Planning a trip to Moab, Utah soon?
Moab is an extremely popular destination for outdoor lovers, mostly due to its proximity to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Both parks are located relatively close together, but each one has a completely different feel to it.
Moab makes a great home base for visiting Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, but there are also some lesser-known places to explore via car, foot, ATV, kayak, or mountain bike. You will easily fill a week with fun things to do here.
We spent one week in Moab during the fall of 2024 and had an absolute blast. The blazing red rocks, vast viewpoints overlooking the Colorado River, and incredible sandstone arches will have you feeling insignificant in the best way.
This one week in Moab itinerary will take you through the highlights of both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, along with giving you time to explore some of the other things Moab has to offer.
I’ll give you everything you need to know, including the best times to visit, a day-by-day itinerary breakdown, tips and tricks for having the best experience, and more!
Feel free to use the table of contents below to jump to the sections of this post that are most helpful for you.
The Best Time to Visit Moab, Utah
The best time to visit Moab is in the spring or fall when temperatures are pleasant. It gets brutally hot in Utah during the summer, with highs over 100 degrees. Summer is also the busiest time to visit since kids are out of school and people are taking their summer vacations.
Hikes here don’t have treecover to shade the trails, so you’ll be in the full sun most of the time. It’s important to prioritize hiking early or late in the day because of this, especially if you visit during the summer.
October can be a busy time to visit since a lot of Utah schools are on fall break, but the weather is absolutely perfect. Canyonlands doesn’t get quite as many visitors as its neighbor, Arches, but still expect some crowds at the Island in the Sky District. If you really want to avoid the crowds, try visiting the last week of October or early November instead.
We visited in the middle of October and had daily highs in the 80s for most of the week, but the morning and evening temperatures were perfect. Almost everyone we met in Moab was there for fall break.
Visiting Moab in the winter can also be a magical time to visit, especially if you get lucky with a dusting of snow. Large amounts of snow are rare, so it’s unlikely that park roads would become impassable. Going in the winter means shorter days and colder temperatures, but also much lower crowds.
Related: The Perfect 10-Day Utah Road Trip: Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef National Parks
How to Get to Moab, Utah
Moab is located in southeastern Utah, about 230 miles south of Salt Lake City. The great thing about Moab is that it is quite far from any major city. The not-so-great thing about Moab is that it is quite far from any major city.
Salt Lake City is your closest major airport, and will likely be the most convenient to fly into and rent a car. It will take you about 3.5 hours to drive from Salt Lake City to Moab.
You’ll take I-15 south to Spanish Fork, and then spur off on US-6 until it turns into US-191, hop on I-70 east for a few miles, and then catch I-191 south again until you reach Moab.
Moab does have its own airport, but it is very small and only has direct flights to and from Denver, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City. If you’re traveling from these cities, you’re probably better off driving anyway.
It can also be extremely difficult to find a rental car in Moab because demand is high and supply is low.
Here are driving distances from other nearby cities:
- Denver, CO: 354 miles / 5.5 hours
- Phoenix, AZ: 467 miles / 7.5 hours
- Las Vegas, NV: 458 miles / 6.5 hours
- Albuquerque, NM: 365 miles / 6 hours
- Grand Junction, CO: 112 miles / 2 hours
One Week in Moab Itinerary Overview
This week-long itinerary is built around taking one week (5 days) of PTO along with 2 weekends, so 9 days in total. I have suggestions for more or less time at the end of this post.
Here is the high-level overview:
- Day 1: Fly to Salt Lake City & Drive to Moab
- Day 2: Arches National Park Highlights
- Day 3: Devil’s Garden Trail in Arches National Park
- Day 4: Canyonlands Island in the Sky District Highlights
- Day 5: Dead Horse Point State Park and the Shafer Trail-Potash Road Loop
- Day 6: Canyonlands The Needles District
- Day 7: Explore Moab
- Day 8: Choose Your Own Adventure
- Day 9: Drive to Salt Lake City & Fly Home
Since you will be staying in Moab for the entire week, you can do each of these days in whichever order you’d like. Move the days around however makes sense for you and work around any permits or pre-scheduled plans you may have.
Rental Car Information
You will be doing a lot of driving on this trip, so I recommend renting a car that you are comfortable in. To get the most out of your visit to Utah, I also recommend renting an SUV with high ground clearance if possible.
There is an incredible off-road drive in Canyonlands that you can do in an afternoon and does not require a permit. There is also a viewpoint in The Needles District of Canyonlands National Park that requires 4×4 to get to. If you are interested in doing either of these things, you will want a high-clearance vehicle at minimum, and ideally with AWD or 4WD.
If you plan to do any further off-roading, you will likely want to rent a Jeep Wrangler in Moab. There are plenty of companies in Moab that do daily Jeep Rentals for this purpose. Daily Jeep rentals can be expensive though, so it might make sense to spend more on your rental car vs. doing daily Jeep rentals for 2+ days.
Fees, Permits, & Passes Information
Admission to Arches and Canyonlands National Park will cost you $30 each and each pass is good for 7 days.
If you don’t plan to visit any other NPS sites within a year, then it makes sense to pay the separate fees at both parks.
However, if you plan on visiting at least one more NPS site this year, I’d recommend purchasing the America the Beautiful National Parks Pass. This annual pass will get you into any federally-managed site within one rolling calendar year for $80.
Admission to Dead Horse Point State Park costs $20/vehicle in addition to the National Park fees (since it is a State Park, your National Parks Pass won’t work here).
If you plan to drive the White Rim Road in Canyonlands, visit the Fiery Furnace in Arches, and/or do any backpacking or overnight camping trips within either park, you will need additional permits. I have not included any of these things in this itinerary, but I wanted to point them out in case you had them on your list.
I also want to point out that Arches National Park no longer requires timed entry tickets(which means easier planning for you, but also potentially larger crowds).
As always, check the NPS website for the latest information on fees, passes, and important park notices and closures. Links to each park’s website are below:
One Week in Moab, Utah: The Ultimate Itinerary
Day 1: Fly to Salt Lake City & Drive to Moab
Spend day 1 of your road trip getting to Moab. Fly into Salt Lake City with hopefully enough time to pick up your rental car and complete the 4-hour drive to Moab on the same day.
If you must fly in the evening, I recommend flying the night before, staying near the SLC airport, and driving to Moab the next day to stay on schedule with this itinerary.
Settle into your hotel or Airbnb in Moab and get ready for an action-packed week in Utah!
Day 2: Arches National Park Highlights
Spend your first full day in Moab exploring Arches National Park! I highly recommend bringing a picnic lunch today so you don’t have to exit the park midday and wait in a potentially long line to get back in.
HIKE TO DELICATE ARCH
I recommend hiking to Delicate Arch first thing in the morning. This is one of the most popular things to do in Arches National Park and going in the morning will mean fewer crowds, cooler temperatures, and better lighting for photos. Bonus points if you go early enough to catch the sunrise!
The full hike is 3.2 miles with 629 feet of elevation gain and labeled as moderate. I wrote an entire guide on hiking to Delicate Arch and the different ways to see it, so check that out if you want more details on this experience.
Related: How to Hike to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park
ARCHES SCENIC DRIVE VIEWPOINTS
Spend the rest of your day in Arches driving the main park road and stopping at the viewpoints. Most of the arches in Arches National Park can be seen via a short trail or even from the road.
There are plenty of picnic tables around the park to eat your picnic lunch when you get hungry.
Here are the can’t-miss points of interest along the main park road:
- Skyline Arch
- Sand Dune Arch
- Fiery Furnace Overlook
- Balanced Rock
- The Windows & Double Arch
- Courthouse Towers
- Park Avenue
I’ve intentionally left the Devil’s Garden Trail/Landscape Arch off this list because hiking this trail is on your itinerary for tomorrow.
Related: Top 16 Things to Do in Arches National Park
Day 3: Arches National Park – Devil’s Garden Trail
Spend your second day in Moab hiking the best trail in Arches National Park: The Devil’s Garden Trail.
This trail is 7.8 miles round-trip with 1085 feet of elevation gain, so it will take you most of the day. Don’t forget to pack a picnic lunch!
You’ll see 7 total arches (including Landscape Arch, the longest arch in North America!), hike on a steep fin, use your route finding skills on the primitive portion of the trail, and admire sweeping views of the area.
The first mile of this trail (the hike to Landscape Arch) is easy along a gravel path, but then you will want your offline AllTrails map for the primitive portion of this trail to help with route finding.
We unfortunately didn’t have time to hike the entire trail (we only hiked to Landscape Arch and back), but it is top of my list for our next Utah trip!
Related: 11 Stunning Hikes in Arches National Park
Day 4: Canyonlands Island in the Sky District Highlights
You will spend the next three days exploring Canyonlands National Park. Canyonlands is broken up into two major regions: the popular Island in the Sky District and the more remote Needles District.
Days 4 and 5 will be dedicated to the Island in the Sky area. You’ll find lots of short trails to panoramic views over the Island in the Sky Mesa.
I also recommend a picnic lunch, as Island in the Sky has no restaurants inside and it is a 45-minute drive from Moab.
SUNRISE AT MESA ARCH
If you’re up for the most incredible sunrise, head to the Island in the Sky District early and go straight to Mesa Arch. The sun lights up the bottom of the arch to a bright red color that is just incredible!
SCENIC OVERLOOKS & SHORT HIKES
Spend the rest of the morning visiting some of the scenic overlooks and short hikes in the park. Most are accessed via a short trail. Here are the can’t-miss spots:
- Green River Overlook
- Shafer Trail Overlook
- White Rim Overlook
- Buck Canyon Overlook
- Upheaval Dome
- Grand View Point Trail
Related: 15 Can’t-Miss Things to Do at Canyonlands Island in the Sky District
Day 5: Dead Horse Point State Park and the Shafer Trail-Potash Road Loop
Head back to the Island in the Sky District on Day 5, but instead of entering the park boundary right away, turn left onto Highway 313 toward Dead Horse Point State Park.
DEAD HORSE POINT STATE PARK
Located just minutes away from the Island in the Sky entrance to Canyonlands National Park, this State Park is worth at least a short stop for the overlook. The overlook has an incredible view of the Colorado River and is a great spot to view the different rock layers as a result of millions of years of erosion.
There are 7 miles of hiking trails here, but the best view just requires a short walk to Dead Horse Point.
SHAFER CANYON AND POTASH ROAD LOOP BACK TO MOAB
When you’re done at Dead Horse Point, head back to the Island in the Sky District. Feel free to check out any of the viewpoints or short trails you may have missed yesterday.
When you’re done with the viewpoints, get ready for an off-road adventure! Instead of heading back to Moab the way you came in, opt to take the Shafer Trail to Potash Road back to Moab instead.
You will want a high-clearance 4×4 vehicle for this (Canyonlands Jeep rents Jeep Wranglers for daily use if you don’t want to take your rental car).
You’ll descend the Shafer Canyon Switchbacks down to the White Rim, and then turn onto Potash Road which will take you back to Moab. Plan for this to take you 3-4 hours!
I wrote a whole guide on how to drive the Shafer Trail loop, so definitely check that out if you want more details on this experience.
We absolutely loved this drive, and we even saw some bighorn sheep along the way!
Related: How to Drive the Shafer Canyon & Potash Road Loop in Canyonlands National Park
Day 6: Canyonlands The Needles District
The Needles District is the more remote area of Canyonlands National Park and feels totally different from Island in the Sky. You’ll get to see the “needles” formations a lot more closely along with other cool rock formations.
Getting here will take you 1.5 hours from Moab, so definitely pack a picnic lunch, plenty of water, and snacks. The drive is well worth it and you will enjoy hardly any crowds!
GO HIKING
The best thing to do in The Needles is to go hiking. We really enjoyed the Slickrock Foot Trail, a 2.7-mile loop with amazing views of some crazy rock formations plus a good view of the needles out to the distance.
The Chesler Park Viewpoint Trail consistently gets ranked as the best hike in The Needles, but it is a bit longer at 5.4 miles with 1151 feet of elevation gain. This trail will get you closer to the Needles though!
Related: 12 Great Things to Do in The Needles District in Canyonlands National Park
THE NEEDLES VIEWPOINTS
When you’re done hiking, make sure to visit the Wooden Shoe Arch, Pothole Point, and Cave Spring Trail.
If you’re doing well on time and have a high-clearance 4×4 vehicle, consider checking out the Colorado River Overlook. The overlook is located down a rough, dirt road with the last 1.5 miles being large rocks that “stair step” down.
We didn’t feel comfortable taking our rental car down this road and it was unseasonably hot this day (especially after hiking) so we unfortunately skipped it.
Head back to Moab and relax after your long day in The Needles!
Day 7: Explore Moab
Take day 7 of your Moab trip at a slower pace to rest and recover if needed.
There are lots of cool places to explore in Moab that aren’t necessarily located within Arches or Canyonlands National Parks.
Some things that we enjoyed on our trip were taking a sunset river cruise on the Colorado River, walking the short trail at the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite, and driving the scenic UT-128 along the Colorado River to the Red Cliffs Lodge for lunch.
You can also hike to Corona Arch if you’re craving another hike in the area.
Day 8: Choose Your Own Adventure
Your last day in Moab is a “choose your own adventure day.”
This a great time to book that whitewater rafting, ATV, or mountain biking tour that you’ve had on your list. There are plenty of companies in town that will rent Jeeps, UTVs, kayaks, canoes, and anything else you may need to make the most of your time in Moab.
Discover Moab has a great Outdoor Adventure Guide if you need help deciding on which activity to do.
If you’re looking to explore the National Parks a little bit further, I recommend visiting the Klondike Bluffs or Fiery Furnace (permit required) areas of Arches National Park or spending the day hiking a longer trail in Canyonlands National Park. Suggestions for Canyonlands hikes are below:
- Gooseberry Trail: 4.2 miles with 1548 feet of elevation gain. This is the steepest trail in Canyonlands and you’ll descend the Island in the Sky mesa down to the White Rim Road.
- Syncline Loop: 7.9 miles with 1601 feet of elevation gain. You’ll circle the Upheaval Dome on a primitive trail with lots of rock scrambling.
- Murphy Loop: 10.1 miles with 1614 feet of elevation gain. Hike a lollipop loop on the Murphy Hogback to the White Rim Road and loop back out via the Murphy Wash.
Related: 15 Incredible Hikes in Canyonlands National Park
Day 9: Drive to Salt Lake City & Fly Home
Say goodbye (or see you later!) to Moab and head back to Salt Lake City for your flight home.
Fly out this afternoon or evening, or spend the night near the airport and head out the next morning.
If You Have More Time
If you have more time, I recommend heading west toward Capitol Reef National Park and Hanksville, Utah. Driving from Moab to Capitol Reef National Park will only take you about 2 hours.
Capitol Reef is Utah’s most underrated National Park and there are tons of great day hikes with incredible views. Check out this post for the best way to spend a few days in Capitol Reef.
Hanksville will be on your way to Capitol Reef and is home to insanely otherworldly scenery that will make your jaw drop. You can hike to the Long Dong Silver Spire, visit Goblin Valley State Park, and/or check out Factory Butte and the Moonscape Overlook.
If you’re interested in combining your Moab trip with Capitol Reef and Hanksville, check out this 10-day Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef road trip itinerary.
If You Have Less Time
If you have less time, I’d recommend focusing on the National Park days and cutting out some of the extra things in Moab. The National Parks really are the crown jewel of this area, so I’d prioritize seeing as much of them as you can.
Plan for at least one day in Arches National Park, 2 days for Island in the Sky and Dead Horse Point State Park, and 1 day for The Needles District. If you have less than 4 full days in Moab, I would wait to travel here until I had at least that much time.
Did this one week in Moab itinerary help you with your trip planning? Let me know when you plan to visit in the comments below!
-Megan
