How to Get to Moab: Travel and Transportation for Your Utah Wedding

Moab can be a little wild, but only in the best ways. From the weather, to the sites and outdoor activities, it has so much to offer. While getting to Moab can take some work, the experience is definitely worth it. What follows is a guide to our best Moab travel transportation recommendations for your Utah wedding.

rainbow appears over moab desert after rain storm

couple runs holding hands at moab elopement

couple walks holding hands at rainy desert wedding

How to Get to Moab: Your Moab Travel Guide

When traveling to a Utah wedding from out of state, there are several options for where to fly into Moab as well as how to arrive via bus or train.

How to Fly to Moab Utah

guests stand under cloudy sky at moab wedding

couple embraces under rainbow at moab wedding

Canyonlands Regional Airport (CNY) – The closest airport, about 18 miles north of Moab. It has daily flights from Phoenix, Denver and Salt Lake City (SLC). It is a smaller airport which means flights can be less frequent and more expensive but the location definitely wins for convenient Moab access. There are also fewer car rental options as they primarily offer a limited supply of Jeeps.
Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT) – About 1.5 hours from Moab located in Grand Junction, Colorado. It has more flight options that fly to most locations and is a small but very efficient airport.

Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) – A major hub about 3.5 hours from Moab that’s good for international and domestic flights. These flights are often the most affordable choice. The airport also has access to a good amount of rental cars if you’re up for a longer yet scenic drive into Moab.
Redtail Air – If you want to knock out both your travels and an epic tour of the region, then chartering a private flight over Moab is the best way to see it all. Redtail has options for both one-way and roundtrip flights out of destinations including Phoenix, Salt Lake City, and Grand Junction. Another Moab adventure option is their river rafting shuttle service that goes to all of the major river rafting access points at the Colorado and Green Rivers. Redtail is one of The Red Earth Venue’s transportation vendor partners.

couple poses with dogs on red rock at moab wedding

Travel to Moab By Bus or Train

Greyhound – Takes you directly to Main Street in Moab.
Amtrak – Stops in Green River, Utah (about 50 minutes from Moab). You’ll need a rental car or shuttle to get all the way to Moab.

guests get off shuttle at red earth venue wedding

The Best Ways to Get Around in Moab

couple holds hands in front of red earth venue moab

Having access to a car is highly recommended for the duration of your stay whether it’s a rental or you are able to drive in from a nearby state! If driving to Moab for a Utah wedding is possible, then there are several routes to choose from depending upon your starting point:

From Salt Lake City, UT – About 4 hours via I-15 S and US-6 E to US-191 S.
From Grand Junction, CO – About 1.5 hours via I-70 W and US-191 S.
From Denver, CO – About 5.5 hours via I-70 W and US-191 S.
From Las Vegas, NV – About 6.5 hours via I-15 N and I-70 E.

couple walks along path at red earth venue wedding

There are very limited rideshare (Uber and Lyft) and taxi service options within Moab making it an unreliable source of transportation. Upon your arrival, that leaves you with either a shuttle or choosing a Moab Utah car rental. This can be easily decided by the following few factors:

what Moab activities you want to do
where you want to go
how often you are changings locations
the extent of your stay in Moab

Renting a car is our first recommendation because it provides the flexibility and freedom to explore!

couple embraces at red earth moab elopement

Renting a Car for Your Utah Wedding Adventure

couple kisses at red rock moab elopement

Having a car enables you to explore on your own schedule and access more secluded adventure spots. Locations for outdoor Moab Utah activities like hiking, mountain biking, and rafting are generally spread out and require driving to remote areas. This includes the accompanying trailheads, scenic drives, and viewpoints.

The national parks of the area (Arches and Canyonlands) also do not have public transportation so a car is necessary in order to visit them. These are the types of cars recommended depending upon your chosen activity:

SUV or 4WD – If you plan on exploring off-road trails like Shafer Trail in Canyonlands or Gemini Bridges on BLM Land.
ATV or Moab Utah Jeep Rentals – Fun for off-roading, but not necessary unless you’re planning that kind of a dedicated adventure.
Regular Cars – Fine on most national park roads, the La Sal Mountain Loop scenic drive and driving around Moab downtown!

Situations Where Shuttles Work for a Utah Wedding Trip

wedding guest walk along moab desert path

Alternatively, there are a few instances when a car may not be necessary:

If you’re staying in downtown Moab, you can walk or bike to restaurants, shops, and some trailheads.
If you book guided tours, many include transportation from Moab.

couple exchanges vows at moab desert sunset wedding

wedding guests ride in car at desert moab wedding

Another great feature of Moab are the many shuttle companies in town for some trail access, mountain bike trail access and rafting trips. Moab is a small but robust Utah resort town that offers many places to stay and options for excursions.

While shuttle services are not required, The Red Earth Venue is located close enough to town that this is available for guests. The ability to have both your ceremony and reception at the same Moab wedding venue also eliminates the need for any additional transportation.

couple exchanges vows during moab desert ceremony

The venue is located on UT-313 at about 15 minutes outside of Moab. It is positioned less than 10 minutes away from Arches National Park and 20 minutes from Canyonlands National Park or Dead Horse Point State Park offering perfect sites for wedding portraits.

While there is parking for up to 50 cars on site, no overnight parking is available so you must plan accordingly. These are our top recommendations for shuttle companies in and around Moab:

guests mingle at Red Earth Venue Moab wedding

Moab Express – Has shuttles from both the Canyonlands and Grand Junction Regional Airports (also a REV vendor partner).
Salt Lake Express – Provides shuttle service between Salt Lake City and Moab.
Mountain bike companies can also offer shuttles: Roadrunner Shuttle (REV vendor partner), Whole Enchilada Shuttle Co. (REV vendor partner), and Paddle Moab.