Plan the perfect long weekend in Moab with my 3 day itinerary where you will see the best of Moab in 3 days. 3 days in Moab gave me plenty of time to see the national park, but you would not have to work hard to persuade me to stay there longer!
Driving through Arches National Park in Moab will have you feeling like you are Indiana Jones ready to fight off some dinosaurs. No wonder the Indiana Jones movie was filmed here! As you wind around every corner, you are going to see a new arch standing tall in the valley. If you go on hikes, you will be even more impressed with how close you can get to them and really see how large they are standing tall above you. Moab impressively has 2,000 stone arches, and it is believed to have many more in areas that aren’t easily accessible. Rumor has it that if you find a new arch it can be named after you. I don’t know about you, but that really makes me want to put on my Indiana Jones hat and go out to discover an arch!
Day 1 Agenda
- Enjoy a short hike after arriving
- Visit the dinosaur museum
- Eat dinner while watching the sunset go down at Sunset Grill Moab
My favorite hikes in Arches National Park
Delicate Arch
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 1.5 hour
Distance: 3 miles
North and South Windows Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 45 minutes
Distance: 1 mile loop
From the parking lot, it is an easy flat trail to walk to the North Window which is the first stop on the loop. As you stand below the North Window, look out across the valley and you will see Turret Arch in the nearby distance which is at the other end of the loop. The trail will take you to the next stop in the loop which is South Window. If you keep walking, you will get closer to Turret Arch. You can then see both Windows as you are standing at Turret Arch. Seeing both of the windows from this point of view is also known as the spectacles– each window looks like a lens and the rock pillar in the middle is the nose!
Turett Arch (part of Windows loop)
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 45 minutes
Distance: 1 mile loop
Double Arch
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 10 minutes
Distance: .5 mile
Day 2 Agenda
- Wake up to watch the sunrise
- Go for a morning hike
- Head into town and shop around
- Enjoy a microbrewery
- Roast s’mores around the fire
When you wake up in Moab, what better way to start the day than to see the sunrise shine over the red rocks and highlight the arches. I love waking up to see the sunrise whenever I go to a national park because it is my quiet time with nature. The world is still asleep, there is no sound of car traffic, and the gentle wind can be heard amidst the serene morning.
Since there are over 2,000 arches in Arches national park, it is hard to choose just one sunrise hike. I wanted to hike to the iconic arch that is on Utah’s license plate- the Delicate Arch. The arch will change colors right in front of your eyes as the sun lights up each part of the arch as it rises.
How to hike to Delicate Arch
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 1.5 hour
Distance: 3 miles
Elevation gain: 480 feet
Parking: Wolfe Ranch lot
This hike will have you breathing hard about a half mile in, as you have to walk uphill for half of the hike. The signs to point you in the right direction are small and hard to find in the dark, so be sure to download the AllTrails app before going so you can follow the right way to go. When the hike levels out after the slickrock climb, stay to the right. The photo below shows the slick rock you will have to ascend on your way to Delicate Arch.
The trail will guide you onto a more narrow path that hugs the side of the mountain. The ledge is wide enough, so those with fear of heights hopefully will not get too scared!
The trail will lead you to a bowl and the arch will be visibly seen. What a sight to see!
Fun fact: The 2002 Winter Olympics passed the torch underneath the Delicate Arch!
If you don’t want to make the 3 mile hike to Delicate Arch, you can go to Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint and see it from about a mile away. It is wheelchair accessible. You can also go to Upper Delicate Arch Viewpoint that requires a little more of a walk of about a half mile.
Does Moab have a downtown?
After hiking, your appetite is sure to be peaked. Head into town and grab breakfast. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from. There is even a food truck park that has several food trucks to choose from!
After breakfast, walk around town, shop around, and maybe even check out a brewery!
Where to eat in Moab
Breakfast: Moab Garage Co- grab a coffee and enjoy a hot breakfast in this trendy cafe
Lunch: Gloria’s Corner Cafe- Walking by this cute corner cafe that is partially open to fresh airflow just wants to make you eat there!
Dinner: Antica Forma- Huge portions and carbs is exactly what I want after a long day of hiking! This Italian restaurant is really one of the best I have tried.
Drinks: Moab Brewery
Day 3 Agenda
- Pack up to go home
- Depart by checking another park off your list on your way home
Moab is home to several other nearby parks. Of course Arches is perhaps the most well known, but Canyonlands is not too far off. Drive another 30 miles and you will see Canyonlands. Dead Horse Point State Park is also 30 miles in the opposite direction.
If you want to drive a few hours to Bryce Canyon like we did, you can take a look at My Guide Inside Bryce Canyon.
There are so many activities to do in Moab other than what I listed here. 3 days was just not enough time! I am already thinking of what to do the next time I come here. Maybe take an ATV out, go river rafting, or even rent a 4×4 jeep to go off the beaten path!
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Leave a comment!
What is your favorite thing to do when you go to national parks?
1 Comment
My favorite thing to do at national parks is to find a scenic overlook and sit back with a good snack and soak in the scenery for a while 🙂
My favorite part of Moab was watching the sunrise at Delicate Arch! It’s so worth getting up early for! As for Moab Brewery, I highly recommend the Juicy Johnny’s Hazy IPA!