Local Area Attractions Near Moab KOA Holiday

Moab is one of the most unique and beautiful destinations on the planet. From its gaping canyons and towering mountains in the distance to its raging rivers, this red rock wonderland is guaranteed to astonish. Whether this is your first time staying at Moab KOA or you are coming back for a new adventure, the Moab area offers something for everyone. Our team would be happy to help you explore this breathtaking destination so that you return home with unforgettable memories that last a lifetime.

Camping Near National and State Parks

One of the main reasons people come to Moab is to visit two of the most iconic and unforgettable National Parks in the United States — Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. Both places are just a short drive from our campground and offer enough striking sights and experiences that you may want to plan several days at both parks. Even if you have only planned a short visit to Moab, though, we recommend exploring these local gems. 

Arches and Canyonlands are not the only attractions found in our corner of the American Southwest, either. There are countless day trips to embark upon from Moab KOA to experience the top attractions in Utah, including: 

  • Monument Valley
  • Valley of the Gods
  • Island in the Sky district
  • Needles district
  • The Maze
  • Dead Horse Point State Park
  • The Goosenecks
  • Hovenweep National Monument
  • Natural Bridges
  • The Colorado River
  • Ghost towns 
  • And more

Camping near Canyonlands National Park and these other destinations is the best way to experience this unforgettable landscape first-hand.

Book Your Advanced Reservation in Moab Today

If you are looking for campgrounds near Canyonlands and Arches National Parks or you want to experience the untouched beauty of the American Southwest, then it is time to start planning your vacation to Moab KOA. Book your stay at our local KOA online or call us, and start dreaming of your unforgettable adventure in Moab, Utah.

Arches National Park (15 Minutes From KOA)

Arches National Park (15 Minutes From KOA)

Arches National Park is considered one of the top destinations in all of Utah. This national park features the greatest concentration of natural stone arches in the world. To date, over 2,000 arches have been found, and roads and trails in the park lead to many of them. As you walk the hiking trails and explore the scenic viewpoints, you will experience colossal sandstone structures, soaring pinnacles and massive balanced rocks that will make you feel dwarfed in comparison.

Canyonlands National Park (About 35 Minutes From KOA)

Canyonlands National Park (About 35 Minutes From KOA)

Canyonlands National Park is the largest and most rugged of all of Utah's parks. The three sections of Canyonlands, Island in the Sky, the Maze and the Needles, divided by the Green and Colorado rivers, are primitive worlds. They are so vast that, even with repeated exploration, they will never give up all of their secrets. During your visit to this remote area, you will enjoy spectacular views and diverse landscapes.

Dead Horse State Park (35 Minutes From KOA)

Dead Horse State Park (35 Minutes From KOA)

This park is so named because old-time cowboys, using the point as a natural corral, inadvertently left a band of horses trapped for so long they died of thirst. An almost isolated island-mesa, Dead Horse Point offers a spectacular view of the La Sal Mountains, Canyonlands National Park and the Colorado River 2,000 feet below.

La Sal Mountain Range

La Sal Mountain Range

From our KOA campground, you will enjoy spectacular views of the La Sal Mountains, located near the eastern border of Utah and rising above the town of Moab. You can take a half-day trip and enjoy the views and vistas up close. There are two lakes in the La Sal Mountains that are truly breathtaking. When you take the loop through the mountains, you drive along the banks of the Colorado River as well.

Ken's Lake

Ken's Lake

Just five minutes from the campground, you can enjoy Ken's Lake. This scenic and relaxing waterhole includes a pebbly beach and chilly mountain water fed by Mill Creek, and it is perfect for cooling off on those hot summer days. There is also a wonderful waterfall and some great places to walk your dog. Swimming, paddling and fishing are popular activities at Ken's Lake.

Colorado River

Colorado River

Choose your thrill level and set out for a day of adventure on the Colorado River. Enjoy a relaxing scenic rafting trip with interesting river guides while cooling off in the refreshing water. Or perhaps a kayak or canoe adventure. If it is more excitement you want, experience an adrenaline rush of serious proportions while white water rafting through West Water or Cataract Canyon. The Colorado River has something for everyone.

Spanish Valley Vineyards & Winery

Spanish Valley Vineyards & Winery

Spanish Valley Vineyards & Winery is a small farm winery that grows and produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Gewurztraminer and Riesling wines in the heart of Utah's Red Rock Canyonlands. Located within minutes of downtown Moab, Spanish Valley Vineyards & Winery offers free tours of their vineyards and winery, offering one of the best places to sip, snack and relax nearby. A tasting room is available to sample some of their delicious wines.

Tasting Room Hours:

March-October, Mon-Sat 
12 p.m. - 7 p.m.

November and February, Mon-Sat 
12 p.m. - 5 p.m.

December and January 
By appointment

Website

Movie Sites

Movie Sites

Director Ridley Scott reported that he had “seen more wonderful and varied scenery in a single day in Moab than any other day [he had] scouted.” Such variance has made Moab a hot spot for movies of all genres. From the ranches of the old west to the interplanetary fields of Mars to mile after mile of classic road-trip roads, the scenery is as endless as the possibilities.

Visitors to Moab may find the area familiar as they tip-toe up to Thelma and Louise Point, set off on horseback to follow John Wayne's hoof prints or take in the view from Westworld's Hub Mesa. Filmmakers will find thousands of square miles of sand deserts, snowy mountains, desolate canyons, verdant farmland, empty roads and rushing rivers — not to mention the iconic red rocks. For information on filming in the area, get in touch with the Moab to Monument Valley Film Commission at 435-259-4341.

Museum of Moab

Museum of Moab

For 60 years, the Museum of Moab has worked to preserve and display artifacts and information and to promote research and education, which accurately reflect the natural and cultural history of southeast Utah. Their exhibits feature materials from geology, archaeology and regional history. Plus, their programming, publications and research collections are aimed at fulfilling this mission with ever-increasing effectiveness.

118 E. Center Street

Moab, UT 84532

435-259-7985

Website

Fisher Towers

Fisher Towers

The Fisher Towers are a series of towers made of Culter sandstone capped with Moenkopi sandstone and caked with a stucco of red mud. The Towers were named for a miner who lived near them in the 1880s. This intriguing attraction is world-renowned as a subject for photography and for its classic rock climbing routes.

Sand Flats Recreation Area

Sand Flats Recreation Area

The Sand Flats Recreation Area (SFRA) near Moab, Utah, is a nationally significant public lands treasure at the heart of the Colorado Plateau. A high plain of slick rock domes, bowls and fins, it rises in the east to meet the colorful mesas and nearly 13,000-foot peaks of the La Sal Mountains. Bordering the area on the north and south are the canyons of the Grandstaff and Mill Creek Wilderness Study Areas. Further north lies the deep gorge of the Colorado River and Arches National Park. 

Sand Flats' famous Slickrock and Porcupine Rim bike trails and almost 40 miles of jeep trails are world-renowned for their combination of challenge and awesome scenery. Sand Flats is also popular for camping. Over 100,000 visitors enjoy this 9,000-acre recreation area annually. The Sand Flats Recreation Area is managed through a unique partnership between Grand County and the Bureau of Land Management. 

In 1995, this area was developed through the collaborative efforts of Americorps, the Bureau of Land Management, Grand County and the Moab community. SFRA's mission is to protect the natural features of the area from adverse recreational impacts while providing access to sustainable and enjoyable recreational opportunities.

Website

Potash Road

Potash Road

This Scenic Byway provides great views of the Colorado River, ancient rock art and dinosaur tracks. A late afternoon start is rewarding as the sunset on the reddish-orange sandstone cliffs along the route is especially beautiful on the return drive to Moab. 

This byway begins 4.1 miles (6.6 km) north of Moab, where Potash Road (U279) turns off of Highway 191. After 2.7 miles (4.3 km), Potash Road enters the deep gorge of the Colorado River. At the 4 mile (6.4 km) point, look for rock climbers on the cliffs along the section of Potash Road, locally referred to as Wall Street.

Moab Giants Dinosaur Museum and Prehistoric Aquarium

Moab Giants Dinosaur Museum and Prehistoric Aquarium

Not only is it set among some of the world's most breathtaking scenery in Moab, Utah, but it's a unique experience of the ages. Make your own tracks alongside the state-of-the-art, life-size dinosaurs in the land they called home. Moab Giants is the ultimate place to discover the past with cutting-edge technology that feels like the future. Visit the newest dinosaur museum in Utah!

112 West SR-313

Moab, UT 84532

435-355-0288

Website

Hells Revenge 4x4 Trail

Hells Revenge 4x4 Trail

Hells Revenge is an extremely popular trail in Moab and is considered a must-do for many. It's a wild rollercoaster ride over natural, petrified sand dunes, or "fins" as most people call them. If you take all the bypasses, it's not a very technical trail. However, it's not for the faint of heart. There are a lot of steep climbs and descents over the fins and some areas that you must drive very close to the edge of high cliffs, which can be truly terrifying. 

For those looking for some added fun, Hells Revenge offers a few optional obstacles — Hells Gate, The Hot Tubs, The Escalator and Tip Over Challenge. The Overlook also offers a great view of the Colorado River. This one should be on your bucket list.

Difficulty: 6-8 (Moderate-Difficult)

Length: 6.5 miles

Highest Elevation: 4775 feet

Duration: Approximately 4 hours

Night Skies

Night Skies

The public lands surrounding Moab have some of the darkest skies remaining in the contiguous 48 United States. As few as one in 10 Americans lives in the area, so an estimated 2,500 stars should be visible under normal conditions. In many cities, the night sky is completely obscured by the glow of urban settlement. At Arches National Park, the naked eye is sufficient to witness a wealth of stars. Under the right conditions, common binoculars may even reveal the rings of Saturn.

Moab Film Museum

Moab Film Museum

When you enter the Film Museum at Red Cliffs Ranch, be prepared to look back over years of black-and-white filmmaking featuring our most cherished actors and actresses, along with highlights from recent film projects that have taken advantage of the spectacular scenery surrounding Moab. 

In the late 1940s, the legendary John Ford discovered the rugged beauty of Moab's Canyonlands and filmed the first of many movies here. The first major motion pictures filmed in the Moab area were set on the Red Cliffs Ranch. Wagon Master, Rio Grande, Son of Cochise, Warlock, Comancheros, Cheyenne Autumn and many more used the ranch and its magnificent scenery for filming. John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Ben Johnson, Rock Hudson, Henry Fonda, Anthony Quinn, Lee Marvin, Richard Widmark, James Stewart and Richard Boone have all worked on location here at the Red Cliff's Ranch.

More recently, Geronimo, City Slickers, Thelma & Louise, along with other movies and over 100 commercials, have all used the Moab area as a location. The museum houses memorabilia from the early films to the present and is ever-changing. Movie and western ranching themes are present throughout the resort. The museum is self-guided and open to the public daily at no charge.

Red Cliffs Lodge

Milepost 14, Highway 128

Moab, UT 84532

866-812-2002

Website

Castle Creek Winery

Castle Creek Winery

Castle Creek Winery is located on the banks of the Colorado River, just 15 miles upstream from Moab. It is built on the site of a historic, and still working, ranch. Castle Creek Winery produces red and white wines from locally grown grapes. The sandy soils and long warm growing season around Moab are ideal for many of the best grape varieties. 

The winery processes the grape crop of a dozen local growers into 6,500 gallons of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Gewurztraminer. Visit the Castle Creek tasting room overlooking the Colorado River in the heart of Utah's spectacular Red Rock Country.

Tasting Room Hours:
7 Days/Week
12 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Website

John Wesley Powell River History Museum

John Wesley Powell River History Museum

Few Western trailblazers are more famous than the one-armed boatman, John Wesley Powell. Here in Green River, the John Wesley Powell River History Museum pays homage to Powell, and teaches you about his expeditions, the history of the West's exploration, and the geography of the area. The museum was first built in 1990, and continues to attract river rats and history buffs alike. A stop by the John Wesley Powell River History Museum not only gives you a better understanding about the history of the area and its rivers, but also, a deep appreciation for those who were the first to explore it. Call or check their website for operating hours.

1765 E. Main Street

Green River, UT 84525

435-564-3427

Website

Moab Food Truck Park

Moab Food Truck Park

Grab a bite to eat at the Moab Food Truck Park. The food truck park gathers over 10 food trucks in Moab to provide various cuisines you and your family will love. Whether you're craving Mexican, Chinese, Italian, or classic American food, you'll find something delicious. Stop by for a snack or a full meal.

The various food trucks offer tacos, sushi, smoothie bowls, gelato, pizza, boba, coffee, milkshakes, and many other tasty foods and drinks. You'll love having easy access to different foods while at the park. Eat at the picnic tables scattered throughout the center of the food trucks.

39 West 100 North

Moab, UT 84532

435-319-0215

Website