5-Day Itinerary Exploring the Desert Southwest Around Moab
Almost six years since my last visit to Moab, I finally returned to explore one of the most pristine and stunning areas of the desert Southwest. For five days, I had the opportunity to hike, photograph, and spend time outdoors.
If you’re curious about visiting Moab, what there is to do, and more, take a look at my 5-day Moab itinerary below. I think you’ll find plenty of beautiful gems to visit and see while you’re in the area.
Road tripping from Denver to Moab in a Camper Van
First things first, let’s give you a nice breakdown of how to plan your 5-day Denver-to-Moab winter road trip.
Quick Travel Details for Colorado Winter Road Trips:
- Drive time Denver to Moab: 5.5-6 hours
- For winter trips, tire chains are required, as are proper tires
- Take the passes slowly and carefully
- Highly recommend going with a camper van as traditional camping is pretty cold this time of year
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Denver to Moab Road Trip: The Perfect 5-Day Moab Itinerary
Day 1 – Denver to Moab, UT
I picked up my Roadsurfer camper van in Denver a bit after 10am, and after getting everything situated, headed west toward Moab. Thankfully, (for me at least), Denver’s winter has been nonexistent, and it was a straightforward drive over the two passes and into the desert.
I made great time and pulled into Goose Island Campground, minutes outside of Moab, just after dark. My dad was already waiting for me there.
After a bit of catch-up, we started to make dinner. That’s one of the beauties of a camper van. While it was in the 30s outside, the van was warm inside. We ended up chatting until past 10pm and finally headed to sleep.
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Day 2 – Explore Unique Areas around Moab
There’s so much more to Moab than the National Parks. And I wanted to get out and see what else was out there. On our first full day of the Moab itinerary, we headed east for 30 minutes to Fisher Towers.
Fisher Towers
This is a wildly impressive region along the Colorado River known for top-tier climbing. While we weren’t climbing, we still got to hike a bit. We did the main trail, about 4 miles round-trip, with 800 feet of gain.
It zig-zags you around the towering structures, giving you an up-close view of the stunning views. During peak climbing season, this place fills up two parking lots. But today, there were five cars in all.
I highly recommend including this in your Moab itinerary. It’s beautiful, and the hiking is relatively moderate.
After the hike, we headed back to the campground for lunch and planned the rest of the day’s adventures.
Sunset at Corona Arch
Corona Arch has been on my list for years and years. It’s one of the most accessible arches in the Moab area, not in a National Park. The trailhead sits just off the Colorado River, west of Moab.
When we began our sunset hike, there was one other car in the parking lot. We crossed paths with its driver 80% of the way in. So, once Corona Arch was in view, we had it to ourselves – something that likely only happens during the winter in Moab.
The trail is about 2.2 miles round-trip. It’s relatively easy to follow and do, but it is rocky in sections and has a gradual incline. Additionally, you’ll have to climb up a 5-foot ladder and a short chain section.
Personally, I wouldn’t consider either challenging. A football field in front of the Corona Arch is the Bow Tie Arch. It’s also unique, especially with the black-and-white coloring on the rocks from constant water flow.
The sunset at Corona Arch was magical! The westward sky lit up in pink, yellow, and orange hues. Truly a gorgeous sight to see. After 25 minutes running around taking photos, I headed back to my dad, who stopped by the ladder. From here, we hiked back in the fading light, following the blue/green marks on the ground.
Tours to book around Moab
Moab Hell’s Revenge UTV Off-Road Adventure
Astro-Photo, Hiking, and Stargazing Tour in Arches National Park
Zip Line Adventure in Moab
Day 3 – Explore Arches National Park
We were up at 6am and heading towards the park by 6:35am for sunrise. I had one spot in mind that I wanted to photograph. If you hike to the North Window arch, go through it and behind it, you can get a photograph of Turret Arch inside the North Window Arch.
It’s a pretty cool show, and it has been on my mind for a while!
From the parking lot, it’s a half-mile walk at best. Super easy, especially considering how warm and dry it’s been in Moab. The last time I went in late January, there was snow and ice on the trail, and I had to be very careful not to become an ice victim.
North Window and Turret Arch
Sunrise was beautiful but not overly powering, with most of the clouds from the night before disappearing as the morning warmed. Still, I waited and waited. Finally, the sun rises high enough over the La Sal mountains for it to hit both the close side of North Window, but also Turret Arch.
Double Arch
On the other side of the parking lot is Double Arch. The trail is about the same length and mostly flat. I popped over there for a bit to take advantage of the last of golden hour.
After 20 minutes of meandering around, my dad and I headed back to the Roadsurfer to cook breakfast, make coffee, and enjoy the morning calm.
While I had work to do during the afternoon, I wanted to share more things to do in Arches during the day:
- Sandstone Arch
- Landscape Arch and Double-O hike
- Garden of Eden
- Delicate Arch (Perfect for sunset or sunrise)
Park Avenue
Around 3pm, we returned to Arches to hike through Park Avenue. I apparently did this 28 years ago with my parents. It was fitting to do it with my dad, who was my age back then. It’s a scenic walk and pretty easy, outside of the 30 steps near the overlook area.
In all, it’s a mile through the area, but it’ll put you at the opposite side, and you’d have to walk back. All we did was go halfway and turn around.
Sunset at La Sal Viewpoint
The sky put on a show tonight! We were looking for an easy spot to watch the sunset, and the La Sal Mountains Viewpoint was perfect. To the east are the snow-capped La Sal’s, and to the west are red sandstone towers.
And to the north, small to the human eye, you could see Turret Arch and the Windows. I’ll let the photos do the talking!
Day 4 – Visit Deadhorse Point State Park and Canyonlands
Final full day in Moab on the road trip! We woke up even earlier this morning and made our way to Deadhorse Point State Park. It’s right next to Canyonlands, so they make a perfect combo on your Moab itinerary.
Deadhorse Point State Park
It’s $20 per car to enter the state park, and they don’t accept America the Beautiful Passes (for obvious reasons). (We paid on the way out.) You don’t have to walk far to enjoy the sunrise. And it’s all ADA-compliant.
What is so striking here is that the walls light up as the sun rises, making the entire scene simply stunning. Then, if you peer down to the river below, you’ll start to see some reflections off the Colorado River.
But dang, was it cold! I had to wear my gloves while taking photos, or my fingers would have fallen off.
Once the sun had fully enveloped us, we headed back to the Roadsurfer and made oatmeal and more coffee. Having the luxury of a campervan to make meals wherever you are is 10/10.
After food, my dad and I took a quick 1.5-mile walk around the rim of the park. It’s almost entirely flat, and you can get right alongside the cliff edges – so be safe out there.
Afternoon at Canyonlands
Canyonlands is a cool place, but it’s also underwhelming for what you can do there. Don’t get me wrong, the views are incredible. However, there aren’t many hikes, and most are short walks to an overlook.
Because I was there in 2020, I wanted to see a couple of new areas. Granted, my dad hadn’t been in forever, so I took him to Green River Overlook – one of the best views in Canyonlands National Park. After 15 minutes, we headed to White Rim Overlook.
This is actually a hike. We did around 2.5-3 miles in all. Once at the end, we had it to ourselves. It’s a flat hike that most people can do, and it lets you stretch your legs!
Sunset at Mesa Arch
From there, I didn’t really know what to do for sunset, so I did the opposite of what people do. I headed to Mesa Arch. This is one of the most popular and famous sunrise locations in America’s National Parks, and I figured maybe I’ll find something cool to see.
It was only okay, but it did allow me to explore the area instead of staring at the Arch. I would recommend Green River Overlook if you haven’t been there before.
Here are other places to see:
- Grand View Point Overlook
- Buck Canyon Overlook
- Upheaval Dome
- Whale Rock
- Shafer Canyon Overlook
Day 5 – Leave Moab for Denver, CO
It had been an incredible time in Moab, and I felt our itinerary did precisely what I hoped it would. We had opportunities to see new views, experience old classics, hike, and spend time together.
I parted ways with my dad around 9am and began my drive back to Denver. I had to return the van by 4pm, so I didn’t have much time to do more on my Moab-to-Denver drive. That said, here are a few areas I’d recommend if you have more freedom.
- Hanging Lake (Reservation required)
- Rifle Falls State Park
- Colorado National Monument
- Hot Springs around Glendwood Springs
Need more to do on your Moab Itinerary?
- You can add an adventure to Hanksville, Moonscape Overlook, and Capital Reef National Park (90 mins – 2 hours away)
- Or head south and explore Monument Valley, Valley of the Gods, and Gooseneck State Park. (2-2.5 hours away)
- Wilson Arch (30 mins south)
- Needles District of Canyonlands (90 mins south)
- Bears Ears National Monument
- Natural Bridges National Monument
- Sand Flats Recreation Area
- Grandstaff Canyon hike to Morning Glory Arch
- Medieval Chamber Trailhead
- Mill Creek North Fork Trailhead (in Moab)
- Looking to do a serious road trip? Check out Zion and Bryce Canyon
Quick and Easy Camper Van Dinners
I’m all for elaborate meals at home, but when you’re on the road, simple is better. We prioritized easy-to-make meals that don’t have a ton of cleanup. (I’ve also added in some more options.)
- Tuna Helper with Frozen Veggies (easy to make and easy to clean up)
- Rotisserie Chicken Dinner & Steam Veggies
- One pot sausage, green peppers, and onions + olive oil
- Quesadillas (be as low-key or intricate as you want)
Where To Stay around Moab?
Camping in Moab
There are dozens of campgrounds in the area. Now, winter in Moab is a little different as they close some down with less traffic. (Or, the government closed them due to short staff… unsure.) Still, there are options to choose from in the area, or you can go with the ones in the National Park.
On top of that, there are two private campgrounds inside the city limits, called Sun Outdoors. I believe they cater more towards RVs, but there are campsites available, too.
Hotels in Moab
For those who may not want to brave the cold by camping or want a little more luxury, you can find hotels for $50-$70 per night that usually go for 3-4 times that price. Moab’s grown considerably since my last visit in 2020, with a ton of hotels to choose from.
- Comfort Suites Moab near Arches National Park
- Hyatt Place Moab
- voco Moab by IHG
- Wingate by Wyndham Moab (I’ve stayed here. Nice. No complaints. Does the job.)
Pros and Cons of Visiting Moab in the Winter
Pros:
- Moab in the winter is about as empty as possible. It’s off-peak season there, with crowds a fraction of what they normally see on a busy summer day.
- We had almost every hike and overlook to ourselves in Canyonlands, and for Arches National Park, the most we saw were 5-10 people at each location.
Cons:
- I can be extremely chilly. We were lucky with temperatures 10+ degrees above normal.
- Winter in Moab sees short days. The sunsets around 5pm in December and January, so you have to hustle to fit more than two things into each day.
Winter Hiking Gear I Recommend for Moab, UT
It took a while to dive into these items, and I did my best to find high-quality gear that will keep you warm as you tackle your winter hikes. Ladies, I’m sorry if I missed the mark for some of these.
- Warm Puffy Jacket: Men’s & Women’s – Budget Option: Men’s – Women’s
- Hiking Pants: Men’s & Women’s
- Warm Leggings: Men’s & Women’s
- Wool Socks: Men’s & Women’s
- Beanie: Men’s & Women’s
- Gloves: Take a look
- Fleece: Men’s & Women’s
- Warm Baselayer: Men’s & Women’s
- Outer Shell: Men’s & Women’s – Budget Option: Men’s & Women’s
- Rain Pants: Men’s & Women’s
- Hiking Poles with Snow Baskets
- Waterproof Boots: Men’s & Women’s
- Winter Boots: Men’s & Women’s – Browse all options
- Satellite Communications Device
- Warm Thermos
- Jet Boil to heat water – Coffee
- Emergency Blanket, Rumpl & Fleece Blanket
- Glacier/Snow Glasses
- Sunblock
Final Thoughts on my Moab Itinerary and Visiting in Winter
It was amazing to get back to the Moab area and see new and old sights. But getting to spend it with my dad was the icing on the cake. And thankfully, the warmer weather allowed us to spend it all outside and amongst nature.
I hope this Moab itinerary helps you plan your trip. If you’re coming from Denver to Moab, consider renting a RoadSurfer camper van while you’re at it! You’ll love the convenience and luxuries of having all you need in one spot!
Until next time, adventurers, stay safe.
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