I live in Colorado. Mountains? Close. Sand dunes? A short drive. Lakes? There too.
When I need to escape the daily grind, national parks are my go-to. I want options. Maybe I need a grueling hike that leaves my lungs burning. Or maybe I just want to lie on a towel by a river with a picnic. Both work.
I recently spent a long weekend in Moab. It sits in the heart of Utah’s red-rock country. It boasts two national parks: Arches and Canyonlands. Plus, endless adventure. I figured out how to make it work. Here is how you can too.
Booking ahead saves your sanity
Travel planning isn’t optional. It’s required for survival. Research your destination before you leave your couch. Some trails turn into parking lots on weekends. Others have no space at all.
Campgrounds inside national parks vanish fast. Summer? Forget about walking up. Reservations usually open six months out. Use Recreation.gov. Book early.
Budget for entry. Some parks charge. Some don’t. If yours does, a standard pass gives you seven days. Check the National Park Service site for current fees. They change.
Prefer a pass that covers everything? The America the Beautiful pass costs $80. One year. Unlimited entry to any national park or federal land. Seniors (62+) pay $20 a year. Or $80 for lifetime access.
Buy online or at the gate. Either way, have your payment ready.
Also, watch out for timed-entry permits. Busy parks use them for specific zones. Some have dropped them for 2026. Others haven’t. Check the NPS website. Do not assume you can just show up.
Getting to Moab
I drove from Colorado. Six hours behind the wheel. I made my husband drive. He agreed: it was worth it.
Fly in? Hit Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). Rent a car. Four hours to Moab.
Want to use points? Here are deals I found via seats.aero for summer flights:
- Delta/Air France: From Los Angeles for 7,500 Flying Blue one-way + $18. From Seattle, 9,000. Watch for a 25% transfer bonus until June 30.
- United: Chicago for 15,000 MileageOne miles + $6 each way. Cheaper if you have the right card.
- JetBlue: Boston or NYC for 18,400 TruePoints + $6.
- American/Qantas: Miami for 20,700 QPoints + $6.
The cost of entry
Arches? $30 per vehicle for seven days.
Canyonlands? Same deal. $30.
Two parks? That’s $60.
We planned to visit more parks later, so we bought the $80 annual pass. It paid for itself quickly.
Arches used to require timed entry. They canceled it for 2026. Canyonlands varies by district. Always check the latest rules before you drive.
Must-see spots in Arches
Arches is intense. Every overlook is worth the stop. The “hikes” are often well-trodden paths under a mile long. You see spectacular rock formations almost everywhere you look.
Delicate Arch is the icon. Everyone knows it. You can see it from afar at the Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint (100 yards). Or the Upper viewpoint (half-mile walk). Want to get close? Hike the three-mile Delicate Arch Trail. Moderate difficulty. Expect crowds, especially in summer weekends.
But we loved Double Arch more. It’s awe-inspiring and slightly less crowded.
Canyonlands: Bigger, quieter
Canyonlands is huge. Four districts. Island in the Sky is the most popular and easiest from Moab. It’s a massive mesa. Thousand-foot drop-offs everywhere.
Follow the main road. Hit the overlooks. Grand View Point. Green River Overlook. You’ll see the highlights.
Need more time? Drive south on Highway 191. It takes about 90 minutes to reach the Needles District. Pale cedar sandstone hoodoos rise up. You’ll wonder if you’re in a different country entirely.
Where to crash
Moab has hotels. Lots of them. Extended stays in town. Glamping on the edge. Luxurious lodges.
I chose glamping.
Two nights at Red Cliffs Lodge Moab. Rates start at $215 or 56,500 Marriott Bonvoy points. It has a pool. An onsite restaurant. A museum. A horse ranch. Red rocks everywhere. Perfect isolation.
Then, one night at Under Canvas Moab. Basic tents are $198 or 16750 World of Hyatt points. Go deluxe. You want the ensuite bathroom. $297 or 20,250 points.
I booked through World of Hyatt. Could also book via Capital One Travel to use the Venture X credit. Perks might include upgrades.
Did I get an upgrade? Yes. Arrived to a deluxe tent. Not sure why. My status is low (Discoverist). A Globalist colleague didn’t get one. Hyatt can be weird. Thanks, I guess?
If you want downtown Moab (close to noise and traffic), try these:
- Hyatt Place: From $116 or 20k points.
- Element by Marriott: From $96 or 40k points.
- Hoodoo Moab: From $180 or 50k points.
- Voco Moab: From $90 or 10k points.
- La Quinta: From $92 or 20k points.
- Best Western Plus: From $100 or 22k points.
Eating in Moab
There is nothing in the parks. No restaurants. No general stores. Arches and Canyonlands are far from town. Do not drive back for lunch. Pack snacks. Bring water. You can refill bottles at visitor centers, but bring your own container.
Moab has great food. Fuel up here:
- Moab Garage Co: Breakfast in an old auto shop.
- Miguel’s Baja Grill: Cozy Mexican food.
- The Blu Pig: Classic BBQ. Southern style.
- Moab Food Truck Park: Trucks outside. Snacks, burgers, desserts.
- Sultan Mediterranean Grill: Fresh, good Middle Eastern.
- Jailhouse Café: Good last-meal vibes.
- Moab Brewery: Local beer. Spirits. Full menu.
Double the park, double the fun
Why Moab? Two parks. One weekend.
Arches is crowded. Canyonlands is quiet. They look nothing alike. Arches has red rocks. Canyonlands has deep canyons. It’s like a lesser Grand Canyon.
We exploited this. Friday in Arches. It was packed, but we were there before the worst of the weekend rush. Saturday in Canyonlands. Peace and quiet.
Other park pairs that work well:
- Zion, Bryce, and Capitol Reef in Utah.
- Badlands and Wind Cave in South Dakota.
- Sequoia and Kings Canyon in California.
- Yellowstone and Grand Teton in Wyoming.
- Everglades and Biscayne in Florida.
- Guadalupe Mountains (TX) and Carlsbad Caverns (NM).
- Shenandoah (VA) and New River Gorge (WV).
The bottom line
Love the outdoors? Go. It’s affordable. Cheaper than a theme park. Cheaper than flying overseas. You just need a car, a plan, and a willingness to wake up early. The views? Unmatched.
The sun was setting over the canyon walls. I didn’t take a picture. Just watched. That’s enough for now.
