Suggestions for Moab Off-Roadeo

[AzureBronco23]

Signed up for Bronco Off-Roadeo at end of June in Moab. Trying to figure out flights, where to stay, things to do and looking for any suggestions from people who have been or live in area. Looking up flights it looks like it wants us to fly into Canyonlands Field. Salt lake would be about half the price but also 4 hour drive so curious best way to get there. Red cliffs lodge looks nice but at $400 a night is out of our budget. Appreciate any advice you have!

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[Jakob1972]

You can stay anywhere in Moab, the Off-Roadeo Site is about 35 minutes from town. I would just drive there and spend a few days to play in your Bronco, trust me you will wish you did. we have been there twice in 6 months and planning our next trip already. Eat at Deweys, and the Little French Bakery next to Deweys, If you do take your Bronco you need to get the MOAB trail Book and go get lost. what ever time you have there will not be enough to see everything, start planning your next trip.

 

[Dan-O]

I most definitely agree with Jakob1972…. You should really have your Bronco there!

 

[crenca]

@AzureBronco23 , assuming your in Omaha you should drive there in your Bronco (13 hours apparantly) spending $flight$ on gas/hotels and avoiding renting a car (Rubicon or equivalent). I suppose if Off-Roadeo is more of a bonus to an otherwise family trip to Arches/Canyonlands/etc. on the pavement then ok, but if your going to primarily off-road then don't fly. Besides, as your figuring out you can not fly directly...

edit: I could point you to a handful of reasonably priced restaurants, hotels, etc. but Moab is about the trails so get that lined up first

 

[contented]

@Jakob1972 is right on the mark. We’re making our third trip in three years in August. For us it’s 2,100 miles each way. You’ll be sorry as heck if you don’t have your Bronco there. There’s also a place generally across the street from Dewey’s that makes super large killer cinnamon rolls daily. We always stay in AirBnB’s. Not a lot less than hotels, but much more comfortable.

 

[AZ_Craig]

Going to also vote for @AzureBronco23 to drive out. The run from Omaha to Moab would be do-able in a long day, or stop somewhere off of I70 up in Colorado to break it up at least one way. Will be a pretty scenic drive once you're west of Denver also (and nice if you've never done it).

Build at least 3 or 4 days into a trip to go out and trail run and you'll have a blast and it'd be worth the 1800 mile round trip in my opinion.

Phoenix to Moab is about a 1000 mile round trip for me and I'm happy to do it as long as I can get 3 days up there (which is exactly my plan for this coming Memorial Day weekend).

Red Cliffs Lodge isn't worth the dough anymore in my opinion (they've really jacked up prices as popularity has increased the last 10 years). I've stayed there and Sorel River Ranch and both are overpriced and not convenient to town as a whole (and generally in the wrong direction of stuff you'll want to do).

 

[Go_UL_Cards]

I haven't purchased the Moab trail book yet - on my list of things to buy. Is it a safe bet to say there are trails that are challenging but can be handled by my Non-SAS Outer Banks? Currently have 32" tires but looking for a set of 35". Not planning any lifts or suspension changes as Moab is a LONG way from Florida which is mostly flat. I'll be in Colorado Springs in April 26 for my daughter's wedding. I'm thinking seriously of extending the trip to spend some time in Moab with my Bronco and doing the 1/2 day Off-Rodeo trip as well. I have the full day in Tennessee scheduled for 8/16/25. Maybe spending money at the Smoky Mountain Stampede on 8/15.
Comments welcome.

 

[GoHawks63]

We are going on June 20th.

Thought about driving there, but from Southeast Michigan to Moab is 1,600 miles. That's at best 4 days of travel there and back, 24 hours according to Google maps. Did that once when I was young, drove 22 of 24 hours straight through from Chicago to Clearwater, FL. I love to drive, but that's a bit too much for me now in that short of a window.

We are planning to fly to SLC the Tuesday before, rent a car and then do the 4-hour drive to Moab. I regularly do 4-hour drives visiting family in Chicago or heading up to Northern Michigan. The scenery should be more enjoyable too.

The day after the event we will head back and spend the night in SLC before flying back to the metro Detroit area on Sunday.

My significant other has always wanted to stay at the Red Cliffs lodge, so we are going to splurge for that.

 

[AZ_Craig]

I haven't purchased the Moab trail book yet - on my list of things to buy. Is it a safe bet to say there are trails that are challenging but can be handled by my Non-SAS Outer Banks? Currently have 32" tires but looking for a set of 35". Not planning any lifts or suspension changes as Moab is a LONG way from Florida which is mostly flat. I'll be in Colorado Springs in April 26 for my daughter's wedding. I'm thinking seriously of extending the trip to spend some time in Moab with my Bronco and doing the 1/2 day Off-Rodeo trip as well. I have the full day in Tennessee scheduled for 8/16/25. Maybe spending money at the Smoky Mountain Stampede on 8/15.
Comments welcome.

You'll be fine. To put it in perspective, about a quarter of the trails in Charle Wells' book are rated "easy" and you could probably move up to some trails that were moderate with minimal drama. Some of the runs would make a long day for a beginner and would be radically different land scape than what you're used to in the Southeast (I'm thinking something like Shafer Switchbacks to White Rim to Lathrop Canyon and back out via Potash Road to Moab).

 

[Go_UL_Cards]

thanks - i'll put a little more concrete into my plans - and get the book.

 

[TrailDust]

We left at 5am sharp, only stopped 3 times and were very efficient, and were in Moab by 2:30 in the afternoon. 84th & I-80 in Omaha is exactly 3 hours from my driveway. You could be there by 6:00 and be in your own rig. We did take an extra day on the return trip and stayed in Vail, a bit more relaxing.

We stayed at the Moab Valley Inn, older hotel but nice and quiet, easy access and central to Moab. Definitely not 5 star but you're not going there to sit in the hotel. Bonus it was right across the street from a brewery if you like beer.

If I had gone and not taken the Bronco the trip would have been okay, but not worth the effort as I wouldn't have gotten to go play after learning so much about driving it in the terrain out there. Bonus was scaring the crap out of the wife on Hells Revenge!

No matter what you choose I'm sure you'll have fun!

 

[RobWTX]

We went to Moab last year, and drove to where the Off Roadeo was held just to see it, not too far of a drive from this place called Gravity Haus. It was really nice, and best part, cheap! Worth looking at it.

 

[Scott R Nelson]

Omaha to Moab is close to 900 miles, a VERY long day of driving. Driving there from Salt Lake is at least a nice scenic drive once you head up the canyon from Spanish Fork.

When I did the Off-Roadeo in Moab, I stayed two nights at the Red Cliffs Lodge and one more night in Moab. If I did it again I would stay all nights in Moab. The Red Cliffs Lodge is nice, but not twice the price nice. You just have to get up a little earlier to drive out there from downtown Moab.

 

[AZ_Craig]

Omaha to Moab is close to 900 miles, a VERY long day of driving. Driving there from Salt Lake is at least a nice scenic drive once you head up the canyon from Spanish Fork.

Meh, child's play. My personal record is 1069 miles non-stop doing Tulsa, OK back to Mesa, AZ in a 4runner. That was a LONG day, but also drove through two time zones to help for a 26 hour day .

It all depends on your threshold for distance driving in one shot .

 

[BigFootie]

I would drive as well. A very easy drive in my opinion. We typically drive from Madison to Silverthorne CO (1000 mi) in a single shot, then an easy drive the next morning to Moab. Now, I like to drive so there is that. I was driving 1300 miles in a day every 6 - 8 weeks for several years going back and forth from Madison to San Antonio. 900 miles isn’t bad compared to that.

I would stay in town. Easy to walk to restaurants and easy drive to many trails. Lots to do in the area so take some time to enjoy.

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