How To Spend 24 Hours in Moab, Utah
Moab, Utah is not only an adorable town, but it is also the gateway to Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. If you have only 24 hours to spend in Moab, Utah, you’ll be hard pressed to fit it all in. There is just so much beauty that surrounds Moab!
As we planned our journey to travel through Utah, we wanted to see as much of it as we could. Utah has so much beauty to enjoy and savor, we wanted to experience it all. For us, that meant we had about 24 hours to spend in Moab.
I’m so glad we did what we did. I want to share that with you because we covered so much and would not change a thing.
Moab
We arrived in Moab in the afternoon and checked into our hotel. Our accommodations were at the Archway Inn, which was very nice. We got a good deal for it, but honestly, Moab is always very busy and always packed. I would just suggest to do your research early, and stay at the hotel that was the nicest for the best price.
Arches National Park
After we checked into the hotel, we went to Arches National Park. Talk about beautiful! Arches National Park is simply breathtaking. Knowing we didn’t have much time, I wanted to see what was number one on my list, and that was Delicate Arches at sunset.
We had about 3 hours before sunset, so we stopped and saw the things that interested us along the way. Make sure you pick up a map on the way in and stop and see the things that interests you.
Delicate Arches
Delicate Arch at sunset is very popular so we decided we were going to get there and park about an hour before sunset. We would have plenty of time to walk up and see the sunset when we got there.
There were only a few spots left when we arrived at the parking lot as it was already very crowded. This is a very beautiful hike, but I would also say that it is moderately strenuous.
You are uphill most of the time, the ground is uneven and it’s a bit of a trek.
They say the hike is 3 miles round trip, however it does not feel like that. It is not comparable to walking 3 miles in your neighborhood, it is a strenuous climb.
The hike to Delicate Arch is just not about getting to the Delicate Arch, it’s about the beauty along the way. The scenery is phenomenal and you will have plenty of opportunities to stop and look around and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you.
It took us probably around an hour to get to the Delicate Arches. We stopped a few times to look at the scenery, take some pictures and to drink some water. If I were to do it again, my suggestion would be to leave 2 hours before sunset so that there would be enough time when you get there to sit, relax, and enjoy the arches. It is absolutely breathtaking and worth every every step! I just wish we had more time to enjoy our surroundings before it started getting dark.
After watching the incredible sunset at Delicate Arches and safely getting back to the car, we headed on down to Moab Brewery for some amazing local beer and great food. It has a nice atmosphere, friendly staff, and a great selection of beer. Don’t stay out too long because you’re going to need to get up early to watch the sunrise at Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park.
Canyonlands National Park
You will need to get up about an hour before sunrise and head on over to to see the Mesa Arch. It’s a beautiful drive and once you get there it’s a very short easy hike. Be prepared to see lots of people with tripods and cameras all aching to get some great pictures.
Don’t worry, there’s plenty of great pictures for everyone at different angles, and the crowd usually dissipates pretty quickly.
Don’t forget to spend time and enjoy the beauty all around you.
After Mesa Arch, we were heading to Page Arizona, so we went back through Moab which was the quickest way to get there. At that point we were leaving, but we got to see more of the cute downtown. It looks like there’d be lots more to do, if time permitted.
There are lots of activities, cute shops, and a nice downtown that beckons you to spend more time there.
Overall, we got to see Moab, Arches National Park, the Delicate Arches Canyonlands ,Mesa Arch, and a nice Brewery with good food. We would have liked to stay longer but we were on a time constraint. Moab is a beautiful area with lots more hiking to be done.
Final Thoughts
Moab, Utah is a great area that is the gateway to beautiful hiking, lots of activities, Canyonlands, and Arches National Park. You could easily spend a lot more time just in Moab, but for 24 hours we got to see the highlights and we’re very happy to do so.
Check out my post on How to Spend 24 Hours in Park City, Utah
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