by Moab Man

Moab, Utah is one of the most unique destinations in the world. Nestled between two National Parks, multiple State designated tourist areas, famous red rock desert landscape and the beautiful La Sal Mountain range, visitors have plenty to do. This article will provide the “Ultimate Guide to Moab” with a general breakdown the need-to-know facts for visiting Moab.

When you begin to map out the various activities and destination that the Moab area has to offer, you find that the list keeps going and going. Many people are already aware (or have heard) of some of the main attractions: annual Moab Jeep Safari/Convention, Arches National Park- including Fiery Furnace and the famous Delicate Arch, Canyonlands National Park and the Slickrock Bike Trails. Familiarity with Moab comes from both the Hollywood scene as well as the recreation/vacation industry. Moab’s unique landscape and scenery has also been the desired location and focus for many Hollywood movies including: Stagecoach (1939), Rio Grande (1950), Warlock (1958), The Comancheros (1961), Cheyenne Autumn (1963), The Greatest Story Ever Told (1963), and parts of more recent films: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1988), Thelma and Louise (1990), City Slickers II (1994), and Mission: Impossible II (2000).

Best Time To Visit Moab
Peak tourist season is naturally June-August when school is out and people plan their summer vacations. These months also happen to be the hottest months to visit Moab. Temperatures can easily average 105 degrees during summer months.
If you are flexible with your vacation and dates, the best time to visit Moab would be early spring or late fall. April and May are excellent months to visit during the spring, because the weather is nice (about 80 to 90 degrees), not as much people, but you still have the opportunity to do whatever you want. The fall months of September and October are the same. Weather cools off, tourist traffic is down, and Moab is still fully operational.
Places To Stay
You basically have four options for lodging in Moab; Hotels/Motels, Ranches, Camping/RV, and Condo/House Rentals.
Moab has plenty of hotels/motels that line Maine Street. Most everything in town (lodging, food, shopping, tour guides) reside off of Main Street in Moab. If the hotel/motel of choice resides on Main Street (or just off of Main Street) you could technically be within walking distance of everything you would need. Advanced reservations are needed if you are traveling anytime between June-August, as that is the peak tourist season, and lodging will fill up.
If you are traveling with a large group or family, the best lodging option may be a condo rental. There are plenty of condo villages and communities surrounding Moab, and they are suitable for larger groups, since they can sleep more than 5 people in a single condo. Plus, you may save some money since you will only have one nightly room rate, versus multiple rooms at hotels. One important note with the condos however is that most of the condos reside just outside of downtown Moab, so you will still need transportation to get around town.
Moab also has two famous ranches, the Red Cliffs Lodge and Sorrel River Ranch. They are probably the nicest places to stay, isolated from the town, overlooking the Colorado River. They are more expensive than hotels and condos, but if you want a truly unique western experience, it is worth the money. It is at least a 15- 20 min. drive into town however, so plan on that as part of your travel plans.

Shopping In Moab
Shopping in Moab is similar to any small tourist location. Main Street is lined with local art shops, souvenir stores, clothing boutiques and small outlets.
You will not find any name-brand outlets or stores in Moab. Moab also does not have any big box retailers (Walmart, Target, etc..). There is one large grocery store and a couple of large drug stores. So if you need any specialty items, it is best to buy them before you get into town. Moab stays very true to it’s roots, and like to stay authentic.
Activities In Moab
Moab is most famous for its outdoor recreation. You can find just about any outdoor activity you can imagine in Moab. Mountain biking, hiking, rafting, off-road tours, climbing, canyoneering, jetboat tours, horseback riding, National Park tours, scenic flights and more.
The most famous and worthwhile activities would be river rafting, Arches National Park tours and mountain biking.
It is usually easiest to book your activities in advance, just so you have more control over your own schedule once you get into town. But most tour outfitters and tour guides have the capacity and availability to add last minute reservations and guests, so it is not a huge problem.

Restaurants In Moab
Moab also has a wide variety of food choices. From steak houses to Mexican grill, you can find most cuisines types in Moab. Because of the small-town nature of Moab, during peak tourist season, most restaurants are extremely busy during dinner hours of 5-8, so expect long waits if you do not have advanced reservations. Most restaurants are not high-end, so don’t expect a super selection of high-quality eating options.
You can find reviews and feedback on restaurants here on Trip Advisor or other travel review sites.
Must-Do List for Moab, Utah
Here are some recommended activities that would give you a full Moab experience of sights and sounds.
- Tour Arches National Park
- Raft down the Colorado River
- Mountain Bik through Slickrock Trail
- Off-road Hummer Safari through Moab country
- Visit Hole-In-The-Rock
- Drive to Dead Horse Point

About the Author:

Ryan Hutchings is the Marketing Director for the Moab Adventure Center in downtown Moab, Utah. He works with the outdoor and adventure travel industry, specializing in internet marketing and general marketing strategy.