The Perfect 3-Day Moab Itinerary: Arches, Canyonlands, Dead Horse Point & ULUM Moab
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Moab is one of those destinations that immediately makes you feel like you have landed somewhere completely different. Between the massive red-rock formations, natural arches, deep canyons and wide-open desert views, there is something incredible around practically every corner.
We were able to visit Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park in two days, but I think three full days is the sweet spot for a first trip to Moab. It gives you enough time to see all three parks without spending your entire vacation rushing from one overlook to the next.
The third day also gives you time to actually enjoy Moab, relax at your resort or add one of the area’s more adventurous activities.
This itinerary is especially good for travelers who want to see the major landmarks, complete a few shorter hikes and experience the parks without committing to strenuous, all-day hiking.
Your 3-Day Moab Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1: Arches National Park
Day 2: Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park
Day 3: ULUM Moab, a guided adventure and time in downtown Moab
This itinerary assumes that you have three full days available and arrive in the area the evening before. A rental car is absolutely necessary because the parks, downtown Moab and many of the resorts are spread out.
Where to Stay in Moab
We stayed at ULUM Moab, and it became one of the most memorable parts of our entire trip.
ULUM is a luxury outdoor resort located approximately 30 minutes outside downtown Moab. It is remote enough to feel peaceful and secluded, but close enough to reach the town and surrounding parks for day trips. The resort is approximately 40 minutes from the entrance to Arches and around an hour from the Island in the Sky area of Canyonlands.
This is not regular camping. The tents have private bathrooms, rain showers, electricity, upscale furnishings, comfortable beds and private decks. The resort also offers food, complimentary activities, fire pits, pools, a hot tub and a cold plunge.
I recommend staying for at least three nights so you have enough time to explore Moab while still enjoying the resort.
Read my complete ULUM Moab review before booking your stay.
Check current rates and availability at ULUM Moab.
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Staying in downtown Moab is another option if you prefer to be closer to restaurants and shops. The same itinerary will still work; your drive times will simply be different.
What to Know Before Visiting Moab
You Will Need a Rental Car
A rental car is a necessity for this trip. We used a regular SUV and had no trouble driving the paved roads through the three parks.
You only need a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle if you intend to explore specific backcountry or unpaved roads. Do not take a regular rental vehicle onto a road that requires four-wheel drive simply because the map makes it look adventurous!
Check Current Park Information
As of 2026, Arches National Park does not require an advance timed-entry reservation. The park can still temporarily slow or divert vehicles when the entrance and popular parking areas become congested, so check current conditions before leaving your hotel. Canyonlands also does not require a general timed-entry reservation.
Current standard private-vehicle entrance fees are:
Arches National Park: $30
Canyonlands National Park: $30
Dead Horse Point State Park: $20
Dead Horse Point does not require an entry reservation.
Always verify current fees, closures and entry requirements on the official park websites before your trip.
Bring More Water Than You Think You Need
Moab’s dry air can make it easy to underestimate how much water you are losing. Bring water for every person, along with extra bottles in the vehicle.
A hydration backpack is especially helpful because it keeps your hands free while hiking.
You should also pack:
Supportive hiking shoes or tennis shoes with good traction
Tall hiking socks
Sunscreen
A hat
Sunglasses
A portable phone charger
Snacks
Electrolyte or hydration packets
Light layers for cooler mornings and evenings
A headlamp if you plan to be outside around sunrise or after sunset
A swimsuit if you are staying at ULUM
Day 1: Explore Arches National Park
Arches National Park is the perfect place to begin your Moab trip.
The park has one main scenic road with several smaller roads leading to the major formations and trailheads. This makes it easy to explore without constantly worrying that you have taken a wrong turn.
Arches is generally open 24 hours a day. The National Park Service recommends entering before 8:00 a.m. or after 3:00 p.m. to reduce the chance of entrance lines and crowded parking areas.
You do not have to wake up at 4:00 a.m. to enjoy the park, but an earlier start gives you cooler temperatures and more flexibility.
Start at the Arches Visitor Center
Stop at the visitor center near the park entrance to use the restroom, fill your water bottles and check current trail or traffic conditions.
From there, begin the scenic drive into the park.
Courthouse Towers and Sheep Rock
Courthouse Towers is one of the first major areas you will see as the road climbs into the park.
You can enjoy much of this area from the road and designated pullouts, making it an easy way to begin the day without immediately committing to a hike.
Keep an eye out for Sheep Rock. And yes—it really does look like a sheep!
Balanced Rock
Balanced Rock can be seen from the road, but there is also a short loop that allows you to get a closer look.
This is a great quick stop because it requires very little time but gives you one of the park’s most recognizable views.
The Windows, Turret Arch and Double Arch
The Windows area provides several formations within a relatively small area.
The Windows trail is approximately one mile roundtrip and gives you access to the North Window, South Window and Turret Arch.
Double Arch is located nearby and has a separate short trail. We did not complete this one during our trip, and I absolutely wish we had! If parking and time allow, include it in your day.
Choose Your Delicate Arch Experience
Delicate Arch is probably the most famous formation in the park.
You have two main options:
Visit one of the viewpoints for a more distant look at the arch.
Complete the approximately three-mile roundtrip hike to stand near the arch itself.
The full hike requires more time, water and energy, so decide in advance whether it is one of your top priorities.
If you choose the hike, consider moving another stop to later in the day rather than trying to squeeze every formation into the same afternoon.
Fiery Furnace Viewpoint
The Fiery Furnace viewpoint is an easy place to stop, sit and take in the maze of narrow sandstone fins.
Entering the Fiery Furnace itself requires a permit or ranger-led experience, but you can enjoy the viewpoint without entering the restricted hiking area. Reservations remain necessary for ranger-led and self-guided Fiery Furnace hikes.
Choose One Final Short Hike
Depending on your energy level and available time, finish with one of these:
Sand Dune Arch: A short walk to a smaller arch tucked between towering rock walls.
Landscape Arch: A longer walk from the Devils Garden area that leads to one of the park’s most impressive arches.
Do not feel like you have to see every formation during one trip. Choose the stops that interest you most and leave room to actually enjoy them.
Read my complete Arches National Park guide for more information about the stops, hikes and packing list.
Evening in Moab or at ULUM
After leaving Arches, you can head into downtown Moab for dinner or return to ULUM.
In town, we enjoyed the casual atmosphere at Trailhead Public House & Eatery. You can also explore the food-truck park, browse the shops or grab ice cream.
If you are staying at ULUM, another great option is to eat at the resort, relax around one of the fire pits and enjoy the complimentary s’mores bar.
Day 2: Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park
Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point work extremely well together because their entrances are in the same general area.
We visited the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands. Canyonlands is divided into multiple districts, and the roads do not connect inside the park, so make sure your navigation is taking you to Island in the Sky for this itinerary.
Island in the Sky offers enormous canyon views, scenic overlooks and shorter trails that are easy to combine into one day.
Island in the Sky Visitor Center
Begin at the visitor center for current information, restrooms and water.
Walk across the road to the nearby overlook, but please use common sense around the canyon edges. There are major drop-offs throughout this park, and no photograph is worth standing dangerously close to an unprotected edge.
Shafer Trail Viewpoint
The Shafer Trail Viewpoint gives you an incredible look at the switchbacks descending into the canyon.
You can enjoy the view from above without driving the road. The unpaved backcountry roads require appropriate vehicles, preparation and current-condition checks.
Hike to Mesa Arch
Mesa Arch was one of our favorite short hikes in Canyonlands.
The loop is approximately 0.6 miles roundtrip. There is some uneven rock along the way, but we did not find the trail particularly difficult.
The arch itself frames the canyon and distant landscape, creating one of the most recognizable views in Canyonlands.
Stop at the Scenic Overlooks
Continue along the Island in the Sky scenic road and select several overlooks based on your time.
Some of the best options include:
Green River Overlook
Buck Canyon Overlook
White Rim Overlook
Grand View Point Overlook
Many of these require little more than parking and walking a short distance to the viewpoint.
We were able to see the major areas in approximately two hours because we kept our hikes short. I would allow at least three to five hours so you do not feel rushed.
Read my complete Moab parks guide for more details about Canyonlands and its scenic stops.
Pack Lunch and Plenty of Water
Bring lunch, snacks and more water than you expect to need.
Having food in the vehicle will keep you from leaving the area early because everyone has become tired and hangry—which is never how you want a national-park day to end.
Continue to Dead Horse Point State Park
After Canyonlands, head to Dead Horse Point State Park.
Dead Horse Point was my favorite view of the three parks, so do not skip it simply because it is a state park rather than a national park.
The park is much smaller than Canyonlands and has one main road leading toward the primary viewpoint. You can visit quickly without completing a long hike, or spend additional time walking portions of the rim trail.
Drive to the end of the road and explore the main overlook. The canyon and river views are massive, and the bright solar-evaporation ponds in the distance create an unusual contrast against the red desert landscape.
Dead Horse Point is open year-round from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., although hours and conditions can change.
If the timing works, this is a beautiful place to finish the afternoon or watch the landscape change as the sun gets lower.
Return to ULUM for a Relaxing Evening
After two park-filled days, return to ULUM for dinner and a slower evening.
Take advantage of the hot tub, cold plunge or soaking pool. Then grab a complimentary s’more and sit near one of the fire pits under the desert sky.
Your feet will be very happy that you planned a quieter evening!
Day 3: Enjoy ULUM, Downtown Moab and an Adventure
After seeing the three parks, use your third day to experience another side of Moab.
This is where the three-day itinerary becomes much more enjoyable than trying to force every activity into two packed days.
Start With a Slow Morning at ULUM
Enjoy breakfast and coffee at the resort before beginning the day.
Depending on the schedule during your stay, ULUM offers complimentary activities such as yoga, tea blending, soap making, sound-bath meditation and stargazing.
You can also walk to Looking Glass Arch, which is located on the property, or simply explore the resort grounds.
Choose a Moab Adventure
For a more active third day, book one of the outdoor experiences available around Moab.
Colorado River kayaking
Colorado River rafting
A guided Arches hike
Rock climbing
Canyoneering
A Hummer safari
ULUM can help arrange both private and public excursions, which makes planning much easier.
Choose one main activity instead of trying to fit three excursions into the same day. This is still a vacation, people!
Spend Time in Downtown Moab
After your activity, head into downtown Moab.
You can:
Stop for lunch and a cold drink
Explore the food-truck park
Browse local shops
Make a custom T-shirt
Pick up souvenirs
Grab ice cream
Walk around without an agenda
Moab is not a massive city, but it has enough restaurants and shops to make for an enjoyable afternoon.
Finish the Trip at Your Resort
Return to ULUM with enough time to enjoy the property before your final night.
Have dinner, take one final dip in the pool or hot tub, sit around the fire and enjoy the stars.
It is tempting to pack every available hour with another hike or overlook, but having a little downtime made the trip feel like an actual getaway instead of an endurance competition.
What if You Only Have Two Days in Moab?
You can still see the three parks:
Day 1: Arches National Park
Day 2: Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park
This is essentially how we experienced the parks, and it worked because we focused on scenic drives, overlooks and shorter hikes.
You will not be able to complete every trail, but you can still see an incredible amount.
What if You Have Four Days in Moab?
With an additional day, you could:
Give Arches a full day and complete a longer hike
Separate Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point
Add a guided rafting or canyoneering excursion
Spend more time relaxing at ULUM
Explore another area around Moab
Add a second resort or adventure day
Four days would be ideal for travelers who prefer a slower pace or want to complete more strenuous hikes.
Final Thoughts on Spending Three Days in Moab
Three days gives you an excellent introduction to Moab.
You can see the arches, explore the canyon overlooks, visit all three parks, experience downtown Moab and still have time for a little relaxation or adventure.
Arches National Park is the iconic stop, Canyonlands delivers enormous views, and Dead Horse Point might unexpectedly become your favorite of all three.
Pairing the parks with a unique stay like ULUM makes the trip even more memorable.
Moab absolutely deserves a place on your travel list—and after visiting once, you will probably begin planning your return before you even leave.
Continue Planning Your Moab Trip
Read my complete Arches National Park guide.
Read my Moab National Parks guide covering Arches, Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point.
Read my full ULUM Moab review and travel guide.
Check current ULUM Moab rates and availability.
Affiliate link: I may earn a commission if you book through this link.