Are you thinking about planning a trip to Moab? Awesome! We just went and had so much fun! There is so much to do including visiting some of the best national parks in the USA including Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.
I am going to give you a good idea of all the fun things there are to do in Moab.
Let’s explore all of your options!
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How to Get to Moab
A road trip to Moab is probably the best option as Moab is really far away from major cities and airports.
If you are looking to fly into Moab, I can think of three options. Flying into Las Vegas and hitting the mighty five National Parks in Utah as you make your way to Moab. A second option is to fly into Salt Lake City and driving to Moab from there. Lastly, you can fly into Grand Junction, Colorado. It will be the priciest option, but will be much closer than Las Vegas or Salt Lake City.
If you are planning on visiting all the national parks in Utah you might want to consider renting an RV from RV Share! It is a great way to experience all of the amazing parks.
Where to Stay in Moab
When planning a trip to Moab there are a few options for accommodations. Hotels, glamping, camping, and obviously RV sites are some of them.
Hotels
If you love to do the outdoor activities Moab has to offer but aren’t up for camping, do not worry. Moab has some really nice hotels. Marriott Spring Hills Suites is fairly new and has an amazing pool! Hyatt Place is another great option with a great pool. If you are headed to Moab in the summer a pool is essential!
Moab has a good variety of other hotels. There is a Holiday Inn Express, Comfort Inn, and many locally owned and operated hotels that are great options on any budget.
Cabin and Yurt Camping
Image courtesy of statparks.utahgov
Cabin camping or Glamping is available in Moab.
Up the Creek Campground
- Glamping tent for 1-2 people
- Tent sites also available
KOA Moab
- Luxury Cabins
- Regular Cabins
- Tent and RV sites available
Under Canvas Moab
Tent Camping
We decided to Plan a camping trip. We even slept in a tent! It was a good experience but there are some major things to consider when deciding if this is the right option for you. We stayed at the Moab KOA. This was a very great experience as we enjoyed the pool available at this location. Our site was pretty close to our neighbors but luckily no one was camping next too us.
Temperature
Moab is a dessert. It has cool temperatures at night and blazing hot temperatures during the day. In the heat of the summer Moab can get up to 100 degrees. It is a dry heat. ( I live in Utah and when I went to Moab my lips became chapped and my whole body needed lotion – it was 76 degrees when we went)
We camped in May and it was cold at night. It is hard to sleep when you are not at the right temperature! So keep that in mind.
Camping Equipment
Camping involves a lot of equipment that you need to haul. The tent, the sleeping bags, pillows, cots, cooking supplies, firewood, and food. Being prepared is really important especially when camping in a remote area.
It takes a lot of preparations before you even begin your trip to Moab.
Save Money
One positive thing about camping in Moab is that you will save a lot of money. There is lots of BLM land located just outside of Moab that is free to camp on. Or if you want to get a campsite at a camping resort it isn’t going to break the bank.
Campgrounds Near Moab
If you want to camp you have many options. I will list a few options that hopefully will help you plan your Moab trip.
Devils Garden Campground in Arches National Park
- 50 camping sites
- Higher elevation (5000 ft) – cooler in the summer heat
- Must pre-book up to 180 days in advance
- Spectacular views of rock formations and mountains
Willow Creek Campground near Canyonlands National Park
- 12 camping sites
- First-come first- serve
- Short Walk to Green River Overlook
Kayenta Campground in Dead Horse State Park
- 20 camping sites
- Little shade
- Pre book four months in advance
Needles District – Squaw Flat Campground in Canyonlands
- 26 camping sites
- Very remote
- Site A has better views than Site B
KOA Moab
- Tent, cabin, and RV sites
- Pool
- Bathrooms
- Games
- Bike repair station
- Picnic tables
Sand Flats Recreation Area
- 9 camping sites
- First come first serve
- Toilets
- Fire ring
- Picnic Table
- Good for Jeeps, bikes, and ATV
- Trails
There are so many more campsites in this area I can not list them all. But hopefully, this gives you some ideas. well. I highly recommend that you reserve a spot before you go. When planning your trip to Moab one thing to consider is that it can get busy during tourist season, and finding a campsite without scheduling beforehand will usually take a little luck and a little local knowledge.
RV sites are located at most of the campgrounds listed above. If you do not want to use hook ups there are so many options of places to boondock.
Get a copy of my Best Apps for Boondocking document I can email you one!
Things to Do in Moab
There are so many things to do in Moab: from National Parks, biking, off roading, camping, and exploring, Moab is an outdoor lovers dream vacation. Let’s explore some of your choices so that you can plan a trip to Moab.
Arches National Park
Arches National Park is just north of Moab. This park includes Delicate Arch which is on the license plate of Utah vehicles. It really is a fun hike that you will want to experience.
We have been to Arches many times and have loved hiking and viewing the magnificent arches located throughout this park. If you aren’t much of a hiker there is a self-guided driving tour that you can upload and listen to as you explore the park. Arches is one of the best West Coast National Parks.
Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands was formed by the Colorado River and is known for it’s excellent climbing and strenuous hikes.
The park is made of three parts; Needles, Island in the Sky and the Maze. Because Canyonlands is so spread out it is probably best to pick 1-2 areas to hit in a day.
Dead Horse Bend State Park
Dead Horse State Park has a fabulous look out point. There is a nice viewpoint area where you can take in the magnificent view. Sunset is the best time to go as you will catch some great photographs.
Hiking and mountain biking is available in this park as well.
Moab Giants
Just North of Moab and at the turn off for Canyonlands is a museum called Moab Giants. Utah is known for the excavation of dinosaur bones. Moab Giants has a nice walking trail your kids will love. There is a small dinosaur museum and a 5D aquarium.
Dinosaur Trails
We hiked along two trails that have dinosaur bones partially excavated in the walls of the cliffs. One was called Potash Road Dinosaur and Petroglyphs Trail. This trail is located north of Moab and the other trail was located at Mill Canyon.
Both trails are short. We hiked less than a mile long on each trail. You will need to off road to get to the trail head for Mill Canyon (but we made it in a mini van).
If you have a minivan like we do, or any other car that is not all wheel drive, the drive to the trail is challenging because certain parts have deep sand. We were lucky and didn’t have a problem!
Guided petroglyphs tours are available which might be better if you do not have AWD.
ATV Side by Side Off Road Adventure
Hummer Tour
A hummer tour is a two-hour adventure that will explore pre-historic dinosaur tracks, and hidden arches, as well as provide amazing views of Arches National Park and the Colorado River. It is like a natural roller coaster!
Jeep Rentals
You can rent a Jeep for about $300 a day and have the ability to off road at your own leisure. There are about 8-12 different roads that you can go on. If you rent from Moab Adventure Center, each Jeep will have a cooler for your snacks. It will also have a GPS that if at anytime you get lost the company can come and find you.
Hot Tip: Make a reservation ahead of time to make sure have your Jeep secured.
Mountain Biking
Many people come to Moab to mountain bike the Slickrock Bike Trail. There are over 9.6 miles of amazing bike trails.
Honestly, there are so many trails in this area you will probably want to come back again and again and still never hit them all.
River Rafting
Image courtesy of Moab, Utah
If you are looking for the ultimate adventure on the Colorado River river rafting is it! There are Class IV and V rapids for experts as well as Class I, II, and III for beginners. You can choose to go a half day or full day.
Most tours can be booked in Moab but you may want to pre-book if you know this is what you want to do!
Horseback Riding
Image courtesy of Trailsource
If you want to feel like you are in a cowboy movie a horseback ride along the towering cliffs and sand formations of Moab, horseback riding is just for you. You can take a morning ride or afternoon stroll. As you view the Colorado River from the horse trail you will really feel like you are in the wild wild west.
Zipline Tours
Image courtesy of Moab Adventure Center
Moab Adventure Center has a ziplining adventure for you. It is about 3 hours and includes some amazing views. You will get to experience 6 ziplines during your time with the tour group.
This is a little out of my comfort zone but some people love it!
Canyoneering
Image courtesy of DiscoverMoab.com
If you love climbing and have experience canyoneering is for you. You can climb with a tour guide or if you already have experience and equipment there are so many places to explore in Moab.
Star Gazing
Image courtesy of nps.gov
Planning a trip to Moab is the perfect way to get an amazing view of the night sky. They say the stars are incredible because there is very little light pollution in this area. It make for great photography. Dead Horse State Park is recognized as one of the best spots to observe the night sky.
We stayed in Moab at the KOA and by 10:00 pm we could see an incredible amount of stars. It really is amazing.
Moab Sand Hill
The Moab Sand Hill is located just outside of Arches National Park. Many families will bring sleds and slide down the hill. It is free! This is a fun activity in Moab for both kids and adults. Get ready to be covered in sand from head to toe!
Planning a Trip to Moab
Hopefully, this list has given you a few ideas of how you want to spend your time in Moab. There are so many amazing adventures in Moab! Get ready to have a lot of fun and make a lot of memories!
Another adventure not to far from Moab is Goblin Valley State Park as well as Capitol Reef National Park. They are great options to add as your are planning your National Park Road Trip.
If you have any questions be sure to join my Facebook Travel Community This great community can help answer any questions you may have about your upcoming trip. Plus, I try to add any great deals or promotions that companies send me!
Have fun planning a trip to Moab!
Alison
June 18, 2020 9:53 amWe don’t camp much anymore, so it’s nice to know that Moab has some hotel options too – that pool at Springhill Suites looks incredible! I also love to see all of the different activities with multiple ways to experience all of that incredible landscape!
Lisa
June 20, 2020 10:20 pmYes, that pool is amazing! There is so many fun outdoor activities!
Pam
June 18, 2020 9:58 amLiving in the Midwest, I haven’t taken many trips to the western states. Moab looks (and sounds) wonderful. I really need to plan a trip there soon!
Lisa
June 20, 2020 10:17 pmThere are some really cool areas out west, I still need to visit the Grand Canyon!
Karie Babbitt
June 18, 2020 2:29 pmI hadn’t heard of the yurts in Moab. Looks like fun. I would love to try the canyoneering.
Lisa
June 20, 2020 10:18 pmThere are a few places around Utah you can rent them. They look really cool!
Sara
June 18, 2020 6:24 pmI’d love to stay in a Yurt, and I think my kids would love it too. But man, that hotel pool looks amazing too.
Lisa
June 20, 2020 10:15 pmWe went this last time with the intent to camp otherwise that hotel called my name too!
Taquia
June 18, 2020 7:05 pmWe live on the east coast and really haven’t taken trips to the western states, but I would love to visit with my family and rent a cabin. Moab looks like an amazing place!
Lisa
June 20, 2020 10:15 pmThere are some unbelievable landscapes out west. It is worth a visit!
kmf
June 18, 2020 9:58 pmI so need to visit Utah…if I leave right now I can be there by 3:30 pm on Friday. Ha! Tempting! Love that you showcase your beautiful state!
Lisa
June 20, 2020 10:14 pmMy husband just drove 17 hours straight today from Oklahoma to Utah. So crazy! But if you have the time it is doable!
Stacey Billingsley
June 19, 2020 10:44 amGreat info! We are actually planning a road trip right now that includes Arches National Park and Canyonlands. We plan to leave July 6if we still feel like it’s an “okay idea” right now. We shall see. There is so much to do in this area! So fun!
Lisa
June 20, 2020 10:12 pmI would go! I talked with people in the area and they said they had 12 cases total in the area. It is so remote you should feel safe. The Navajo Nation was hit hard so just avoid that area.
Leeanne
June 19, 2020 10:45 amI went camping in Moab with friends when I living in Colorado but sadly we never made it to Dead Horse Bend. I guess I will have to come back and bring the family.
Lisa
June 20, 2020 10:10 pmIt is on your way to Canyonlands. It is a very beautiful view plus hiking trails around the park.
Missy
June 19, 2020 1:05 pmWe camped when we visited Moab. There is so much to do. I am looking forward to visiting again and hike more trails.
Lisa
June 20, 2020 10:09 pmSo many hiking trails and fun to be had!
Chantelle
June 19, 2020 7:15 pmMoab is THE BEST! This is such a great comprehensive guide!
Lisa
June 20, 2020 10:09 pmThanks, It is a great vacation spot!
Eva Keller
June 19, 2020 7:58 pmYour post is great! It really has everything you could possibly need for visiting Moab. We were supposed to camp at the KOA there for 3 nights back at the beginning of April so we could visit the National Parks, but of course everything was closed. It was part of a bigger road trip, so we still drove through and stopped to have lunch. The scenery is unbeatable and we can’t wait to go back and actually get to experience Moab.
Lisa
June 20, 2020 10:09 pmWe have been many times but we went a month ago. The National Parks were not open but the state parks were!
Jennifer
June 19, 2020 11:46 pmI would love to explore and photograph the parks
Lisa
June 20, 2020 10:07 pmThere are so many places to photograph!
Cindy Mailhot
June 21, 2020 6:53 amI have to take my grandson to see the Moab Giants…he loves dinosaurs.
Lisa
June 23, 2020 3:51 pmThat was fun for my 5 year old!
Cindy
June 21, 2020 10:29 amWhat a fun area to explore! So much to see and do. I’d love to experience yurt camping.
Lisa
June 23, 2020 3:51 pmIt would be really fun!
Sara
June 22, 2020 10:52 amI’ve been dying to go to Utah! It’s definitely on my list after COVID! The hotels look amazing! Thank you for sharing all these things to do!
Lisa
June 23, 2020 3:51 pmUtah is pretty open even now! The road trip will be worth it.
Danielle Ardizzone
June 22, 2020 11:03 amSuch striking photos! Reminds me of Radiator Springs from Disney’s Cars, lol.
Lisa
June 23, 2020 3:50 pmIt really does!
Tricia Snow
June 22, 2020 11:46 amMoab has definitely piqued my interest since you have been posting about it! It is so different from anything I have ever visited.
Lisa
June 23, 2020 3:50 pmThe landscape is really awesome, it is really dry!!! Utah is dry but Moab takes it to another level!
Bonnie
June 22, 2020 12:25 pmThis area is on my family’s bucket list….we would like to explore and stay in an RV for this one!!
Lisa
June 23, 2020 3:49 pmYeah there are so many free places to park your RV in this area.
Laura Lee
June 22, 2020 12:44 pmThis looks like so much fun and I have no excuse not to visit!
Lisa
June 23, 2020 3:48 pmIt is a great weekend getaway!
KENDRA
June 22, 2020 2:31 pmSuch a beautiful place! I think tent camping would be awesome there for several days!
Lisa
June 23, 2020 3:48 pmIf the weather is good! In the summer it might be too hot to tent camp!
Holly
June 22, 2020 2:51 pmA beautiful place to visit and take the whole family! Great adventure and pictures! Thanks for sharing!
Lisa
June 23, 2020 3:47 pmIt is a great place for a family vacation!
heather J jandrue
June 22, 2020 5:39 pmI want to go! We did not get to that part of Utah when we were there. It is my list for sure. Though I will in a hotel. Tents and I do not mix. LOL!!!
Lisa
June 23, 2020 3:46 pmThat hotel looks really nice I almost stayed there but my little boy begged to camp!
Kate
June 22, 2020 7:36 pmThis all looks so fun. I’ve never been to Utah – but clearly I should think of going!
Charlene
June 22, 2020 7:42 pmI love this area! I always feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface, though. So much more to see!
Lisa
June 23, 2020 3:46 pmI have been so many times and still haven’t seen everything.
Kay
June 23, 2020 8:10 amThis place looks gorgeous! I would love to go here! I think I need to add it to my bucket list!
Lisa
June 23, 2020 3:45 pmFor sure! Utah is a great place!
Tiffany
June 23, 2020 8:50 amBetween an RV and a yurt – I don’t know if I could decide! I would love to explore this area – nature at its finest!
Lisa
June 23, 2020 3:45 pmYes, we choose a cabin and a tent but maybe one day we will do an RV or a yurt or maybe that nice hotel pool!
Debbie
June 23, 2020 9:04 amYes I want to go here and stay in that pool! I mean hotel! Lol
Lisa
June 23, 2020 3:44 pmI know right!
Leeandra
June 23, 2020 9:49 amIve never heard about this place before, but looks like an amazing place to visit.
Lisa
June 23, 2020 3:44 pmIt is a cool area in the middle of nowhere!
Mariah French
June 23, 2020 10:16 amWe love Moab! We have stayed at Aarchway Inn last time we were there and loved how close it was to everything.
Lisa
June 23, 2020 3:43 pmThat is awesome!
Lisa
June 23, 2020 11:48 amThis looks beautiful! We have another place to add to our bucket list! Thank you for sharing.
Lisa
June 23, 2020 3:43 pmThis is a great bucket list location!
Michelle Felux
June 23, 2020 12:36 pmThis is SUCH an informative post! I would love to visit – will definitely pin for later. Awesome!
Lisa
June 23, 2020 3:42 pmThanks! It was fun to put together!
Suzan | It's My Sustainable Life
June 23, 2020 4:45 pmLooks like such an incredible area to visit!
Lisa
June 25, 2020 2:28 pmIt is a fun place to visit!
Alice
June 23, 2020 6:52 pmYour pictures are amazing!
Lisa
June 25, 2020 2:27 pmThanks!
Barbara
June 23, 2020 7:47 pmLots of great locations!
Lisa
June 25, 2020 2:27 pmThere are so many fun things to do in Moab!
Annette
June 28, 2020 5:19 pmI’ve never been to Utah, but when I get a chance, I’ll certainly try out some of these sites and activities.
Lisa
September 18, 2020 8:37 pmMoab is such a cool place! You would love it!
Jordan
July 14, 2020 5:48 pmWhat a great guide! Thank you so much. I am trying to check off all the U.S. National Parks, and Moab looks like a good place to hit a few nearby. And the river rafting looks super fun!
Lisa
July 14, 2020 6:16 pmJust don’t go in the summer! It is so hot!