The Best 2 Day Moab Itinerary

Moab is located in Eastern Utah and is an epic destination for all the outdoor adventure lovers. You could easily entertain yourself for a week in Moab, but we have outlined below how to best maximize 2 days in this region. Keep in mind that if you do follow this guide, you will need to pack your own lunch both days in order to make the most of your time on the go. We have also included some alternative options at the end you can consider if you do have more time in the region. 

Day 1

Arches National Park 

Make sure to start your day early! You will be starting in Arches National Park which is an extremely popular destination. There is only one entrance into the park which is highly trafficked and slow moving overall. As of 2023, you must have a timed entry ticket in order to enter Arches National Park. These tickets can be booked on a first-come, first-served basis approximately 3 months in advance, which are released in monthly blocks. Additionally, a limited number of tickets will be available one day prior to entry at 6pm MDT. If you are unable to acquire a ticket, you may enter the park before 7am or after 4 pm without a timed entry ticket. You can purchase your timed entry ticket at: 

https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10088426

Stop 1: Petrified Dunes Viewpoint

This viewpoint is rather surprising as it highlights two main features. First off, the La Sal Mountains in the distance are amazing to witness and are such an utter contrast from the red rocks vistas and stone arches of Arches National Park. Secondly, you can actually find remnants of ancient sand dunes that have been petrified. Apparently the area originally had sand dunes that over time were covered by other layers of sediment and then compressed & cemented by quarts & calcite to form Navajo Sandstone. These ancient sand dunes with epic snow capped mountains in the background were definitely not something we were expecting to see in Arches National Park.  

Stop 2: Balanced Rock 

The name is definitely suitable. You can see the unique geological feature from the road, but there is also a 0.3 mile walk around the base of the rock if you wanted a closer look from a different vantage point. 

Stop 3: North Window, South Window, Turret Arch, and Double Arch

And this is why they call it Arches National Park. From this stop, you will get a look at four different arches (actually five if you count Double Arch as 2 separate arches). The North Window is visible from the parking lot. A gentle climb up leads to South Window and Turret Arch as well. We opted to take the longer primitive route around the back side of the North and South Windows for a different perspective as well. Round trip, this route is about 1 mile with an elevation change of about 100 feet. 

Double Arch is also visible from the Windows parking loop. A relatively flat, gravel-surfaced path leads to the base of its huge double arching span. The trail is about 0.6 miles round trip with 30 feet of elevation gain. Double Arch is the tallest arch in Arches National Park at 122 feet.  

Stop 4: Delicate Arch Trail 

You cannot go to Arches National Park, without viewing the most iconic arch in the park. The hike itself is a 3.2 mile moderate trail with 630 feet of elevation gain. The views are well worth it in the end and we think it lives up to its reputation. The arch doesn’t look as impressive in pictures as it does in real life. Although this might not always be the case, it was mega windy when we completed the trail ourselves making for some interesting pictures. 

Stop 5: Fiery Furnace Overlook 

This overlook gives you a look at a labyrinth of narrow sandstone canyons. We did not get a chance to do this, but technically you can enter Fiery Furnace with a ranger-led hike or permit for exploration on your own. The self-guided tour can be reserved in advance through:

https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/234668/ticket/10087108

Stop 6: Skyline Arch 

A short 0.4 mile walk will lead to your last arch of the day. The stop wasn’t overly impressive for us, but it was a nice easy walk for the reward. The best views of the arch are actually near the start of the trail after the initial incline.

Stop 7: Park Avenue Viewpoint

We would recommend stopping at this viewpoint on your way out of the park as it will be easier to pull off into the parking area when traveling in the Southward direction. This viewpoint gives you an overlook of towering rock walls and carved spires from a higher vantage point. You can choose to descend the stairs to walk the trail toward Courthouse Towers Viewpoint (1.8 miles), but make sure you give yourself enough time to catch the sunset at your next destination outside of the National Park. Now is your time to say goodbye to Arches National Park.

Dead Horse Point State Park

We know it is an odd name, but end your day with sunset at Dead Horse Point State Park and you will not be disappointed! When the sun is lowering, there is a mixture of glowing golden hour light with shadowy canyon walls, and the effect is just magical. This is a must-do so please do not miss it!  

Day 2 

Again, it is always best to start the day early in order to make the most of your day. Day 2 starts with a local Moab hike, followed by Canyonlands National Park, and ending with a scenic dinner with a view. 

Moab Wall Mural 

Start your morning off with a quick stop at the Greetings from Moab wall mural in the town of Moab. The mural itself is actually really impressive and perfectly pictures the adventures that await in the area. It is located across the street from the Homewood Suites and caddy corner to the Exxon gas station.

Corona Arch Trail 

This 2.3 mile moderate hike is in Moab but is one of the few arches in the area that is not in National Park territory. Corona Arch itself is even more massive in person than pictures can give credit to. It was awesome to see up close and even walk through the arch itself. There is also a smaller Bowtie Arch right next to Corona Arch which was pretty awesome. On sunny days, make sure to pack enough water and have sun protection as shade is few and far between. 

Canyonlands National Park 

Canyonlands National Park is divided into 4 districts including Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and The Rivers. Although the districts may appear close on the map, it takes about 2-6 hours to get from one district to another via car. The Island in the Sky district is closest to Moab and is the only district considered in this particular itinerary. If you have more time in Moab (or surrounding areas), you can definitely consider visiting some of the other districts as well. 

Stop 1: Shafer Canyon Overlook

We accidentally skipped this stop without realizing it. Just past the visitor’s center, turn off for Shafer Canyon Overlook to view the craziest switchbacks and windy road down to the canyon from above. If you have a 4x4 vehicle, you could even dare to drive some of the dirt roads if you want to have a taste of off-roading.  

Stop 2: Mesa Arch

This stop does require a short easy 0.7 mile (round trip) walk. Even though Canyonlands National Park is not known for its arches, Mesa Arch is one of the most photographed spots in the entire park. It is especially popular at sunrise when you can see lines of photographers catching a shot of the glowing arch in the morning light. We did not want to deal with the crowds so we did not go at sunrise. However we did still deal with a lot of people in the afternoon. After doing some research, this spot is busy all day long so you will have to be strategic if you have specific photos you want from this location. The best time of day to go for a more peaceful experience may be after sunrise but before more people have entered the park. Despite its business, the spot is rather beautiful with the arch in the foreground along with the canyon and mountain in the background. There is a reason why it is so popular and it is definitely worth the stop.  

Stop 3: Candlestick Tower Overlook 

From this small roadside pull off, you can enjoy sweeping views of the west including the imaginatively named Candlestick Tower. There are more incredible overlooks outlined below, but we loved how quiet this particular viewpoint was. There was literally nobody there when we stopped which was a nice contrast to Mesa Arch. 

Stop 4: Buck Canyon Overlook 

Make another quick stop at this paved overlook to enjoy sweeping vistas across the Colorado River canyon. This overlook wasn’t too crowded and we appreciated the incredible designs that seemed to be created into the canyons below. It is like nature’s artwork. 

Stop 5: Orange Cliffs Overlook

Before you get to the final viewpoint at the end of the road, we do recommend taking a quick break at the Orange Cliffs Overlook. It is one of the few Eastward facing overlooks in the Island in the Sky District and standing on the cliff here felt like we were on the edge of the vast unknown. 

Stop 6: Grand View Point Overlook

This viewpoint lies at the southernmost end of the Island in the Sky scenic drive. From here, you can see across miles of corrugated canyons, the White Rim 4x4 road, features in The Maze and The Needles, along with the distant mountains. We personally found this overlook the most awe inspiring. There is technically a hike to an additional viewpoint at this overlook (1.8 miles round trip) if you so choose. This is your last stop in Canyonlands National Park but be prepared for a beautiful & delicious end to your Day 2 below. 

Sunset Grill

For amazing dinner views, end your 2 day excursion to Moab with a meal at Sunset Grill. The food is delicious and sunset views of the town of Moab below across from red rock cliffs is just beautiful. Keep in mind, you may want to look into a reservation in advance and the food is a little pricey, but we thought it was well worth the cost. 

So there you have it! If you have more time in Moab, there are an infinite amount of other options to consider including: mountain biking/electric biking, camping/backpacking, canyoneering, horseback riding, rock climbing/rappelling, ATV tours, auto touring/off-roading, stargazing, boating, whitewater rafting, helicopter/airplane tours, stand up paddleboarding, etc. You could easily spend a whole week exploring the Moab area. We found this 2-day guide to be the best bang for your buck in order to get the most out of your trip to Moab in 2 full days. Have fun adventuring!