The Best Time to Visit Moab in 2023 | When to Go

If your idea of a dream vacation involves desert scenery, incredible views wherever you look, and many ways to get out into the landscape and experience it in a very hands-on way, Moab, Utah, is a vacation you will want to find time for.

Located in eastern Utah, Moab sits on the Colorado Plateau, home to the world’s densest concentration of natural arches.

It is surrounded by natural wonders with Arches National Park immediately to the north, Canyonlands National Park to the southeast, and a small mountain range to the east on the Colorado border.

When you’re ready to plan your Moab trip, we’ll help you plan the best time for your visit. Whether you want the nicest weather, the best rates, or the most solitude, there’s an ideal time of year to visit.

Why You Should Visit Moab

Moab offers a wide array of options for sightseeing and outdoor activities, all set in an other-worldly landscape that can appear to be straight from an alien planet.

This desert area features red sandstone that has been sculpted by wind, water, and weather into formations that seem, at times, to defy gravity. The possibilities for outdoor recreation in Moab are nearly endless.

Some of the options include:

• Canyoneering
• Hiking
• Horseback riding
• Mountain biking
• Off-roading
• River rafting
• Rock climbing
• Stargazing

All these activities take place against a backdrop of red sandstone, and each gives you a new way of viewing it.

Whether you’re getting a bird’s eye view while rock climbing, squeezing through a narrow space between rocks while hiking in the Fiery Furnace, or looking up at the canyon walls from a river raft, you’ll find something unique everywhere you look.

The Moab area is best known for its arches. Arches National Park, just north of Moab has documented 2,000 naturally occurring sandstone arches.

Of the world’s 15 largest natural arches, six are in Utah. When you’re not out in nature, the city of Moab offers plenty of options for arts, events, shops, cuisine, and nightlife.

Overall Best Time to Visit Moab

Moab has an ethereal beauty at any time of year, but the peak seasons are spring and fall for a reason.

Moab is a furnace in the summer and barely above freezing in the winter, so the best times to get the most out of your visit are spring and fall. To avoid the worst of the crowds, skirting the peak months of March to May and September to October could work in your favor.

Visiting in February, November, or even late in May before it gets too hot can give you the weather to experience all the activities you want without as many other people around.

With average high temperatures around 50 in February and November, those are excellent months to go if you plan to do a lot of physically demanding activities that generate body heat, like hiking or mountain biking.

If you’ll be doing activities like river rafting, horseback riding, or others that involve water or aren’t likely to make you break a sweat, May is a good time with average high temperatures around 80 degrees.

However, if crowds are less of a concern than having the ideal weather for all activities, choose April or October when you’re likely to experience more perfect 70-degree days.

Cheapest Time to Visit Moab

Winter is the cheapest time to visit Moab. Because Moab’s peak tourist seasons are March to early May and September to October, you are likely to pay more for lodging during those times.

If you don’t mind the cold – or if you live in the north and don’t consider 40 degrees in the dead of winter to be cold – visit in December and January and enjoy off-season rates.

The advantage of visiting Moab in the winter is not only the discounted rates, but there is also an entirely different kind of beauty to be found when the red sandstone is covered with a dusting of snow.

Hiking and mountain biking could be a little more challenging after a snowfall, but they are still possible, and the unique photographs you will have will make it all worthwhile.

Some new opportunities open up with snow, too. Try skiing in the La Sal Mountains. The backcountry terrain provides something fun for any skill level. If you’re not into downhill skiing, try cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.

While some lodging and recreation choices shut down for the winter – you probably don’t want to river raft at just above-freezing temperatures anyway – you’ll find that much remains open.

Plus, the money you save during the off-season could mean that you get to extend your stay and try some things you wouldn’t have been able to if you’d visited in the peak seasons.

Least Busy Time to Visit Moab

Avoiding crowds isn’t inherently difficult in Moab. Even during peak season, there is plenty of space on this desert playground for everyone to spread out.

Some of the most popular attractions may have crowds, but you will still have plenty of room to yourself. However, if you really want your solitude, you should avoid Moab during spring and fall.

March to May and September to October are peak seasons in Moab, and you’ll also have fair crowds in some bordering months as well – February, late May, and early November.

Easter weekend is popular in Moab, as the annual Easter Jeep Safari wraps up that weekend, so if you want to avoid crowds, that’s when to definitely not go.

Winter is when you will encounter the smallest crowds in Moab, and it has its perks, but if you want to enjoy some of the warmer weather activities as well, and if you don’t mind the heat, you can visit during the summer.

A summer visit may require some modifications, such as planning your activities for early morning and later in the day and taking a siesta or getting some pool time during the afternoon heat.

Summer temperatures in Moab regularly break into triple digits. However, it is a desert, and you may not notice how hot it is, so make sure to stay hydrated.

Worst Time to Visit

There’s not one bad time to visit Moab. The worst time to visit depends to some extent on what you want to do while you’re there.

If you’re counting on river rafting, for example, winter is obviously the worst time for you. Barring special considerations, however, July and August are possibly the worst time to visit Moab.

During these months, the oppressive heat is likely to make outdoor activities difficult and even dangerous. There is still plenty you can do in the early morning and evening, but if your plans include all-day adventures, you probably don’t want to visit in the height of summer.

But if summer is the only practical time you can make the trip, don’t pass it up just because of the heat. Take advantage of the river rafting, and make sure you get splashed plenty to keep cool.

Stay up late and experience night skies as you’ve never seen them before. And plan shorter hikes or bike rides for early in the morning or in the evening. Don’t let the scorching temperatures keep you from Moab completely. It is a trip you do not want to pass up.

Things to Consider

Moab is a desert climate. It is dry, and for much of the year, it is hot. However, the low humidity means it doesn’t seem to be as hot as it is, and you can easily get dehydrated.

Make sure to have plenty of water whenever you are out on your adventures, especially if you are participating in a physically demanding activity or exposed to the sun. Much of the landscape around Moab is exposed, so make sure to have adequate protection from the sun.

This protection can include a wide-brimmed hat or a long-sleeved but lightweight shirt, and of course, wear your sunscreen. If you plan on hiking, proper footwear is crucial. You will likely be walking on uneven surfaces.

Shoes or boots with enough grip to prevent slipping on the rocks are essential. Ankle support is also important, especially if you are prone to twisting or spraining your ankles on uneven surfaces.

Beyond those safety concerns, be willing to adjust or make room in your travel plans for fun things you discover along the way. Explore the shops in Moab and go out to eat.

Ask the locals about their favorite lesser-known attractions or activities. One gem you may otherwise overlook is the stargazing opportunities around Moab. Several national parks near Moab are certified International Dark Sky Parks.

They are isolated enough from artificial light that on a moonless night, you can see many more stars with the naked eye than you could see in many other places.

And one last tip – make sure you have an extra memory card and batteries for your camera because you will find more photographic opportunities than you know what to do with.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about visiting Moab? See answers to some of the most common questions below:

So What’s the Best Time to Visit Moab?

Moab is definitely a top spot to visit at any time of year. It offers views you can’t find anywhere else in the world and many recreational options by which to view the scenery.

Try to get there in the spring or autumn for the most enjoyable weather, but don’t allow any scheduling conflicts to deter you from making the trip.

Even the heat of the summer months and the cold of the winter months offer their unique experiences. No matter when you go, it will be an amazing experience that you’ll never forget!