Moab is one of those places that begs for more than a quick weekend. Spend a Week in Moab and you’ll actually have time to enjoy it. Between Arches, Canyonlands, Dead Horse Point, downtown shops, and some seriously good food, a week here gives you the time to see it all without rushing.
Here’s how I’d spend 7 days in Moab—based on my own trip where I hiked, ate, shopped, and somehow still found energy for gelato at the food truck park. If you’re building out a full 7-day plan, my post on Spend 2 Weeks in Moab: The Ultimate Red Rock Itinerary pairs perfectly with this one.
Lunch: Stop at Vessel Kitchen on the drive down from Salt Lake City. The bowls are massive and flavorful—I had the Andrelipe Bowl with shredded chicken, cilantro lime slaw, mango salsa, avocado, Peruvian green sauce… basically flavor overload. It’s spicy, so ask before ordering if that’s not your thing.
Dinner: Antica Forma in Moab. Everything is fresh and locally sourced, and they even make their own cheese. My favorite was the pistachio pesto pizza with shaved fennel sausage—different from the usual sausage you get and so much better.
Stay: Check into the Hoodoo Hilton. If you can, book a casita—spacious, with multiple bedrooms, a full kitchen, fireplace, private parking, and access to a dedicated pool. Perfect for families or groups.
Breakfast: Cactus Jacks. The biscuits and gravy are hearty, but the standout is the French toast crusted in cornflakes, thick-cut bread from a local bakery, and fresh berries.
Explore: Head into Arches National Park. Start with easy viewpoints like Park Avenue, Courthouse Towers, Balanced Rock, and Garden of Eden. Then make your way to Sand Dune Arch, Skyline Arch, and Devils Garden for Landscape Arch.
Sunset: Hike to Delicate Arch for the ultimate payoff. Arrive an hour before sunset for photos and to soak in the glow.
Dinner: Desert Bistro—a high-end dinner in a charming garden courtyard. Don’t skip the rosemary honey butter florets (I could have popped them like candy).
Breakfast: Love Muffin Cafe—get there early for pastries before they sell out. Their bacon sunrise panini with apricot aji amarillo jam was incredible, especially with fresh-squeezed OJ.
Shop: Spend the day wandering downtown. Hit boutiques like The Sundry (I left with three necklaces), Moab Made (local artisan goods), and Desert Sol (modern western vibe). For quirky finds, stop at the Moab Rock Shop for fossils and geodes—it looks chaotic, but I found one of my favorite souvenirs there.
Lunch: Moab Food Truck Park—sushi rolls, spring rolls, and gelato from Miss Gelato (the white chocolate raspberry is heavenly).
Murals: Check out the “Greetings from Moab” mural at Bowen Motel, the ram’s head at Moab Brewery, and the Delicate Arch mural at McStiff’s Plaza.
Dinner: Thai Bella—start with the seasonal cucumber salad (organic cucumbers from Moab Homegrown Farm), then order their best-seller Khao Soi or the Massaman Curry. Both were bursting with flavor.
Breakfast: Grab something quick from your hotel.
Explore: Hit the major stops:
Mesa Arch (easy 0.7-mile hike, sunrise if you can).
Upheaval Dome (short but steep hike, “short but not sweet”—worth it for the crater view).
Green River Overlook (sweeping canyon views).
Grand View Point Overlook (accessible viewpoint plus optional rim trail).
Buck Canyon Overlook (quick but stunning stop).
Add-On: Dead Horse Point State Park in late afternoon for sunset over the river bend.
Dinner: Moab Brewery for something casual. The giant pretzel with beer cheese and a house-made root beer float hit the spot.
If you want even more detail on the overlooks, my post on Best Stops in Canyonlands National Park walks you through every major viewpoint.
Breakfast: Another round at Cactus Jacks (you’ll want it twice).
Hike: Head outside the park to Corona Arch (3 miles round trip). The trail has a ladder and chain section, plus a bonus stop at Bowtie Arch, but the finale is a massive arch you can walk right under. I hiked it in the late afternoon and had the whole place to myself.
Lunch: Refuel at the food truck park (yes, it deserves multiple visits).
Dinner: Pasta Jay’s—don’t miss the dip trio (pesto + Alfredo combo is the winner) and the Tortellone Alfredo.
Breakfast: Keep it light at the hotel or grab a pastry downtown.
Explore: Spend more time at Dead Horse Point State Park. Walk the West Rim Trail for quieter overlooks, and add the Bighorn Overlook spur for one of the best photo spots in the park.
Lunch: Pack a picnic and enjoy it at one of the overlooks.
Afternoon: Rest back at the pool at Hoodoo Hilton (you’ll have earned it).
Dinner: Treat yourself again at Desert Bistro or go casual with another local spot.
Breakfast: One last stop at Love Muffin Cafe—don’t leave without grabbing a pastry for the road.
Souvenir Run: Pick up any last-minute gifts from Moab Made or Redstone T-Shirt Co.
Optional Stop: Walk out on the Green River Bridge for one more taste of Moab’s scenery before hitting the road.
A week in Moab gives you the best balance: adventure days in the parks, downtime exploring downtown, and plenty of time to eat your way through town. With this itinerary, you’ll hit all the must-see arches and overlooks while still leaving space for gelato breaks, shopping, and poolside lounging.
Moab isn’t just a base for Arches and Canyonlands—it’s a destination in its own right. Give yourself a full week, and you’ll see why so many people (myself included) can’t wait to go back. When you’re ready to plan where to stay, my guide to Where to Stay in Moab: From Luxury to Budget covers Hoodoo, casitas, and other great options.
There’s a version of Gatlinburg that’s all fudge shops and tourist crowds, and then there’s the version that actually makes you want to come back.
Here’s everything worth doing downtown, in the order I’d do it: 🏔️
✨ Start at @gatlinburgskypark before the crowds hit
✨ Walk the strip mid-morning when it’s still manageable
✨ @googooclusters stop (see my post from Tuesday: don’t skip it)
✨ Dinner at one of the local spots off the main drag
✨ Wander back out at night when the lights are on and it gets actually pretty
This isn’t your overscheduled Smoky Mountain itinerary. It’s more of a “here’s what I’d actually do if I had one solid day” kind of list.
Full downtown Gatlinburg guide linked in bio. 🔗
If someone told me I’d spend five hours at SkyPark, I would not have believed them. And yet. 😅
Gatlinburg SkyPark sits above the strip and it’s one of those places that looks like a quick stop on paper and turns into most of your afternoon. The SkyBridge alone is worth it — longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America, and yes, you will look down.
✨ SkyBridge (longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America)
✨ SkyLift ride up with views of the Smokies
✨ Walking trails with mountain views in every direction
✨ Way less crowded than downtown
Fair warning: if heights genuinely freak you out, the bridge might not be your thing. The rest of the park is still 100% worth it. Full guide with tickets, tips, and what to skip linked in bio. 🔗
I walked into Goo Goo Cluster in downtown Gatlinburg thinking I’d spend five minutes and leave with a small piece of candy. I was wrong on both counts. 😅
You build your own chocolate cluster at a kiosk: caramel, sea salt, pretzels, cocoa pebbles, you name it, and then watch them make it right in front of you. The whole thing takes about 15 minutes and costs $15.
The caveat? This is not a snack. This is a full-size brick of chocolate that I was still eating two days later.
If you’re already walking the Gatlinburg strip, this is an easy yes. Especially if you have absolutely no self-control around caramel. (Asking for a friend.) Full experience breakdown linked in bio. 🔗
Your Knoxville Airport survival guide, from someone who’s flown through TYS 100+ times is now up on my blog🛫
Parking, TSA wait times, where to grab food before your flight, rental cars, all of it, from someone who actually knows this airport. No guessing, no googling at the last minute.
TYS is small, easy to navigate, and honestly one of the less stressful airports I’ve been through. You just need to know a few things going in.
Full guide linked in bio. 🔗
Hundreds of motorcycles. Tweed suits. Tennessee roads.🏍️
The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride is a global charity event, classic and vintage bikes, dressed-up riders, raising money for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health. The bikes are stunning. The outfits are even better.
Full guide linked in bio. 🔗 | @gentlemansride
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