Moab Travel Guide
Moab is an outdoor lover’s dream and a destination unlike anywhere else. Famous for its towering arches, dramatic canyons, and endless desert scenery, Moab offers adventure at every turn, hiking, mountain biking, off-roading, and so much more! Whether you’re chasing adrenaline or looking for unforgettable views, Moab is definitely a US destination you’ll want to go back to time and time again!
where to stay
Moab is pretty small so anywhere in the city or a bit outside of it will be a great location in terms of being close to a lot of things.
I’ve been there in my camper van and stayed South of Moab and near Canyonlands and both were great spots to be close enough to everything Moab has to offer.
My most recent trip I stayed at Slackline Moab and really enjoyed it! The hotel has a hiking gear shop, a coffee shop, outdoor pool & hot tub, a free ping pong table and more. I also loved the vibe of the whole place! It really embodied Moab being such an outdoor destination with the rooms designed with a climbing aesthetic
Know ahead of time
How Many Days to Spend in Moab
This is really dependent on what you plan on doing while in Moab. If you’re hitting up the National Parks then I’d say plan for 4 days. If you’re doing National Parks and more activities, then 5-6 days would be better. I’ve been able to get a lot done in just 3-4 days but I also cram a TON in on my trips.
getting Around
I’ve had a car or my camper van every time I’ve gone and don’t think I would have made it work without a vehicle so you’re definitely going to need to rent one.
Also, if you go out during times that’s not very busy, good luck finding an Uber/Lyft. We went out one night and it took forever to get an Uber to take us to the bar and then we ended up walking home 2 miles at bar close because there weren’t any available Ubers/Lyfts.
Time of year to Visit
The best time to visit Moab will be pretty dependent on what you’re doing and how much heat you can handle. The busy season is actually Spring and Fall when temperatures are milder and more ideal for outdoor activities. If you want less crowds but still be able to do a lot of things outdoors, then summer is best but make sure to be prepared for the heat! Not as many outdoor activities are available in the winter but you’ll see the least amount of crowds.
what to Do
#1 Dead Horse Point State Park
It’s a hard opinion to make but I would argue that Dead Horse Point State Park is much cooler than Arches & Canyonlands. You don’t need to plan a ton of time here but if you can make it work, seeing it at sunset is the best time! It’s right next to Canyonlands and you could easily visit both in one day!
#2 – Canyonlands National Park
I had never seen canyons before visiting Canyonlands so it blew my mind seeing them for the first time. I loved all the viewpoints but Schafer Trail Viewpoint & Grand View Point Overlook are my favorites! One note for first timers, the North part of Canyonlands is called “Island In The Sky” and the South part is called “Needles”. You cannot get between the two through the National Park. Island In The Sky is accessible by going North of Moab and then West. Needles, you access, going South of Moab.
#3 – Arches National Park
Arches National Park is gorgeous but this is the type of place where once you’ve seen a few arches, you’ve seen them all. I wouldn’t recommend planning more than half a day here. It’s still worth the visit but not one of my favorite National Parks. I will also mention that going for a second time was much better because it was a clear day and you could see the La Sal Mountains in the background. The first time it was storming and the park looked SO different.
#4 – Moab Rope Swing
For all you adrenaline junkies, you have to do the Moab Rope Swing! It’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. I won’t lie, I was terrified but once you get your feet off that ledge and free fall into the valley, it’s an indescribable experience! I won’t lie, it’s expensive but if you have the money to do it, it’s worth every penny. And I’d recommend adding on the drone footage. You can bring your own GoPro or Insta360 if you have one and then don’t have to pay for the GoPro footage but I really enjoyed doing it with my hands free and the drone footage was great so I feel like that’s all I needed! It does get booked up so make sure you reserve a spot before your trip if you want to do it. Find out more info here.
#5 – Drive Potash Road
Potash Road is a 17-mile paved scenic highway that winds alongside the Colorado River. I would recommend driving it from Moab towards Canyonlands but once you hit the unpaved part, turning around or else you’re in for a VERY long and bumpy ride into Canyonlands.
#6 – Hike
There is so much hiking around Moab and a lot of the hikes aren’t too bad to get to really fun viewpoints. I’ll share all the hikes I’d recommend in the section below!
Things I’d Do Next Time
Hikes
Corona & Bowtie Arch Trail
This was a favorite hike of mine! Corona and Bowtie Arch are some of the most accessible and prominent arches to be found. This trail isn’t hard to follow with marks on the ground guiding you but it would be helpful to have a trail map for this one if you aren’t good with directions. There are two sections that could be deemed “technical” because you have to climb up an area with the help of a chainlink and then another spot has a metal ladder but both were very easy to use!
Distance: 2.4 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 459 feet
Level: Moderate
More info here
Mill Creek Trail
I LOVED this cute little trail that leads to a waterfall where you can swim in the water and do some cliff jumping. I did it on a hot Saturday and had a ton of fun jumping off the cliffs and making new friends.
Distance: 1.5 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 59 feet
Level: Easy
More info here
Sand Dune, Broken, & Tapestry Arch Loop Trail
If you want to avoid the crowds of Delicate Arch in Arches, this trail leads you to 3 different arches and is much less travelled. After doing it once, I don’t feel the need to do it again but if you’re in Arches and want to just get one hike in that’s not too difficult, this is a good one.
Distance: 2.6 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 219 feet
Level: Moderate
More info here
Food
Cactus Jack’s
You get a lot of bang for your buck here! Both the breakfast and lunch food was amazing!
Milt’s Stop & Eat
If you’re looking for small town diner vibe this is the spot! Food wasn’t mind-blowing but it was good!
Moab Food Truck Park
Want a variety of choices? Hit up the food truck park.
Doughbird
Doughbird may have the best doughnuts I’ve ever had. If it’s open when visiting Moab, you HAVE to stop here.
MOYO
This was a great spot to stop at after a hot day of exploring and hiking. The different froyo and topping options were great and I love a good froyo shop!
food – local recs
Coffee
Snake Oil
This is my favorite little drive-thru spot in Moab. Went back two days in a row because the coffee was so good! Loved the Golden Specific Elixir!
Dos Mas Café
I loved the vibe of this café and it’s attached to a fun souvenir & thread shop.
Love Muffin Café
If you’re looking for decent coffee AND food, this is the spot!
Coffee – Local Recs
drinks
Moab Brewery
After launching myself off a cliff (Moab Rope Swing), it was time for a celebratory beer and this was the most recommended by locals. Great rec, the beer was delicious!
Woody’s Tavern
Went here on a Saturday night during the slow season so it wasn’t super busy and you did have to pay a $5 cover but if you’re looking for a place with music, pool, drinks, and other bar games, this is a fun spot!
