Moab, Utah is known as the adventure capital of the Southwest of the United States. It's a small town on the far east side of Utah that is the home base for a Grand Canyon look alike, most amount of arches in a single area and a ton of out-of-this-world looking red rocks. The natural beauty in this cute rugged town is abundant from the early in day time all thru the day until the crystal clear night skies.
Only 8 hours from Phoenix, Moab was the destination for our friends' wedding but it turned into one of the best state-side trips we've ever done. In this blog, we are going to walk you through our amazing Airbnb, all the must-do activities and foodie spots to hit up on your trip to Moab.
WHERE YOU SHOULD STAY IN MOAB, UTAH
There are tons of options for places to stay in Moab from hotels to camping but we found the cutest Airbnb that seemed like the perfect home base. It’s called The Westwater Room and we would stay here again if we returned! From the mid-century modern decor to the most peaceful secret back courtyard, this was one of the dreamiest spots we’ve ever stayed in.
Here’s everything you need to know if you want to stay here ⬇️
LOCATION: This Airbnb is very centrally located with only a 5 min drive + 20 min walk to Downtown Moab. A huge bonus is Arches National Park is only 10 mins away!
ADDRESS: Confirmed upon Booking
ATMOSPHERE: You will be in peace the whole time you’re here! Even though it’s NOT a private Airbnb, everyone was very respectful and it was quiet. We would sit outside at night and look at the stars in silence.
AMENTITIES: They really thought things through from the guest perspective with free bikes to use, community hangout spaces like the hammocks in the back patio and even kitchen ware to use despite no access to the kitchen. Hosts were seen cleaning main areas daily and refreshing trash cans/coffee. There’s even a piano and guitars to play in the living room area!
BUDGET: $150 per night
WOULD WE STAY HERE AGAIN? 👀⬇️
Yes! Everything was fantastic and we missed it the second we left. Bonus host points - we accidently locked ourselves out and they fixed it very quickly.
5 ACTIVITIES YOU SHOULD DO IN MOAB, UTAH
There are endless cool activities and things to do in Moab because it is home to 3 major State and National Parks and has a booming downtown area. From the incredible outdoor hikes to its vibrant culture and art, Moab is one of the fun and memorable places we have ever explored.
Below is our list of everything we experienced when we were there ⬇️
#1) SUNRISE AT CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK
Canyonlands offers arguably the most unbeatable sunrise view in the country from the Mesa Arch Trailhead. As the sun peeks over the horizon the entire canyon landscape catches aflame and all of the incredible sandstone structures come alive with a golden vibrant orange. Unfortunately we did not get to witness the sunrise of our dreams since there was significant cloud coverage but the views were still absolutely downright gorgeous and was well worth the journey and very early morning to experience it.
LOCATION: Moab, Utah
Address: N/A
Specific Instructions ➡️ Head North from Moab on the U.S Route 191 where you will take a left onto the U-313 aka the Dead Horse Mesa Scenic Byway. Once on the U-313, you will basically just keep driving straight South for a solid 35-40 minutes. Make sure to not turn left on the U-313 which will take you to Dead Horse State Park, keep straight where the road will turn into Grand View Point Road. As you approach Mesa Arch Trailhead you will see many signs to guide you to the left turn to arrive at the trailhead.
PRICE: Pricing varies, see below ⬇️
🚘$30 per Vehicle
🏍️$25 per Motorcycle
🚶🏻or 🚲$15 per Person / Bike
Note: Free admission after 4pm
QUICK TIPS:
✅ To have a chance to be in the Arch for Sunrise, you need to arrive at least 1 hour before Sunrise. We arrived 45 minutes before and snagged the very last parking spot and had to stand in the very back. If you don’t care about ‘the perfect shot’, you can arrive at sunrise and it’ll be epic. It is gorgeous for 2 hours after sunrise too!
✅ There was no one there to take our admission at 5am so it is better to have America the Beautiful Pass to avoid having to get out of your car and do the robot!
#2) HIKING AT ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
Arches National Park has the densest area of natural sandstone arches on the entire planet so experiencing the national park is an absolute MUST if you’re spending any time in Moab. The park has over 2,000 arches so you really can’t go wrong where you decide to go within the park. We took a very short drive (10mins) from our Airbnb to get to the entrance of the national park so it was very easy to access and was well worth the $15 for admission.
The arches are seriously everywhere you look when you get into the park! Our favorite landmarks were seeing ‘Turret Arch’ as well as the North and South window arch! We had very limited time at Arches National Park or else we would've experienced as many of the breathtaking arches that are at the park.
LOCATION: Moab, Utah
Address: N/A
Specific Instructions ➡️The Entrance of Arches National Park is only 10 minutes North of the Moab's downtown. As you’re driving up you will see a road where you will turn right at with a stoplight specifically called Arches National Park so it's really hard to miss.
PRICE: Pricing varies, see below ⬇️
🚘$30 per Vehicle
🏍️$25 per Motorcycle
🚶🏻or 🚲$15 per Person / Bike
Note: Free admission after 4pm
#3) SUNSET PHOTOSHOOT AT DEAD HORSE POINT STATE PARK
Dead Horse State Park is one of the most photographed views on Earth! This was our very first stop in Moab so when Dead Horse Point around 8:30pm we had plenty of light, space to park and room to take photos of the incredible scenery. One of my favorite parts about the Dead Horse Point is seeing the beautiful curve of the Colorado river cutting through all of the sandstone making a U turn just like Horseshoe Bend at the Grand Canyon. Next time I'm back at Dead Horse Point I really want to take full advantage of its mountain biking and hiking trails!
LOCATION: Moab, Utah
Address: N/A
Specific Instructions ➡️ Head North from Moab on the U.S Route 191 where you will take a left onto the U-313 aka the Dead Horse Mesa Scenic Byway. Continue Southwest on the for about 20 minutes until you then take another left to continue on the U-313. If you keep going straight you will be on Grand View Point Rd and you'll find yourself in Canyonlands National Park instead. Keep South on the U-313 and you will then reach the State Park entrance where you will drive straight thru the park to arrive at the Dead Horse Point Overlook.
PRICE: Pricing varies, see below ⬇️
🚘$20 per Vehicle
🏍️$10 per Motorcycle
QUICK TIPS:
✅ The turn onto the U-313 can be easy to miss so look out for the Moab Giants Cafe with the large dinosaur figures, the left turn is just past that.
#4) SHOPPING IN DOWNTOWN MOAB
I just adore bookstores! The peace and calm you feel going into one is just unmatched. While exploring downtown Moab I felt drawn to this store with its yellow purple and orange painted building and beautifully crafted book mural perched above the storefront. Back of Beyond is such a treasure trove of maps and rare books, I’m quite confident you wont find this kind of selection at your average Barnes and Noble or big chain bookstore! Even if reading really isn't your thing, Back of Beyond Books is worth a visit to see the wonderful artistic culture of Moab and get inspiration for where to adventure next!
LOCATION: Moab, Utah
Address: 83 N Main St, Moab, UT 84532
Specific Instructions ➡️
HOURS ⏱️ 9am - 9pm
MOAB MADE
With Moab being such an oasis for outdoor adventure and scenery it is bound to attract a plethora of passionate, talented creatives to capture and express the majesty of its striking landscapes. Moab Made is a cozy artist hub that we stumbled upon while walking along the main road exploring the heart of Moab. Inside you can find a wide variety of beautiful paintings, photography, sculptures, and jewelry all created by local artists in Moab! If you’re looking for a spot to get any souvenirs or memorabilia of your time here, Moab Made would be the first place I would recommend to anyone!
LOCATION: Moab, Utah
Address: 82 N Main St, Moab, UT 84532
Specific Instructions ➡️
HOURS ⏱️ 9:30am - 7:30pm
PRICE:
5 FOOD SPOTS TO TRY IN MOAB, UTAH
With Moab being the adventure capital of the Southwest the food scene of the town caters to the outdoorsy type. Most establishments are expecting you to have red sand on your boots and shirt so everything is very casual and down to earth. Moab offers a variety of food options from healthy brunch spots to rich soul food centric spots. Below is our list of everything we experienced when we were there ⬇️
#1) JAILHOUSE CAFE
AMBIENCE: Really cute down to earth vibe which makes you feel like you're at grandmas house. They have a gorgeous outdoor patio and have really speedy and attentive service.
HERE’S WHAT TO ORDER ➡️ 100% the famous soul food bacon, it was INCREDIBLE! The fresh orange juice and Eggs Benedict were also fantastic.
ADDRESS: 101 N Main St, Moab, UT 84532
HOURS ⏱️: Weekdays ➡️ 7am - Noon/Weekends ➡️ 7am - 1:30pm
PRICE: $-$$
QUICK TIP ⬇️
✅ Jailhouse Cafe is now also open 5pm - 9pm on Thursdays - Sundays
#2) MOAB GARAGE CO
AMBIENCE: As a refurbished auto shop it has a very scrappy but welcoming feel to it. It has the very common rustic Moab feel to it being very laid back and easy going but you can tell they put effort into making the place feel modern and efficient.
HERE’S WHAT TO ORDER ➡️ We really enjoyed their coffee especially since they source their beans locally so its really fresh and strong!
ADDRESS: 78 N Main St, Moab, UT 84532
HOURS ⏱️: Monday 8am - 3pm/Tuesday and Wednesday CLOSED/Thursday - Sunday 8am - 3pm
PRICE: $-$$
AMBIENCE: This little spot seems quite unassuming but don't be fooled this place has so much character packed inside! Red Rock Bakery is an absolute local gem since they make most of their baked goods from scratch as well as sourcing the ingredients from local vendors.
HERE’S WHAT TO ORDER ➡️ We ordered some of their bagel sandwiches, my husband was a huge fan of their Howard's special which is a parmesan bagel with sausage, egg, pepper jack cheese, red onion, tomato and jalapeño cream cheese.
ADDRESS: 74 S Main St, Moab, UT 84532
HOURS ⏱️: 6:30am - 1pm Everyday
PRICE: $-$$
#4) ANTICA FORMA
AMBIENCE: This is your classic, laid back family Italian joint. Nothing too flashy just focused on making families feeling comfortable and feeding them fresh, delicious Italian food.
HERE’S WHAT TO ORDER ➡️ Definitely their pizza! Since its wood fired the pizza is always cooked to perfection! Our way of gauging any pizza spot is how well they do a Margherita Pizza and Antica Forma knows how to do it right! For an appetizer I'd highly suggest their Bruschetta, the tomatoes, burrata and toasted bread were phenomenal.
ADDRESS: 267 N Main St, Moab, UT 84532
HOURS ⏱️: 11am - 10pm Everyday
PRICE: $$-$$$
#5) DOUGHBIRD DONUTS
AMBIENCE: Doughbird is short, sweet, savory and to the point. It says it right on their front sign; Donuts, Chicken and Coffee, what more could you ask for in a local favorite spot?! Inside is small with no seating available but they offer some outdoor seating.
HERE’S WHAT TO ORDER ➡️ Their Salted Caramel Crodough was out of this world! This spot is highly rated by all 0f the locals so I bet everything on the menu is a slam dunk!
ADDRESS: 125 N Main St, Moab, UT 84532
HOURS ⏱️: Monday 7am - 2pm/ Tuesday and Wednesday CLOSED/ Thursday - Sunday 7am - 2pm
PRICE: $-$$
QUICK TIP ⬇️
✅ Doughbird starts serving their fried chicken at 11am
Moab, Utah is one of the most beautiful places in the entire world and needs to be on your adventure bucket list. If you live in Arizona like we do, this needs to be your next trip out of state...it's so close and so epic. Our top highlights from the trip were sunset at Arches National Park's Turret Arch, sunrise at Canyonlands National Park and sunset at Dead Horse Point State Park.
I really hope you enjoyed this blog and got some inspiration for a trip of your own to Moab, Utah. Thanks for following along on our journey and helping you find your Wildjoy!
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