Moab, Utah is an adventurer’s paradise. Whether you’re looking for scenic hiking, wild mountain biking, some of the most extensive ORV trails in the west, trail running, rock climbing, or beautiful waterways for rafting, kayaking and paddle boarding – Moab is a desert playground for all kinds of thrill seekers and outdoor enthusiasts. There are certainly enough things to do to keep you busy for a full week, but if you’re trying to maximize a long weekend with your VanCraft Campervan, you’ll want to have a plan for how to spend 3 days in Moab.
While you’re planning your trip, be sure to check out this guide to planning your trip to Moab with your VanCraft Campervan.
Moab 3-Day Itinerary
Travel to Moab
Coming from Denver, our travel hit a few snafus. Stuck in completely stopped traffic for 3 hours (practically an I-70 tradition) sucks a lot less when you’ve got snacks and games easily accessible right behind your seat in your campervan.
(Our view for three hours during standstill traffic. There are worse places to be stuck.)
(Hour 2 of traffic, still in good spirits.)
We managed to keep our sanity and our friendship through a 5 hour drive that wound up being 11 hours with accidents, road closures, and a stop in Grand Junction for a long anticipated meal and van refuel before making it to just outside Moab where there was…construction at 11pm. We wound up pulling into a campsite just off the highway in the pitch black of night, with little clue of our surroundings or care for anything other than brushing our teeth and going to bed.
(Making friends with the locals at our stop for dinner in Grand Junction. The restaurant had an awesome collection of old beer cans, and even better chicken pot pie.)
Thankfully, we didn’t have a convoluted Airbnb check-in process or three sets of hotel stairs with luggage to unload – we had everything we needed in our campervan. We brushed our teeth, took a peak at the stars, and headed to bed.
Day 1
We woke up early (pro tip: the earlier you wake up in the desert, the more chance you’ll have to beat the heat) to get ready for our day. In the light of day, we woke up to discover that our surroundings were spectacularly beautiful.
The giant mesa outside of our window was illuminated by the sunrise and it was so pretty that we decided to take a morning walk up the dirt road to overlook our campsite and explore.
(Our little jaunt up the dirt road to mid-way up the mesa overlooking our campsite. Home sweet temporary campsite!)
With a few desert treasures already found (old beer cans, an old abandoned car, and of course plenty of lizards and desert flowers), we felt like day one was already a success.
Next, we headed into town to check out the local coffee shop for an easy grab-and-go start to our day, with a little window shopping as we went. It was a slower morning than we probably should have taken, but after a long journey and late night, we were happy to just take things slow
(Moab’s downtown area has several cute stores, great restaurants, and anything else you need for camping or adventuring.)
After our relaxing morning, we were ready to hit the trails. We had a timed entry permit secured for Arches National Park for 11am, but we opted for the Mary Jane trail a little ways outside of the park that was highly rated on AllTrails, and was a little bit longer than most of the trails in the park. We drove through the canyon along the river with spectacular views along the way. Service is spotty in the canyon, so make sure you have a playlist downloaded ahead of time. You can check out our Moab playlist here.
(The drive to the Mary Jane slot canyon trail is incredibly scenic. The wide windshield of our VanCraft van framed each scene like a spectacular Bob Ross painting.)
The trail is accessible down a long and very bumpy dirt road, but our VanCraft van held her own. Parking at the trailhead is limited, so be sure to arrive early and be respectful of the private property that borders the trailhead. There is no bathroom at the trailhead, so be sure to plan accordingly.
The trail is an out-and-back totalling 7.6 miles, which takes an average of just under 3 hours (per AllTrails, though I think it took us closer to 4 with our swim in the waterfall and lots of snack stops). Dogs are allowed on a leash, and this is probably one of the most dog-friendly hikes in Moab since the trail follows a stream up a slot canyon. You’ll cross the stream what feels like 104,589 times (a man we encountered halfway up the trail said he was up to 125 crossings in his count on the way back down).
The trail starts out in a wide open rocky landscape and gradually narrows as you follow the stream up the canyon. The trail was easy to follow, but when in doubt, follow the water. As always, be sure to pack more water and more snacks than you think you need.
WARNING: Any time you’re heading out on a trail, but especially a slot canyon or trail near a body of water, check the forecast. Our friend did this same trail just a few weeks after we hiked it and got stuck in a sudden rainstorm. The tiny stream in the middle of the slot canyon turned into a ruthless rushing rapids that would have swept him and his friends away if they hadn’t been able to get to higher ground quickly enough. There are sections of the trail where it would be impossible to reach higher ground, and the weather can change rapidly in Moab.
The trail’s stream crossings almost all have small rock stepping stones to hop across without being fully submerged, but I’d recommend wearing waterproof hiking boots and bringing an extra pair of dry socks anyways. If you plan to wade into the top of the stream at the waterfall, you may also want to bring a towel. The rock crossings can be precarious, and since I was recovering from ACL surgery, these were a test of my balance. If you are physically limited in stability, I’d highly recommend hiking poles for extra safety.
(One of the many stream crossings that you’ll do up and down the trail, and a view of the slot canyon surrounding you as you ascend the hiking trail.)
(The trail should come with a trypophobia trigger warning with all of these interesting rock formations along the walls of the slot canyon, formed in the soft sandstone by years of erosion.)
The trail culminates in the most narrow stretch of slot canyon with a rushing waterfall, only visible from standing in the water. The stream’s bottom is smooth, red clay, which can be slippery. Some people wore water shoes, but we just went barefoot as we waded into the cool water.
(The waterfall at the end of the Mary Jane hiking trail was only visible from standing in the water.)
(Post-hike snack sessions hit different with the convenience of having all your food, water, and supplies with you wherever you take your VanCraft Campervan.)
After the hike, we headed into town to get some food before heading to our campsite for the night. We opted for Milt’s Stop & Eat since we were approaching nightfall and wanted to find a spot to camp for the night. After a long hike in the desert, a burger, fries, and a milkshake taste extra good.
(Milt’s Stop & Eat in Moab was the perfect place for a quick post-hike dinner.)
We camped off of Willow Springs Road on BLM land, just off of the dirt road. The spot was the perfect place to crash before waking up early the following day.
(The stars in Moab are some of the best you’ll ever see, since there’s hardly any light pollution. Be sure to look up!)
The next morning, we headed to Arches National Park on a mission to see Delicate Arch, arguably the most iconic arch in the park. The hike up to view the arch up close is around 3 miles. The first mile or so is pretty much all uphill on a smooth rocky surface, so I’d strongly recommend wearing shoes with a fair bit of grip.
(The drive through the park is very scenic, and there are plenty of roadside viewing areas to take in the view.)
(The Delicate Arch viewing point also overlooks a large basin. Expect to wait in line to have your photo taken in front of the arch!)
After our stop at Delicate Arch and a few other scenic stops along the way, we headed back to our campsite where we used our well-equipped VanCraft campervan to cook ourselves some pasta.
The next day was our final day in Moab, and the day that we had to travel back home to Denver. We wanted to squeeze in one more short hike to stretch our legs before the drive, so we headed to the Moab Rim Trailhead where we made the steep ascent up to overlook Moab and beyond. The trail is also shared with ORVs, so be cautious so as not to get in the way as they clamber up the steep, rocky face.
(The Moab Rim Trail overlooks the town of Moab and the beautiful La Sal Mountains in the distance. From the trailhead, you’ll head straight up a rocky slope – but don’t forget to look back at the views of the Colorado River as you climb.)
We decided to spend the rest of the morning exploring the town’s gift shops and getting breakfast before hitting the road.
With that, our trip to Moab sadly came to an end. We enjoyed every minute and can’t wait for our next trip in a VanCraft Campervan!
