This post was updated December 2024

There are so many things to do in Moab, Utah that you mind find yourself feeling like you need to spend a month in this tiny town of around 5,300 people. And truthfully, even then, you won’t be able to fit all the best things to do in and around Moab into one trip – unless you low-key move there, but hopefully this list of all the amazing things to do there will inspire you to plan a trip or two or three to this amazing red-rock paradise!

Quick Info About Moab, Utah

Getting to Moab: Moab is easiest to access via road trip. There is a very small airport just outside of Moab, but the closest major airport is in Salt Lake City (4 drive time hours away).
When to Visit: Peak seasons are spring + fall when the weather is much more mild. It’s still busy in summer, but temps can get astronomically higher than other seasons. (Like, 105°F kind of high.)
The Town Itself is Very Walkable: If your accommodation has parking and is downtown, you won’t actually need to take your car out again for downtown adventures. We walked just about everywhere we went in downtown Moab!
Pay Close Attention to Opening Hours: Many businesses (especially restaurants) are only open certain days and certain hours. Because of this, you might have a plan b for meals or pay close attention to their social media to see if things are indeed open. We had many instances where places’ hours didn’t line up with what they had listed on Google.
Book Accommodation in Advance: While it’s not going to book up months and months in advance, don’t leave it to the last minute either. We started looking about a month out and our options were much more limited than we expected. If you have special wants or needs, booking earlier than later is the best bet.
Watch the Weather for Flash-Flooding: Pop-up showers and storms can happen at any moment. Be sure to check the forecast for any chances of rain before heading out to a slot canyon.
Also, Be Careful of Extreme Temperatures: It can be very hot in Moab, especially in the summer and often shade is pretty limited, so it’s very easy to get dehydrated and overheated. Keep plenty of water on you.

Where to Stay In Moab, Utah

Luxury: Hoodoo Moab – Curio Collection by Hilton – we walked by this property several times and thought about how fun it would be stay there eventually. This hotel looks so sleek and has amenities like a gorgeous pool and soaking tubs in the rooms. It looks lavish, especially for Moab.
Ultimate Family Stay: Purple Sage Flat #2 is where we stayed on our last trip to Moab. This flat has bunkbeds in the common space and a separate bedroom, perfect for kids who go to bed much earlier than parents. Also, it has a kitchenette, so it’s great for preparing a meal or two in to save money!
Family Friendly: Expedition Lodge – for around $180 you can get a room with a queen bed and bunkbeds! Plus, their outdoor pool has a waterslide. This definitely is a spot to take your kiddos.
Mid-Range: Comfort Suites Moab – This mid-range hotel ranks at almost a 9 on Booking.com and rooms go for just under $125. That’s a steal!
Budget Friendly: Adventure Inn in Moab – As low as $70/night for good accommodation (8.1/10 on Booking.com) means you can affordably stay in Moab as long as you like.
Glamping Option: OK RV Park has tipis that you can glamp in that look absolutely fabulous. We stayed in a teepee in Marfa, TX and I absolutely loved it. I’d love to try it here as well!
Camping Option (Tents & Campers): We love camping at Sun Outdoors – Arches Gateway. I’ve tent camped here a couple of times, and we’re staying here in our camper in 2025 and very excited about it.

Booking.com

Best Things to Do in Moab, Utah

Take a Hike

Moab is made for outdoor enthusiasts. As an avid hiker, I can tell you that taking a hike is my number-one suggestion for the best thing to do in Moab! Desert landscapes are so other-worldly and amazing that every single trail brings you to something totally different. While most people go for the National Parks, there are hikes all over the area, so be sure to look for some outside of the parks as well!
BEST HIKES IN MOAB OUTSIDE OF NATIONAL PARKS: Devil’s Garden, Corona Arch, Fisher Towers, and Delicate Arch

Arches National Park

Arches National Park sits just about 5 minutes from downtown Moab. Although this park is relatively small, it packs a big punch of adventure and beauty. There are massive + stunning formations, over 2,000 arches in the park and miles and miles of hiking trails. There are dirt roads to explore, starry skies to wonder at and just so much to take in. This is actually one of my favorite US National Parks of all time. I’ve been so many times that I feel confident in telling you how to spend one perfect day in Arches National Park!
BEST OF ARCHES NATIONAL PARK: Devil’s Garden, Broken Arch Loop, Delicate Arch, Courthouse Wash Petroglyphs and Double Arch.
Check out our Ultimate Guide to Arches National Park

Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands is a vast national park made up of canyon after canyon split across three sections: Island in the Sky, The Needles District and The Maze. Island in the Sky is the closest to Moab, but all are easily visited in a day. The only section we’ve truly explored is Island in the Sky, but even in just that one section there is so much to see! Plus, we still have two awesome sections to explore the next time we’re in Moab!
BEST OF CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK: Grand View Point Trail, Mesa Arch, Upheaval Dome and Shafer Trail.

Go Off-Roading or Take a 4WD Route

There are so many places to rent 4WD vehicles or if your own truck or SUV is 4WD or AWD don’t hesitate to go on those roads on your own. We took on a couple of different 4WD roads to see sunsets, go down canyons and find petroglyphs in our Subaru Outback. It was so much fun to explore places with fewer and fewer people.
BEST 4WD ROUTES TO TAKE: Shafer Trail, Poison Spider Mesa, and Kane Creek Canyon Safari Route.

Follow in the Tracks of Dinosaurs… Literally

Dinosaurs roamed the land that is now Moab leaving behind their tracks. There are different hikes and trails in Moab that lead you to fossils and the tracks of dinosaurs. If you’re looking to dig a little deeper into the dinosaurs that lived here, you can also visit Moab Giants – a museum all about the dinosaurs that once called Moab home.
DINOSAUR MUST-SEES: Potash Road Dinosaur Tracks, Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail and Moab Giants.

Let Your Inner Adrenaline Junkie Out

Looking to try something new? Moab is the place to let your adrenaline-freak-flag fly! Skydiving, rock climbing, take in the landscape via helicopter, base jumping, white water rafting and canyoneering are just a handful of the activities that you can take on while visiting this red rock paradise. I already have my eye on a canyoneering trip that I cannot wait to take on the next time we’re in Moab.

Discover Amazing, Ancient Petroglyphs

There is no shortage of beautiful works of ancient art throughout the canyons and cliffs of Moab. I never tire of discovering different petroglyphs near Moab and love that some are simply on the side of a road, while others require a bumpy ride or a scenic hike.
BEST PETROGLYPHS IN/NEAR MOAB: Courthouse Wash Petroglyphs, The Birthing Scene, Moonflower Canyon Petroglyphs, Moab Man, Newspaper Rock, and Potash Road Petroglyphs.

Take on the Landscape via Mountain Bike

The amount of opportunities to mountain bike in and near Moab are seemingly endless. There seem to be all different levels of difficulty whether you’re a beginner or an old pro. Elevate your next visit with the Engwe T14. That’s something that we have thought we would love to do on our next visit.

Eat Your Way through Downtown Moab

Moab has some amazingly delicious eateries. Diners, food trucks, restaurants and cafes offer up amazing meals that will leave you wanting to return again and again. My only word of warning with eating in Moab is have a backup plan. I don’t know if it was strictly because of Covid or if it’s the norm there, but we checked hours before going to different cafes and would arrive to find that they were closed. Also, some of the restaurants (including ones I’ve recommended below) close for the winter season.
YOU HAVE TO EAT HERE: Doughbird, Moab Diner, Thai Bella Moab and Red Wok Food Truck.

Look Up and Stargaze

Moab has two of the best places to stargaze in the world right at their doorstep. Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park are both International Dark Sky Parks. It is so dark that on a clear day with a new moon, you can see the Milky Way with your naked eye. It’s magical to just sit and stargaze or try out your astro-photography skills.

Get Into the La Sals

Less than an hour from Moab-proper is this mountain wonderland. I had been to Moab six times before making my way up here and I will be back again and again. I had no idea that the mountain range you can spy from Arches National Park looked like this. Aspens, lush greens and lakes blew us away as we did the circuit drive in Manti-La Sal National Forest.

Drink a Local Craft Beer

I’m a big fan of craft beer, as my regular readers know well. Luckily, even in Moab, you can find craft beer brewed locally. Moab Brewery serves up food alongside their beers. I finally tried it for myself and the beer was really good and the food was excellent. There’s another brewery there that I’m eager try on my next visit!

Check Out the Shops and Galleries in Moab to Find the Perfect Souvenir or Keepsake

We love to hit up the local shops when we’re in Moab. I have a few little things I love to collect when I travel like handmade jewelry or Christmas ornaments. Moab Made is my favorite shop to visit because they feature a lot of local artists and designers. I’ve been following Abby Leighton on Instagram for a while now and I loved being able to buy some of her stickers for my car and my laptop case!

More Resources to Help You Plan Your Trip to Moab

Detailed Posts on Moab

ARCHES NATIONAL PARK TRIP PLANNING RESOURCES

Arches National Park Travel Guide – This is the complete guide to Arches with detailed links within.
Arches National Park Timed Entry – What Do We Think? – Info on how to get your timed entry and our opinion on it. Spoiler, we’re fans!
Delicate Arch – Arches National Park’s Most Iconic Site – This is the ultimate guide to all the places & ways you can see Delicate Arch. There are three, only one takes you to it, though!
Devils Garden Trail Our Favorite Hike in Arches National Park – It’s in the title. We love this trail!
How I’d Spend One Day in Arches National Park – This is the ultimate, very active, perfect day in Arches National Park.
Broken Arch Trail – This loop takes you to three beautiful and vastly different Arches!
The Windows Section of Arches National Park – Think Double Arch and Windows.
Stargazing at Delicate Arch – Arches National Park – This is a post about how we spent a night stargazing over Delicate Arch. It includes a pretty silly story, too.
Things to Know Before Visiting Arches National Park – All the info you’ll need to know before visiting one of my favorite places on earth.

OTHER MOAB POSTS

The Best Moab Hikes – These are all the hikes we’ve done in the Moab region inside and outside of the national parks with links to more detailed posts.
Fisher Towers Trail – Our guide to this unforgettable trail.
Hiking to Corona Arch – This is one of the most incredible arches you’ll ever see.
Grand View Point Trail – Canyonlands National Park – Our favorite Island in the Sky hike.
Things to Know Before Driving Shafer Trail – This famous AWD drive from Moab to Canyonlands is legendary for a reason. It’s an incredible drive and this is everything you need to do before you go!
Sites to See Along Potash Road – Petroglyphs, dinosaur tracks and more along the road!
Best Moab Restaurants + Food Trucks – Because who doesn’t like to eat?
Goblin Valley State Park – Adventure Among the Hoodoos – The ultimate destination to see Hoodoos!
Little Wild Horse Canyon – Slot Canyon Hike – An amazing and relatively untraveled slot canyon.
Discover Petroglyphs Near Moab, Utah – Check out these various petroglyphs and pictographs that are thousands of years old.

Don’t Forget to Pack…

STAY HYDRATED: Moab is a hot desert, so obviously you need water. We love these 32 ounce widemouth Nalgene bottles because they’re so easy to clean. If you plan on getting out and hiking a lot, I’d also grab a Life Straw because, you never know.
PROPER FOOTWEAR: Hiking definitely requires proper footwear, and especially on sandy or slick rock surfaces. My two favorite shoes for hiking in Moab are my teva sandals. I wore the Tirra style the most here because I felt like sand didn’t get trapped in there as much as the hurricanes. If I’m wearing closed-toe shoes, though, I’m in my Merrell hiking boots. I love these boots so much. Also, Matt and I both think these Merrell hiking socks are the best socks for hiking. For exploring town, I either wear my Tevas or Birkenstocks.
A DAYPACK: A well-fitting daypack that’s the appropriate size for the adventure you’re about to go on is so important. I love my Osprey Daylite because it fits me super well, it’s perfect for day hikes, and it fits all my needs. I also like to keep a hat in or tied to my pack. I love a simple dad hat – this is my favorite – and Matt loves his this Columbia sunhat.
WHAT’S IN MY DAYPACK? On a day of adventure you’ll find a water bottle or two, snacks (my go-to’s are beef jerky, peanut butter and honey crackers, granola bars, peanut M&Ms, and fresh fruit), a reusable stasher bag for all my trash and some sort of layer – rain jacket, flannel or jacket.
NEED A PLACE TO KEEP YOUR MEMORIES? I wrote a national park journal with fun facts and tips for visiting each of the 63 Parks. I love that I get to fill this out with my family as we travel across the country, and I’d love to be part of your adventures too!
CARRYING KIDS ON A HIKE? We cannot recommend the Deuter Kid Comfort Carrier enough for little ones who can independently sit up. However, if your baby is too young for a Deuter, we loved our LILLEBaby carrier.

Moab, Utah has so much to offer. It’s more than just two national parks – although, those are wonderful highlights. Don’t think of Moab as a stopover. It’s absolutely a destination in itself.

Did You Enjoy This Post? PIN IT So Others Can Too!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a reservation with Booking.com or Get Your Guide or a purchase with Amazon.com or World Nomads through For the Love of Wanderlust, you will help me stay on the road + keep my site running at no additional cost for you.  
Be sure to read the terms + conditions of these sites when booking or purchasing!