When I moved to Denver six months ago, I was moving here for the mountains (cliche yadda yadda I know). And while I’m still not sure what region of the United States to consider Colorado part of (anyone with me that it should be the Midwest and what we call the “Midwest” should actually be the Mideast?!), I really only associated it with mountains (and maybe the plains). To be honest, I never really thought about how the desert was basically just a stone throw away.
After realizing Moab, the gateway to TWO national parks and tons of other outdoor activities, was only a five hour drive away, I scheduled a long three day weekend in the desert. And this self-proclaimed mountain lover kindaaaa turned into a desert lover too.
Moab is the type of place that could take a lifetime to explore, butttttt most people don’t have unlimited PTO for that. So maybe you’re just taking a quick weekend trip from Denver or Salt Lake City. Or maybe passing through on your way on a road trip to other national parks. Three days in Moab is not enough time to explore everything it has to offer, but you can still fit in some adventures. So how do you spend three days in Moab?
how to spend three days in moab
No matter what your outdoor activity of choice, Moab probably has it – hiking, biking, climbing, ATVing, rafting… and the list goes on. My main activity of choice is hiking (and also tbh, just taking in views), so I’ll mostly focus on those activities.
day one – arches national park
Whether you arrived the night before or arrived in the morning, you’ll probably want to explore the national park closer to town. (If you can swing it, arrive the night before in order to enjoy a full day in Moab). If you’re visiting during spring or fall, this park can get BUSY. I suggest arriving around 8am in order to avoid sitting in a long line of cars (and the worst of the sun). If you can manage it, even earlier if visiting on a hotter day as there is very limited shade. And on that note, bring water and food! The visitor center is the only place to get both, though I did see one water fountain to fill up.
If you’re looking to do the longest connected trail in the park (and tbh, the best hike!), resist the urge to stop at every pull off. I started stopping at each one when I entered the park because I could not get over the scenery, then realized EVERY pull off had amazing views and I was about to spend my entire time doing this. Instead, drive all the way to the back of the park for Devils Garden parking lot to hike the 8 mile Devils Garden Loop. If you don’t want to commit to the full 8 miles, ya got some options. Landscape Arch is about a 2 mile out and back easy hike. Double O Arch is about a 4 mile out and back hike, however it does require walking on rock fins… so be cautious if you’re scared of heights!
other recommended stops:
Fiery Furnace Viewpoint
If you want to hike this, a permit is required (on my list for next time!) in order to navigate the sandstone labyrinth. However, stopping at the viewpoint to take in the sandstone towers is worth it!
Balanced Rock
Arches National Park is full of interesting geological features and this is one of them. There are spots to picnic here, so this is a great spot to relax, eat lunch, and take in the views.
Delicate Arch
THE ARCH. I’m not sure you’re allowed to go to Arches National Park if you don’t see this arch?! If ya wanna get up close, a 3 mile moderate hike is required, otherwise, you can view it from below as well.
Windows Loop
An easy 1 mile loop which allows you to see numerous arches, as well as see the Parade of the Elephants.
On your way out of the park, stop by all the pull-offs your heart desires!
day two – canyonlands national park
Now, this park is HUGE. Sooo big in fact that the national park is broken into four different districts: the Needles District, Island in the Sky District, Maze District, and River District. If you’re going to just take a day to explore, you’re probably going to want to choose either the Needles or the Island in the Sky District since well, the Maze District is very remote and unmarked (which most likely will require multiple days) and the River District very literally means the rivers – rafting, kayaking, etc along the Colorado River and Green River.
Assuming you decide upon Island in the Sky, after entering the park, head for Upheaval Dome. Geologists aren’t quite sure what created this strange and mysterious colorful feature, but one theory (and my favorite) is that a meteor hit earth creating a crater and then erosion slowly formed the unusual look of the land. The other (which idk, isn’t as cool sounding to me) is that the area was once part of the ocean, so a thick layer of salt was pushed up into a bubble through rock layers which have since eroded away. No matter how it was formed, the dome is definitely unusual looking and not like anything else in the park! It is an easy 1.5 mile (though you still be walking on rock – are ya sensing a theme here?) out and back with two different viewpoints.
other recommended stops:
Mesa Arch
Kind of like Delicate Arch is THE arch of Arches NP, Mesa Arch is one of the most popular spots in Canyonlands. A quick half mile (1 mile loop total) leads you to a natural arch which acts as a beautiful frame for the valley below. I ended up sitting here for quite a bit (and not ONLY because I was waiting for people to stop hogging the arch to get a people free photo) just taking in the views.
Green River Overlook
Perfect spot to climb up on the rocks and enjoy lunch to take in the impressive scenery.
White Rim Overlook Trail
You guys. This is the easiest trail (2 miles and mostly flat) in the Island in the Sky district, but provides the most breathtaking views ANDDDDD no crowds. I’m talking, I saw two other people on a SUNDAY. In other words, don’t miss it and you can thank me later.
Grand View Point
A viewpoint that can’t be missed. You can either stay basically at the parking lot or have the option to walk an easy 2 miles along the rim.
day three – outside the national parks
Assuming this is your final day, treat yo self to breakfast out after packing up your campsite or hotel. I HIGHLY recommend Love Muffin Cafe – see info below!
After being around Moab for a couple of days, it should be noooo surprise how much there is to see and do outside the national parks, so ya got lots of options.
La Sal Mountain Loop
Tired of the desert? Or just sick of the heat? Drive the 60+ mile loop (~3 hours) up into the mountains to explore as well as get incredible views of Moab Valley and Canyonlands National Park. There are also plenty of trailheads you’ll drive past if you’re up for hiking.
Corona and Bowtie Arch
YUP. There are arches right outside of Arches National Park. A couple of ladders required and some steep sections, but a stunning 1.5 mile jaunt.
Grandstaff/Negro Bill Canyon
This lil canyon here is home to the sixth largest natural bridge in the world. The 4 mile hike will have you crossing the creek a couple of times before you end up at Morning Glory Arch.
Highway 128
If you’re headed back to Denver (or Grand Junction), take the scenic route home along Highway 128. Approximately 45 miles of all da views. This is also where a ton of BLM campsites are located, so if you didn’t camp here this time, maybe ya can scout out for next time.
when to visit moab
Prime season for Arches and Canyonlands National Park is the spring and fall. Arches sees over 1 million visitors annually (though Canyonlands sees less), which is mostly during this time. So, if you’re here during these months, I highly suggest getting to the park around 8am (that is unless sitting in your car in a long line is something that is fun for you!).
how to get to moab
If you’re coming from Denver, it’s a quick (okay five hours…) drive west on I-70 and then jumping on US-191. If coming from Salt Lake City, Utah, you take I-15 south, US-6 east, I-70 east, to US-191 into Moab, for a four hour drive. Grab some friends, download some podcasts or music, and you’ll be there in nooooo time.
Don’t live within driving distance? As of 2018, you can now fly into Canyonlands Field Airport (CNY), via Skywest dba United Express (with a connection in Denver), just a 15 minute drive from Moab. Besides the options of flying into Denver or SLC and driving, you can also look for flights to Grand Junction (GJT) which is a little less than a two hours drive into Moab.
Arches National Park is located just four miles north of Moab, while Canyonlands is about 30 miles away.
where to stay in moab
If you’re looking to camp, ya girl has you covered. While Moab is only a town of 5,000 people, it is no stranger to tourism so there is no shortage of options. From glamping, to hotels, to AirBnb, there is a place for everyone.
where to eat in moab
I opted to make most meals at my campsite, but I can recommend the following.
For breakfast, you HAVE TO get to Love Muffin Cafe. From muffins (duh), to burritos, to paninis… they got ya covered. This is SUPER popular among both locals and tourists, so definitely plan on getting there as early as possible. Within 15 minutes of being there (about 8am on a MONDAY), the cafe went from a few people sitting and enjoying their breakfast to a line out the door! They also have vegan options for both coffee and food.
If you’ve read my other posts, you know my favorite combo is hikes paired with beer. So should it be any surprise I went to Moab Brewery? If you didn’t know, Utah has some weirdddd alcohol laws aka beer can only be sold on tap for 4% (I believe). But if ya need that double IPA, Moab Brewery has you covered and cans are available (full ABV).
hours & fees
Both Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park are open year round, 24 hours a day (though the Visitor Center hours change, so be sure to look into that before you go).
A daily pass for each park costs $30, an annual pass for the park costs $55, and the America the Beautiful pass comes in at $80 (your ticket to more than 2,000 federal sites). If you’re headed to Moab for three days and both Arches and Canyonlands, it’s really worth it to get the America the Beautiful pass. If nothing else, should give ya some good motivation to hit another national park on the vacation list for the year!
Have you visited Moab, Utah before?
