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Looking for an epic road trip that takes you through some of the most beautiful scenery in the American West? Then look no further than this Salt Lake City to Moab road trip itinerary. This route takes you through some of Utah’s most iconic landscapes, from hot springs to desert red rocks, and is sure to be an adventure you’ll never forget. So gas up the car and get ready for one of the best road trips of your life!

How Much Time is Enough for your Salt Lake City to Moab Road Trip

Planning a Salt Lake City to Moab Utah road trip is a bucket list-worthy. Whether you have just a weekend or a full week to explore, there are options for everyone. Even with just a weekend, you can easily drive from Salt Lake City to Moab with enough time for some sightseeing before heading home. This post will hit the stops that you must-visit and then give extras in case you have more time.

Tips for Planning your Salt Lake City to Moab Road Trip

Here are a few tips for planning a Salt Lake City to Moab road trip. For the best time, try to visit between fall, winter and spring since summer can bring desert heat, crowds and difficulty finding camping spots. Be sure to check in advance if reservations are needed for Arches National Park before planning your trip. Many popular attractions will book up quickly for peak season so be sure to book any planned excursions in advance.

A national park pass is also recommended since it not only gets you free admission into Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park but several other parks and monuments. Finally, when driving from Salt Lake City to Moab keep in mind that cell service is limited once you get past Salt Lake City; make sure you take the necessary precautions before bad weather or darkness hits while travelling. Remember, Moab is in the desert so always be prepared with extra water and snacks. Check out this post for information on hiking in the desert.

Where to Stay in Moab

Where you stay in Moab will likely depend on your budget and preferences. Some of the best camping in Utah can be found right outside of Moab. You can learn more about the BLM camping near Moab here.

There are also several hotel options in the area. If you are looking to stay right in town, check out the Homewood Suites. If you are looking to stay outside of the main strip and slightly closer to Arches, Canyonlands, and Dead Horse Point, check out the Fairfield Inn or the Springhill Suites. Both of these are Marriott properties, and you can get free nights using the Marriott credit card to save money on your trip.

Where to Eat in Moab

Fortunately, the restaurant scene in Moab is better than many of the surrounding areas (like Hanksville). However, restaurants in Moab may have some weird hours or random closures during the season so be sure to check ahead before planning. Here are some of our favorite restaurants in Moab:

• Thai Bella, Moab
• The Spoke on Center
• Milt’s Stop & Eat
• Moab Brewery

Map of Salt Lake City to Moab Road Trip

If you have time to spare, the above map is the trip you could consider doing. If you have three days or less, the below map is the trip you should do.

Salt Lake City to Fifth Water Hot Springs

The first stop on your Salt Lake City to Moab road trip itinerary is Fifth Water Hot Springs. If you are short on time or if you are leaving Salt Lake City late in the day, you should continue to Moab without stopping here.

However, if you do have the opportunity, Fifth Water Hot Springs is a pretty incredible place. When the road to the trail head is open, it is a 4.5 mile road trip hike with 636 ft of elevation gain. Dogs are allowed on leash. In the winter, the road closes about a mile and a half before the trailhead adding an additional 3 miles to your trek.

If you visit this hot spring, remember to leave no trace. Pick up your trash and be a good human. This spot is beautiful which also makes it quite crowded. Go early or late to experience some solitude. Make sure to download the map in advance as there is no cell service, and bring a towel, sandals, water, snacks, and a headlamp. If you are visiting in the winter, make sure to pack microspikes, lots of layers, and check the avalanche forecast before setting out.

Fifth Water Hot Springs to Goblin Valley

The next stop on your Salt Lake City to Moab road trip is Goblin Valley State Park. This is another one you will skip with limited time but it’s worth it to stop here if you can. Between Fifth Water Hot Springs and Goblin Valley, you will go through the towns of Price and Helper, and you will be near Green River. Outside of those towns the cell service is very limited in this area. If you are coming from the hot springs and looking to take a shower, there is a Love’s Truck Stop on I-70 which is only a few miles out of your way.

Goblin Valley is one of the best state parks in Utah. Because this is a state park, the entrance fee is not covered under the America the Beautiful Annual Parks pass, instead it is covered under the Utah State Parks pass. You can purchase either a single day use pass or an annual pass that expires in December each year through this website, or you can pay upon entry into the park.

If you can coordinate it in advance, there are two yurts in Goblin Valley that you can stay in, but there is also a campground and nearby BLM land if you can’t get the yurt booked. When you are in Goblin Valley, check out Goblin’s Lair and Valley of the Goblins. There are also several nearby slot canyons that you can visit. Be sure to check the weather before doing any of these.

Goblin Valley to Hanksville

Hanksville is barely a town, but some of the outdoor activities nearby are definitely worth a stop if you have time. If you are on limited time, this is a little bit out of the way and is likely saved for the next trip. Some of the places to check out nearby include Moonscape Overlook, Swing Arm City, Factory Butte, and Long Dong Silver (yes, this is actually the name).

Hanksville to Capitol Reef

Capitol Reef is the last of the spots that you should add in if you have the time. This national park is my second favorite in Utah but in order to fall in love, you need to spend more than a day here. In fact, if you have only a day to scratch the surface of the park, I suggest skipping it and coming back when you have more time.

A few things you should do if you are in the area – drive the Cathedral Valley Loop (4WD/high clearance required, check road conditions with the rangers before setting out so you don’t end up stuck like us). Hike the Grand Wash Trail, Cassidy Arch or to Hickman Bridge. Take the Captiol Reef scenic drive.

Capitol Reef to Dead Horse Point State Park

You have now made it to Moab. Now we are on part of the Salt Lake City to Moab road trip itinerary that should certainly be included in your trip, regardless of timing. If you are headed straight to Moab from Salt Lake, Dead Horse Point is a great spot to catch the sunset overlooking the Colorado River.

Because this is a state park, the entrance fee is not covered under the America the Beautiful Annual Parks pass, instead it is covered under the Utah State Parks pass. You can purchase either a single day use pass or an annual pass that expires in December each year through this website, or you can pay upon entry into the park. There are also several yurts that you can reserve at Dead Horse Point as well. One of the best things about Dead Horse Point is that you can bring your (leashed) dog to this state park, unlike Canyonlands and Arches.

There are several hikes you can do in this park, but there are also many overlooks that you can drive right up to. My recommendation is to save your legs for other hikes around Moab. If you arrive earlier in the day, Dead Horse Point State Park is located very close to Canyonlands National Park and you can easily head on over to Canyonlands when you are done taking in the views at Dead Horse Point.

Dead Horse Point State Park to Canyonlands National Park

Visiting Canyonlands National park is a must-do on your Salt Lake City to Moab road trip itinerary. Canyonlands is accessed in three separate districts or sections. The most popular to visit is Island in the Sky and it is also closest to Moab. If you have time, The Needles area should certainly be on your itinerary. The last section, called The Maze is fairly remote and accessed closer to Hanksville and Goblin Valley.

Mesa Arch is one of the most photographed arches in the area and extremely popular at sunrise. If you visit in the early morning, be prepared for a minimum of 50+ other photographers and do not plan on being in any of the shots. Because this arch is so popular for sunrise, it is much less popular for sunset, where you can see reverse sunset colors. This is a great time to visit this arch.

Other amazing hikes in Canyonlands include Grand View Point, Upheaval Dome, and White Rim Overlook Trail.

If you have more time, apply for a permit to drive the White Rim Trail (4WD/high clearance required). This drive takes you through some of the remote areas of the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands and has several areas to hike and camp.

Canyonlands National Park to Arches National Park

Arches National Park is an amazing park to visit if you are on limited time. Many of the arches are accessible from just a quick walk over from the parking lot. Check ahead before planning your trip to see if Arches is requiring a timed-entry reservation. You don’t want to drive all the way there to find out that you can’t get in. Regardless of reservation requirements, you should plan to arrive early in the day to make the most of your time.

A few recommendations for hikes include Delicate Arch (featured on the Utah license plate), Double O Arch, Devil’s Garden Loop (including Panorama Arch), and Fiery Furnace (permit required). Check out this post for a complete itinerary for visiting Arches National Park in one day.

Arches National Park to Moab

Many people overlook that there are plenty of hikes outside of Arches, Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point. These hikes are usually less crowded and several of them allow dogs in case you are traveling with a pet. Some of my favorite hikes outside the parks include Corona Arch, Fisher Towers, Professor Creek and Mary Jane Canyon, and Mill Creek.

Outside of hiking, there are also tons of other activities that you can do in Moab. These include sky diving, rope swinging, canyoneering, off-roading, rafting, and more.

Salt Lake City to Moab Road Trip: Additional Stops

Park City

Situated just east of Salt Lake City, Park City is a place that is known as an incredible ski destination since it played host to the 2002 Winter Olympics.

So, visitors who enjoy hitting the slopes can ski at either Deer Valley Resort of Park City Mountain Resort before exploring Main Street with a variety of historic buildings from the silver mining days of the 19th-century

You can also grab a meal at High West Distillery & Saloon before checking out some of the epic art displays at Kimball Art Center.

Provo

Known for being the home of Bringham Young University, Provo is an amazing metropolis in Utah that is filled with a variety of fascinating museums and cultural institutions.

So, while you’re here be sure to explore local highlights like the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum and the BYU Museum of Paleontology, which features an array of dinosaur fossils.

Additionally, the BYU Museum of Art has an incredible variety of paintings while the Crandall Historical Printing Museum is home to a cool replica of the Gutenberg Press.

However, if you want to enjoy the great outdoors while you’re here, be sure to hop on a local trail up Y Mountain for sweeping views of the city.

Price

Well-located near Nine Mile Canyon and the Manti-La Sal National Forest, Price is a small city in Utah that is home to the famous Utah State University Prehistoric Museum.

It is at this incredible institution where you’ll find a ton of amazing displays all about dinosaurs.

So, take a look at the various fossils and ancient footprints on display here as you try and better understand these pre-historic creatures.

Moab to Salt Lake City

Now it is time to head back to Salt Lake City. Hope you enjoyed your Salt Lake City to Moab road trip. Are there any parts of this itinerary that you are really excited about? Let me know in the comments!

You May Also Enjoy These Posts:

• Best Hikes in Utah
• 21 Places to Visit in Utah that aren’t National Parks
• Driving the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands
• Driving the Cathedral Valley Loop in Capitol Reef
• Visiting the Utah Mighty 5 National Parks
• Best Scenic Drives in Utah

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