Old City Park

In a town that draws visitors from around the world, Old City Park is the spot where Moab just exists as itself. No entrance fees, no timed entry, no tour operators — just a genuine local park with mature cottonwood trees, a playground, open lawn space, and the kind of unhurried atmosphere that reminds you why people choose to live in Moab year-round.

For families who have been moving hard through national parks and jeep tours, Old City Park is the reset button. Kids who need to run without a defined path, parents who need to sit on a bench without planning the next thing — this is the place. The playground equipment entertains younger children, while the broad lawn gives older kids room to improvise games.

The park's mature shade trees are more valuable than they might sound. Genuine shade is a rare commodity in the high desert, and on a July afternoon when the temperature is pushing 100°F, a patch of cool shadow under a cottonwood genuinely changes the calculus of the afternoon.

Community events, local gatherings, and informal recreation happen here throughout the year, giving visitors a window into the actual rhythm of life in a Utah canyon town rather than just its tourist surface.

Pairing a park visit with a picnic assembled from City Market — just a short drive away — creates one of the most cost-effective and memorable family afternoons in Moab. Zero dollars, no crowds, and the pleasure of watching kids be kids in a beautiful setting.