Top 6 Places to Check Out in and around Moab
I have visited Moab three times now, and here are my favorite places I have checked out—they include parks worth exploring and local businesses to visit. However, if you plan to visit the national parks, you will need a National Park Pass.
I highly recommend getting the pass before visiting any national park; it will save you time! This pass is valid for one year and costs $80, granting free entry to all parks. Most parks charge either $25 or $40 for admission, with a seven-day validity if you don't have a pass. You can purchase the pass at the national park itself, on their website, or at REI.
Parks
Arches National Park
This is the nearest park to Moab, about 10-15 minutes away. It now offers a monthly entry ticket.
Arches is now included in the timed entry reservation system. During certain months, you'll need both your time entry pass and your National Park Pass if you plan to visit between 7 am and 4 pm. Check their website to see which months require reservations. If you're an early riser, you can visit before 7 am, and then you won’t need a timed entry. If you don’t mind waiting, you can visit after 4 pm.
Honestly, my favorite times to visit Arches were sunrise (sunrise hikes) and sunset, where you can watch the sun fall over the Mars-like terrain.
Another thing to note is that if you plan to hike Delicate Arch, you will need to arrive very early, as the parking lot fills up quickly. If you aren’t interested in hiking, there is an incredible scenic drive throughout the park where you can stop and take some great photos of Arches!
Double Arch and the Windows Arch are my suggestions for an epic sunset!
Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park is divided into three separate sections: Island in the Sky, Needles, and the rivers themselves.
The Island in the Sky is about 45 minutes from Moab and is just south of Deadhorse State Park.
The Needles is about an hour and 20-30 minutes from Moab. When I was there, I felt like I didn’t have enough time to properly explore while hiking Chesler Park; I had to drive back to Moab for a nighttime tour. I would recommend getting here early and leaving late to give this section its due or make this more of a weekend trip!
This section of the park is truly a full-day adventure. You won't have enough time to explore this park and its surrounding areas in a single day. You can try, but that would be a VERY long day!
I recommend hiking the Chesler Park trail in the Needles section. It's a moderately challenging 5.4-mile round trip. Bring plenty of water and Gatorade for this hike.
Dead Horse State Park
Dead Horse State Park is located on the same road as Canyonlands’ Island in the Sky. If you turn left at that road, you'll enter Dead Horse. Since it is a state park, you'll need either a state park pass or a day pass, which costs $20. You can check out my post all about Dead Horse here.
Local Businesses
Moab Tour Company
I had an amazing time with this company! I went on a sunset tour of Hell's Revenge 4x4 trail. I didn’t drive since I chose to ride with the guide, but this is a tough trail to navigate and is only recommended for UTVs and non-stock vehicles.
Thankfully, I didn’t see any overturned jeeps or trucks, but I did see one that had gotten stuck! This isn’t your typical off-roading adventure. Check my video below of Devil’s Hot Tub! Watching people drive up this is crazy! But these guys were absolutely fantastic and my tour guide also provided some history of this area!
Love Muffin Café
My ex recommended this place, which is the best spot for breakfast and coffee. The last time I visited was in June 2025, and I finally got to sit inside since the other two times I went during pandemic days. They have a great seating area to take a break from the Utah heat!
Moab Coffee Roasters
This place is my favorite spot to grab an iced tea or a cold brew after waking up at 4 am for some sunrise adventures! And it's my little escape from the heat of Moab! This is a one-stop shop for coffee and ice cream!
I hope you discover the breathtaking beauty of Moab! Whether you're into hiking the parks, catching a sunrise or sunset or grabbing a coffee. I would love to hear your thoughts about my recommendations! And if you need someone to plan your trip to Moab, I am your girl!