Moab is the basecamp for two national parks — Arches and Canyonlands — and in peak season both feel like it. Timed entry at Arches, full trailhead parking, booked campgrounds. Two Utah state parks nearby deliver the same red-rock drama with a fraction of the crowds, and one of them arguably owns the best single viewpoint in the region.
Dead Horse Point State Park — about 45 minutes from Moab
Dead Horse Point State Park perches 2,000 feet above a gooseneck bend of the Colorado River, right next door to Canyonlands’ Island in the Sky district — many visitors find the view rivals anything inside the national park. It’s also an International Dark Sky Park, with two campgrounds (Kayenta and Wingate) plus yurts, and a singletrack network for mountain bikers. If you only add one stop to a Moab itinerary, make it this one.
Goblin Valley State Park — about 1.5 hours from Moab
West toward Hanksville, Goblin Valley State Park is a valley floor crowded with thousands of mushroom-shaped hoodoos — the “goblins” — that you can wander between freely, no marked trails required. Kids treat it like a natural playground; photographers stay for sunset. It pairs naturally with the San Rafael Swell and the drive toward Capitol Reef.
Planning your trip
Dead Horse Point works as a sunrise-or-sunset add-on to any Moab day; Goblin Valley fits best as a half-day detour when heading west. Browse all Utah state parks for more, or compare the best state parks for camping nationwide. Details verified against Utah State Parks (June 2026) — confirm current fees, hours, and conditions on the official park pages before you go.
