Kid-Friendly Things to do in Moab Utah
While this desert oasis is known for wild adventure, there are still so many kid-friendly things to do in Moab, Utah! From hiking to playing on the bank of the Colorado River, you’ll send most of your time outdoors and your kids will have the time of their lives!
We spent a long weekend in Moab, but you could easily fill up an entire week with everything there is to see and do.
Where to Stay for a Kid-Friendly Trip to Moab, Utah
Whether you are coming for a weekend or a longer trip, you’ll need somewhere to stay!
Kid-friendly Camping in Moab, Utah
If you are a family that loves camping, Moab has endless options! From recreation areas to the Colorado River, you can find a spot with everything you want! Since we didn’t camp, I don’t have recommendations but Traveling Mom has great tips for camping in Moab.
Best family hotels in Moab, Utah
There are two great hotels for families in Moab!
The first is the Hyatt Place Moab. It’s in a great location just a few minutes south of the entrance to Arches National Park and also just a few minutes from restaurants and fun shops downtown. We stayed here and really enjoyed the pool and small playground on the property!
The second hotel is the SpringHill Suites Moab. The pool at the SpringHill is incredible and definitely competes with most resorts. Rooms here fill up fast, so book ASAP!
Kid-Friendly Things to do in Moab, Utah: Arches National Park
Arches National Park is definitely the highlight of any trip to Moab, Utah — with or without kids! Arches National Park is so unique and stunning that you’ll enjoy any amount of time you are able to spend there.
How Many Days to Visit Arches National Park
We recommend 2-3 mornings spent in the park. We recommend morning because it can get HOT in the afternoons and there is relatively little shade. We entered the park early (before 7 a.m.) each day and then left around noon to go and do other, cooler activities in Moab.
Tips for Visiting Arches National Park with Kids
Visit the park EARLY! Arches doesn’t have a large capacity. So it can close as early as 9am if there are too many cars in the park. To avoid parking issues, packed trails and dozens of people in the background of your arch pictures, go early!
Make sure and stop at the Visitor’s Center to get a Junior Ranger Booklet for your kids (a great activity for the trail or in the car between parking lots). And don’t forget to ask for Junior Ranger badges too!
Best Hikes for Kids in Arches National Park
Our favorite kid-friendly arches were Sand Dunes Arch, Broken Arch, Double Arch and the Windows. For more information on all of the hikes we recommend for kids, head to this post.
We also liked driving past the Devil’s Garden and Balanced Rock (which you can see from the parking lot). Prepare for lots of time at Sand Dunes Arch playing in the incredible red sand!
For more details and a description about each of these hikes, check out this post.
If you have limited time and young kids, I would suggest skipping the hike all the way to Delicate Arch. This is a personal choice because seeing it up close is very cool, but we opted for seeing as many arches as possible instead of spending the bulk of a morning on the 3-mile Delicate Arch Trail (our pace is slow with three littles!).
This parking lot is also always full! Even at 6:30am. We enjoyed the view of Delicate Arch from the short viewing point trail, instead and then moved on to the more kid-friendly arches!
Kid-Friendly Things to do in Moab, Utah: Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park is also located in Moab and is definitely worth an evening! You can see a lot just by driving through the park, but I also recommend stopping and doing the hike to Mesa Arch for incredible views!
Island in the Sky Visitor Center
You should definitely stop at the Island in the Sky Visitor Center to pick up your Junior Ranger packets! There are also some really great views from across the street. We visited Canyonlands National Park at sunset and the Visitor Center was closed, but we stopped anyway to get out at the view point. The canyons are so beautiful! And there are some informational signs to learn about the park!
Mesa Arch
The Mesa Arch is an extremely popular arch in Canyonlands National Park. It’s also an easy hike and an incredible view. So you can’t miss this one when finding kid-friendly things to do in Moab, Utah.
The hike out to the arch is just half a mile and fairly flat and easy. Once you get to the arch there is a larger area to hang out and enjoy the views. The arch itself is wide and slow, but offers a window to the canyon beyond.
Please be careful with kids getting close to the arch! The dropoff into the canyon is not much further beyond!
Because this arch faces east, it’s a popular sunrise hike! We opted to go in the evening the first night we got to Moab and we had the entire hike practically to ourselves. The setting sun also made for beautiful pictures in front of the arch!
Green River Overlook
The Green River Overlook is only a few miles past the Mesa Arch. It’s definitely worth a drive through before heading out of the park if you have the time! Panoramic views of deep, colorful canyons abound!
Other kid-friendly hikes in Canyonlands National Park near the Island in the Sky area include the Grand View Point Trail (2 miles) and the White Rim Overlook with views of the Colorado River (1.8 miles).
Kid-Friendly Things to do in Moab, Utah: Adventure Rentals and Tours
While a lot of the adventure tours in Moab are not necessarily kid-friendly, there are a few that boast the ability to host kids! With a three-month-old we didn’t opt for any adventure tours while we were there this time, but these all come very highly recommended from friends and family who have tried them!
Kid-Friendly Moab High Point Hummer Sunset Tour
In full disclosure we have a relative who works for High Point Hummer, but after spending a lot of time researching it does like one of the best kid-friendly hummer or UTV vehicle tours you can find in Moab.
Even children under 2 can ride. You’ll just want to let the company know ahead of time and bring your car seats early for them to be installed. Please double check if they can accommodate your combination or need of car seats BEFORE booking!
There are four different tours to choose from, a 2-hr daytime, 2-hr sunset, 4-hr daytime and 4-hr sunset tour.
Kid-Friendly Moab Jet Boat Tours
When we were playing on the beach at the Colorado River, we saw several jet boat tours go by that looked so fun! The Colorado River is surrounded by red rock canyons and is incredibly gorgeous! You could drive along the highway to experience it, but why not experience it by boat?!
There are several tours that are available and safe to accommodate children ages 4 and up. These include a run fun and two dinner and sunset options! Just head here to check them out.
Kid-Friendly Things to do in Moab, Utah: Water Play
Most people think about hiking and off-roading when they think about Moab, but we had so much fun playing in the water!
Colorado River
The Colorado River is gorgeous and is a perfect way to cool off after a morning of hiking or adventuring!
There are several spots along Highway 128 heading east. Look for pull-offs around mile 6 and mile 14. There are small campgrounds along the way as well, so make sure not to park at any of the campgrounds.
Mill Creek
If you are looking for some spots to combine hiking and water play, Mill Creek is the one for you! Follow directions for the Mill Creek Trailhead parking lot. Just past the parking lot you’ll find a dam with a nice pool of water. But if you continue hiking to the waterfall you can enjoy an even better dip! For more information, check out this writeup on the Outdoor Project. The falls is probably best for older kids.
Ken’s Lake Recreation Area
This lake is a man-made reservoir south east of Moab that allows for swimming, canoeing, kayaking and fishing! There’s also a campsite if you want to spend most of your downtime here!
Kid-Friendly Things to do in Moab, Utah: Museums and Activities
If you have extra time and you’ve done all of the outdoor adventure you can handle, there are some great spots to take the kids for educational fun!
Moab Giants Dinosaur Museum
The Moab Giants is definitely not to be missed if you have more than a couple days in Moab! This dinosaur museum has full-size dinosaur replicas along the dinosaur trail, a dino-themed playground, a 3D theatre and original dinosaur footprints!
Wild West Voyages
Older children (age 7+) may enjoy the ropes course at Wild West Voyages. Rope courses are so much fun and I can imagine that climbing, leaping and zip-lining with gorgeous Moab as the backdrop would be unbeatable!
Rotary Park in Moab
If you are looking for an easy afternoon at the park, check out Rotary Park on Millcreek Drive. There’s a great playground, bike trails, picnic areas and even a hummingbird garden!
Questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out to molly@exploringthroughlife.com or hit me up on Instagram! I would love to help you plan your trip!
