Living in West Haven

West Haven sits on the west side of Weber County, between Roy, Ogden, Hooper and Taylor. It still has open fields, horse properties and a rodeo arena, and it's also one of the fastest-growing cities in Northern Utah. If you're wondering what day-to-day life here is really like, this is my local's tour.

R. Kenneth Baldwin Country Park (2825 W 3300 S). Most people just call it Country Park. It's the city's main gathering place, about 40 acres that the city first developed in 1994. It has two reservable pavilions with kitchenettes and restrooms, a playground, ball fields, and the rodeo arena that hosts the West Haven Days rodeo every June. It also has eight free outdoor pickleball courts with permanent nets. There's no lighting, so you play sunrise to dusk and don't need a reservation. Walk around a bit and you'll find historical markers about Wilson and Kanesville, the two farm settlements that joined in 1991 to become West Haven.

Sports Park (4215 S 3900 W). This one is right by City Hall. It has a playground with a climbing wall, basketball, soccer and baseball fields, tennis courts, and a pavilion. On spring and fall evenings it's full of youth league games.

Stonefield Park (4529 S 4700 W). A newer neighborhood park on the west side, with a pavilion, a kitchenette, restrooms and a playground.

Prevedel Park (1300 S 2300 W). This is the city's river park, up on the north end near the Weber River. It has a walking path, a natural area, an amphitheater, camping spots, and access to the river trail. The pavilion can be reserved through the city.

Poulter Pond. A community fishing pond that opened in May 2025. It's stocked with rainbow trout, bluegill, channel catfish and largemouth bass. It sits inside the Poulter Family Open Space Preserve, which has a monument honoring the pioneers Wilson and Esther Poulter.

Neighborhood parks. Smaller parks are spread all over town: Holmes Estates Park (2450 W 1800 S), Fair Grove Park (4200 S 4700 W), Country Haven Park (3950 S 3650 W), Staker Park (3549 W 2875 S), Sycamore Park (2287 W 2625 S) and Tuscan Meadows Park (3150 S 2150 W). The city was also building a new Windsor Park, with a playground, restrooms and parking, as of 2025. City parks are open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Trails. The West Haven section of the Weber River Parkway is my favorite easy walk in town. It's about 2.7 miles out and back, shaded by cottonwoods, and follows the river from the West Haven Cemetery trailhead (2350 West) to the spot where the Ogden and Weber rivers meet. Keep going and the parkway runs about 11 miles through Ogden and Riverdale to South Weber, mostly paved. It's great for strollers, bikes and leashed dogs.

Golf. The closest course is Schneiter's Riverside Golf Course (5460 S Weber Dr, Riverdale), an 18-hole, par-71 course along the river about 15 minutes away. Crane Field Golf Course (3648 W Cranefield Rd, Clinton) is an 18-hole course with a driving range and discounts for military, seniors and juniors. Ogden City's El Monte Golf Course is up at the mouth of Ogden Canyon.

Wide-open spaces. Drive a few miles west into Hooper and you'll reach the Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area, more than 20,000 acres of wetlands on the edge of the Great Salt Lake. Birders, duck hunters and sunset photographers all love it.

West Haven doesn't have a big restaurant row yet. Most places are clustered in three spots.

4000 South near 3000 West. This is the newest cluster:

• Burly Burger (2970 W 4000 S) for burgers, fries and shakes
• Los Aribertos (2975 W 4000 S) for quick, filling Mexican food
• Westside Pizza (3008 W 4000 S), the local pizza stop for game nights
• Panda Express (3042 W 4000 S) when you want Chinese takeout

1900 West. This is the older commercial strip on the east side of town:

• All About Tacos (1970 W 2550 S), which opened in 2025 and serves trompo-cooked street tacos, with a drive-thru
• Emilia's Mexican Grill & Market (3064 S 1900 W), homemade Mexican food and a small market, known for its salsa verde and quesabirria
• Moore's Family Restaurant (2490 S 1900 W), a homestyle breakfast-and-lunch spot that's been feeding locals for decades
• Burger King (2450 S 1900 W) and Subway (2355 S 1900 W)
• The Maverik at 2577 S 1900 W, which has a Cinnabon inside
• Roxy's Pub (2172 S 1900 W) if you're looking for a neighborhood bar
• Chaparro's Tamales, tucked away at 2995 S Scott Lane, which is worth finding for their green chili chicken tamales

Midland Drive and 21st Street. On the south end, Midland Drive has TacoTime and Beans & Brews Coffeehouse (4691 Midland Dr), plus Roxberry Juice Co. and FiiZ Drinks (4671 S Midland Dr) for smoothies and dirty sodas. Up by the I-15 interchange on 21st Street, there's a 24-hour Denny's (1172 W 2100 S) and a McDonald's (2085 S 1100 W).

A short drive away. For a real sit-down night out, most of us head about 10 minutes east to Historic 25th Street in downtown Ogden. You can also try the restaurant corridors along 1900 West in Roy and Riverdale Road.

This one surprises people: West Haven has never had a full grocery store. That's finally changing. A 176,000-square-foot Walmart Supercenter broke ground in November 2025 at 4227 S Midland Drive, and it's set to open in April 2027 as the city's first grocery store. Until then, here's where locals shop:

• Harmons, 5370 S 1900 W, Roy: about 10 minutes from central West Haven
• Walmart Supercenter, 4848 S 900 W, Riverdale: about 10–12 minutes
• Costco, 3656 Wall Ave, Ogden: about 12–15 minutes
• WinCo Foods, 205 W 12th St, Ogden: about 12–15 minutes
• Smith's Food & Drug, 4275 Harrison Blvd, Ogden: about 20 minutes

A 123,000-square-foot Smith's Marketplace has also been proposed just west of here in Hooper. It wasn't approved as of mid-2025.

West Haven's big selling point is location. You're right off I-15, and I-84 splits off at the city's east edge. Most people use the 21st Street (Wilson Lane) or 31st Street interchanges, or head south on 1900 West or Midland Drive. 4000 South is the main east–west road through town.

Typical off-peak drive times from central West Haven:

• Hill Air Force Base (Roy Gate, I-15 & 5600 South): about 12–15 minutes
• Downtown Ogden: about 10 minutes
• Ogden-Hinckley Airport: about 10 minutes
• Weber State University: about 20 minutes
• Layton: about 20–25 minutes
• Downtown Salt Lake City: about 40–45 minutes
• Salt Lake City International Airport: about 40 minutes

Train. If you work in Salt Lake, FrontRunner commuter rail is close by. Roy Station (4155 S Sandridge Dr, off 4000 South at 2300 West) is about 3 miles from much of West Haven.

What's coming. UDOT is studying an extension of the West Davis Highway (SR-177) north from West Point to about 4000 South in West Haven. As of spring 2026 it wasn't funded and had no construction date, but it's worth watching.

The average commute for West Haven residents is about 23 minutes.

Most of West Haven is served by Weber School District. Boundaries have shifted as the area grows and new schools open, including West Field High School in nearby Taylor. There are also charter options close by, such as Quest Academy.

Want the full rundown on each school, boundaries and ratings? See my West Haven Schools guide.

The numbers. West Haven had about 10,300 residents in 2010 and 16,700 in 2020. The Census Bureau estimated 25,600 in mid-2025, a jump of more than 50% in five years. It's a young, family-heavy town. About 31% of residents are under 18, most people own their homes, and the median household income is a little over $100,000.

Walkability. Let's be honest: this is car country. Most addresses score under 10 on Walk Score, and the city's own resident survey found that nearly everyone leaves town for groceries and dining. What you get in trade is room: bigger lots, open space, and the river trail.

The yearly rhythm. The city's Community Events Committee keeps the calendar full:

• Easter Egg Hunt, the Saturday before Easter, with the City Youth Council
• Touch-a-Truck, the first Monday in May
• West Haven Days, the fourth week of June at Country Park. This is the big one: a parade, flapjack breakfast, open and youth rodeos, mutton bustin', a car show, a pickleball tournament, a free swim day, dinner and a movie in the park, a concert, and fireworks. The 2027 dates are June 23–26.
• Pumpkin Walk, the Monday before Halloween
• Heart of the Holidays, the first Monday after Thanksgiving

Farmers markets. There isn't one in West Haven. The Roy Community Farmers Market is right next door at 4059 S 1900 W. On summer Saturdays, Farmers Market Ogden fills Historic 25th Street from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., with 300+ vendors over the season (late May to mid-September).

Community space. The Barn Community Center (3785 S Green Farm Way) holds about 124 people, and you can rent it for reunions and parties. It also hosts the city's Senior Lunch Bunch. The city runs youth baseball, softball, tackle football and adult volleyball leagues.

Is West Haven a good place for families?
Yes. Nearly a third of residents are kids, the parks are busy, and the city puts on family events all year. People here value the sense of community and being close to family.

Does West Haven have a grocery store?
Not yet. A Walmart Supercenter is under construction at 4227 S Midland Drive and is set to open in April 2027. For now, Harmons in Roy and Walmart in Riverdale are each about 10 minutes away.

How long is the drive to Hill Air Force Base?
About 12–15 minutes to the Roy Gate at I-15 and 5600 South, depending on where you live in town. That's a big reason West Haven is popular with military families.

How far is Salt Lake City?
About 35 miles, which is roughly 40–45 minutes by car outside rush hour. FrontRunner from nearby Roy Station is another option.

Is West Haven growing too fast?
It's growing quickly, from about 16,700 people in 2020 to an estimated 25,600 in 2025. Locals feel it in traffic and in the loss of open space. On the plus side, that growth is bringing new parks, shops and the long-awaited grocery store.

Can I have animals or a bigger lot in West Haven?
Some parts of the city still have larger lots and animal rights, and newer subdivisions usually don't. Zoning varies by property, so ask me to check any home before you fall in love with it.

What is there to do in West Haven?
Country Park, pickleball, the Weber River trail, fishing at Poulter Pond, and West Haven Days in June. For a bigger night out, downtown Ogden is about 10 minutes away.

Which school district is West Haven in?
Mostly Weber School District. My West Haven Schools guide has the full breakdown.