Moab, Utah: A First-Timer’s Guide
Last summer, I visited Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park, two of Utah’s Mighty Five, for an epic nine-day family vacation. After getting a glimpse of what the Utah national parks had to offer, I knew I wanted to see more. Fortunately, I didn’t have to wait very long. This spring, I had the chance to visit Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, checking off two more of the Mighty Five from my bucket list.
Arches and Canyonlands are located just 26 miles from each other and only five miles and 30 miles respectively from the town of Moab, Utah. With its close proximity to two outstanding parks and miles of hiking, off-roading, and river rafting, Moab has become known as a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts.
For our first visit to Moab, we spent four nights, just enough time to get acquainted with this beautiful area of southeastern Utah. If you’re a lover of the outdoors and a fan of the national parks, it’s a destination you won’t want to miss. Here’s some information to help you plan your own trip to Moab, including how to get there, where to stay, and what to do.
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Getting There
Located more than four hours from an international airport, many visitors drive into Moab as part of a longer Utah itinerary. But several regional airports will get you closer if you don’t want to add an extra day of driving to your trip. We opted for Grand Junction Regional Airport, located just 114 miles away across the Colorado border. GJT is served by American Airlines, United, and Allegiant, and has on-site rental car services, including Alamo, Avis, Enterprise, Hertz, and National.
The quickest route from Grand Junction to Moab is Interstate 70 to Highway 191. But if you’re looking for spectacular scenery, then Interstate 70 to Route 128, known as the Upper Colorado Scenic Byway, is a can’t miss. Dramatic rock formations flank both sides of the highway as it follows the Colorado River. One of the most impressive views comes just past the town of Dewey, where the red tabletop mesas frame the snow-capped La Sal Mountains in the distance. We couldn’t stop oohing and aahing over the jaw-dropping views.
Best Time to Visit Moab
While summer is the most popular time to visit Moab, it’s arguably not the best time. Temperatures in southern Utah are regularly in the high 80s to low 90s but can reach triple digits. Extreme temperatures make it difficult, if not impossible, to enjoy some of Moab’s most famous hiking trails and natural wonders.
For milder temperatures, consider visiting Moab from March to May or September to October. Because of the pleasant weather, these months are considered high season, so prices will still be relatively high and you won’t entirely escape the crowds. But the ability to enjoy Moab’s outdoor activities without having to hide away during the hottest part of the day makes it all worthwhile.
Where to Stay in Moab, Utah
Red Cliffs Lodge
Along Route 128, about 20 minutes outside of Moab, is the Red Cliffs Lodge, a beautiful riverside resort that offers a choice of hotel suites or cabins. We stayed two nights at Red Cliffs, opting for a River Queen two-bedroom cabin. We loved the cabin’s spaciousness and views. It had a dining area and kitchenette, living area with pull-out sofa, gas fireplace, and Jack-and-Jill bathroom. In the late afternoons, we’d sit on the cabin’s large patio in the shadow of the cliffs and listen to the sounds of the river. The cabins at Red Cliffs Lodge are the perfect option for those looking to combine the ease of a hotel stay with the living space of a rental.
The Red Cliffs Lodge features various resort amenities including a pool, pickleball courts, sunrise yoga, and a Museum of Film and Western Heritage. It’s also easy through the lodge’s website or concierge to book a range of Moab adventure activities, including river rafting, jet boat tours, skydiving, rock climbing, canyoneering, and on-site horseback riding.
Hoodoo Moab, Curio Collection by Hilton
For those wanting to stay closer to town, the Hoodoo Moab is a great lodging option. Opened in 2019, the property offers modern, stylish décor, a full-service spa, and an outdoor pool with a lovely view of the red rock cliffs. It also has a steakhouse, Josie Wyatt’s, with indoor and poolside seating and service.
We stayed our last two nights at the Hoodoo Moab and enjoyed relaxing by the beautiful pool after long days of exploring the national parks. The Hoodoo Moab is directly across from the Moab Food Truck Park and walkable to numerous downtown shops and restaurants. It’s also less than a 10-minute drive to the entrance of Arches National Park.
Springhill Suites Moab and Fairfield Inn & Suites Moab
Finally, Marriott has two sister properties that are just three miles from the center of town, the Springhill Suites Moab and the Fairfield Inn & Suites Moab. They share an impressive recreation area with a canyon view that boasts two pools, three hot tubs, and a splash pad, making both hotels an excellent option for families.
Things to Do in Moab, Utah
Off-Roading
With almost a thousand miles of motorized trails, Moab is an off-roader’s paradise. And whether you’re an experienced off-road driver or a newbie, there’s a trail or a tour for you. During our trip, we took part in the Bronco Off-Roadeo, a full-day off-road experience that teaches Ford Bronco owners how to get the most out of their Bronco vehicles.
Our day at the Bronco Off-Roadeo started with a briefing on the vehicles and basic off-road skills and etiquette. We then spent the rest of the day learning how to traverse obstacles and use Bronco’s off-road technology on off-road trails located on public land. The experience included a picnic lunch and ended with a barbecue dinner back at the Off-Roadeo headquarters. It was both a terrific learning experience and a great way to get a close-up view of Moab’s otherworldly landscapes.
Although the Bronco Off-Rodeo was originally available only to Bronco owners, anyone can now sign up for a four-hour version through Adventure ORX at Bronco Off-Rodeo. Highly rated Jeep and UTV tours are also available in Moab from outiftters such as Outlaw Adventure Tours, Grand Company, and Epic 4X4 Adventures.
Colorado River Rafting and Kayaking
Rafting or kayaking the Colorado River is another popular thing to do in Moab. Although we didn’t have a chance to get out on the water, we watched kayakers and rafters glide by as we sat on our patio at the Red Cliffs Lodge. In the late afternoon, groups of boaters would make camp for the night, setting up tents and bonfires on the shoreline. Moab outfitters including Mild2Wild Rafting and Paddle Moab offer a range of tours, from half-day kayaking or rafting trips to multi-day excursions.
Visiting the National Parks
Any first-time visit to Moab should include stops at Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. The parks are not only spectacular in their own right but also unique from each other and from Utah’s other Mighty Five. As for how long to visit, each park deserves at least a day. Shortly after we arrived, we spent a few hours sightseeing at Arches and later returned for a full day of hiking. But I would have loved to spend two full days at Arches to see all the major sights. Our one full day in Canyonlands was just the right amount of time to tour the Islands in the Sky district, although we would have happily explored the Needles district if we’d had more time.
Arches National Park
Scenic Drive
Arches National Park encompasses 76,000 acres and is home to more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches. Most visitors to the park drive the 18-mile scenic road. For our scenic drive, we followed our favorite GPS-enabled audiotour, GuideAlong (formerly GyPSy Guide). GuideAlong highlights the best places to stop, providing fascinating facts and stories along the way. We arrived in Moab in the afternoon and headed straight to the park to listen to the tour. Within just a couple of hours, we’d explored the Park Avenue area, the La Sal Mountains viewpoint, the Courthouse Towers, and the Balanced Rock.
Hiking in Arches National Park
While the scenic drive is impressive at Arches National Park, visitors should also plan to spend some time on the hiking trails. Arches has a variety of trails from easy to advanced, many of which give visitors an up-close view of the park’s amazing arches and rock formations.
Some of the most popular trails at Arches National Park include the Delicate Arch trail, the Devils Garden trail, and the Fiery Furnace trail (permit required). Other can’t-miss arches, which are accessible via short, paved walking paths, are the imposing Double Arch and the nearby Windows and Turret Arches.
Delicate Arch Trail
Without a doubt, the most iconic and popular sight in Arches National Park is Delicate Arch. Fortunately, there are three different ways to see this arch depending on how much time you have and what your hiking abilities are. You can get a distant view from a viewing spot accessible by a level paved path 200 feet from the parking lot. Or you can do a half-mile moderately strenuous hike to a viewing spot located approximately four-tenths of a mile across a ravine. The trail gains about 200 feet of elevation and brings you level with the arch.
Finally, you can do a three-mile moderate hike that gains about 500 feet of elevation and traverses the face of the sandstone rocks. This trail brings you to the foot of the arch where you can take pictures under the opening. But note that this trail requires some rock scrambling and has steep drops. We did the three-mile hike and thought the close-up view of the arch was well worth the effort. Because the trail is almost completely without shade, this trail can get hot, so consider going in the early morning or late afternoon.
Devils Garden Trail
We also spent several hours at Arches exploring the Devils Garden trail. The first segment of this trail is considered easy and leads to the spectacular Landscape Arch, the longest arch in North America. Landscape Arch stretches 306 feet and at its narrowest section is only six feet wide. Large portions of the arch fell in the 1990s, making what’s left of the delicate span all the more awe-inspiring.
Beyond the Landscape Arch, the trail becomes strenuous, requiring scrambling over rocks and navigating narrow sandstone fins. I’m an experienced hiker, and climbing up the fins, which have steep drop-offs on both sides, made me nervous. But if you’re ready for the challenge, there are a couple of beautiful arches located off spur trails along the way. This trail also leads to Double O Arch, which is a total 4.1-mile hike out and back.
Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park is the largest of Utah’s Mighty Five, encompassing nearly 228,000 acres. It consists of three distinct districts—Islands in the Sky, the Needles, and the Maze—which are split by the Colorado and Green Rivers. The districts are not accessible from each other, and the three separate entrances of the park are between two and six hours apart by car. Because of its proximity to Moab, most visitors end up spending time in the Islands in the Sky district. We once again used our GuideAlong tour to explore Canyonland’s sights, including Shafer Canyon Viewpoint, the Mesa Arch trail, Grand View Point, and Upheaval Dome.
Dead Horse Point State Park
Considered one of the most stunning state parks in Utah, Dead Horse Point State Park is located just 10 miles from the Canyonlands National Park Islands in the Sky entrance. Dead Horse Point Overlook provides epic views of the canyons and the Colorado River and is a popular place to catch the sunset. The overlook is accessible by road, so you can add a stop here on your way back to Moab after finishing a visit to Canyonlands. The entrance fee is $20 per car.
Where to Eat in Moab, Utah
Moab may not be known for its fine dining, but it has several good places to grab a casual meal after a day of outdoor adventure. We liked the lively atmosphere at both Pasta Jay’s, an Italian pizzeria, and Moab Brewery, a craft brewery with standard American fare. For a restaurant with a view, try the Cowboy Grille at the Red Cliffs Lodge. Outdoor tables overlook the Colorado River where the setting sun gives a brilliant glow to the red canyons.
Interested in more national park vacations out west? You might like How to Plan the Perfect 7 to 10 Day Trip to Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks or Grand Teton and Yellowstone in 7 to 10 Days: How to Plan an Epic National Park Trip.
