Planning your first trip to Moab? You’re in for a pretty incredible experience.

Before visiting, I knew about Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, but I honestly didn’t know much about the town itself. I figured it would just be a place to sleep before spending all my time in the parks.

However, I was very wrong about that

Turns out Moab is an incredible small town with tons to do and see. You don’t even have to go into the National Parks to hike and see amazing scenery and arches.

Between the incredible scenery, great restaurants, local coffee shops, outdoor adventures, and having two amazing national parks within 45 minutes, it’s one of my favorite places I’ve visited out west.

That being said, there were definitely a few things I wish I had known before arriving.

If you’re planning your first trip, here are the biggest mistakes I recommend avoiding.

1. Not Respecting the Altitude

I knew Moab sat at a higher elevation, but I honestly didn’t think it would affect me that much.

I was wrong.

For the first couple of days, I dealt with altitude sickness. I had a fever for the first three nights, luckily I was still able to hike and be ok for the most part during the day, but man, at nighttime I had a fever and chills. Definitely be prepared for the altitude change.

If you’re traveling from sea level like I was, don’t be surprised if your body needs a little time to adjust.

2. Underestimating the Desert Sun

Just because the air feels dry doesn’t mean the sun isn’t intense.

In fact, I actually think the dry air makes it easier to forget how much sun you’re getting.

The first day when we hiked Canyonlands, I didn’t wear much sunscreen because I didn’t feel that hot, but boy did I pay the price that night when I saw how burnt I really was.

I’d also recommend:

Wearing a wide-brim hat or baseball cap
Bringing sunglasses
Wearing lightweight long sleeves if you’re hiking
Reapplying sunscreen throughout the day

There isn’t much natural shade around Moab, especially inside Arches and Canyonlands, so protecting yourself from the sun should be a priority.

3. Thinking You Packed Enough Water

If you think you packed enough water. Pack more. Luckily we stopped and got a few gallon jugs of water at the store to keep with us in our room and the car.

The desert is incredibly dry, and you’re probably sweating a lot more than you realize.

Because the humidity is so low, you don’t always notice how much water you’re losing until you start feeling tired or dehydrated.

Every hike we did, I made sure to bring plenty of water, electrolyte packets, and a few snacks.

If you’re planning on hiking during the warmer months, I wouldn’t leave without them.

4. Only Visiting Arches National Park

This might be my biggest recommendation in the entire article.

Almost everyone visits Moab to see Arches National Park, and it is absolutely worth it.

But please don’t skip Canyonlands National Park.

Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much from Canyonlands. I figured Arches would be the highlight of the trip, but wow did Canyonlands completely exceeded my expectations.

The hikes were incredible. The overlooks were breathtaking. There were hardly any crowds. In fact, there were points where we barely saw anyone else on the trail.

For more detail on Canyonlands, see my “One Day in Canyonlands National Park” article

If you’re trying to decide between the two parks, don’t.

Visit both.

If you’re short on time, I actually put together a guide showing exactly how to visit Arches and Canyonlands National Park in the same day, and it’s one of my favorite Utah itineraries.

5. Treating Moab Like Just a Place to Sleep

Moab is way more than just a place to sleep.

I figured we’d spend all day inside the national parks and only come back to town to have dinner and then sleep.

Instead, I found myself really enjoying Moab.

Local coffee shops
Great restaurants
Bars
Small local businesses

All surrounded by some of the most beautiful red rock scenery you’ll ever see.

Just walking around Moab and even driving through it is incredible. My advice to you, is to spend some time exploring downtown Moab, even it’s for dinner, grabbing a few drinks at the bar with other tourists, or shopping at some of the small shops.

If you’re looking for more ideas, check out my guide on 15 Unique Things to Do in Moab Besides National Parks.

6. Not Booking an Adventure Tour

This is a mistake we made.

There are so many incredible outdoor adventures that many first-time visitors completely overlook.

Some of the most popular include:

Hell’s Revenge ATV tours – 5 star rating!
Whitewater rafting on the Colorado River
Scenic river cruises
Ziplining
Rock climbing
Cliff jumping
Moab Rappeling Adventure:
Off-road Jeep tours

We took a bus tour through Arches National Park because we were short on time. It was a great tour to see all the highlights in a short amount of time and be with a knowledgeable guide.

If I had one extra day in Moab, I’d probably spend the morning in Arches and the afternoon rafting down the Colorado River or taking an ATV tour.

7. Skipping the Hikes Outside the National Parks

Looking back, this is another mistake I made.

We hiked Corona Arch, and it ended up being one of my favorite hikes of the trip. The hike is only about 1.5 miles and is very manageable for most people.

The view at the end is absolutely worth it.

There is so much more to see than most people realize.

8. Trying to See Everything in One Day

I’ve seen plenty of people drive into Moab early in the morning, visit Arches National Park, and leave that evening.

However, they’re missing the best parts.

I recommend trying to spend at least 2-3 nights in Moab. I know this may be tough if you’re trying to make your way to Zion and Bryce Canyon, but if you have the time, you should absolutely do it.

That gives you enough time to:

Visit Arches National Park
Explore Canyonlands National Park
Walk around downtown
Enjoy a few local restaurants
Take an adventure tour
Slow down and actually enjoy the scenery

Moab deserves more than just a quick stop on a road trip.

9. Being Afraid of the Drive from Salt Lake City

If you’re flying in to Salt Lake City and see that the drive from Salt Lake City to Moab is four hours, you are probably dreading the drive.

However, it was probably the best four hours I’ve ever spent driving.

The drive from Salt Lake City to Moab was honestly incredible.

The roads are wide open.

Traffic is light.

The scenery is amazing

And before you know it, you’re driving into this incredible little desert town in the middle of nowhere surrounded by massive red rock cliffs.

Don’t think of it as a long drive. Think of it as a fun and scenic road trip and the start of your Moab adventure.

How to Visit all of Utah’s National Parks in 6 Days! (My Full Itinerary)

Where We Stayed in Moab

We stayed at the Slackline Moab Hotel, and I’d absolutely stay there again.

The rooms were clean and comfortable, breakfast was included every morning, there was free coffee, a pool, and a hot tub, and it was only a short drive to restaurants and downtown.

It was also a great base for exploring both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

Best Places to Stay in Moab for Families with Free Breakfast

My Favorite Restaurants in Moab

A few places I’d definitely recommend checking out include:

Trailhead Public House & Eatery
Moab Coffee Roasters
The Spoke on Center
The Spoke Bar
Sunset Grill

Whether you’re looking for a good breakfast before hiking or a cold drink after spending the day outside, there are plenty of great options around town.

My Ratings

Moab: (8/10)

An awesome little adventure town with incredible scenery, affordable lodging options, and tons of outdoor activities.

Arches National Park: (7.5/10)

One of the most unique national parks in the country and absolutely worth seeing at least once.

Canyonlands National Park: (8.8/10)

I wasn’t expecting much from canyonlands, but it exceeded my expectations. Most people go to Moab and just do Arches, I am telling you, do NOT skip Canyonlands National Park, it’s really incredible.

Amazing hikes, amazing views, and it’s not crowded at all. When we went, there was barely anyone else on the trails with us. And you can do it in less than a day as well. I would definitely want to spend more time here.

Conclusion on Moab

Don’t make the same mistakes I made when visiting Moab for the first time. If you love small towns like me, you’re going to love Moab.

Make sure you’re prepared. Adjust to the altitude, pack ibuprofen, drink enough water, protect yourself from the sun, and enjoy the town of Moab while you can.