If you’re looking for adventure and a world-famous landscape, you have to put Moab on your bucket list. We love traveling with a group of families in our neighborhood for Spring Break and Moab is one of our favorite places. We highly recommend going in the spring or fall. If you do choose to go in the summer, take tons of water, wear a hat, and spread out your hikes with drives in your air conditioned car. It’s amazing any time of year! We like to arrive in the evening, then stay 3 nights. Here’s a great itinerary for families with kids.
Day 1 (Arrive in Evening)
We recommend arriving in Moab early enough to grab some dinner and leave town by 5:30 for a sunset hike to Delicate Arch. The drive from Salt Lake to Moab is just over 3 ½ hours non-stop. So, if you leave around 1:00, you’ll have an hour for a pit stop and a quick dinner.
Evening Hike to Delicate Arch
Try to arrive at the Delicate Arch trailhead by 6:15. This hike is a 3.2 mile out-and-back trail to Utah’s most iconic landmark. We want to get to the arch by 7:30 so we can see the sunset. BRING flashlights/headlamps for the hike back in the dark. Don’t forget good shoes, a warm jacket, and water. You will thank me for this recommendation. You’ll avoid the bigger crowds and you’ll actually be able to park in the parking lot. Hooray!
Day 2
Arches National Park
9:00 AM Departure
Quick stop at the Visitor’s Center for our Junior Rangers.
10:00 AM Meet at Devil’s Garden Parking Lot. (About 40 minutes from Moab.)
Hike to Landscape Arch, the biggest arch in the park (306 feet!) It’s a 1.9 mile out-and-back trail that takes about an hour.
Next stop– Sand Dune Arch. This is a really short trail (0.3 miles), but it’s a special little place where we can play in the giant sandbox and have a long-jump contest. If you want to build a sandcastle, bring a pail and shovel. (Not kidding.)
12:30 PM Picnic Lunch at Panorama Point
After lunch, explore the Windows Section. The Windows Loop, Turret Arch, and Double Arch Trails are short, easy, and picture perfect. All three trails total less than 2 miles.
Stop at the Visitor’s Center for Jr. Ranger badges or to watch the film.
3:30-4:00ish Head back to town for dinner and fun in town or at the hotel.
Day 3
Morning Options
- Bike Rides-
- Option 1: Bar M Loop
- This is an 8-mile loop for true beginners. It’s great for families with kids who want to try mountain biking for the first time. The entire loop takes 2 ½ – 3 hours, but you can just do a section if you want a shorter route. The drive from Aarchway Inn is 17 minutes (10 miles north on Hwy 191).
- Option 2: Slick Rock
- This is a world-class trail for intermediate and advanced mountain bikers. You can ride the 3-mile practice loop in 1-2 hours, or the main 10-mile loop in 3-4 hours. The drive from Aarchway Inn is 15 minutes (6 miles through Moab and then all the way up Sand Flats Road).
- Playing and Swimming at the Motel
- Indian Ladder at Moonflower Canyon (located along Kane Creek Blvd just South of Moab).
“Indian Ladder” at Moonflower Canyon - Shopping in Moab
Lunch on your own (picnic or in town)
Canyonlands National Park
12:30 Departure to Island in the Sky
1:30 Meet at Grand Viewpoint Trail. This hike is an easy 1.8 miles out-and-back. We’ll be on the edge of the canyon, so hold on to your kids and your hats. There are no words to describe how beautiful (and terrifying) this hike is.
3:00 Drive to Whale Rock Trail.
Climb all over the whale and sing some sea shanties. Maybe play some frisbee.
4:30 Hike Mesa Arch. This is a 0.7-mile loop to a beautiful arch with an amazing view.
5:30ish Drive back to Moab for dinner. (45-minute drive from Mesa Arch to Moab) If you have time, stop at Dead Horse Point. It’s another amazing view. This is a state park so it will cost you an additional $20 to enter.
7:30 PM Swimming and frolicking at the hotel
Day 4: Departure Morning
Here are a few ideas if you want to extend the fun:
- Jeep adventure in Moab (Rent a jeep for a few hours and explore off-road.)
- Hike Corona Arch (one of our favorites- 3 mile round trip). It’s west of Moab- not in the national park.
- Moab Rafting Morning Half-Day Trip: ($99 adults, $89 youth + tips)
- Stop in Price at the Dinosaur Museum or explore 9-mile Canyon (lots of petroglyphs).
- Take the bumpy road to the famous Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry/Jurassic National Monument. It says it opens in April, but you might want to check before you go. It’s really great, but definitely a haul on an unpaved road.
- Climb the Indian Ladder in Moab at Moonflower Canyon.
- Hike to Longbow Arch. It’s west of Moab- not in the national park.
- Mountain Biking
Longbow Arch- A nice final hike on your way back to Salt Lake.
NATIONAL PARK ENTRANCE
Make sure you reserve a timed entry pass. You don’t need one of these for our Delicate Arch hike on the first night because we’ll be visiting the park after 4:00 PM. When you get to the park, you ‘ll need to also buy a park entrance pass for both Arches and Canyonlands. You can get one that covers both parks for $55 or an annual America the Beautiful pass for $80 that works at all national parks for the whole year.
DON’T FORGET TO ADD THESE TO YOUR PACKING LIST
- Headlamps or flashlights for Delicate Arch hike on Wednesday night
- Layered clothing for hot and cold weather
- Good hiking shoes
- Swimsuits
- Water bottles
- Day backpacks
- Bikes, optional