Moab is the kind of place that works just as well for a quick weekend—and this weekend in Moab itinerary makes it easy. With two national parks, a state park, and a lively downtown, you can pack in a lot of adventure without feeling rushed. Here’s how to spend a weekend in Moab and hit the highlights.
If you’re adding more arch stops to your route, my guide to the Top 5 Stops in Arches National Park is a helpful add-on.
Lunch: On the way down from Salt Lake City, stop at Vessel Kitchen for hearty bowls. My Andrelipe Bowl was loaded with chicken, cilantro lime slaw, mango salsa, avocado, cotija cheese, and Peruvian green sauce. Spicy, but delicious.
Check-In: Drop your bags at the Hoodoo Hilton (splurge-worthy with casitas that feel like your own home) or a budget pick like Bowen Motel right downtown.
Explore Downtown: Spend the afternoon shopping Main Street. Favorites include The Sundry for jewelry, Moab Made for locally crafted souvenirs, and the quirky Moab Rock Shop for fossils and geodes.
Murals: Snap photos at the “Greetings from Moab” mural at Bowen Motel and the ram’s head mural at Moab Brewery.
Dinner: Antica Forma for wood-fired pizza made with fresh, local ingredients. My favorite? The pistachio pesto pizza with shaved fennel sausage—so different from your standard sausage pie.
Breakfast: Cactus Jacks—don’t miss the cornflake-crusted French toast with berries and real maple syrup.
Morning: Start with easy stops: Park Avenue Viewpoint, Courthouse Towers, and Balanced Rock. Then head to Sand Dune Arch (a shady slot perfect in the morning) and Skyline Arch.
Afternoon: Drive to Devils Garden to see Landscape Arch, the longest in the park.
Sunset: Hike to Delicate Arch for the bucket-list payoff. It’s a steep, strenuous hike, but worth every step and a must-do in any weekend in Moab itinerary. Arrive an hour before sunset to grab photos and soak in the glow.
Dinner: End the night at Desert Bistro—fine dining in a charming courtyard. The rosemary honey butter florets alone are worth the stop.
For more ways to explore Main Street, my post Spend a Day in Downtown Moab: Shops, Food, and Local Flavor has extra places to eat and shop.
Breakfast: Grab something quick from Love Muffin Cafe (their bacon sunrise panini with apricot aji amarillo jam is phenomenal).
Morning: Head into Canyonlands’ Island in the Sky district.
Mesa Arch (easy, iconic sunrise spot).
Upheaval Dome (short but steep hike to a mysterious crater).
Green River Overlook and Grand View Point (short walks to sweeping canyon vistas).
Afternoon: Detour to Dead Horse Point State Park for one of the best views in Utah—the Colorado River making a giant U-turn 2,000 feet below. If you’re up for a short walk, add the Bighorn Overlook spur.
Lunch/Dinner: Head back into Moab for something casual—Moab Food Truck Park is perfect. Try the sushi truck, then end with gelato (white chocolate raspberry was my favorite).
A weekend in Moab is enough to see the highlights: Delicate Arch at sunset, Mesa Arch at sunrise, the drama of Dead Horse Point, and a taste of downtown’s shops and restaurants. You’ll leave tired, full, and already planning your next trip back.
For a longer adventure, give Moab a full week. But if all you have is a weekend, this 3-day itinerary proves that even a short trip can capture the magic of red rock country. If you decide to extend your trip, my Spend a Week in Moab: The Perfect 7-Day Itinerary breaks down a full week of hikes, viewpoints, and dining.
YES is always the answer... ✈️
I’m Wendy, and yes, I travel for a living (still pinching myself). After 15 years teaching middle school math, I traded the whiteboard for a passport and never looked back. Knoxville is home base, but Arizona sunsets are on another level, and if it’s been sitting on your list, this is your sign to finally say yes and book it. City guides, hotel reviews, and foodie spots are all on the blog. So glad you’re here 🌵☀️
A café, bakery, market, and wine shop all in one Phoenix stop 🍊
At La Grande Orange, order the crepes first, they’re the thing I’d go back for. The chicken salad sandwich is perfect if someone wants lunch while you’re still on breakfast, and the red velvet mini cupcake and a chai latte round it out. The sea salt chocolate chip cookie is heartier than gooey, so it’s best for dunkers. It’s counter service with easy parking, and the market has quirky gifts you won’t find elsewhere. Leave time to browse, because you’ll stay longer than planned.
Save this for your Phoenix trip ☀️
“Outside Terminal 3” is not a pickup location at PHX.
Before your driver pulls in, text them four things: your terminal, north or south side, door number, and inner or outer curb. Grab your bags first, then call them in. Drivers can wait free in the cell phone lot instead of circling. Getting through security is easy; getting picked up is the hard part.
Save this for your Phoenix trip ✈️
Come for the architecture, stay for the view.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross has been built into Sedona’s red rocks since 1956. The outside overlooks get busy, but inside is quiet, with huge windows framing the rocks. It’s free, takes 30-45 minutes, and has a paved, wheelchair-accessible ramp. Make sure to bring water in summer.
Save this for your trip planning!
Order it well done. Trust me.🍑🍕
Peach & Pancetta Pizza at Hideaway House in Sedona: roasted peaches, salty pancetta, ricotta, basil, extra-crispy crust. Split the house salad, grab a prickly pear lemonade, and get a patio table facing the red rocks. Skip the bread if you want room for another slice.
Save this for your Sedona trip✈️
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
