Moab is one of the few places where a 10-year-old can come home with a story that genuinely impresses their friends. Real off-road terrain, actual dinosaur tracks, a rope swing over a canyon, and 1,000-foot cliff views — this isn't a theme park version of adventure. It's the real thing, sized right for kids old enough to handle it. Here's where to take the 6–12 set.
Best Outdoor Adventures (the Bragging-Rights Category)
Epic 4X4 Adventures - Moab is the one kids will talk about on the drive home. A perfect 5.0-rated off-road outfitter where families conquer actual slickrock and canyon terrain in real 4x4 vehicles. This isn't a tame scenic loop — it's the terrain from the adventure videos. Budget –+ for a family of four depending on tour type and duration. Self-drive rentals cost less than guided tours if your family is comfortable navigating independently.
Rope Swing Moab is a bucket-list item for kids who need to prove something. Swinging out over a Moab canyon on a giant rope swing, with Utah's red rock landscape as the backdrop, delivers a full-body adrenaline rush that kids replay in their heads for weeks. Rated 5.0. Family of four: –+. Book online in advance — walk-up pricing may be higher.
Corona Arch is free and delivers on the explorer fantasy. A massive natural arch — bigger than Delicate Arch — accessed via a 3-mile round-trip hike with a chain-assisted scramble section. Kids feel like genuine explorers. Free (BLM land, no fee). Plan 2–3 hours. Pack 2L+ water per person.
Canyonlands National Park gives kids the one experience that makes them realize how big the world actually is. Mesas, canyons, buttes, and the confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers seen from 1,000-foot cliffs. The America the Beautiful Annual Pass covers this and Arches — buy it before your trip if you're hitting multiple parks. Vehicle entry alone is for a 7-day pass.
Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite is where your dinosaur-obsessed kid gets to stand next to actual footprints embedded in rock and compare their own feet. Tangible, free, and completely magical for this age group. Free. Plan 45–90 minutes. Combine with the nearby Mill Canyon Dinosaur Bone Trail for maximum paleontology time.
Hands-On and Active Experiences
Climb Moab Gym is the right introduction before kids tackle Moab's real rock faces. Indoor climbing gym in a town famous for rock climbing — rated 4.6. Day pass runs approximately – per person; gear rental is extra. Family of four: –. A legitimately affordable activity in a city where most guided experiences run much higher.
Moab Arts & Recreation Center (the MARC) is the move after three days of hiking when kids need something different. Hands-on art classes, local performances, and creative programming that is completely unlike everything else in town. Rated 4.9. Classes and workshops run – for a family; public events and gallery visits are free. Check the MARC website for current schedule.
Hole 19 - Moab Indoor Golf runs golf simulator technology that genuinely hooks kids who've never touched a club. Hitting real golf balls into a giant screen tracking shots through famous courses, competing with siblings across skill levels. Rated 5.0. Bay rental runs – for a family of four. Split one bay as a group — no separate fees per person. Open until midnight on Saturdays.
Can't-Miss Experiences
High Point Hummer and ATV Tours and Rentals is Moab's most-reviewed off-road tour operator with a perfect 5.0 from nearly 5,000 reviews. Kids ride in Hummers or ATVs through the same slickrock trails featured in adventure videos, with guides who know every viewpoint worth stopping at. Family of four: –+ depending on tour type and duration. Larger vehicle tours distribute cost across more passengers — better value for bigger families.
Outlaw Adventure Jeep and UTV/Side by Side Tours is another perfect 5.0-rated operator specializing in Jeep and UTV adventures. The local guides know routes that make the legendary rock terrain feel personal. Family of four: –+. Group tours share costs — ask about group rate options versus private family bookings.
Hole 'N' The Rock is completely bizarre and kids love it. A 5,000-square-foot home carved into a sandstone rock wall, plus exotic animals including camels and zebras. It shouldn't work, but it does. Rated 4.3. House tour runs – per person; animal exhibits may cost extra. Family of four: approximately –. Budget for the animal exhibit add-on — that's the kids' favorite part.
Best Value for Families with Older Kids
Balanced Rock inside Arches National Park is included with park entry ( vehicle pass or America the Beautiful Pass). A 128-foot-tall rock balanced on a narrow pedestal. Kids are fascinated by the physics. Plan 30–60 minutes and combine with other Arches formations to maximize the visit.
Moab Museum runs – for a family of four (adults –, children –). Dinosaur fossils, ancient rock art, uranium mining history, and 10,000 years of human life in this extreme landscape. Rated 4.6. One of the most affordable activities in Moab — excellent context for curious kids before or after park visits.
Moab Recreation & Aquatic Center has indoor and outdoor pools, water slides, and a lap pool for – for a family of four (adults –, children –). Essential summer relief. One of the best deals in Moab.
Insider Tips for Visiting Moab with Big Kids
- Book off-road tours early. High Point, Epic 4X4, Outlaw, and Rope Swing all book out during spring and fall peak season. Lock these down before your trip.
- The America the Beautiful Annual Pass pays for itself. At , it covers Arches (/vehicle) and Canyonlands (/vehicle) and every other national park and federal site. Buy it before you arrive if you're hitting both parks.
- Start hikes before 9am. Moab summer heat is serious. Corona Arch by 7am means you're back at the car before it gets brutal.
- Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite is free and underrated. Most families skip it because it's not in Arches or Canyonlands. That's their loss — your kid gets actual dinosaur footprints with no admission fee and no crowd.
- Climb Moab Gym is the best rainy day fallback. Or hot afternoon move. – for a family, rated 4.6, and gives kids a real taste of what the rock climbers are doing outside.
Plan Your Visit
Moab is a rare destination where the adventure is real and the bragging rights are earned. A day that combines Arches (covered by a or pass), Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite (free), and Climb Moab Gym (–) covers natural wonder, hands-on science, and physical challenge for well under total. For families who want the full Moab experience, one guided off-road tour (–+) makes the trip unforgettable. Budget for one big adventure and fill the rest with the free and low-cost options — the balance works.