Trips to Moab
We've been bringing guests to Moab by rail since the train launched in 2022, but our guides were leading tours through this desert long before the train ever arrived, over 20 years now. The town sits in red rock country along the Colorado River, right at the doorstep of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, and it never gets old watching first-time visitors see those cliffs up close. Our guides know this desert well: where to catch the light at its best, and which trail to skip if you're short on time. Arrive by rail and you'll get a preview of it all, red sandstone rising up outside your window long before the train pulls in. Whatever brings you to Moab, we're glad to send you here.
Getting To and From Moab
Moab is reachable four ways: aboard Canyon Spirit, by private transfer, by rental car, or by regional flight. The train is our first pick, red sandstone rising outside your window well before Moab comes into view. Transfers and rental cars both meet arrivals downtown and at the airport. Flying in works well if you’re short on time. Whichever way you choose, book early. Cars and flights here sell out months out.
For more information on Canyon Spirit arrivals and departures, visit: Canyon Spirit
Guests arriving in Moab on the Canyon Spirit train will receive a motorcoach transfer to their hotel if they have booked a package, or a transfer to a central location in town if they have booked their accommodation independently. Drop-off locations include Hoodoo Moab by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Hyatt Place Moab, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Downtown Moab, and the Canyon Spirit Moab Guest Center.
If arriving in Moab by air, travelers typically land at Canyonlands Field Airport (CNY) with daily flights from Denver International Airport (DEN) and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) operated by Contour Airlines.
Alternatively, guests may fly into Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT), located approximately 113 miles from Moab. In addition to Denver and Phoenix, this airport also offers regularly scheduled flights from Dallas and Las Vegas.
From either airport, visitors can rent a car or arrange a shuttle to reach downtown Moab. Moab Express provides reliable airport transfer services.
Alternatively, a taxi service is available from CNY, taking roughly 20 minutes with fares of approximately $110. Reservations can be made by contacting Moab Taxi at 1 435 210 4297.
Guests can arrange transportation from Salt Lake City with Moab Express for a comfortable, private experience. Alternatively, Salt Lake Express offers a daily scheduled Motorcoach service. Salt Lake Express departs once daily at 15:30 from either the airport or downtown (60 N Temple), with a fare of approximately $65 per person. The transfer takes approximately 5.5 hours and drops off at Moab Chevron.
Renting a car with Enterprise is recommended, as it has both a downtown Moab location and a Moab Canyonlands Airport location. Enterprise also serves as one of the designated drop-off points for Canyon Spirit transfers. Rental cars in this area typically sell out many months in advance, and have limited availability for one-way rentals between major cities like Salt Lake City, Denver, and Las Vegas.
It is recommended to download the Enterprise app and complete all required information before pickup. The downtown location is small, and completing the app in advance helps streamline the process for Canyon Spirit guests and reduces wait times.
Guests departing Moab on the Canyon Spirit train will receive a motorcoach transfer from their hotel if they have booked a package, or from a central location in town if they have booked their accommodation independently. Pick-up locations include Hoodoo Moab by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, and Hyatt Place Moab.
Guests can depart from Canyonlands Field Airport (CNY), noting that flights currently operate only to Denver International Airport (DEN) and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) with Contour Airlines. Flights generally run once daily.
Alternatively, guests may fly out of Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT), located approximately 113 miles from Moab. In addition to Denver and Phoenix, this airport also offers regularly scheduled flights to Dallas and Las Vegas.
To get to either airport, visitors can rent a car or arrange a shuttle from downtown Moab. Moab Express provides reliable airport transfer services.
Alternatively, a taxi service is available to CNY, taking roughly 20 minutes with fares of approximately $110. Reservations can be made by contacting Moab Taxi at 1 435 210 4297.
Guests can arrange transportation to Salt Lake City with Moab Express for a comfortable, private experience. Alternatively, Salt Lake Express offers a daily scheduled Motorcoach service. Salt Lake Express departs once daily at 10:40 from Moab Chevron, with a fare of approximately $65 per person. The transfer takes approximately 5.5 hours and drops off at the Salt Lake City Airport.
Renting a car with Enterprise is recommended, as it has both a downtown Moab location and a Moab Canyonlands Airport location. Enterprise also serves as one of the designated drop-off points for Canyon Spirit transfers. Rental cars in this area typically sell out many months in advance, and have limited availability for one-way rentals between major cities like Salt Lake City, Denver, and Las Vegas.
It is recommended to download the Enterprise app and complete all required information before pickup. The downtown location is small, and completing the app in advance helps streamline the process for Canyon Spirit guests and reduces wait times.
Where to Stay in Moab
Where to Eat in Moab
Moab's dining scene has never let us down, and there's a lot more range here than you'd expect from a small desert town. Quick bites, sit-down dinners, casual to upscale, we've found something to like at every turn. Here are a few spots our guests, and our own guides, keep coming back to.
This is where we go when we want something different after a day outdoors. We always order a big bowl of pho, and it’s never once disappointed. Gluten-free requests are handled without any fuss too.
Lunch | Daily | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Dinner | Daily | 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Our go-to for brunch. The chicken and waffles are worth ordering on their own, and a mimosa never hurts before a day in the parks. The space handles a big group without feeling rushed.
Where we send guests looking for a proper night out. The kitchen has decades of experience behind it, and it shows in every plate. Relaxed enough for a casual dinner, but it still feels like an occasion.
This restaurant has become a regular stop for us. The seafood is always fresh, and the margaritas are made from scratch, not a mix in sight. It’s a lively spot, so come ready for some noise and good energy.
The place we recommend when a group has different dietary needs. Between the gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options, everyone finds something, and the ingredients are as fresh as you’d hope for.
Downtown, bicycle-themed, and always busy at dinner, worth the wait. We’ve never had a bad burger here, the Mushroom Burger gets ordered often at our table. Grab a patio seat with a cold beer after a day on the trail, and don’t skip the soft serve.
Moab Sightseeing Tours
& Airport Transfers
Frequently Asked Questions
Before you book, here's what most Moab guests want to know: how to get here, what the parks are actually like, and how to spend your days once you've arrived.
We’ve ridden this route more times than we can count, and the shift in scenery still gets a reaction out of every car. You leave Denver in alpine forest and end the day surrounded by red sandstone canyon walls, all without leaving your seat. Onboard service stays comfortable the whole way, and the daylight schedule means you don’t miss a mile of it.
Canyon Spirit runs the route. You can book rail tickets on their own, but most of our guests go with a full package once they see what it covers, seating, hotels, and transfers all handled for them ahead of time.
Yes, it’s the backbone of every rail vacation package we run. We build the hotels and sightseeing around it, and a Travel Specialist stays on hand through the whole trip in case anything needs adjusting.
The arrival point sits just outside town, but you won’t need to plan for that distance yourself. Canyon Spirit handles the transfer directly, included with every rail fare, so you’re taken straight in without arranging a thing.
It’s the elevation swings and the tunnels that catch people off guard, the route climbs and drops through some genuinely dramatic terrain. Watching the landscape turn from forest to deep red rock over the course of a single day is one of our favorite parts of the whole trip.
We usually recommend two to four days. Two covers Arches and Canyonlands at a comfortable pace, four gives you room to add a guided excursion or two and still have downtime in town.
Yes, always. Every rail fare on every Canyon Spirit route includes the transfer to and from the train, handled directly by Canyon Spirit itself. No exceptions, no separate booking needed.
It’s one of the best we work with. Arches and Canyonlands are both close enough that you can mix a guided day with a day on your own, and we help our guests plan it either way.
Not if you’d rather not drive. We work with local operators who run excursions straight to the parks, so plenty of our guests skip the rental entirely.
Moab is approximately 235 miles (380 km) from Salt Lake City by road, with a drive time of 3.5 to 4 hours. Direct flights take approximately 60 minutes in the air, though total travel time is longer once airport procedures are included. Motorcoach services take approximately 5.5 hours, depending on stops and schedule.
Moab Vacation Packages
