Moab: How to do Moab Better and Easier
Moab is undoubtedly Utah’s vacation mecca. You can experience unmatched opportunity for almost any outdoor activity you enjoy within minutes of downtown Moab. A quick list of fun things to do in Moab includes world class mountain biking, hiking to see arches, boating the Colorado River, exploring Canyon Land and Arches National Parks, exploring world renowned jeep trails in a rental jeep or ATV, and rock climbing for all abilities.
Moab is a destination that offers so many high quality experiences that you will have to go back again and again. A great resource for learning more about Moab, Utah is Discover Moab. Since there is a plethora of information about Moab and the things you can do there, we wanted to focus on a couple points that will make your trip to Moab better and easier.
The first insider tip to make your trip special is making it a point to stop at Fifth Water Hot Springs, either on your way to or from Moab. Fifth Water Hot Spring is a gorgeous hot spring that flow into Diamond Fork Creek. It has several pools with varying temperatures, a waterfall, and beautiful scenery, especially in the fall when the colors are changing. It is an easy 2.5 mile hike to the hot springs on a wide trail. It is a great break in your traveling because the trail head for the hot spring is just 15 minutes down Diamond Fork Road from Highway 89 which you drive to get from Salt Lake to Moab.
Fifth Water Hot Springs is a popular spot among locals.
Once you reach Moab, you get to decide where to camp. While there are loads of options for camping, it can be a little unclear where those options are and what they are like if you have not spent much time in Moab. Here’s the breakdown:
RV Parks - The easiest camping option is to pull your campervan rental into an RV park with bathrooms and other amenities. Here is a great map of all the RV parks near Moab.
BLM Campgrounds - These usually have a communal bathroom, flat spots to park, a picnic bench, and a fire ring. You can see a map of the all the developed BLM campgrounds on there website. They usually cost about $15 per night.
Sand Flats Recreation Area - Located at the same spot as Slick Rock mountain bike trail is located. This campground has the same amenities as BLM developed campgrounds.
BLM or Forest Service land outside of Moab - Keep in mind these campsites can be a little more difficult to find and access. Always remember to be gentle and take care of your campervan rental, especially when you are trying to find the perfect campsite.
The National Geographic Moab North map is a great help in finding primitive camping spots and general navigation around Moab. Some spots to look for primitive camping can be found by turning off of Highway 191 onto established dirt roads such as BLM 378 road to Willow Springs, Dalton Well Road, and Mill Canyon Road to name a few.
When camping on undeveloped public land, also known as primitive camping, be sure to only camp in previously established campsites away from sensitive areas like riparian zones or washes. As always, campers should always do their best to Leave No Trace.
The view from Dalton Well Road camping looking toward Monitor and Merimac can be very nice.
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