Five-Day Moab Itinerary
Are you looking for the perfect Moab itinerary? We’ve got it. If you’re planning a trip to Moab, you’re probably here to see the two nearby national parks – or you’re bringing your own outdoor gear to recreate on some of the world’s best trails. But you don’t need to be a hardcore outdoor adventurer to enjoy the beauty of this southwest desert: here’s how to make the most of your trip, whether you’re visiting for the first time or making your annual excursion.
Getting here
Canyonlands Regional Airport – the local Moab airport is located about 20 minutes north of town and runs daily flights connecting to the Denver International Airport and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Grand Junction Regional Airport – located in Grand Junction, Colorado, about two hours from Moab. The
Moab Express shuttle runs airport shuttles from GJ to Moab.
Salt Lake City International Airport – located in Salt Lake City, Utah, about four hours from Moab. The
Moab Express shuttle runs airport shuttles from SLC to Moab, as does the
Salt Lake Express.
Denver International Airport – located in Denver, Colorado, about six hours from Moab.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport – located in Phoenix, Arizona, about seven and a half hours from Moab.
Travel tips
– Rent or bring a car. While there is (free) public transportation within the town of Moab, it’ll be easier to control your itinerary, and see everything you want to see, with your own vehicle. You can rent standard passenger vehicles in town, as well as off-road capable vehicles.
– Even if you’re taking it easy, the sun in Moab is bright and strong and hot! Even the locals get sunsick. We recommend splitting your day into two sets of activities – do something hard and exciting, followed by something relaxing. And drink lots, and lots, of water!
– Treat yourself to dinner in town – there’s a huge variety of options.
Request a free Moab Travel Guide!
Day 1 – Arches National Park and Ken’s Lake
Morning
Spend the morning of your first day in Moab in Arches National Park! If you’re visiting between April and October, you might need a timed entry reservation in addition to your park pass – think of the timed entry like a table booking at a restaurant. Here are details on
how to book your timed entry. If you’re planning on getting up really early and entering the park before 7 a.m., you don’t need a timed entry reservation. Bring a picnic lunch!
Easy hikes:
– Balanced Rock viewpoint and trail, 0.3 miles
– Double Arch viewpoint and trail, 0.6 miles
– Landscape Arch trail, 1.8 miles
Moderate to difficult hikes:
– Delicate Arch trail, 3 miles (but steep!)
– Devils Garden trail, 7.9 miles (footing is rocky, with narrow ledges and exposure to heights)
Afternoon
Return to town in the afternoon to grab a little treat – there are a few coffee shops if you’re craving caffeine, or head to Lop’s Pop Stop if you want an iconic Utah dirty soda – and head to Ken’s Lake to take a swim (and maybe even a nap).
Day 2 – Canyonlands National Park and exploring town
Morning
Canyonlands National Park is so large that it’s split into multiple districts – the Island in the Sky district is closest to Moab. The morning is a beautiful time to explore. If you’re up early enough, try to catch the sunrise at Mesa Arch!
Easy hikes:
– Mesa Arch, 0.6 miles
– Grand View Point, 1.8 miles
Moderate to difficult hikes:
– Whale Rock, 0.8 miles (steep drop-offs)
– Aztec Butte, 1.4 miles (requires scrambling)
Afternoon
Return to town in the afternoon to grab a late lunch – you can find a number of sandwich spots, or head to the Moab Food Truck park to find something for everyone – and spend a little time checking out the cute shops downtown. Back of Beyond Books is a fantastic bookstore specializing in books by local authors, and the T-Shirt Shop sells custom-printed shirts and hilarious bumper stickers.
Day 3 – All day excursion – horseback riding, off-roading, rafting
It’s a choose your own adventure day! Now that you’ve seen the national parks, it’s time to explore what else Moab has to offer. We built in two of these days to the itinerary, so for the first, we recommend looking into a horseback riding, off-roading, or rafting excursion.
Horseback riding
Local outfitters offer rides up Highway 128, if you want to see views of the Fisher Towers and Western movie settings, or in the La Sal mountains, if you’re craving a bit of mountain time.
Off-roading
Do a little research for this trip – there are off-roading excursions for all types of travelers. You can hop in the back of an open-air Hummer, rent a UTV/ATV/Jeep to take yourself up the trails, rent a Jeep to explore four-wheel drive roads. You always have the choice to go with a guide, and we recommend doing so: expert guides can point out features in the landscape, give you local recommendations, and keep you safe!
Rafting
Did you know the Colorado River runs through Moab? There are a few different whitewater experiences you can choose from, from the half-day Daily to the multi-day
Cataract Canyon.
Find a full list of guides and outfitters here.
Day 4 – Day trip to Bears Ears & the Needles District or Green River & the Swell
Moab is surrounded by incredible landscapes. For Day 4, we recommend you take a day trip! There are two easy options –
South of Moab: Bears Ears and the Needles District of Canyonlands
The drive to the Needles District of Canyonlands, south of Moab, takes about an hour and a half. Along the way, you’ll pass by Newspaper Rock (an amazing petroglyph site), and drive through Indian Creek (a climbing area in the Bears Ears National Monument). Hikes in this district are much longer, so make sure you bring a lunch, lots of water, and lots of snacks. We recommend the Chesler Park Loop (10.7 miles) and Druid Arch (10.8 miles). The Needles District also offers fantastic backpacking routes if you want to do an overnight trip.
North and West of Moab: Green River and the Swell
Green River is a small town north of Moab (about an hour away), making it a great stop on your way to and from hiking slot canyons in the Swell. Stop in the thrift store next to Tacos La Pasadita. From there, drive to the San Rafael Swell, a geologic area that includes Goblin Valley State Park and the San Rafael Reef (an hour and a half from Green River). Spend the day exploring Goblin Valley and head to Little Wild Horse Canyon for an unforgettable slot canyon experience. There’s ample dispersed camping outside of the park – or camping within the park – if you want to spend the night. The stars out there are spectacular.
Day 5 – All day excursion pt 2 – mountain biking, rock climbing, canyoneering
Spend your last day in Moab on another outdoor excursion! This time, choose between mountain biking, rock climbing, or canyoneering.
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is so, so fun. There’s nothing like the feeling of flowing and jumping over rocks: we think it’s the most playful sport you can do in Moab. It’s easy to try mountain biking for the first time here, and there are a few ways to do it. You can rent bikes from a shop in town, then drive yourself to a trailhead (we recommend beginners spend a few hours at the Moab Brands trail system, which hosts trails of all levels), or book a trip with a guide, who will provide transportation and give you a bike lesson. If you’re an experienced rider, try a new trail the next time you come to Moab – the Raptor Route in Sandflats Recreation Area is always fantastic.
Rock climbing
Nearly every Moabite has tried climbing at one point or another while living in Moab. It looks a little scary – we don’t recommend climbing or canyoneering for anyone who is deeply afraid of heights – but there’s a real sense of accomplishment when you finish climbing a route. Expert guides can take you out climbing and provide all the gear, transport, and knowledge you need.
Canyoneering
Have you ever rappelled off a rock face to the bottom of a canyon? Canyoneering trips are always exciting, and often involve a bit of scrambling, too. Canyoneering is a great way to explore the landscape – you’ll be up close and personal with the rocks – and expert guides will keep you safe.
Find a full list of guides and outfitters here.
Not to Miss
If you’ve got leftover energy, or more days to explore, we recommend checking out:
Mill Creek Dinosaur Tracksite – contains 200 tracks from at least 10 different types of animals who lived in this area in the Early Cretaceous (approximately 112 million years ago)
Fisher Towers Trail – explore bizarre-looking towers and shapes created from eroded sandstone
Birthing Scene Petroglyph – these figures and designs were created from the Formative to the Ute period.
Local museums – You can learn about the fascinating history of this area at the Moab Museum, a natural and cultural history museum, and Moab Giants, a dinosaur museum. These spots are also a great place to escape the sun for a bit!
