Best time to visit Moab
Re-score for me — drag the dial — every chart on the page recolours live for your heat limit 27°C
Default 27 °C is the upper edge of the Holiday Climate Index "ideal comfort" band (Scott, Rutty, Amelung & Tang, 2016). Above this, most warm-tourism travellers report measurable discomfort.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
How is this scored? HCI / Steadman / CCI gate — full methodology and citations below.
Compare with another destination
Add as many as you like — stacked below the main strips above. Each row is just the recent-window score strip and (for beach destinations) sea-temperature strip.
Tours in Moab
30 top-rated tours via Viator. Booking links earn this site a commission at no cost to you. Map locations are approximate (centred on Moab).
- 1
Goblin Valley State Park Canyoneering Adventure - 2
Moab's Most Xtreme 3-Hour Experience on Hell's Revenge - 3
Canyonlands and Arches Combo National Park Airplane Tour - 4
YOU-DRIVE UTV Hell's Revenge 4x4 Off Roading Tour from Moab - 5
Zip Line Adventure in Moab - 6
Moab’s Original Hummer Adventure: Hell’s Revenge Trail Experience - 7
Moab’s Premier Sunset U-Drive UTV Hell’s Revenge Tour - 8
Exciting and Scenic Off-Road Guided Tour of Moab's Backcountry!!! - 9
Moab’s #1 Rated Guided U-Drive Hell’s Revenge Off-Road Tour - 10
Canyonlands National Park Backcountry Tour - 11
Arches National Park Backcountry 4X4 Tour - 12
Arches & Canyonlands Full Day 4X4 Combo - 13
Moab Hurrah Pass Scenic 4x4 Tour - 14
Canyonlands National Park Needles District by 4x4 - 15
Canyonlands National Park White Rim Trail by 4WD - 16
HIGHLY RATED U-DRIVE Moab Hell’s Revenge UTV Off-Road Adventure - 17
BEST! Hell's Revenge U-Drive 4X4 Tour in Moab +Dinosaur Tracks! - 18
HIGHLY RATED Arches National Park Sightseeing Tour From Moab Utah - 19
Top-Rated Moab You-Drive UTV Tour: Fins N Things & Hell’s Revenge - 20
Moab Afternoon Half Day Rafting Trip - Colorado River - 21
Canyonlands National Park Half-Day Tour from Moab - 22
Arches National Park 4x4 Adventure from Moab - 23
Moab Morning Half Day Rafting Trip - Colorado River - 24
You-Drive 4x4 UTV Adventure–Hell’s Revenge & Fins N’ Things, Moab - 25
Hell’s Revenge Private 4x4 Guided Jeep Experience in Moab - 26
The Moab Rope Swing - 27
Sunset Zipline Adventure at Raven Rim - 28
Full Day Arches Overland 4x4 with Delicate Arch Hike - 29
Utah Mighty 5 Adventure Bundle: 8 Self-Guided Audio Tours - 30
Arches National Park Full Day Tour
Last refreshed 2026-06-30.
Similar climatesArches National Park97% · Monument Valley95% · Sedona93%
Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to Moab (apparent temperature, rain hours, sunshine — matched within the same trip-profile). The ±N chip compares each match's typical score for the current month against Moab's. Based on the 2020-2024 climatology, not this year's actual weather.
Month-by-month
| Month | Temp °C | Feels °C | Rain days | Rain h | Rain h/day | Humidity | Wind km/h | Sun h | UV | Interest | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -4–5 | 1 | 5 | 53 | 10.6 | 54% | 12 | 188 | 2 | Quiet | 6 |
| Feb | -3–8 | 4 | 5 | 48 | 9.6 | 40% | 16 | 197 | 4 | Moderate | 6 |
| Mar | 2–14 | 9 | 9 | 84 | 9.3 | 34% | 20 | 227 | 6 | Peak | 7 |
| Apr | 7–21 | 16 | 2 | 25 | 12.5 | 18% | 21 | 267 | 7 | Peak | 8 |
| May | 13–27 | 22 | 2 | 13 | 6.5 | 15% | 22 | 303 | 9 | Peak | 8 |
| Jun | 19–33 | 29 | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 14% | 22 | 310 | 10 | Peak | 7 |
| Jul | 23–37 | 34 | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 17% | 19 | 316 | 11 | Moderate | 4 |
| Aug | 21–35 | 33 | 2 | 17 | 8.5 | 20% | 18 | 292 | 9 | Busy | 5 |
| Sep | 16–31 | 28 | 2 | 20 | 10.0 | 21% | 16 | 259 | 8 | Peak | 9 |
| Oct | 8–21 | 18 | 4 | 33 | 8.3 | 32% | 14 | 237 | 5 | Peak | 9 |
| Nov | 0–11 | 8 | 3 | 32 | 10.7 | 39% | 13 | 203 | 3 | Quiet | 7 |
| Dec | -3–6 | 2 | 5 | 47 | 9.4 | 52% | 11 | 179 | 2 | Quiet | 6 |
UV Index in Moab by Month
UV index in Moab peaks at 11 (very high) in July, dropping to 2 (low) in December. May, June, July, August reach very high or extreme levels — apply SPF 50+, wear a hat and protective clothing, and limit direct sun between 11:00 and 17:00.
Best months in detail
October
9/108–21°C (feels 18°C) · 4 rain days (33h) · 237 sun hours · 32% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 7 (high)
September
9/1016–31°C (feels 28°C) · 2 rain days (20h) · 259 sun hours · 21% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 8 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 9 (very high)
May
8/1013–27°C (feels 22°C) · 2 rain days (13h) · 303 sun hours · 15% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 9 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 10 (very high)
Every month
Show the other 9 months in detail
January
6/10-4–5°C (feels 1°C) · 5 rain days (53h) · 188 sun hours · 54% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 3 (moderate)
February
6/10-3–8°C (feels 4°C) · 5 rain days (48h) · 197 sun hours · 40% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 4 (moderate)
March
7/102–14°C (feels 9°C) · 9 rain days (84h) · 227 sun hours · 34% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 6 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 7 (high)
April
8/107–21°C (feels 16°C) · 2 rain days (25h) · 267 sun hours · 18% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 7 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 9 (very high)
June
7/1019–33°C (feels 29°C) · 1 rain days (8h) · 310 sun hours · 14% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 10 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 12 (extreme)
July
4/1023–37°C (feels 34°C) · 1 rain days (5h) · 316 sun hours · 17% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 11 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 12 (extreme)
August
5/1021–35°C (feels 33°C) · 2 rain days (17h) · 292 sun hours · 20% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 9 (very high)
November
7/100–11°C (feels 8°C) · 3 rain days (32h) · 203 sun hours · 39% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (moderate)
December
6/10-3–6°C (feels 2°C) · 5 rain days (47h) · 179 sun hours · 52% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low)
Arches dropped timed entry for 2026; the gate can still shut
On 18 February 2026 Arches announced it would not require advance timed-entry reservations this year. The pilot that governed 2022 to 2025 is gone: you may enter at any time during operating hours, and the ticket most travel pages still tell you to buy no longer exists. An entrance pass is still needed, $30 for a private vehicle or $55 for the annual pass that also covers Canyonlands, and reservations still apply to Devils Garden Campground and to both Fiery Furnace hikes. Canyonlands never had timed entry at all, and that confusion is worth clearing up.
What replaced the ticket is a queue. The park service warns that when parking lots fill, staff temporarily restrict entry, and those restrictions can last three to five hours; once it reopens the entrance line can take an hour, and waiting on the highway or beside the entrance sign is not permitted. Many trailhead lots fill by 7:30 am in summer. The park's own advice for March to October is to arrive before 8 am or after 3 pm.
That is a temperature instruction as much as a traffic one. Moab's visitor peak is March, when the average high is 15.5C and dawn sits near 2C, while July, the hottest month at 36.4C, draws barely half of March's interest. June is the sharpest case: 33.3C by day against 17.7C at night. With 254mm of rain a year and only three months averaging inside 18 to 27C, the hour matters more here than the month.
Sources: National Park Service - Arches lifts entry reservation requirement for 2026 , National Park Service - Arches traffic, entry restrictions and travel tips , National Park Service - Arches Fiery Furnace permits , National Park Service - Canyonlands operating hours and seasons
Do I need a timed-entry reservation for Arches?
Not in 2026. The park announced on 18 February 2026 that advance timed-entry reservations are not required, and its Plan Your Visit page repeats it. You still need an entrance pass, $30 per private vehicle for seven days, and reservations remain compulsory for Devils Garden Campground and for both Fiery Furnace hikes.
What is the best month to see Moab?
April, May, late September and October. April averages 20.4C by day and October 20.8C, both inside the range where a full day on slickrock is pleasant. March is the busiest month on our crowd index yet only reaches 15.5C, so it is cold and crowded at once; July hits 36.4C and interest drops to about half the March level.
What time of day should I drive into Arches?
Before 8 am or after 3 pm from March through October, which is the park service's own recommendation. In summer many trailhead car parks are full by 7:30 am, so an early arrival buys a space as well as a cooler hike. Late afternoon and evening work equally well: the park is open 24 hours and is an International Dark Sky Park.
What happens if the entrance is closed when I arrive?
Staff temporarily restrict entry once parking fills, and the park says these periods can last three to five hours. You may not queue on the highway or park beside the entrance sign to wait. When it reopens the line can take up to an hour. Dead Horse Point State Park, Canyonlands and Utahraptor State Park are the fallbacks.
How do I hike the Fiery Furnace?
Two ways, both booked ahead. A ranger-guided hike costs $16 per person and is reservable up to seven days out on Recreation.gov. A self-guided permit must be reserved online at least two days and at most seven days before, for groups of up to six, no children under five, valid sunrise to sunset on the stated date.
Does Canyonlands have the same entry rules?
No. Canyonlands has never run a timed-entry system and is open year-round, 24 hours a day, with the same $30 vehicle pass. Its complication is geography: the four districts are not linked by road and take two to six hours to drive between, so the park itself says most people find one district per trip is enough.
How hot does Moab get in July?
The July average high is 36.4C and the park service notes summer daytime figures often exceed 37C on the rock. Nights stay at 21.5C. Humidity sits near 18 per cent and sunshine runs to 425 hours in the month, so shade is the scarce resource rather than water alone. Crowd interest falls to 55 against March's 100.
How cold are the nights in spring?
Colder than the daytime figures suggest. March averages 2.2C overnight against a 15.5C high, and even June drops to 17.7C after a 33.3C afternoon, a 16C swing. January and December nights average about minus 5C. Anyone arriving before 8 am in spring is dressing for a different climate than the one on the forecast.
Can I camp inside the park?
At Devils Garden, the only campground inside Arches. Nights between 1 March and 31 October are reservable, and the park says the campground is usually full every night in that window. From November to February sites are first-come, first-served, paid through the Recreation.gov app's Scan and Pay function.
Is winter worth it in Moab?
For quiet, yes. December and January average 5.4C by day and our crowd index falls to 0 in December from 100 in March. The park stays open 24 hours a day, the visitor centre opens daily except 25 December, and there are no ranger programmes. Overnight lows near minus 5C make ice on shaded slickrock the real hazard.
Frequently asked questions about visiting Moab
When is the best time to visit Moab?
October is the highest-scoring month (9/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 8–21°C (4 rainy days). The top three months by score are October, September, May.
What is the worst time to visit Moab?
July is the lowest-scoring month (4/10, capped by extreme heat). Typical conditions: 23–37°C (1 rainy day).
Is Moab too hot in summer?
2 months (July, August) trip the heat deal-breaker in our scoring: apparent temperature crosses the comfort cap, so even with clear skies and low rain the score is held down. Plan around it if heat tolerance is low.
When are crowds lowest in Moab?
Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in December and peaks in March. Interest tracks both in-trip visitors and lead-time planners, so treat it as a "destination is on people's minds" signal rather than literal arrivals.
Which months in Moab have good weather but fewer tourists?
November (climate 7/10, crowd index 31) — shoulder months with above-average climate and below-median search-interest. Often the best value-for-weather trade.
What is the UV index in Moab by month?
UV peaks at 11 (very high) in July and is lowest in December at 2 (low). Monthly peak values: Jan 2, Feb 4, Mar 6, Apr 7, May 9, Jun 10, Jul 11, Aug 9, Sep 8, Oct 5, Nov 3, Dec 2. May, June, July, August reach very high or extreme levels — apply SPF 50+, wear a hat and protective clothing, and limit direct sun between 11:00 and 17:00.
What is the UV index in Moab in July?
July is the peak UV month in Moab, with a daily-peak UV index of 11 (very high). At this level, sunburn can occur in under 20 minutes on unprotected fair skin. Apply SPF 50+, wear protective clothing and a hat, and avoid direct midday sun (11:00–17:00).
How high can UV get in Moab on the sunniest days?
Most days look like the monthly average, but on the sunniest ~1 in 10 days UV climbs higher than the mean suggests. July is the worst case: typical days average UV 11 (very high), but the top 10% of days reach UV 12 (extreme) — and even higher. Months where the sunniest days routinely exceed the typical reading: January, March, April, May, June, July, September, October. Plan sun protection for the worst case, not the average.