65th Stop - Moab, UT

Blog Post #76 - Written August 10, 2026

Stay: November 4-5, 2026



On our way from Albuquerque, NM to Provo, UT for Gary's grandpa's funeral, we stopped in Moab, UT for a couple of days.  Before we even got to Moab we saw our first arch! So of course we stopped and climbed out to explore.





We stayed at the Aarchway Inn in Moab, which was surprisingly affordable (less than $100/night) in the off-season for a nice hotel with free hot breakfast and a pool! 

Our first/only full day there we drove over to Canyonlands National Park.  It is such a beautifully breathtaking park. We really enjoyed our hikes and explorations there, but next time we'll be going back with Gary's brothers and their 4-wheel drive off-roading vehicles! The park is an off-roader's paradise :)



We watched several 4x4 vehicles and motorcycles traverse these awesome switchbacks. Gary really wanted to follow after them, but not in our 2WD truck haha.


Soaking it all in

Fascinating little rock formation/design


We found these cool ancient storage structures built by Native Americans under the overhang 

Found some shade...nap time!

The only one small enough to squeeze through :)


Z and Gary ran off to climb up this mini-mountain while I took Q and D back to the car. They found even more remnants of ancient structures up top!







Gary just had to share this pic of the hole-in-the-ground urinal at their bathrooms haha


The next morning, we checked out of the hotel and booked it to Arches National Park early in the morning, to explore as much as possible before continuing our drive into Utah Valley. Even with our crunched timeline, Arches did not disappoint. And we saved a few hikes to do on a return trip down the road :)


Z holding up the delicate arch

D holding up everyone's spirits with her cuteness and adorableness ;)


Q: "Peekaboo!"


Disco dance party in the dunes!


After everyone else was tuckered out, Gary didn't want to regret not seeing the double arch, so he ran the whole way there and back. It was pretty legit in there.


The balanced egg.

We eventually dragged ourselves away from the amazing Arches and drove through the very pretty Spanish Fork Canyon into Utah Valley, eventually making it to Gary's brothers house.

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