Updated February 9th, 2026

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Utah is home to some of the most stunning scenery in the country. I can’t get enough of the unique red rock formations against the brilliant blue skies. The state’s natural beauty is showcased throughout Utah’s five national parks. Known as the “Mighty 5” the parks include Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion.

Moab in southeastern Utah is an outdoor enthusiast’s playground. The big draws to the area are Canyonlands and Arches National Parks. A long weekend in Moab is not nearly enough time to see everything, but it will give you a good start to exploring Moab. It’s the perfect place to base yourself to visit both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. 

This guide will help you prepare for your trip to Moab with everything you need to know to visit Canyonlands and Arches National Parks. While there are plenty of things to do in Moab, you can extend your time in southern Utah with a giant Mighty 5 road trip. 

A Long Weekend in Moab at Canyonlands and Arches 

Moab

How to Get to Moab 

Plane

The closest airport to Canyonlands and Arches is Canyonlands Regional Airport (CNY). It is about a 20 minute drive from the airport to Moab. Direct flights are available with Contour Airlines from Denver and Phoenix. There is typically only one flight a day.

Unfortunately Delta no longer flies to Moab anymore like pictured above. As a Delta fan I’m hoping they resume service to Moab in the future!

Train

Amtrak does not go to Moab, but it does stop in Green River which is about a 50 minute drive from Moab. There are no car rental options in Green River though. 

Bus

The Salt Lake City Express has bus service to Moab from Salt Lake City and other stops in Utah. 

Drive (and destinations to combine with Moab) 

The next closest airport after CNY is Grand Junction (GJT). From Grand Junction to Moab it is a 1 hour and 45 minute drive. You can turn your weekend in Moab into a longer trip with a southwest Colorado road trip. This can start and end in Grand Junction and include Moab. 

From Salt Lake City, the closest international airport, it takes about 3 hours and 45 minutes to drive to Moab. SLC also has gorgeous hiking and many things to do. Follow my Salt Lake City itinerary for some ideas of what to do, where to eat, and where to stay. 

Northern New Mexico with stops in Santa Fe and Albuquerque is an option. It is about a 6 hour drive to Albuquerque’s international airport.

Las Vegas, another international airport, is about 6 hours and 30 minutes away. It is easy to include all five Utah national parks as well as many of the the other best places to visit in southern Utah when starting and/or ending in Vegas. The Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada is a stop that can’t be missed on this route.

An Arizona road-trip between Phoenix and the Grand Canyon also makes sense to add on if you have more time. Phoenix international airport is about 7 hours and 11 minutes from Moab. 

How to Get Around Moab 

If you arrive in Moab without a vehicle you’ll want to rent a car. Rent a car from Alamo, Enterprise, or Canyonlands Car & Jeep Rental at the airport. Turo, the AirBnB of car rentals, is also an option. Unfortunately Turo removes negative reviews from hosts upon requests. Since learning about this it has made me more skeptical about the company, but I had a great experience renting Bertina T’s car as she kindly offers an airport pick-up and drop-off service for no extra cost when she is available. Other Turo rentals charge around $60 for airport drop-off and pick-up. Sadly it doesn’t look like she is renting at this time. 

It’s possible, but not ideal to visit Canyonlands and Arches without a car. Neither park has public transportation. While there is a bike path to Arches National Park, you’ll use up all your energy before you start hiking.

Moab Express has a shared shuttle service between the airport and Moab. Then you can join guided tours from Moab. Some options are included below under “what to do around Moab”. 

Where to Stay in Moab

Canyonlands and Arches are some of the easiest national parks to find accommodations thanks to all the places to stay in Moab. All the US brand hotels have options in Moab, as well as cheaper independent hotels and motels.

Best Western Plus Greenwell Inn

Best Western Plus Greenwell Inn is a nice, clean, and centrally located hotel in Moab. It is walking distance to the majority of restaurants and stores in town. 

The hotel itself has all the amenities you need for the perfect weekend in Moab. The daily breakfast with a pancake maker and other hot breakfast items will help you fuel up for a day of hiking. The outdoor hot tub, which is open year-round, feels amazing at the end of the day to soak your sore legs. There is also a seasonal, outdoor pool to cool off in throughout the warmer months. 

Element Moab

Element is a great hotel on the outskirts of town with cool views. It’s not as convenient for walking to places to eat, but it does shave off a few minutes in the morning to reach the nearby parks.

Breakfast includes freshly made hot items. I hated to miss out on a well equipped hotel gym, but I was saving all my strength for hiking.

There is a really nice outdoor area. Although there was a wedding during our stay and way too many people, the outdoor hot tub was amazing. Luckily it is one of the biggest outdoor hot tubs I have seen at a hotel or there would have been no way we all fit. There’s also a heated outdoor pool that is open year-round.

More Places to Stay in Moab

• Budget: Inca Inn, Bowen Motel, Virginian Inn 
• Mid-Range: Best Western Canyonlands, Comfort Suites, La Quinta
• Higher-End: Hoodoo Moab, Hyatt Place Moab, Springhill Suites

Where to Eat in Moab

While putting together my first Moab itinerary I heard from past visitors and locals that the food was pricey, but mediocre. Maybe because the bar was set low or perhaps because I did a lot of research as usual, I was pleasantly surprised with the food in Moab. It has some of the best food around any of the US National Parks I have visited. 

Discover my top choices for the best places to eat in Moab.

What to Do in Moab 

Not including outdoor recreation, the small town of Moab doesn’t have a lot to do other than shopping and eating. Often touristy towns are full of souvenir shops. While there are several spots to buy souvenirs in town, there are also some nice boutique shops. 

If you have an extra hour during the day take a look at the Moab Museum. The one room museum is quite small, but it will give you an overview of the history of the town. You’ll learn about the first Native Americans in the area, the early settlers, the Uranium Boom, and the transition into the outdoor and adventure paradise Moab is today. 

What to Do Around Moab 

The main reason to visit Moab is all the outdoor adventure activities surrounding the town. 

Dead Horse Point State Park

Dead Horse Point State Park is about 30 minutes outside of Moab near Canyonlands NP (Island in the Sky district). It’s just as amazing as the national parks, but with a lot less people. The main activities at the park are hiking and mountain biking. Regardless of what you plan to do the visitor center is a good place to park and begin your visit. The downstairs of the visitor center has exhibits. Upstairs has a gift shop and an area for sitting and looking at the view. Restrooms are in a separate building nearby. 

From the visitor center you can see views a few feet behind the building. There’s the Colorado River Overlook trail that runs about .5 miles round trip to the north. You can hike south along the eastern rim about 3 miles out and back to Dead Horse Point. If you’re up for a longer trail, hike the full rim trail with all the overlooks. 

The Big Horn Overlook with East Rim and West Rim Overlooks is an 8.2 mile loop trail that encompasses almost all the main viewpoints and pedestrian only trails in the park. It forms a circle along the rims with several short spur trails to overlooks. While the scenery is similar, it is spectacular and worth doing the full trail. There were very few people hiking between viewpoints and on most of the spur trails. The remoteness, without being far from civilization, made the hike even better. If you need a restroom along the western rim take the trail to the Wingate campground between Shafer Canyon Overlook and Rim Overlook. 

Alternatively you can drive and park at Dead Horse Point. However you get there, Dead Horse Point should not be missed. It’s the spot that is the namesake of the park! It’s the best viewpoint of the u-shaped bend in the Colorado River. There is a paved path to the main viewpoint and informational signs in the area. There are also restrooms and picnic tables here.

If you’re more into mountain biking, you’re in luck because there are 17 miles of mountain biking trails at the park. They range from moderate to intermediate. Rentals and guided tours are available from Big Horn Mountain Biking.

Utahraptor State Park

Dinosaur lovers will want to head to this state park that is about 20 minutes north of Moab. The park has one of the largest collections of dinosaur bone beds in North America. While there isn’t the amount of trails as in other areas, there are some hiking, biking, and OHV trails here too.

Hiking

In addition to the national and state parks, there are countless other hiking trails around Moab. Corona Arch, Jeep Arch, and Pinto Arch are all in the same area and on my list for a future visit to Moab. 

Water Activities

The nearby Colorado River offers a variety of activities. You can take it easy with a relaxing dinner cruise or have an adrenaline rush on a jet boat tour. White-water raft or go on a SUP tour for more active options.

Other Adventures

Driving off-road on treacherous terrain in a UTV, climbing unique rock formations, biking through epic scenery, swinging through canyons…….whether you bring your own gear/vehicles or take a guided tour, you can find it all in Moab!

4 x 4 driving adventures are popular around Moab. Adventurers throughout the whole state of Utah love to go mountain biking. Some of the best mountain biking can be found around Moab. Canyoneering is another fun activity to try in the area. There’s zip-lining and a rope swing too!

Canyonlands and Arches National Parks

Arches vs Canyonlands? 

The real reason to come to Moab is for the two national parks. Arches National Park is full of, you guessed it, arches! These stone arches along with other red rock wonders are awe inspiring. 

Canyonlands National Park, full of rivers and canyons, is divided into four districts. This post focuses exclusively on the Island in the Sky District which is closest to Moab. 

Arches is typically much busier than Canyonlands. Just like in Utah’s southwestern parks, Zion and Bryce, the most popular was Zion, but I slightly preferred Bryce. Arches and Canyonlands are both wonderful parks, but I really loved Canyonlands. It helped that it was less crowded than Arches. I would recommend making time for both parks though. 

Where are Canyonlands and Arches? 

Arches National Park is only about a 10 minute drive from the center of Moab. Island of the Sky District in Canyonlands National Park is about a 35 minute drive from Moab.

When should I visit Arches and Canyonlands?

Both parks are extremely hot during the summer months (June – August). Many trails lack shade and make carrying extra water and hiking in the heat uncomfortable. During the winter months (December – February) there can be snow and trail closures. 

Spring and fall provide the nicest hiking weather, but the most crowds. In past years Arches has had a permit system in place from April through October. This has not been announced for 2026 yet. 

Both my Moab visits have been in November and I thought it was the perfect time of year. No permits were required, there were less crowds, hotel prices in Moab were cheaper, and the weather was great. It was a tad chilly, but there wasn’t any precipitation. If you are hiking you warm up very quickly too! I would guess March would similarly be a nice time to visit. 

How much does it cost to go to Arches and Canyonlands? 

Admission for one vehicle to each park for up to 7 days is $30 ($60 for both parks). US residents can buy an annual park pass for $55 that covers both Canyonlands and Arches. An annual America the Beautiful pass is $80 for US residents and $250 for non-residents. 

Where should I stay and eat when visiting the parks?

There are no restaurants or lodging within either park. Stay (recommendations above) and eat in Moab. 

How much time do I need to see Arches and Canyonlands?

I always hate this question as I don’t believe in rushing in life in general, but especially when traveling. I’m more about quality of experiences, than about quantity. That being said you will probably want to visit both parks in one visit. 

Some people visit both parks in one day. If you aren’t doing much hiking and that’s all the time you have, it is better than nothing. 

You really need at least one day at each park though! With one day at each you’ll be able to do several hikes and make the most of your time in Moab. 

Ideally have two full days (one for each park) and an extra to check out the other things to do in Moab and the surrounding area. 

What is there to do at Canyonlands and Arches?

Visitor Centers

Shortly after the entrance at both parks, make a stop at the visitor center. There are small exhibits about the park, details on the hikes, and gift shops. As with all national parks the park rangers are helpful and more than willing to give recommendations. 

Hikes

Hiking is of course the most popular activity at both parks. Read my separate guides on the best hikes at Arches National Park and Island in the Sky Canyonlands hikes. 

Scenic Drives

If you aren’t interested in hiking, driving through the parks is a nice way to admire the scenery. There are quite a few viewpoints to get out and enjoy the landscapes. Take a sightseeing tour to learn more about Arches NP without having to drive yourself. 

For a more adventurous drive take a 4 x 4 tour in Arches or a 4 x 4 tour in Canyonlands. 

Other Activities

For a unique vantage point of the parks take a scenic airplane flight. Utah has amazing starry, night skies. If you are into photography go on a sunset and night photography shoot with a local expert. 

What should I bring hiking at Arches and Canyonlands? 

My hiking attire post and my day pack hiking list will help you decide what to wear in Moab and what to bring with you. 

If I helped you prepare for your long weekend in Moab please consider supporting me by Buying Me a Coffee!

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