Introducing Moab, Utah! An oasis in the middle of nowhere, Moab is the hub between Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. Moab is home to over 5,000 people, but thousands of people flock to this town every year to restock during their trips to the national parks. Moab is also the backdrop to many films, including westerns and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Visitors to Moab can expect to see the surrounding parks, tourist attractions, and many great restaurants. Moab is a must-stop if you are planning on visiting either of these national parks, so read the guide below to see all this small Utah town has to offer!

Let's start with Arches National Park. Located just outside Moab, this popular park has around 1.5 million visitors a year! Arches features over 2,000 natural stone arches, hence the name, and popular ones include the famous Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch, and Double Arch. Visitors can camp at the Devils Garden Campground, bike on the roads, stargaze at night, and hike all over the park. Hiking trails to the mentioned arches are very popular, as are Devil’s Garden Trail and Double O Arch Trail. Spring and fall tend to draw big crowds to the park, so plan accordingly if you are visiting during those times.

Canyonlands National Park is also just outside of Moab, but this incredible park is often overshadowed by Arches. Canyonlands receives only half the number of visitors per year that Arches does, making it an underrated stop on your Moab trip. The park is full of canyons created by the Colorado River and is broken into four parts: Islands in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and The Rivers. The four parts of the park are unique and make for an exciting adventure. Visitors can boat in the rivers, camp, stargaze, and hike. Mesa Arch Trail is a very popular trail, as are Grand View Point Trail and Aztec Butte Trail. The busy seasons for Canyonlands are also spring and fall.

Now, to talk about Moab. Moab features several adventure-focused companies that specialize in 4x4 trips, rafting, and other excursions, like Moab Adventure Center and Moab Cowboy Off-Road. Other popular stops for visitors include Moab Giants, a dinosaur museum, and Hole ‘N’ the Rock, a roadside attraction featuring a home carved into rock.

Chances are, if you are visiting Moab, you have either been driving through the middle of nowhere for an extended period of time or you have been off the grid in the national parks for an extended period. Both scenarios result in being very hungry for some great food, which Moab can deliver on! Start your day with coffee from Love Muffin Cafe or Moab Coffee Roasters. For breakfast, stop by Moab Garage Co for their breakfast burritos or Dough Bird for doughnuts.

For lunch, get Thai classics from Thai Bella, American staples from Zax Restaurant and Watering Hole, paninis and baked goods from Sweet Cravings Bakery + Bistro, and diner favorites from Milt’s Stop and Eat or Moab Diner. For dinner after a long day of adventures, you have plenty of options. Have BBQ and homemade sauces from Spitfire BBQ, fish and chips from Trailhead Public House, Asian fusion dishes from 98 Center Moab, or try the sweet potato fries from The Broken Oar Restaurant. For a more romantic or upscale dining, get the famous jumbo shells from Pasta Jays, Neapolitan-style pizza from Antica Forma, or experience fine dining at Desert Bistro.

If you need a place to spend the night or want to get out of the tent for a day or two, look no further than Moab. Moab has plenty of chain hotels to choose from, but some local options include Moab Springs Ranch, Wolfes Hotel Moab, Hoodoo Moab, Red Moon Lodge, and Sunflower Hill Inn. Want a whole rental to yourself? Consider booking a Vrbo. Here are some of our favorites: Downtown Apartment for 4, Cozy Studio for 2, and Garden Cottage for 6.

Want to visit Moab but not sure when? Consider coming during one of their many festivals! Jam out at the Moab Music Festival, take home treasures from the Moab Arts Festival, or get off-roading at the Moab Jeep Safari. Whatever you’re into, Moab, Utah has something worth seeing. We hope this travel guide gives you a glimpse into life in Moab that can inspire a future visit. To find more travel guides near you, check out our map!

Happy Travels!

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