We’ve been to Moab a handful of times; itap one of my favorite towns in the West. From scenic hikes in iconic national parks to rafting, canyoneering, and bouldering at , there’s no shortage of outdoor adventure for active families.
Weather-wise, spring and fall are the most pleasant times to visit Moab, but with perfect temperatures come heavy crowds, especially in 2026, when family adventure travel bookings are up 106%, according to a report from tour operator . (The entire state of Utah, meanwhile, is bracing for increased tourism this year, in June.)
Summer offers a low-key window for travelers who are willing to manage the heat. Over the last 50 years, temperatures across Utah have risen at roughly twice the global average, according to , and Moab’s mercury regularly climbs into the triple digits during July and August. The town doesn’t exactly excel in the shaded-trails department, either — but try not to let any of this deter you.
Driving into town, take a look, instead, at all the drought-tolerant specialists: rabbitbrush, yucca, Mormon tea, prickly pear, Indian ricegrass, and heat-adapted Utah junipers thrive in the midsummer sun, creating a stunning, if mildly apocalyptic, landscape framed by skyscraping buttes, towers, and precariously balanced rocks.
As summertime tourists, we must adapt like desert plants by adopting a highly customized travel rhythm: active early mornings outdoors; midday resets; afternoons on the water; twilight exploration. To help you pull it off, I’ve rounded up live-like-locals tricks to keep up your metaphorical sleeves. (You’ll definitely be packing sleeveless shirts for this adventure. You might be a little antisocial, but you’re not a total psychopath.)
Tip No. 1: Book a hotel with a pool
Campbell Levy — founder and CEO of Camp Stories, who represents the — is a former backcountry guide and life-long camper. “So, perhaps itap notable that I’m saying don’t camp,” she said, referring to Moab’s summertime program. “Itap simply too hot,” Levy added.
While the camping in Moab is world-class, you need — you deserve — a legit air-conditioned oasis during the heat of the day. No problem there; in recent years, Moab has enjoyed a hotel boom, and nearly every in-town lodge has a pool. Bonus: Most Moab hotels run deals in July and August.
During our most recent trip, my family of five checked into clean, sizeable suites at , which shares its resort-style pool, massive splash pad, and hot tubs with the adjacent . Both hotels offer free coffee 24/7 plus a breakfast buffet (but if you have my refined palette, you’ll head into town for your morning haul).
On previous trips, we’ve bunked at the pet-friendly . For a higher-end experience, there’s , a Main Street-proximate luxury property that sleeps up to six in a room. The pool there is also quite rad.
Tip No. 2: Be an early bird
“Itap taken years, but I’ve come to the point where I genuinely love summer in Moab,” said Rebecca McAllister, owner and operator of , an artisan market featuring art and jewelry from 200-plus Utah creatives, and housed in the historic Moab Times Independent building.
McAllister’s best advice is to get up early and be done hiking or biking by 9 a.m. Moab-based photographer echoes that advice, adding, “We locals get up really early — around sunrise.”
If you’re like many travelers, you came to see , 5 miles north of Moab on U.S. Route 191 (N. Highway 191), and daybreak is a gorgeous time to experience the landscape, when the air’s still crisp and the sun hasn’t baked the slickrock yet.
Moab’s NPs — Arches and Canyonlands — see their lowest visitation rates in July and August, but still, the entrance gates can get sluggish by midmorning, so itap best to roll in early. Arches is open 24/7 and no longer uses a timed-entry system.
Stop at the Visitor Center, just past the gates, and fill up your water bottles (refill stations are available here and at the Devils Garden campground). Savvy hikers carry at least 2 to 3 liters of aqua per person for front-country hikes, and 4 or more for backcountry excursions.
“Drink when thirsty, and remember that when you’re halfway through your water, you are halfway through your hike,” said Anna Rehkopf, a public affairs specialist for the National Park Service.
You’ll have many scenic trails to choose from. Delicate Arch is one of the most popular routes with iconic views. “But remember,” Rehkopf said, “Itap a challenging uphill hike with steep drop-offs toward the top.”
A little further into the park, Sand Dune Arch Trail is a super-short, magical journey to a hidden arch housed between tall sandstone walls. After playing in the sand, try the 2.3-mile Broken Arch Loop Trail, which crosses a grassland to an arch perched above a pygmy forest before winding through a section of Devils Garden campground.
I regret not visiting. Visitors there have their pick of dozens of routes — some easy, others strenuous. Plus, there’s the world-famous Needles, with over 60 miles of interconnecting trails. Itap a 40-minute drive to the Island in the Sky district, the part of Canyonlands closest to Moab, but we only had three days, and if you try to do everything, you’ll miss the whole point of getting away.
Tip No. 3: Institute a mandatory midday siesta
“We locals get up early, take a nap around noon, and then we get ready to go out again,” said Rogers.
I love the idea of a Spanish-inspired daily reset, and your air-conditioned hotel is the perfect place to sleep through the heat of the day. Early afternoon is also a good time to splash around in the hotel pool, and if your kids get antsy, you can always head down to Main Street and duck into the air-conditioned T-shirt boutiques and ice cream parlors. (Moab surely has more ice creameries per capita than anyplace else in the world!)
Wipe off those sticky fingers, then check out McAllister’s stores before wandering over to on North Main Street. (Your kids will get a kick out of the vast displays of fossils and minerals.) Don’t miss , which specializes in natural history and regional titles. The is another interesting place to keep cool and is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tip No. 4: Hit the river
Fun fact: Moab is Utah’s only town located on the Colorado River.
“Everybody who lives in Moab is by the water in the afternoon,” said Josh Surkes, owner of .
Guides from Paddle Moab will help your family navigate Moab’s whitewater on a half-day trip. Whitewater rafting in Moab is more like floating, so no need to worry about fast-moving currents, especially if you opt for the 10-mile Fisher Towers stretch, featuring mild, family-friendly chutes where swimming and splashing around are guaranteed and the canyon walls offer some welcome afternoon shadows.
Standup paddleboarding is Surkes’ go-to pursuit. “If you aren’t into SUP, the kayaking is great,” he said. For an unguided experience, his company’s Rental and Ride package simplifies the logistics of a point-to-point river trip by coordinating the drop-off and downriver pickup. Personal floatation devices come standard with all Paddle Moab rentals.
Canyoneering is another way to keep your cool. In fact, summer is the only time you can explore some of the canyons without a wetsuit. We had a blast on a half-day trip through Bow & Arrow Canyon with one of the pros at I don’t consider myself a traditional thrill-seeker, but rappelling down a sheer 90-foot cliff face was a highlight of our trip.
That particular adventure took off from the Poison Spider Dinosaur Tracksite on Potash Road, located 6 miles west of Moab. The site features fossilized dinosaur footprints embedded in 190-million-year-old Navajo Sandstone blocks. Bookmark this short, moderately steep trail for an early morning trek with younger kids.
Roughly 10 miles south of town, is a literal oasis offering standup paddleboarding, swimming and fishing. Amenities include picnic tables, shade shelters and vault toilets at the campground. To get there from Moab, drive south on Highway 191 for about 8 miles, turn left at the sign, and follow the road to the water.
There are a couple of in-town hikes offering water access: is an easy route with several fun creek crossings, and is a fun, 2-mile (one way) waterside trek ending at Morning Glory Bridge.
Tip No. 5: Grab a bite
If you’re satisfied with a rotating diet of burgers, pizza and ice cream, you’ll find plenty to eat. Health-conscious vegetarians, meanwhile, can grab premade salads and sandwiches at , a hippy-dippy stop-off where my husband scored a hat from the freebies bin.
For a sit-down meal, I enjoyed on North Main Street, and the rest of my family loved the diverse options at . on North Highway 191 is a favorite among locals.
Tip No. 6: Relish the summer nights
“Our summer evenings are long and leisurely,” McAllister said. As the sun dips behind the canyon walls, the desert cools down rapidly, creating another window to head back out for a dusky hike. (Remember a headlamp for evening hikes!)
Astronomy enthusiasts will appreciate Moab’s renowned dark skies. Nearby offers stunning, high-altitude vistas and runs excellent stargazing programming on Friday and Saturday nights.
Tip No. 7: Life’s a journey (but break it up)
While this final tip won’t help you survive Moab’s sweltering heat, it will help you withstand the six-hour drive there and back with children.
In Glenwood Springs, soak away the first leg of the drive at . Its new Sauna Summit expansion features globally inspired saunas and frigid cold plunges. While the hot-cold cycles didn’t completely erase the tension of being confined in a car with my kids, sneaking away to the adults-only mineral pools — one enriched with magnesium, another with potassium — was a nice reset.
In Vail, is a pretty setting for another leg stretch. On the trip home, stop in Idaho Springs. The cauliflower wings at are your reward for enduring five hours in a car with a 7-year-old complaining, “I’m booooooooored.”
