3 Must-Visit National Parks Near Moab You Can’t Miss
Whether you are crossing off National or State Parks – Moab is an easy location to knock out 3 parks in 2 days depending on your pace and desires. The town itself is quaint and offers much to do in and around the area to keep your schedule as packed as you’d like! We had never been to Moab before and were so excited to see all the red rocks, arch formations and canyons. It did NOT disappoint!
This post will cover each of the parks, how to get in, what to bring, the best viewpoints and hikes, and how to make the most out of your trip.
Planning your trip to Moab:
Our senses were on overload as soon as we got to our resort for the next few nights. I highly suggest you book a stay somewhere that allows you some rest and relaxation after spending your days under the desert sun. Your feet and soul will thank you for splurging those extra few bucks on a nice hotel! We personally stayed at Ulum resorts and absolutely loved our time there. Check out the full review on our stay HERE.
When to visit?
The best seasons for visiting these parks will be the Spring/Fall for awesome weather. We actually went in July and while it was hot, it was definitely still bearable, and we even wore light jackets in the early mornings and evenings. Really there’s not a terrible time to visit, it just depends on your ability to handle stronger weather conditions like heat/cold if you want to come in the off seasons.
** remember to HYDRATE and wear a hat if you are coming in the summer to stay safe from the heat ** can link hydration packs on amazon
How long do you need for the parks?
Well, how fast do you like to move? We covered Arches National Park in half a day and did Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse State Park in one afternoon combined on day 2. Could you make it longer? Absolutely! Adding in longer hikes and stopping for longer at the viewpoints could absolutely extend your time here, but really 2 days is best if you want to explore all these parks have to offer.
Getting to the Parks:
A rental car is a necessity for this trip. If you want to throw in any of the deep canyon roads, then you will need a 4x4 per park regulations (you’ll have to plan ahead for those), but our little SUV rental did just fine on the normal paved roads throughout all 3 parks.
Exploring Arches National Park:
Best Tips for Visiting:
The park is open daily except for Dec. 25th
Best to visit the website before you arrive for the most up to date information
You WILL need to reserve a timed entrance in 2025! It’s super easy, but I do recommend planning ahead
We got lucky and booked the day of, but only because I had been watching the reservations on their app and knew that they had plenty of times/spots available
Dates that require reservations:
April 1st -July 6th
Aug 28th – Oct 31st
Reservations can be made through their website or at recreation.gov
Tickets are $30 per private vehicle
Early morning or late afternoon is best to avoid the crowds and heat
What to Bring:
Water, sunscreen, good hiking/tennis shoes, hat, portable charger for your phone, snacks
Must See Spots:
There is 1 main road, with a few pull over roads throughout the whole park, making it very easy to see all of the main sites without getting turned around.
Delicate Arch
Seen by parking lot viewpoint (further away view)
Or can do the 3 miles roundtrip hike to the arch
This is the famous arch on the Utah license plates!
The Windows
Easily accessible, parking lot and walk to the arch
Turret Arch is also along the same paths so keep a lookout to the right of the arches
1 mile roundtrip
The Windows (one side)
Turret Arch - you can climb up the opening and through to the other side
Balanced Rock
Seen from the road or you can walk about 0.3 miles to see it up close
Double Arch
Located across from the Windows
0.5 miles roundtrip, easily accessible
I WISH we did this one! It looks incredible, but you can still get the view of them right from the road (or from The Windows parking lot)
Didn’t get a picture of the Double Arch stop
Fiery Furnace
Parking lot viewpoint
OR get a permit to hike through this area. Recommended to go with a guide
I was totally happy with the parking lot viewing area to sit and take this scenery in
Landscape Arch
Longest arch in North America
1.6 miles roundtrip (we didn’t do this one)
No viewpoint from the road, you have to do the hike
Courthouse towers
View from the road
Sheep Rock
Yes, it actually looks like a sheep
View from the road
Sand Dune Arch
Didn’t get to do this one, but absolutely will in the future!
Tucked in a small slot canyon
Small arch, but beautiful setting
Short, 0.3 mile walk to the arch
Arches is ABSOLUTELY a must see on the U.S. National Parks list!
Visiting Canyonlands National Park:
No reservations are required for this park
Entrance tickets are $30 per private vehicle
With the Colorado and Green Rivers running through this park, it’s no wonder you’re hit with spectacular views of canyons, rock formations, arches and views as far as the eyes can see. The rivers also mean that the park is divided into 4 districts. We did the northern district off Island In The Sky Rd. (really the main entrance, in my opinion). There is another entrance to Canyonlands on the South Side, but we didn’t do this one, maybe in the future!
This park has tons of trails, but again the overlooks right off the road give you some amazing views that make you never want to walk away. I could have stared out into these views for days!
Must See Spots:
Island In the Sky Visitor Center
Park and walk across the street to a major canyon! PLEASE be smart about how far out you walk…..standing next to the edge of a major canyon drop off doesn’t look cool in your picture…it looks dumb….and NOT worth the risk!
Shafer Trail Viewpoint
This spot actually has a dirt road with 19 switchbacks running right underneath where I’m standing
This requires a 4x4 high clearance vehicle to access*
Stop, park and embrace the view!
Mesa Arch Trail
0.6 miles roundtrip
You can do this in a clockwise walk taking you in a circle (which is what we did) to see more views, or retrace your steps in and out
You will be lightly climbing over some rocks to get here, but I would not say it’s difficult at all, just watch your steps
Stunning arch with multiple viewpoints!
The view from under the arch
If you veer off to the West after leaving Mesa Arch and turn onto Upheaval Dome Road, you’ll be met with multiple hiking trails – none of which we did this time around
Aztec Butte Trail
Wilhite Trail
Alcove Spring Trail
Whale Rock Trail
Upheaval Dome Overlooks Trail
Crater Spur Trail
Green River Overlook
Parking lot viewpoint
Buck Canyon Overlook
Parking lot viewpoint (includes a little walking path to the rim along a flat trail)
White Rim Overlook
Parking lot viewpoint
Grand Viewpoint Overlook
Parking lot viewpoint
We were in and out of this park is 2 hrs. so you can absolutely do it quick if you don’t do long hikes. There is certainly plenty of hikes to do though and some other beautiful spots to see, but if you are low on time, or don’t want to spend too much time in the heat, this park can be seen in 2hrs!
Visiting Dead Horse State Park:
Once you leave Canyonlands, head 9 minutes up the road to the entrance of Dead Horse State Park! So crazy how much you can see with these two giant parks right next to each other. This park sits around 5,300 acres (Canyonlands is about 330,000 for reference), so it’s a quick one to visit. This park has 1 main road and we were in and out in 1 hour. Tickets are $20 per private vehicle.
https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/dead-horse/
If you plan to hike here, it is full of easy hikes. Most consisting of 1/8 mile to 3 miles one way. For us, we drove all the way to the end of the road and parked on the far side away from the bathrooms. There’s a trail next to the lot that overlooks the rim, if you walk to it and follow the rocks you’ll look out to an incredible view of the Solar Evaporation Ponds that are used in the mining of salt and potash.
At the end of the parking lot you’ll see restrooms as well as a path leading to an overlook that will end your trip with the best view yet! These parks can all easily be done within 2 days, so put on your hiking boots, grab some sunnies and water and head out for some adventure in Moab!
