the south and east, or across the Nevada line, and each is a long day or an overnight trip. Timpanogos Cave National Monument is the nearest park unit, about 9 minutes away. The outdoor recreation topic covers it.

Zion has more than one entrance. Use the drive tool for the one you plan to use.

Drive times are map estimates from City Hall, in normal traffic. Check each park's own site for hours, fees and closures.

Sundance is the closest ski area by name, about 34 minutes from City Hall, up Provo Canyon. Snowbird is about 45 minutes and Alta about 47, by I-15 and Little Cottonwood Canyon. That makes them nearly as close as Sundance. Park City Mountain is about 62 minutes.

The Provo Canyon road to Sundance stays open all year. The Alpine Loop route is a summer road only, because its upper gates close in winter. Winter weather can add time to any of these drives. Resorts usually open in late November. Each resort posts its own opening dates every fall. The Utah Department of Transportation posts live road status and the traction law on its Cottonwood Canyons page.

Drive times are map estimates from City Hall, in normal traffic. Check road conditions before you go.

Alpine has no golf course. The nearest ones are 6 to 16 minutes away. Cedar Hills Golf Club is about 6 minutes from City Hall, and Fox Hollow in American Fork is about 7. Thanksgiving Point Golf Club in Lehi is about 16.

The Cedar Hills hub, the American Fork hub and the Lehi hub tell more about each town. Check each course for current rates, hours and tee times.

Course status comes from each course site and from Alpine Days, read in October 2026. Drive times are map estimates from City Hall.

Alpine itself has very little to eat out. Inside the city there is a doughnut and drink shop at the south end of Main Street and a seasonal farm stand. Sit-down meals start at Highland Town Center, about 4 minutes away. Another cluster sits on Cedar Hills Drive and Canal Boulevard, 6 to 7 minutes away. American Fork and north Lehi, 10 to 15 minutes away, have the long lists. The American Fork hub and the Lehi hub name places in each town.

Six places with a record you can check

• Farm standBurgess OrchardsAlpine, 500 Bateman LanePeaches, apples and local vegetables in season. About 2 minutes from City Hall.
• GroceryMacey's HighlandHighland, 5353 West 11000 NorthA full grocery store. Closed on Sundays. About 4 minutes away.
• ThaiPique ThaiHighland, 5435 West 11000 North, Suite 8-9A family-owned Thai restaurant in Highland Town Center, with online ordering. About 4 minutes away.
• MexicanCafe Rio Lone PeakCedar Hills, 9920 North 4800 WestA Utah Mexican grill chain, with a drive-thru. About 6 minutes away.
• MexicanCosta Vida HighlandHighland, 4817 West Canal DriveAnother Utah Mexican chain. Closed on Sundays. About 7 minutes away.
• BakeryLehi Bakery's Highland storeHighland, 4821 West Canal BoulevardA bakery and doughnut shop. The bakery began in 1969, and this store opened in October 2025. Open Monday to Saturday. About 7 minutes away.

The towns differ, so each place above is labelled by town. Highland Town Center also has Chinese, Indian and pizza places, several fast-food shops and a hardware store. The Highland hub tells more about that town.

The shopping topic covers groceries and stores. The events topic covers the festivals.

Each place was checked on its own site or location page in October 2026. Hours change, and small places come and go. This is not a ranking, and no one paid to be listed.

Alpine's sights are small and old. A stone tower, two small museums and a lawn on Main Street fill the list. The town has no public library. For most other outings you drive to Highland, American Fork or Lehi. The events topic covers Alpine Days, and the arts topic covers the museums as culture.

Moyle Historical Park

Moyle Historical Park is on 770 North, about 3 minutes from City Hall. It covers 2 acres. The Moyle House and Indian Tower were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. John Rowe Moyle, a stonemason, built them. The tower is made of granite and is about 12 feet across. It was built around 1860 to 1866. The nomination calls it the only structure of its type known to have been built in Utah for a single household. It was restored in 1951 and again in 1976.

Tours are by appointment, so book ahead through the city. The park has a pavilion, and dogs are not allowed.

Relic Hall, the printing museum and Trucks & Tunes

The Relic Hall Museum is at 50 North Main. Tours are free and are led by guides from Alpine's Daughters of Utah Pioneers camps. Call City Hall at 801-756-6347 to set up a visit. The hall is also open without an appointment during Alpine Days. The Crandall Printing Museum is at 65 West Main Street Court. It is a museum of historic printing presses, open by appointment.

On Tuesday evenings from early June to early August, Legacy Park hosts Trucks & Tunes. Food trucks and a band set up from 5 p.m. until dusk. Legacy Park is on Main Street, across from City Hall.

No library, and what to do instead

Alpine City does not have a public library. The city pays each household back $50 a year for a library card you buy elsewhere. The nearest public library is in American Fork, at 64 South 100 East. The Utah Bookmobile also stops in Alpine every two weeks on Tuesdays. One of its three stops is Creekside Park, from noon to 2:30 p.m.

Thanksgiving Point in Lehi is about 12 minutes away. It holds gardens and museums, and its Tulip Festival runs from April to mid May. The Lehi hub tells more. The top 8 things to do guide lists more stops in Alpine.

Details come from Alpine City and the National Park Service, read in October 2026. Hours change, so check before you go.

The arts scene here is thin. Alpine has two small museums, a quilt show in August and free summer music. For a stage or a gallery, you drive out of town.

The parks tax voters approved names the arts, but its first projects are parks. Bigger stages are in the nearby towns. See the Lehi hub, the American Fork hub and the Provo hub.

Details come from Alpine City and the Alpine Days site, read in October 2026. Shows and hours change, so check before you go.

Alpine Days is the big week. It falls in the second full week of August, from Saturday to Saturday. In 2026 it ran August 8 to 15, and the city has posted August 7 to 14 for 2027. The city called 2026 its 175th anniversary year. Dates move each year, so the notes below say "usually".

Alpine Days

The week has something most days. In 2026 it had a pickleball tournament, a golf tournament at Cedar Hills and a mountain bike race in Lambert Park. It also had an auto show, Chalk the Walk and a movie in the park. One night had stargazing at the Lambert Park Bowery with the Utah Valley Astronomy Club. Toddler Trot and Tots in the Park were events for little ones. A carnival and Music in the Park filled the last days.

The professional rodeo runs three nights at the rodeo grounds. In 2026 all three nights sold out. Residents buy first, starting July 1, and everyone else buys from July 15. The Alpine Days site is the only official place to buy tickets.

The closing Saturday is the busiest. In 2026 the 5K started at 7 a.m. at Burgess Park. The Grand Parade left at 9 a.m., just north of the roundabout, and went through town to the north end of Main Street. The quilt show and Relic Hall tours ran that day from 10 to 4. Fireworks went off at Creekside Park at about 10 p.m. and lasted about 20 minutes. Main Street is the parade route, so plan errands around it.

The rest of the year

Alpine holds a Memorial Day ceremony at the city cemetery at 8 a.m. On the 9/11 Day of Service, Alpine joins Highland, Cedar Hills and Pleasant Grove. In late October, Main Street closes from City Hall to the roundabout for Trick or Treat on Main Street. In early December a Letters to Santa mailbox stands in front of City Hall. In dry years the city limits fireworks. In 2026 it banned them through July 25 on the fire chief's advice.

• JanuarySki season. Snowbird is about 45 minutes away and Alta about 47.
• FebruarySki season goes on. Moyle and Relic Hall are open by appointment.
• MarchThe last of ski season. The Alpine Loop gates are still closed.
• AprilThe Tulip Festival starts at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi.
• MayThe poppy garden opens in late May. The Memorial Day ceremony is at the cemetery. The Alpine Loop reopens and cave tours start.
• JuneThe poppies fade by early June. Trucks & Tunes begins at Legacy Park.
• JulyAlpine Days rodeo tickets go on sale: residents July 1, everyone else July 15. Fireworks limits may apply in dry years.
• AugustAlpine Days fills the second full week. Trucks & Tunes ends early in the month.
• SeptemberThe 9/11 Day of Service. Fall color starts on the Alpine Loop late in the month.
• OctoberCave tours end in early October. Trick or Treat on Main Street comes in late October.
• NovemberThe Alpine Loop gates usually close for winter.
• DecemberThe Letters to Santa mailbox is at City Hall. Ski season opens.

Event details come from the Alpine Days site and Alpine City alerts, read in October 2026. Dates move each year, so check before you plan around one.

Alpine sits at the north end of Utah Valley, with Highland wrapped around its south side and much of its west. Times are from City Hall.

Day trips

Timpanogos Cave is about 9 minutes away. Thanksgiving Point is about 12. Sundance is about 34 minutes through Provo Canyon, and Park City is about an hour. The outdoor recreation topic and the ski topic cover each trip. The Utah Valley weekends guide lists more. For the wider state, start with the Relocating to Utah guide.

Drive times are map estimates from City Hall, in normal traffic.