3-Day Moab Itinerary

Arrival day

Before Day 1. Moab is a long way from anywhere, so plan for the drive and an early first morning.Details

Getting here: Most visitors fly into Salt Lake City or Grand Junction, Colorado, and drive. Salt Lake City is about four hours by road and Grand Junction about two. Moab has no big airport and you need a car here, so plan to rent one.
Settling in: Check-in is usually in the afternoon. Arches has used timed entry in busy seasons and some trails need a permit, so check ahead before you land. Fill the tank and buy water in town, because the parks are far from both.
First evening: Walk Main Street, eat early and go to bed early. Day 1 starts well before the crowds at Arches, so lay out your boots, hat and water the night before.

Day 1. Arches from the first light to Delicate Arch

4 stops · 38.5 mi

The big day. Be in Arches National Park early, stroll Park Avenue and the Windows before the heat, rest in town through the middle of the afternoon, then climb to Delicate Arch for the evening light.

Breakfast
A big breakfast before the park
Eggs, potatoes and a breakfast burrito, or a plate of pancakes. Fill up before an early start at Arches, because the park has little food inside.
Local tip Order something to go and pack extra water.
1
MorningWorth a short stop
Park Avenue, Arches National Park
A short walk down a canyon between tall sandstone walls, just inside the park entrance. It looks like a city street cut by wind and water. Check ahead on timed entry and the day's conditions, and arrive early.
Go when First thing, before the tour buses and while the canyon walls are still in shade.
Local tip Walk the trail down and decide at the bottom whether to go back up or arrange a pickup. Bring more water than you think you need.
About 16 min by car9.3 mi
2
MiddayWorth the time
The Windows, Arches National Park
A cluster of huge arches reached by short, well-worn paths from one parking area, with North Window, South Window and Turret Arch all within a few minutes. Parking fills up, so go early.
Go when Early morning, when the lot has room and the low light warms the arches.
Local tip Do the short trail to North Window and South Window first, then Turret Arch. Check ahead on parking and timed entry.
Lunch
A picnic lunch in the shade
Sandwiches, fruit and a bag of trail mix, picked up in town and eaten at a picnic table by the park road.
Local tip Take everything back out with you, and bring water.
About 29 min by car17.1 mi
3
AfternoonWorth a short stop
Moab's Main Street
The long main road through town, lined with outdoor gear shops, galleries, bakeries and cafes. Park once, cool off in the shade and let the heat of the day pass.
Go when The hot middle of the afternoon, when you want shade, a cold drink and a break from the sun.
Local tip Park once and walk. The gear shops and bakeries are a good place to ask a local what the trails look like today.
About 34 min by car or transit12.1 mi
4
EveningWorth the time, bring a light
Delicate Arch
The best-known arch in Utah, a freestanding curve of red sandstone against the mountains. The trail climbs over open slickrock, so bring water and a light, and check ahead on conditions. A shorter walk to a viewpoint shows it from afar.
Go when Late afternoon, so you arrive well before sunset (about 7:54 PM) and walk back with a headlamp.
Local tip Bring a headlamp, a lot of water and a layer, because the rock is open and the wind picks up as the light fades. Check ahead on conditions.
Photo: Palacemusic, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Dinner
A hearty dinner after the hike
Burgers, barbecue, pizza or a big plate of Mexican food, the kind of meal a day outdoors calls for. Many kitchens close early, so go straight from the trail.
Local tip Book ahead on a weekend, and expect a wait in the busy months.

If it rains. Wet rock makes the trail to Delicate Arch a poor idea, so check ahead and view the arch from the shorter viewpoint trail, or skip it. Park Avenue and the Windows are quick walks between showers, and Main Street has plenty of covered shops and cafes.

Day 2. The Island in the Sky and a canyon rim at sunset

3 stops · 62.3 mi

A day on the high mesa. Drive up to Canyonlands for the sunrise side of the park, look down on the White Rim from Grand View Point, then finish on the rim at Dead Horse Point.

Drive from Delicate ArchAbout 57 min by car31.5 mi
Where Day 1 ended.
Breakfast
Coffee and a pastry before dawn
A strong coffee and something sweet or a breakfast sandwich, packed up the night before or grabbed on the way out of town.
Local tip Cafes open early, but check ahead if you plan to leave before sunrise.
1
MorningWorth the time, go early
Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park
A short walk in the Island in the Sky district to a stone arch that frames the canyon floor far below. The glow under the arch at first light is the reason to come early. Check ahead on the road and on parking.
Go when Early morning, around sunrise, when the underside of the arch glows.
Local tip Photographers line up here early, so arrive with time to spare and be kind about elbow room. The walk is short, but check ahead on the road.
Photo: Thomas Wolf , www.foto-tw…, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 11 min by car5.5 mi
2
MiddayWorth the time
Grand View Point, Canyonlands National Park
The viewpoint at the south end of the Island in the Sky road, looking over a maze of canyons, buttes and the long white shelf of the White Rim. A rim walk is easy to shorten or extend.
Go when Midday, when the sun is high and the whole White Rim is lit end to end.
Local tip The overlook rail is a short walk from the lot. The rim trail goes further, so choose how far you want to go and turn back when you like.
Lunch
A rim picnic with a view
Eat sandwiches and fruit at a picnic area on the mesa, with the canyons laid out below.
Local tip There is no food on the Island in the Sky, so bring all you need, plus water.
About 52 min by car25.4 mi
3
EveningWorth the time
Dead Horse Point State Park
A high overlook where the Colorado River makes a tight gooseneck about two thousand feet below. Stay for the last light on the rim. Check ahead on entry and gate times, because the park is a short drive from the highway.
Go when Late afternoon, so you are on the rim before sunset (about 7:54 PM).
Local tip Bring a layer, because the rim is exposed and the evening turns cool. Check ahead on the gate and entry times before you drive out.
Photo: Mike Nielsen, CC BY-SA 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Dinner
A relaxed dinner in town
Grilled meat, local beer or a big salad in town after a long day on the rim. Tables fill up after sunset, so go on the early side.
Local tip Ask about outdoor seating if the evening is mild.

If it rains. Low cloud and rain hide the big views, so the Island in the Sky is best on a clear day. If the weather closes in, do the short rim stops only, then drive back to town for the shops and a long, warm lunch.

Day 3. Corona Arch, the Fisher Towers and the river road

4 stops · 44.2 mi

A day of a different kind of red: a huge arch off the Potash Road, ancient rock art beside the road, then the spires of the Fisher Towers and the winding drive home along the Colorado River.

Travel from Dead Horse Point State ParkAbout 31 min by car or transit9.4 mi
Where Day 2 ended.
Breakfast
A burrito and coffee to go
A breakfast burrito with green chile and a coffee to go, so you can be on the Potash Road while the arch is still in the shade.
Local tip Ask for the chile on the side if you are not sure how hot it will be.
1
MorningWorth the time
Corona Arch
A big sandstone arch with a smaller one beside it, reached by a trail along a canyon wall and across open slickrock. Parts of the trail use a fixed cable, so read about it and check ahead on conditions and the weather.
Go when Morning, when the trail is cool and the arch is lit by the low sun.
Local tip The trail crosses a railroad track and uses a cable and steps on the rock. Read about the route first and check ahead on conditions and the weather.
Photo: Michael Grindstaff, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 15 min by car or transit3.3 mi
2
MiddayWorth a short stop
Potash Road petroglyphs
Panels of ancient rock art pecked into the cliff beside the road along the river, with dinosaur tracks nearby. Look from the pull-out, never touch the rock, and park only where the road allows.
Go when Midday, when the sun is flat on the cliff and the figures show well.
Local tip Look but never touch. Oils from skin can harm the rock art. Park fully off the road in the pull-outs and keep an eye on traffic.
Lunch
A quick lunch back in town
A sandwich, a taco or a bowl of noodles on Main Street, and a cold drink while you decide how to spend the afternoon.
About 44 min by car20.9 mi
3
AfternoonWorth the time
Fisher Towers
A row of tall, dark red mud and sandstone spires on a quiet road east of the river. The trail along their base is a good way to see them close up. Check ahead on the road and the weather, and bring water.
Go when Afternoon, when the low sun lights the spires and the walk is shaded in parts.
Local tip Walk as far along the base of the towers as feels right and turn back whenever you like. Check ahead on the road in and the weather.
Photo: Greg Schaefer ., CC BY 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 32 min by car or transit10.7 mi
4
EveningWorth the time
Colorado River Scenic Byway (Highway 128)
The winding road that follows the Colorado River between tall red cliffs, with pull-outs along the way. Drive it back toward Moab at golden hour and stop at Big Bend, where the river curves below the cliffs.
Go when Early evening, with the sun low on the cliffs (about 7:54 PM).
Local tip Drive it slowly with the windows down, and use the pull-outs to stop rather than braking on the road. Check ahead on any closures.
Photo: Michael Kwok, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Dinner
A last dinner with a patio
A patio table, a big plate of something grilled and a cold drink to end the trip, with the cliffs still glowing in the last light.
Local tip Many places in town serve early and fill quickly, so book ahead.

If it rains. Corona Arch is a trail to skip in wet weather, since the rock is slick. Drive the river road slowly and enjoy the cliffs in the cloud, and check ahead on the road to the Fisher Towers because it can get muddy.

Departure day

After the last day. The roads out are long and empty, so leave more time than you think.Details

Check-out: Pack the night before, fill the tank and ask your hotel to hold your bags if your flight is late. A slow last breakfast on Main Street suits the end of a big trip.
To the airport: Salt Lake City is about four hours by road and Grand Junction about two. Allow extra time for fuel, road work and a stop to stretch, and check ahead on the weather and any closures before you set out.
If you have a few hours: Take one more look at the cliffs from a pull-out on the river road, or walk Main Street for a last coffee and a souvenir before the drive.

Questions people ask

When is the best time to visit Moab?

By average weather from 2021 to 2025, April to May and September to October are the most comfortable months for a desert trip to Moab. This plan is built for mid April, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.

How many days does this plan cover?

It covers 3 days in Moab, planned for mid April. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.

Who is this plan for?

It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.

Is anything on this plan booked?

No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.

Can I plan my own days like this?

Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.

Can I change this plan?

Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.

How much walking is there?

Each day has about 30.9 to 38.5 miles between its stops, and 104.2 miles in all across 3 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.