How to Elope in Moab in 2026/2027: The Ultimate Guide

I first fell in love with Moab back in 1995, when I came out for a spring break camping and hiking adventure, and immediately fell in love with the landscape. Red rock canyons that go on forever, wide open desert skies, and ancient canyon formations… it really is one of the most amazing places on Earth!

Not long after that first trip, I moved nearby to Grand Junction, Colorado, and worked for the US Forest Service. That chapter of my life gave me a deep respect for the land and a pretty solid understanding of how to navigate it, too. 

Since then, I’ve spent a ton of time exploring this area; backpacking through the desert, mountain biking the slickrock, and even skydiving over it last year (which was just as wild as it sounds). It’s a place I keep coming back to, not just because it’s beautiful, but because it feels like home in a different kind of way. 

So when I help you elope in Moab, I am not just picking pretty spots on the map. I’m helping you experience this place in a real, grounded way, so your day feels like an adventure, not a production. 

In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about eloping in Moab, from the best time of year, travel tips, elopement locations, and more! 

Table of Contents

• Best Time to Elope in Moab
• How to Get to Moab
• Moab Elopement Locations I Love
• Where to Stay in Moab
• Fun Things to Do Around Your Moab Elopement
• Getting Your Marriage License
• Moab Elopement Permits & Logistics
• What to Pack
• Leave No Trace
• Moab Elopement Packages
• Moab Elopement FAQs

Best Time to Elope in Moab

Time of Year

Moab is best for spring, fall, and even winter elopements. The shoulder seasons bring warm days, cooler mornings, fewer crowds, and gorgeous desert light. Summers in the desert can get very hot! 

Spring is one of the more popular seasons to elope in Moab, because the weather is warm but not too hot, and wildflowers start to bloom. Keep in mind that spring can be windy, and trails get busier by late April and May. Choosing a weekday will give you more privacy.

Fall is a close second for the best time to elope. Temperatures are cooling, and the summer crowds have thinned. 

Summer is gorgeous, but daytime temperatures often reach 100°F or more. If you’re planning a summer elopement, we’ll work around the heat. Sunrise ceremonies are best for cooler temperatures and great light. Summer also brings more crowds, so having someone who knows the hidden spots can make a big difference.

Winter is seriously underrated for Moab elopements. You get far fewer crowds, and the desert gets moodier. It will be rather cool, but nothing you can’t manage with layers! Plus, you may even get to see the red rocks dusted with snow, which looks absolutely breathtaking.

Time of Day

Sunrise and sunset are always magical in Moab. The golden light makes the red canyon walls look like a painting. Sunrise is usually best for avoiding crowds. If you stay out after dark, the stargazing here is some of the best in the country, especially on full moon nights.

Time of Week

Always choose a weekday if you can, as weekends tend to be busier. A midweek date will give you a much more relaxed and private experience. However, weekdays are likely to be busy during peak season as well, so we just have to make the best of it! There are plenty of less popular spots and trails where you can still steal private moments. 

How to Get to Moab

The closest major airport is Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), about a 3.5 to 4-hour drive from Moab. It has great flight connections from most major cities, so this is usually the easiest option. Another good option is Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT) in Colorado, which is closer at about 1.5 hours away. It has fewer flight options, but it would still work out rather easily. Lastly, you can fly directly into Moab at Canyonlands Regional Airport (CNY), although flights are limited and you’ll likely be connecting through a larger airport.

From any of these airports, I recommend renting a car. Having your own vehicle is really essential in Moab to get to all the incredible spots, and honestly, the drive through the canyon country is part of the experience!

Moab Elopement Locations I Love

Moab itself is a small, walkable town with Main Street running right through the center. You’ll find restaurants, breweries, gear shops, and outfitters all within easy reach. Most elopement locations are 15-45 minutes from town, so you will definitely need a car. If you’re adding a Jeep adventure to your day (highly, highly recommended!), local outfitters like Twisted Jeeps can take you to spots that are otherwise completely inaccessible, which is freaking awesome.

Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands National Park is huge and feels like you’ve landed on Mars. The sweeping canyon views go on forever, and there are plenty of beautiful overlooks and trails throughout the park that offer privacy. 

Marlboro Point is one of my favorite elopement spots in Canyonlands with incredible views that stretch for miles across layered red rock formations. It’s accessible via an off-road drive (hello, Jeep adventure!), so it’s far less crowded than some of the more popular overlooks. The light here at golden hour is absolutely unreal, and the stars at night? Don’t even get me started. This is where Laura and Hugo said their vows, and I think about that day all the time.

Dead Horse Point State Park

Dead Horse Point is an iconic overlook that gives you a jaw-dropping view of the Colorado River snaking through a massive canyon 2,000 feet below. It is one of the most photographed landscapes in Utah for a reason! It’s more accessible than some of the remote spots, but visiting early morning on weekdays will give you some privacy.

Arches National Park

There is genuinely nothing else on earth like the sandstone arches of Arches National Park. There are so many incredible arches and formations throughout the park that make beautiful backdrops for your elopement ceremony and portraits!

Corona Arch

Corona Arch is a hidden gem that I love for couples who want something a little off the beaten path. The trail is a moderate 3-mile round-trip hike through gorgeous desert terrain, and the payoff is a massive, dramatic arch that most tourists don’t bother making the trek to. Corona Arch is a good alternative to Arches National Park, with fewer crowds and also dog-friendly! 

Check out this Moab elopement at Corona Arch for inspiration!

Looking Glass Arch

Looking Glass Arch might be one of the most underrated elopement spots near Moab. It is located off Highway 101 on BLM land, and it is different than the other rock formations around. It’s round, smooth, and almost window-like (hence the name), and the light that filters through it at different times of the day is absolutely stunning to photograph.

You can check out this elopement at Looking Glass Arch for inspiration!

BLM Lands & Secret Moab Elopement Locations

One of my absolute favorite things about eloping in Moab is just how much incredible BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land surrounds the region and how few people know about it! While the national parks get most of the attention, some of the most breathtaking, intimate, and downright magical elopement locations I’ve ever worked in are tucked away on BLM land, completely off the beaten path and nowhere near a tourist map. We’re talking hidden canyon overlooks, secret arches, and wide open desert flats where you can see for miles and miles.

Finding these hidden gems is honestly one of my favorite parts of the whole planning process. When we work together, I take the vision and vibe you share with me and use my years of exploring this landscape to match you with locations that feel made specifically for you. Some of my favorite spots I’ll never publish on the internet, they’re just for my couples.

Where to Stay in Moab

Unique & Memorable Stays

If you want your accommodations to be part of the adventure (and honestly, why wouldn’t you?!), Moab has some extraordinary options. Cave dwellings and cliffside Airbnbs built right into the red rock are absolutely a thing here! Glamping tents with canvas walls and desert views, houseboat rentals on Lake Powell not far away, and even Conestoga wagon stays are available in the area. Moab loves a creative lodging experience!

Boutique Hotels & Lodges

Hoodoo Moab, a Curio Collection by Hilton, is a beautiful option right in town with a pool, spa, and gorgeous desert design aesthetic. The Moab Springs Ranch offers riverside cabins and a more relaxed, nature-immersed feel. For something with serious personality, check out Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa, located along the Colorado River about 17 miles outside of town.

Vacation Rentals

Airbnb and VRBO have an incredible selection in and around Moab! There are sleek modern desert homes, rustic cabins, and unique cliff-side residences. If you’re bringing a few guests or want extra space to get ready and relax, a vacation rental is often the most comfortable and flexible option. And if you’re bringing your dog (yes, please!), look for pet-friendly rentals — there are plenty of options!

Camping

For the truly adventurous souls, camping in and around Moab is an unforgettable experience. Waking up to that desert silence and those canyon views with your coffee is something else entirely. Canyonlands and Arches both have campgrounds, and there are tons of dispersed camping options on BLM land in the area. If camping sounds like your vibe, I love building a whole elopement experience around it — stargazing, campfire, waking up to the desert at sunrise. A dream from start to finish!

Fun Things to Do Around Your Moab Elopement

To make the most out of your big day, I really recommend doing something fun and meaningful together to celebrate! These are some ideas of things to do for your day or honeymoon in Moab:

• Go jeeping through the canyons. Local outfitters offer guided Jeep tours through terrain that you genuinely cannot access any other way. It’s thrilling, it’s beautiful, and it adds the most incredible sense of adventure to your elopement day. Highly, HIGHLY recommend.
• Hike to a hidden arch or canyon overlook. There are hikes for every fitness level around Moab!
• River trip on the Colorado River.
• Go horseback riding.
• Mountain biking the slickrock trails.
• Enjoy stargazing. Moab sits in a dark sky region, and on a clear night, the stars are absolutely beautiful!
• Try skydiving over the desert. I may be slightly biased here since I did this last year, but jumping out of a plane over the Moab desert is one of the most extraordinary things I’ve ever done. If you’re thrill seekers, this is the ultimate adventure add-on!

Getting Your Marriage License

You can apply for your Utah marriage license online. There’s no waiting period required, so you can use it immediately after it is issued, which is great for destination couples. The license fee is about $50. To get your marriage license, you’ll need to bring a valid ID. You’ll need to have an officiant and two witnesses present during the ceremony (but if you’re not bringing guests, friendly hikers are always happy to help!).

Your license is valid for 32 days after issuance, so plan accordingly if you’re applying before you travel. 

One of the many beautiful things about eloping is that you and your partner can customize your ceremony to be whatever you want! While some couples choose to get a marriage license before their elopement day, many don’t! It’s totally fine to get married without a marriage license, say your vows, and then worry about the legalities later if you so choose! 

Moab Elopement Permits & Logistics

National Park Elopements

If you want to hold your ceremony inside Arches National Park or Canyonlands National Park, you will need a Special Use Permit from the National Park Service. These permits have an application fee (currently $185 for Arches and Canyonlands), and they cover a specific location and time window for your ceremony. Applications are submitted through the park’s permit system, and availability can be limited during peak season, so applying early is key. The permit covers you, your officiant, and your photographer — guests also need to pay the park entrance fee ($35 per vehicle currently). I help all my couples navigate this process from start to finish, so you won’t have to figure it out alone!

State Park & BLM Land

Dead Horse Point State Park has its own permit process for ceremonies, and fees and requirements are managed through Utah State Parks. Locations on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, like Corona Arch and many of the more remote canyon overlooks, generally have much more flexible rules for small, intimate elopements, and in many cases, no formal permit is required for just the two of you. 

I know the logistics side of elopement planning can feel overwhelming, which is why I love helping my couples handle it. Book me, tell me your vision, and I’ll handle the behind-the-scenes things, so all you have to do is show up and enjoy your day!

What to Pack

While planning your elopement, make sure to list everything you’ll need to pack for your adventure! Here’s a list of elopement packing essentials to get you started: 

• Important travel documents such as IDs and Passports
• Marriage License
• Permits
• Water Bottle & Water
• Snacks
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Bug Spray
• Extra Socks
• Boots/Shoes With Good Tread
• Wedding Attire
• Vow Books
• Rings
• Ring Box
• Wedding Attire & Accessories
• Perfume/Cologne
• Makeup & Hair Supplies
• Garment Bags
• Celebratory Drinks 
• Portable Speaker
• Adventure Gear
• Backpack(s)
• Rain Jacket
• Jacket 
• Warm Layers 
• Hand Warmers
• Gloves/Mittens
• Headlamps
• Umbrellas
• Blanket

Leave No Trace

Leave No Trace is a wonderful organization that aims to protect the outdoors by raising awareness of sustainable practices. It is especially close to my heart both as a former US Forest Service employee and as someone who has loved this landscape for nearly thirty years.

When on your epic adventure elopement in Moab, be sure to respect the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace so that the beauty of this gorgeous place can stay wild and pristine for generations to come:

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare

2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

3. Dispose of Waste Properly

4. Leave What You Find

5. Minimize Campfire Impacts

6. Respect Wildlife

7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Book Your Moab Elopement Photographer

Vendors: 

Florist: Tangled Sage 

HAMU: Wild Brides Backcountry 

Skydiving: Skydive Moab

Horses: Moab Horses & Hauer Ranch 

Beer: Moab Brewery 

Jeep Rentals: Twisted Jeeps

Getting Ready AirBnB: Redrock Caves by Primal Resorts  

Moab Elopement FAQs

Do I need a permit to elope in Moab?

It depends on where you want to hold your ceremony! For example, locations within Arches and Canyonlands National Parks require Special Use Permits from the National Park Service. While many BLM land locations are more flexible for small, intimate elopements and may not require a formal permit. I research the specific requirements for every location I work with and help my couples get everything in order well ahead of their date.

What’s the best time of year to elope in Moab?

I especially love Moab for spring, fall, and even winter elopements. The shoulder seasons bring warm days, cooler mornings, fewer crowds, and that gorgeous desert light. Summers in the desert can get very hot! 

How much does a Moab elopement cost?

Eloping in Moab can be as affordable or as luxe as you’d like. At minimum, you’re looking at a marriage license (~$50-70), park entrance and permit fees (varies by location), travel, and lodging. Add in photography, florals, a Jeep adventure, special lodging, and other meaningful details, and most couples spend somewhere between $5,000–$15,000 for a full, beautifully crafted day. The beauty of eloping is that YOU decide what matters most and build around that.

Is Moab good for elopements if we don’t want to hike a lot?

Yes! This is one of the things I love most about Moab. You can access some absolutely jaw-dropping views without a grueling hike. Many of the most stunning canyon overlooks are either roadside or just short walks from parking areas. And with a Jeep tour, you can reach remote locations that feel completely wild without having to hike to them at all. I will always match location suggestions to YOUR comfort level. No 15-mile hikes required, I promise!

Can we bring our dog to our Moab elopement?

I LOVE that you asked this! Dogs are welcome at many outdoor locations around Moab. Inside national parks, dogs are restricted to developed areas and paved surfaces and aren’t allowed on most trails or in the backcountry. If having your dog be a big part of your day is important to you, we’ll choose locations where your pup can join you!

Check out Laura & Hugo’s Moab elopement with their doggo here!