Best Itinerary for 2 Days in MoabWhen you visit Moab for 2 days, I recommend spending one day in Arches National Park and the next in Canyonlands National Park. These beautiful national parks are within a half-hour from Moab and are some of the most beautiful national parks in the US.
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We recommend at least 2 full days/ 3 nights for the Moab area. One day for Arches National Park and half a day to a day for Canyonlands National Park, plus the Dead Horse Point State Park. In addition, you can also take a short rafting tour, as we did. 3 days/4 nights would make your visit more relaxing.
Getting Around Moab, UTIf you're staying in the center of downtown, you'll likely be able to walk to restaurants and coffee shops throughout your visit, rather than dealing with parking.
Both are great if you're really short on time but Arches is the clear winner on this one. Canyonlands is great to see in just a few hours but it's almost an hour from Moab, too, so taking that into account, Arches is better with limited time.
You can spend a couple hours or the better part of a day driving the 36 mile (round trip) road through Arches National Park. With plenty of places to stop and snap pictures and panoramic views for miles, you can enjoy the brilliant artistry and majesty of Arches without having to leave your vehicle.
Moab's heat and terrain are two things to be prepared for ahead of time. Bring plenty of food, and especially water, to stay fueled and hydrated while you're out exploring the canyons and trails. Some tips for visiting Moab straight from the locals is to drink one gallon of water per day, per person.
If you only want to see a few highlights in each park, then yes, one day in Arches and Canyonlands is enough time. For a better experience, add one more day to your itinerary, so you can spend one full day in Arches and one full day in Canyonlands.
The scenic drive in Arches is about 22 miles one way, so about 45 miles in total. You should count at least 4-5 hours to drive the entire road and make short stops (5-30min each) at all the scenic viewpoints. If you are planning to hike in Arches, you'll need more time.
The only fully-paved road in Arches is Scenic Drive, a 25-mile, out-and-back road that passes the majority of the park's viewpoints and trailheads. If you're tight on time or don't enjoy hiking, you could drive the park—stopping 10 minutes at each viewpoint—in about three hours.
Shoulder Season: February and NovemberFebruary (for springtime adventures) and November (for autumn fun) can be the best time to visit Moab and the national parks.
If you're looking for challenging hikes through narrow canyons and along steep cliffs, Zion may be the better choice. If you're more interested in exploring unique rock formations and stunning arches, Arches may be the better choice.
Best Time To Visit MoabPeak tourist season is March 15 through May Sept and Oct. still busy in the summer but not as crazy as spring and fall. The summer slows a bit because temperatures can easily average 105 degrees.
For those who aren't up for the hike, there are two other viewing options: The Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint just down the road only requires a 100-yard walk over flat ground to get a fine look at the arch from a mile away.
Delicate Arch TrailIf you are visiting Moab, you should definitely visit Arches National Park. And when you do, this short and moderately challenging route is a must do hike. Delicate Arch is the largest freestanding arch in Arches National Park and is stunning at sunrise and sunset.
Those who drive into the park from April 1 and early October between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. will need a reservation. Arches implemented a timed-entry pilot program two years ago as a way of spreading out traffic and preventing temporary closures, and it appears it will likely stick.
Timed entry reservations are not required to enter Canyonlands National Park. The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except in cases of severe weather.
The time it takes to drive through the Island in the Sky in Canyonlands will depend on how many stops you take. There's a Scenic Drive that runs from one end of the mesa to the other, about 25 miles, so you can drive to the end and all the way back in a little over two hours.