The Complete Guide to Moab, Utah: Two National Parks, One Desert Town
Moab is a town of 5,400 people in Utah's red rock country that punches absurdly above its weight. It's the gateway to both Arches and Canyonlands national parks, home to the world's most famous mountain bike trail, and sits on the Colorado River with rafting from your doorstep. Here's everything you need.
Overview
Moab sits at 4,000 feet in a valley between sandstone cliffs along the Colorado River. Arches National Park is 5 miles north. Canyonlands (Island in the Sky) is 32 miles west. Dead Horse Point State Park is 30 miles southwest. The town itself is one main street — Highway 191 — lined with gear shops, restaurants, and motels.
Best Time to Visit
March through May and September through November are ideal: 15-27°C, comfortable for hiking and biking. Wildflowers bloom in April.
Summer (June-August) exceeds 40°C. Hiking after 10 AM is dangerous. If you must visit in summer, go at dawn and hide indoors by noon.
Winter (December-February) is cold but rideable/hikeable on clear days. Some access roads can ice over. Crowds are minimal.
Getting There
Canyonlands Field (CNY): 16 miles north of Moab. Limited flights, seasonal.
Grand Junction, CO (GJT): 110 miles east. More flight options.
Salt Lake City (SLC): 235 miles north, 4-hour drive. Most flights, best fares.
A car is essential. There's no useful public transit in Moab or the parks.
Where to Stay
Category
Options
Price Range
Camping
BLM dispersed (free), Goose Island ($20), Devil's Garden in Arches ($35)
$0-35/night
Budget
Moab Valley Inn, Big Horn Lodge
$80-120/night
Mid-range
Hoodoo Moab, Red Cliffs Lodge
$150-250/night
Splurge
Sorrel River Ranch, Under Canvas
$300-600/night
Book early for spring and fall weekends — Moab is a small town and sells out.
Free BLM dispersed camping along Highway 128 (the river road) and Highway 313 (toward Canyonlands) is legal and popular. No reservations, no facilities. Bring water and a camp toilet.
Arches National Park
Over 2,000 natural stone arches — the densest concentration on Earth.
Must-do:
Delicate Arch: 3-mile round trip, 500 feet elevation gain. Sunset is iconic — the arch frames the La Sal Mountains in golden light. Start 2 hours before sunset.
Landscape Arch: 306 feet, the longest in the world. Easy 1.6-mile walk in Devils Garden.
Windows Section: Short walks to massive arches. Kid-friendly.
Entry: $35/vehicle, 7 days. Timed entry reservation required April-October ($2 at recreation.gov). Book as soon as they release.
Canyonlands National Park — Island in the Sky
Vast, empty, and humbling. A mesa 1,000 feet above the canyon floor.
Mesa Arch: 0.6-mile loop. At sunrise, the underside of the arch glows orange with reflected light from the canyon below. One of the most photographed scenes in the American West.
Grand View Point: The end of the road. A viewpoint where the canyon system stretches to the horizon in every direction.
White Rim Road: A 100-mile 4WD loop on a ledge halfway between the mesa top and the river. Multi-day trip. Permit required.
Entry: $35/vehicle, 7 days. The $80 America the Beautiful Pass covers both parks.
Dead Horse Point State Park
A state park viewpoint 2,000 feet above a Colorado River gooseneck bend. The view used in the final scene of Thelma and Louise. Entry: $20/vehicle.
The mountain bike trails here (Intrepid Trail System, 8.6 miles) are excellent — mesa-top riding with canyon views on both sides.
Activities Beyond the Parks
Colorado River Rafting: Half-day float trips ($60/person) through calm red-rock canyons. Full-day whitewater trips through Cataract Canyon ($200+). Outfitters: Adrift Adventures, Sheri Griffith.
Mountain Biking: Slickrock Trail (10.5 miles, intermediate-advanced), Bar M Loop (7.8 miles, beginner), Whole Enchilada (26 miles, expert). Bike rental: $60-90/day.
Rock Climbing: Fisher Towers and Wall Street climbing areas. Guided climbs from $150/person.
Stargazing: Arches and Canyonlands are International Dark Sky Parks. The Milky Way is visible to the naked eye. No light pollution.
Where to Eat
Zax Restaurant: Pizza ($14-18) and burgers. The local go-to.
Quesadilla Mobilla: Food truck near City Market. Excellent quesadillas, $8-12.
Budget
Category
Budget/Day
Mid-Range/Day
Splurge/Day
Accommodation
$0-35 (camping)
$80-150
$200-400
Meals
$25-40
$40-70
$70-120
Park entry
$10 (annual pass/7 days)
$10
$10
Activities
$0 (hiking)
$60-90 (bike/raft)
$150-250
Total
$35-85
$190-320
$430-780
Safety
The desert will hurt you if you disrespect it.
Water: Carry 1 gallon (4 liters) per person per day. There is no shade and no water on most trails.
Heat: Summer temps exceed 40°C. Hike before 9 AM or after 5 PM only.
Flash floods: Slot canyons and dry washes can flood from storms miles away with zero warning. Check weather. Don't enter narrow canyons if rain is possible anywhere in the region.
Wildlife: Rattlesnakes are present. Watch where you step. Scorpions at night — shake out shoes in the morning.
The Verdict
Moab is one of the best outdoor destinations in America, period. Two world-class national parks, a world-class mountain bike trail, river rafting, rock climbing, and some of the darkest night skies in the country — all accessible from a main street you can walk in ten minutes.
Four to five days is ideal. Two for the parks, one for biking or rafting, one for Dead Horse Point, one for rest. But Combine Moab with a road trip to Yosemite or Big Sur for the ultimate western US adventure.
honestly, I've been four times and haven't run out of things to do. The desert keeps revealing new layers — a side canyon you missed, a sunset angle you hadn't seen, a trail that looks completely different in spring light versus autumn.
