Moab, UTBy ArrivLast checked
Plan a trip to Moab
Two national parks within an hour of one small town. Sort that first. Arches now runs timed-entry reservations in peak season, which is the detail that catches unprepared people out at the gate.
- Adventure trips
- Road trips
- Hiking
- Couples
Free to run, and you keep editing after. Add who's coming or a pace like “slow mornings” to shape the result.
Moab at a glance
Where you sleep decides more of a Moab trip than the sights do, which is why Downtown Moab, North Moab / Highway 191, and Spanish Valley are compared here on rate and walking distance before anything else. Then the four stops, and the months to book or avoid. Most trips run 3 to 5 days.
- How long
- 3–5 days
- When to go
- April to May, then September to October. Summer regularly clears 100°F, which pushes hiking to before 9am. Winter is cold, quiet, and often beautiful, with snow on red rock that almost nobody turns up to see.
- Getting around
- A car is mandatory, and high clearance opens up the 4x4 roads. Fuel up in town, and carry more water than seems reasonable once you are out there.
What to build the plan around
- 1
Delicate Arch
Three miles round trip with no shade, so sunset is the photograph, while sunrise is the quiet version.
- 2
Arches scenic drive
Windows, Balanced Rock, and Devils Garden along one 18-mile road, with timed entry applying April through October, which is when you need to plan.
- 3
Island in the Sky
Canyonlands' most accessible district, with Mesa Arch at sunrise and Grand View Point at the end, which is the right order.
- 4
Dead Horse Point State Park
The overlook people mistake for the Grand Canyon, thirty minutes from town, so it is an easy evening.
Where to stay in Moab
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- Downtown Moab
- A walk to food and outfitters, and five minutes from the Arches entrance when you are heading out. Browse stays in Downtown Moab
- North Moab / Highway 191
- Motels and campgrounds closest to both park entrances, which is the point if you are hiking at dawn. Browse stays in North Moab / Highway 191
- Spanish Valley
- Quieter rentals south of town and better value in peak season, though you drive in for every meal and every trailhead. Browse stays in Spanish Valley
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More itineraries to copy
Each one opens as a map with every stop already placed.
Moab planning questions
- How many days do you need in Moab?
- Most people take 3 to 5 days, and the extra one earns its keep if you dislike rushing. Three days gives each park a full day plus one river or 4x4 morning. Five is right if you are rafting or riding the Whole Enchilada, and that ride deserves a recovery day behind it.
- What is the best time to visit Moab?
- April to May, then September to October. Summer regularly clears 100°F, which pushes hiking to before 9am. Winter is cold, quiet, and often beautiful, with snow on red rock that almost nobody turns up to see.
- Where should I stay in Moab?
- Book Downtown Moab if you are undecided, because it is the most convenient of the three and the choice you are least likely to regret. A walk to food and outfitters, and five minutes from the Arches entrance when you are heading out. Two others are worth comparing before you commit, and the difference is mostly rate against how far you walk. North Moab / Highway 191: Motels and campgrounds closest to both park entrances, which is the point if you are hiking at dawn. Spanish Valley: Quieter rentals south of town and better value in peak season, though you drive in for every meal and every trailhead.
- How do you get around Moab?
- A car is mandatory, and high clearance opens up the 4x4 roads. Fuel up in town, and carry more water than seems reasonable once you are out there.
- What should I see first in Moab?
- Go to Delicate Arch early in the trip, before the days start filling up with things you booked later. Three miles round trip with no shade, so sunset is the photograph, while sunrise is the quiet version. The other three stops can go in whatever order the map makes easy, since none of them depends on the others.
- Is there a free Moab itinerary I can copy?
- Yes, and reading it costs nothing. Arriv has a Moab itinerary with every stop mapped and a day-by-day order to follow, which is enough to plan from without touching it. Duplicate it into a trip of your own and the dates, the places, and the order are all yours to change.