Top Things to Do on a Moab Family Vacation With Kids

If you’re looking for fun and adventure while on a family vacation, look no further! With world-renowned hiking and biking trails, stunning red rock formations, and plenty of activities for kids, Moab is a great destination.

Your Guide to a Moab Family Vacation

Here’s a list of some excellent Moab family activities as well as hotel and dining options to help you build your itinerary for family fun and comfort. A great option for many families is to choose a guided tour so that you can leave the planning to a local! Keep reading for guided and do it yourself options!

Top Moab Family Activities

1. Go Hiking in Arches National Park

One of the main attractions in Moab is the beauty of Arches National Park. Take your loved ones on a hiking trip to Delicate Arch, one of the largest freestanding arches in the Arches National Park. It is rated as moderate-hard with some steep and rocky sections, but only about 3 miles round trip. Other famous Arches hiking trails worth looking into include Double Arch, Fiery Furnace, and Landscape Arch. You can also just take a scenic drive through Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and see the arches from the comfort of your own vehicle. You will experience a host of exciting features within this park, such as the Petroglyphs and the Wolfe Ranch Cabin.

2. Discover Dinosaurs at Moab Giants

You and your family can also visit Moab Giants. This is an interactive museum that features a 5D Prehistoric Aquarium, dig-out sites, a dino playground, and a dinosaur trail with 100 life-size dinosaurs. Take your loved ones through this historical journey of dinosaurs by watching a 3-D movie within the museum. This is an exciting, educational activity for younger children during Moab family vacations.

3. Hit Slick Rock Trail on a Mountain Bike

Moab is world-famous for the Slickrock Bike Trail.  One of the great things to do in Moab is to experience the excellent mountain biking trails. Moab offers trails for any level of mountain biker from beginners to seasoned pros looking for the ultimate challenge. Beginners can take a short drive from downtown Moab to the Klonzo Trail System with short loops of varying lengths. At Dead Horse Point State Park, there is the family-friendly intrepid trail system. Children can tackle shorter distances while mountain biking, whereas adults can opt for a more challenging trail within the great pyramid.

4. Swim at Moab Recreational and Aquatic Center

The new recreational and aquatic center in Moab features a spectacular outdoor pool for children and adults alike. These outdoor pools are open between May and September, containing everything that can excite your children. For example, you can take your children to the smaller pools in the recreational center as you relax on a pool chair enjoying the fresh air.

5. Go River Rafting Down the Colorado River

Another exciting adventure is rafting in Moab. Experience Fisher Towers rafting, a section of the Colorado River with exciting class 2 and 3 rapids. Guided half-day or full-day river rafting trips are offered on this section by local guide companies. Kids as young as 5-years-old and 40 pounds can enjoy this scenic rafting trip.

6. Hunt for Ancient Petroglyphs

Choose from hundreds of sites with indigenous rock art left by the native people who once populated the area dating back as early as 5500 BC. You can visit some of the best petroglyphs in Moab within a short walk from your car. Or, hire a Moab Canyoneering guide and see some of the less visited petroglyphs during a family-friendly canyoneering adventure.

7. Rock Climb Moab’s Legendary Red Rocks

Moab rock climbing is world class! Families with children 8 years of age and over can hire a Moab rock climbing guide and learn to rock climb outdoors. The great thing about climbing in Moab is that there are routes for all levels of experience and ability. Guides at Red River Adventures can tailor trips for you and your families experience level and comfort.

Kid-Friendly Lodging and Restaurants in Moab

At this point we’ve provided a detailed list of family things to do in Moab. Now we will cover great family hotels and kid-friendly dining options in Moab. The only problem may be narrowing down all the choices to pick just one hotel and the number of restaurants you’ll actually have time to try while you’re here. Here are a few popular options to start your search:

Moab Family-Friendly Hotels

• Moab Redcliff Condos: Pool, free Wi-Fi, free private parking
• Hoodoo Moab: Oversize parking, picnic area with tables
• Aarchway Inn: Pool, hot tub, fitness course, free Wi-Fi, free shuttle services
• Big Horn Lodge: Heated pool, free Wi-Fi, coffee maker
• Expedition Lodge: Heated pool, free Wi-Fi, playroom
• Hyatt Place Moab: Pool, restaurant, free private parking, fitness center, playground, on-site bar

Favorite Moab Restaurants for Kids

• Zax Restaurant: 96 S Main St
  Review: “Great food kid-friendly as well”
• Jailhouse Cafe: 101 N Main St
  “Kids build their own breakfast”
• Moab Diner: 189 S Main St
  Review: “Easy, quick family-friendly stop”
• Trailhead Public House & Eatery: 11 E 100 N #2436
  “Tasty burgers and salads in a cozy location!”
• Pasta Jay’s: 4 N Main St
  Review: “Scrumptious Italian fare”

Red River Adventures offers the adventure you’re looking for that will take your Moab family vacation from exciting to nothing short of epic! In addition to Moab rafting, we also offer Moab canyoneering and Moab rock climbing for all ages. With Red River Adventures, there’s something for the little adventurer in every family. The next time your family is looking for a Moab family activity unlike anything you’ve experienced before, Red River Adventures is here to help you build new memories and have a blast while doing it!

The River People

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We strive to ensure that time spent with us is time that you will always look back on fondly. We want to leave you with a memories that bring a smile to your face no matter where you are, no matter what you are doing, and no matter how much time has passed. In addition to a deep reservoir of personal experience, our rafting guides are licensed by the state of Utah, have Wilderness First Responder and/or First Aid/CPR certifications, and are insured. Many guides also have swiftwater rescue training. Our climbing and canyoneering guides are AMGA-certified for the terrain in which they operate. Our skiing guides are certified for the terrain, and some are world-renowned for their experience. All of our guides are intimately acquainted with not only the river, rock and snow, but also with the incredible surroundings of the areas we guide.