Moab rewards families who show up with a plan. The national parks require timed entry reservations in peak season, the best guided tours book out weeks in advance, and summer heat makes timing critical. Three days is enough to hit the iconic stops, sneak in a real adventure, and still give kids downtime so nobody melts down on day three. Here's exactly how to do it.
Best time to visit: spring (March–May) and fall (September–October). Summer is doable but hot — start every outdoor activity before 9am and plan indoor or water-based afternoons. Winter is quiet and cool, with no crowds.
Day 1 — Arches, Balanced Rock, and a Canyon Rope Swing
Morning: Arches National Park (7am–noon)
Start the trip where it belongs. Get your timed entry reservation locked in before you arrive — Arches requires them in peak season and they sell out. Head to the Arches National Park Visitor Center first (7-day vehicle pass , or America the Beautiful Annual Pass that covers every national park on the trip). Pick up Junior Ranger booklets for the kids — it turns the whole park into a scavenger hunt. Cost: –.
Balanced Rock is your first stop inside the park. A 128-foot-tall rock balanced on a narrow pedestal — kids are immediately fascinated by the physics of it. Plan 30–60 minutes and take the comparison photos at the base. Included with park entry.
Plan 4–5 hours total inside Arches, working through the main formations. Get back to the car before noon when heat peaks.
Afternoon: Rope Swing (1pm–3pm)
Rope Swing Moab is the afternoon bucket-list item. Swinging out over a Moab canyon on a giant rope swing delivers a full-body adrenaline rush that kids replay for weeks. Rated 5.0. Family of four: –+. Book online before your trip — walk-up pricing may be higher and slots fill. Plan 1–2 hours.
Evening: Moab Town + Hole 19
Back in town by 4pm. After dinner, Hole 19 - Moab Indoor Golf is the perfect evening activity — golf simulators where you hit real balls into a giant screen tracking shots through famous courses. Kids who've never golfed get it immediately. Rated 5.0. Bay rental: –. They're open until midnight on Saturdays. Book a bay in advance during peak season.
Day 1 Cost Estimate: –
Day 2 — Canyonlands, Dinosaurs, and the Colorado River
Morning: Canyonlands National Park (7am–noon)
Canyonlands National Park is where kids 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. Island in the Sky district is the most accessible for families with younger kids. Entry: /vehicle 7-day pass, or covered by the annual pass from Day 1. Rated 4.8. Plan half a day.
Mid-Morning detour (9am): Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite
On the drive toward Canyonlands, pull off for Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite. Free. Actual Jurassic-era footprints embedded in rock that kids stand next to and compare to their own feet. Rated 4.5. Plan 45–90 minutes. Combine with the nearby Dinosaur Bone Trail if the kids want more.
Afternoon: Colorado River + Lions Park (1pm–4pm)
Lions Park and Bike Path Trailhead sits right on the Colorado River. Free access. Rated 4.8. If you brought bikes or want to rent (–/bike/day in downtown Moab), this is the afternoon ride. Kids who just want to watch the river and run around in a green space can do that too. No admission.
Late Afternoon: Moab Museum (4pm–5:30pm)
Moab Museum is best on the second day, after kids have seen what's outside. Dinosaur fossils, ancient rock art, uranium mining history — it all hits differently when they've just been standing next to dinosaur tracks. Rated 4.6. Adults –, children –. Family of four: –.
Day 2 Cost Estimate: – (if using annual pass from Day 1) or – (if buying new vehicle pass)
Day 3 — Off-Road Adventure and Sand Dunes
Morning: Guided Off-Road Tour (8am–noon)
This is the main event of the trip. Pick one:
- High Point Hummer and ATV Tours and Rentals: Moab's most-reviewed operator (nearly 5,000 reviews, perfect 5.0). Rides in Hummers or ATVs through the same slickrock terrain that makes Moab famous. Family of four: –+ depending on vehicle and tour length. Hummer tours distribute cost better for bigger groups.
- Outlaw Adventure Jeep and UTV/Side by Side Tours: Perfect 5.0, specializing in Jeep and UTV adventures with guides who know every viewpoint. Family of four: –+.
- Raven's Rim Adventure Tours: Boutique, smaller groups, more personalized. Rated 4.9. Family of four: –+. Shared tours cut per-person costs significantly.
Book whichever you choose before your trip — these fill weeks in advance during spring and fall.
Afternoon: Sand Hill + Aquatic Center (1pm–4pm)
After the morning tour, kids still have energy. Moab's Sand Hill is free — a real sand dune where they can run up, roll down, and slide. Bring a plastic sled or cardboard. No cost.
Then cool off at Moab Recreation & Aquatic Center: indoor and outdoor pools, water slides, year-round access. Rated 4.3. Adults –, children –. Family of four: –. One of the best deals in Moab.
Evening: Old City Park Farewell Picnic
Old City Park has shade trees, playground equipment, and a peaceful setting away from Main Street. Rated 4.6. Free. Pick up dinner from a nearby restaurant or City Market and eat in the park. Easy final night before departure.
Day 3 Cost Estimate: – (depending on tour choice) + – aquatic center
What This Trip Will Cost
| Day | Low Estimate | High Estimate | |-----|-------------|---------------| | Day 1: Arches + Rope Swing + Hole 19 | | | | Day 2: Canyonlands + Dinosaurs + Museum | | | | Day 3: Off-Road Tour + Sand Hill + Aquatic Center | | | | 3-Day Total (activities only, no lodging/food) | ** | ,250** |
The math: buying the America the Beautiful Annual Pass on Day 1 saves you on Canyonlands entry on Day 2. The pass also covers any other national parks or federal sites before and after your trip.
Camping options: Moab KOA Holiday runs –/night (tent/RV sites; Camping Kabins –/night). Sun Outdoors Arches Gateway runs –/night with pool access right at the Arches entrance. Sun Outdoors Canyonlands Gateway is the budget option at –/night.
Practical Tips for Your Moab Family Trip
- Book timed entry for Arches in advance. Required April–October. Available at recreation.gov starting at 7am MDT. They sell out.
- Book guided tours early. Peak season tours at High Point, Epic 4X4, and Rope Swing fill weeks in advance. Don't wait until you arrive.
- Start every outdoor activity before 9am. Summer temps regularly exceed 100°F by midday. Morning is not optional in July and August.
- The America the Beautiful Pass is the right call. Covers Arches + Canyonlands ( in vehicle passes) for total, with unlimited national park access for the year.
- Pack water beyond what you think you need. 2L per person per hike minimum. The visitor centers at Arches are the last reliable water fill before the park.
- Moab Tourism Center for real-time advice. Moab Tourism Center staff know current trail conditions, tour availability, and which activities match your kids' ages. Worth 30 minutes on arrival.
- Parking fills at Arches by 8am on busy days. Get there early or use the park shuttle during peak season.