2 to 3 Days in Moab Itinerary: Explore Arches & Canyonlands

With all the adventures to be had among the towering desert mesas of southeastern Utah, making the most out of a short trip can be a challenge. Planning out a 2 to 3 days in Moab itinerary and using the town as a base camp is a great way to do this area justice.

Canyonlands and Arches are both within a 40-minute drive or less, and opportunities to get outside for activities like whitewater rafting on the Green River, canyoneering, climbing, and mountain biking are everywhere.

There are a lot of reasons why this town has become such a draw for tourists, thrill-seekers, and outdoor explorers alike. There are countless things to do in Moab and the surrounding area and its location along the banks of the Colorado River, for starters, has made it a desert outpost since it was first settled in the late 1800s.

How Many Days in Moab?

When figuring out how many days to spend in Moab, you’ll want to prioritize your goals in terms of desired activities and how rushed (or not) you want to feel. One day in Moab, for instance, is enough to get to know the town, however, you won’t have any time to visit either of the national parks for a day trip.

Two days is plenty of time to get a feel for the town of Moab itself and fit in some touring of both Canyonlands and Arches, and other attractions like Westwater Canyon and Dead Horse Point State Park are close enough to be experienced in well under a day’s time.

With all of that said, 3 days is ideal if you’re trying to plan a trip to Moab, especially if you plan on doing anything like backpacking or a longer rafting trip that might entail an overnight stay.

Getting To & Around Moab

Getting here by car is very straightforward since Moab lies just beyond Arches National Park along the I-70 corridor some 30 minutes or less down Highway 191.

If you’ve flown to the area and are considering driving to Moab from Denver or Salt Lake City and plan on renting a car for transportation, it’s a good idea to request one with four-wheel drive and high clearance, if possible, as some of the desert and BLM roads around Moab can be a little rough.

It’s also possible to visit the area by driving from Phoenix to Moab and visiting of beautiful sites along the incredibly scenic drive.

You can browse Rentalcars.com to find deals on car rentals across major providers, or alternatively, you can search for RVs or campervans from Outdoorsy if Moab is just a stop on a longer road trip such as from Denver to Las Vegas or Phoenix to Denver.

Main roads in and around the national parks do tend to be very well maintained and paved, however, so even making the drive in a sedan or minivan shouldn’t be a total deal-breaker.

Once you’ve arrived in Moab, getting around town can be done via very short drives or short to medium-length walks, depending on where lodgings are.

And for cyclists wishing to skirt parking hassles, or even just pedestrian hikers looking to do so, there are a variety of shuttle services available. Rentals of Jeeps, ATVs, and other offroad-capable vehicles are also a popular service.

2 to 3-Day Moab Itinerary

Having 2 or 3 days to spend in Moab means you aren’t quite afforded the luxury of being able to just “fly by night” and go in with minimal preparation.

Especially if you’re looking to enlist the services of outfitters and gear rental shops or are planning on booking lodgings, you’ll want to have at least a decent start on planning.

It’s not a bad idea to be several weeks to a month ahead on any bookings and reservations these days if you’re headed to Moab outside of the desert weather extremes of mid-winter and summer. It’s also worth considering purchasing the America the Beautiful Pass if you plan to visit several national parks throughout the year.

The most ideal Arches and Canyonlands itinerary based out of Moab will be the one that makes the best use of your available time without causing too much stress.

You could easily spend an entire month exploring this area and see something new every day, so take this itinerary as an example and a jumping-off point for your own Moab trip.

Day 1 – Explore Moab and Arches National Park

Settle in and Explore the Town

Especially if you’ve made a long road trip to town the day before, you’re likely to start your first day in Moab with a little less energy than you may have on the next couple of days. So why not start your trip off by touring around town?

E-bikes and bicycles are easily rented if you’re staying a little bit outside of convenient walking distance, and the main downtown strip has everything from restaurants and bars to gear shops and museums.

The Museum of Moab is a fun local stop, especially for families with kids, as it houses an impressive collection of dinosaur bones and other archaeological artifacts that give a fascinating sense of the area’s geologic past.

If you’re feeling under-equipped for any planned outdoor activities, some time spent around town is a good chance to visit a local favorite outpost like Gearheads Outdoor Store or Moab Gear Trader.

Not only can shops like these offer you a chance to get that new pair of hiking boots or trekking poles you desperately need, but they’re also a chance to have a fun conversation with some locals who have real knowledge about the area and some of the more “off the beaten path” things to do.

Arches for Sightseeing

Now that you’ve had a bite to eat, chatted with some locals, and gotten a sense for the culture of the Moab area, it’s time to make the short trip over to Arches National Park, one of Utah’s crown jewels that’s home to some of the world’s most awe-inspiring sedimentary rock formations.

This also happens to be one of America’s national parks that’s most easily explored and viewed from paved roads. Many of the main geologic formations in Arches—including the Delicate Arch, Balanced Rock, and the Tower of Babel — can be easily seen from viewpoints along the park’s main road.

For those who are ready to go ahead and get some hiking in on day one, there are several trailheads in Arches leading to day hikes that get you up closer to many of the arches, including some that otherwise wouldn’t be viewable from the road.

Trails in Arches vary in difficulty from easy to moderate and on up to difficult. Popular short hikes include the Balanced Rock loop trail and The Windows climb, and you could choose a hike as difficult as the Primitive Trail at Devil’s Garden, which tends to take even experienced hikers at least 4 hours to complete.

It’s important to note that since there are generally little to no opportunities to find or filter water on trails in Arches and Canyonlands, you always need to plan on bringing at least enough water to cover you for the entirety of your hike, plus a little extra in case of an emergency.

Day 2 – Bike Rides and Hiking in Canyonlands

Take a Bike Ride

Having hopefully woken up well-rested after your first full day, kick off day 2 in true Moab fashion with a morning bike ride.

If you’re not looking to fill the entire day by riding something like the renowned Slickrock Trail — a challenging, 9.6-mile mountain biking experience that’s known to be as technical as it is thrilling — you can even opt for renting an e-bike and heading out on any of the many motorized and some non-motorized routes and loops surrounding Moab.

E-bikes offer performance benefits in sandy terrain and on steep hills that are akin to giving a regular bike steroids, so these can be an interesting option for exploring some places that would be next to impossible to reach with either a car or a regular bike.

If you prefer to go in a group, there are a number of options including this 4-hour tour on the Moab Brands Trail or this 5-hour tour both of which depart from Moab.

And if you’re traveling with kids or simply want to visit a fun place insteading of going on a mountain biking excursion, then consider heading to the Moab Giants. This open-air museum has lots of life-sized dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals.

Canyonlands for Hiking

Canyonlands National Park is a quintessential southeastern Utah national park on the same level as Arches, Zion, Bryce Canyon, and others. What sets Canyonlands apart, however, is the immense variety of different terrain and geology types housed within its borders.

You can visit Canyonlands independently or take a half-day tour from Moab if you want to see the highlights with a guide.

Hiking in or near the area called The Needles District, for example, will have you feeling like you’re walking on the surface of Mars or some other extraterrestrial landscape. The massive red- and white-banded rock formations here are the result of millions and millions of years when sand was deposited and eventually eroded. 

Other prominent sandstone features in Canyonlands National Park include the Wooden Shoe Arch, Mesa Arch, and the Whale Rock. Canyonlands, being a good bit bigger than Arches, has a lot to offer in terms of hike-in sightseeing and overnight backpacking opportunities.

Destinations like the soaring Druid Arch can only be accessed via several-mile-long hikes heading out from trailheads like Squaw Flat. Given the oftentimes hot (and always dry) conditions here and the overall lack of water, it’s best to keep shorter day and half-day hikes to around 4-5 miles or less round-trip.

If you’re not looking to do an overnighter like Druid Arch or heading out into the remote Maze District, other stops like Pothole Point and Big Spring Canyon Overlook are great options.

In the northern area of the park, by entering through the Island in the Sky Visitor Center, you can choose to drive all the way in to the Orange Cliffs and Grand View Point overlooks or head up the fork toward views of the Whale Rock and Upheaval Dome.

Spending some time exploring incredible Canyonlands is a great way to wrap up spending 2 days in Moab.

Day 3 – Colorado River Rafting & National Park Evening Hike

Raft Down the Colorado River

Assuming you aren’t waking up in a tent or campground somewhere down a trail in Canyonlands, your last day on this Moab itinerary is a great chance to get out for some guided whitewater rafting.

There is a slew of great local outfitters to check in with as far as booking an outing. Half days, full days, and overnight trips tend to all be offered, and floats are tailored to client preferences.

Pleasure floats with only mild whitewater and gorgeous scenery are on the table along with more intense whitewater trips for the more intrepid types.

A nice middle ground to consider is Westwater Canyon, often dubbed “The West’s Best Short Whitewater Trip,” as it offers narrow whitewater canyon stretches with exciting rapids along with plenty of unique scenery spaced throughout.

For travellers that prefer to pre-book their rafting adventure, some options including this full-day trip along the Westwater Canyon, this half-day leisurely rafting trip or this full-day combined rafting and Jeep tour.

Evening Hiking and Sightseeing

As your 3 days in Moab come to a close, you’re bound to feel the urge to head back to either Arches or Canyonlands for one more dose of sightseeing. Since you’re likely to only have visited one stretch, loop, or general area of either of these parks at this point, it’s a good idea to look at a map and figure out a different zone to cover.

In Canyonlands, for example, if you already visited the southernmost area accessible from the Needles Visitor Center, then head up to the northern Island In the Sky District, and vice versa. Keep a wary eye out for a chance at spotting some of the incredibly adapted native animals like the small desert lizards that often dart about in the rocks here.

Have More Time in Moab?

Castle Valley

Another great sightseeing area that’s less than a 15-minute drive from Moab is the town of Castle Valley. This might feel like more of the same if you’ve spent a good bit of time in Arches and Canyonlands, but the castle-esque cliffs that line this valley are a worthy stop on your way out of town and look especially pretty in the twilight of evening.

Take a Balloon Ride

Local Moab business Red Rock Ballooning offers roughly one-hour-long hot air balloon rides guided by pilots who also double as guides. This is an especially fun way to cap your trip by looking down at some of the same arches, mesas, and canyons that you’ve explored and viewed from the ground.

Where to Stay in Moab

Adventure Inn Moab – This boutique motel is a great choice for those after a mid-range stay in Moab. There are several comfortable rooms on offer, free on-site parking and even some self-service laundry facilities for those who need them.

Comfort Suites Moab – A comfortable hotel in the center of Moab, this place has several rooms and suites available and there’s even a heated swimming pool for guests to splash around in.

Private Rental – There are countless private rental options in and around Moab for those who want it. For instance, this quaint home in town is located within easy reach of both national parks.

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Spending some time in Moab and exploring the nearby Arches and Canyonlands national parks is a great way for travelers to get acquainted with the state of Utah and its natural areas. The best part is that even the most veteran outdoor adventurers can probably always find a new part of either of these parks to explore.

With Zion, Canyonlands, and the many other surrounding attractions linked to the Colorado River drainage in such close proximity, Moab is sure to have plenty of activities to pique the interest of travelers—especially those who enjoy the outdoors.

Are you planning to visit Moab? Have any questions about this itinerary? Let us know in the comments!