Situated along the Colorado River and surrounded by some of Utah’s most incredible national parks, Moab is a hub for activity and adventure. Its towering red-rock formations, uniquely striking arches, and vast trail network are only a few examples of the city’s allure—each site inviting you to explore just a little more of all that Moab has to offer.
As an elopement photographer with over a decade of experience, I’ve had the pleasure of photographing adventure elopements all around the world, and I can honestly say that Moab is still one of my favorite places to take couples! A Moab elopement can be as epic or as intimate as you want, so here is a breakdown of what you’ll need to know in order to plan one of your own!
Frequently asked questions about eloping in Moab:
What makes Moab a great place to elope?
Whenever couples tell me they want to elope somewhere that blends adventure with desert beauty, Moab is high on my list of recommendations!
Whether you’re exploring Arches National Park, hiking through the canyons, or floating down the Colorado River, you are guaranteed to find unparalleled views of the striking landscapes Utah is known for. Moab is a place that still manages to feel undiscovered, combining rugged beauty with easy access to create a setting that guarantees your elopement will feel special.
How do you get to Moab?
You can find Moab as a destination on common navigation apps! Located at 38°34’23.8″N 109°33’02.8″W, with US-191 running right through the center of town, Moab is just south of Arches National Park.
If you’re coming from out of state, the easiest place to fly into with the most options would be Salt Lake City, which is about a 4-hour drive from Moab. Grand Junction on the Colorado side is a solid second choice if you want to shave about 2 hours off your drive time, but flights might be harder to find or a little pricier depending on where you’re coming from.
When’s the best time to visit Moab?
The best time to visit Moab is either during the spring or fall. Since summer is considered the peak season for tourism, visiting during the shoulder seasons means you’re less likely to find large crowds, especially if you visit during a weekday morning rather than a weekend. Plus, temperatures tend to be milder, allowing you to more comfortably enjoy Moab and engage in all the activities it has to offer, from exploring the many nearby national parks to hiking any of the amazing trails that surround the town!
Moab Fall Elopement

If you want to elope somewhere that is super striking in its beauty, then Moab is the place for you! While its dramatic desert landscapes make it an epic place to visit year-round, the golden autumn light and its cooler temperatures bring Moab to life. During the fall months tourism slows down and the locals come out to explore all of their favorite spots around the area. Shorter days also mean you can potentially catch both sunrise and sunset on the rocks.
Best places to elope in Moab:
Home to some of the two of Utah’s five stunning national parks, beautiful state parks, and great sites outside of any park boundaries, Moab offers countless options when it comes to gorgeous elopement destinations. Every single one is unique and effortlessly blends the rugged beauty of Utah’s natural desert landscape with the timeless aura of the American Southwest.
Here are a few of my favorites:
Note: These breakdowns include Utah marriage license fees, but you can change those if you’re signing the paperwork in a different state!
- Arches National Park
- Cost: $265
- Utah Marriage License: $50
- Special Use Permit: $185
- Entrance Fee: $30
- Permit: To elope in Arches National Park, you’ll need a Special Use Permit. Just go to the Arches National Park Weddings & Commitment Ceremonies webpage and download the application form, then pay the $185 fee and send your payment confirmation along with your permit application to SEUG_CommercialServices@nps.gov.
- Cost: $265
- Canyonlands National Park
- Cost: $265
- Utah Marriage License: $50
- Special Use Permit: $185
- Entrance Fee: $30
- Permit: To elope in Canyonlands National Park, you’ll need a Special Use Permit. Just go to the Canyonlands National Park Weddings & Commitment Ceremonies webpage and download the application form, then pay the $185 fee and send your payment confirmation along with your permit application to SEUG_CommercialServices@nps.gov.
- Cost: $265
- Dead Horse Point State Park
- Cost: $230–$280 (cost varies depending on guest count and length of site rental)
- Utah Marriage License: $50
- Special Use Permit: $60
- Entrance Fee: $20
- Site Fee: $100/hour for 50 people or less or $150/hour for 51–100 people
- Permit: To elope at Dead Horse Point State Park, you’ll need a Special Use Permit. You can apply for one through the park’s official website here—just be sure to complete it 30 days before your ceremony and submit it to Elizabeth Capp at ecappa@utah.gov.
- Cost: $230–$280 (cost varies depending on guest count and length of site rental)
- Castle Valley
- Cost: $180
- Utah Marriage License: $50
- Special Recreation Permit: $130
- Permit: Since the valley is located on public Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, you’ll need to obtain a Special Recreation Permit. To do that, just head to the official BLM Special Recreation Permit webpage and follow the instructions listed!
- Cost: $180
Best wedding venues in Moab:
Whether you’re looking for something intimate and rustic or more all-inclusive and luxurious, you’ll have plenty of venues to choose from in Moab! A venue is especially helpful if you’re expecting more than 30 guests and can definitely make your life easier when it comes to organizing everything.
Here are some of the venue options in the Moab area:
- The Red Earth Venue
- Cost: Starting at $2,500 (varies depending on your date and selected site—you can submit an inquiry for an exact quote on the venue’s official website here!)
- Glass Venue (weekday): $4,000
- Glass Venue (weekend): $6,000
- Remote Desert Platform: $2,500
- Remote Desert Platform (as an add-on to the Glass Venue): $1,500
- Guest Count: 120 max
- Cost: Starting at $2,500 (varies depending on your date and selected site—you can submit an inquiry for an exact quote on the venue’s official website here!)
- Whispering Oaks Ranch
- Cost: $1,598–$3,500 (cost varies depending on your venue and guest count—you can contact the venue for an exact quote here!)
- The Cedar Bend Lodge Cabin: $1,598
- Covered Pavilion and Great Lawn: $3,500
- Guest Count: 10–200 (depends on selected venue)
- The Cedar Bend Lodge Cabin: 10–35
- Covered Pavilion and Great Lawn: 40–200
- Cost: $1,598–$3,500 (cost varies depending on your venue and guest count—you can contact the venue for an exact quote here!)
- Red Cliffs Lodge
- Cost: $7,000–$8,000 (depends on the date)
- April–October: $8,000
- November–March: $7,000
- Guest Count: 20–150
- Cost: $7,000–$8,000 (depends on the date)
- Under Canvas Moab
- Cost: Starting at $1,000 (cost varies depending on the guest count with a large wedding requiring a full-camp buyout—you can contact the venue for an exact quote here!)
- Small Wedding: $1,000
- Large Wedding: $9,000
- Guest Count: 250 max (varies depending on the guest count)
- Small Wedding : 30 max
- Large Wedding: 31–250
- Cost: Starting at $1,000 (cost varies depending on the guest count with a large wedding requiring a full-camp buyout—you can contact the venue for an exact quote here!)
This information is accurate as of the writing of this guide in 2026, but I suggest double checking with the venue for confirmation before you book anything. I’m happy to share more recommendations and work with you to find the perfect wedding venue when we work together!
How much does it cost to elope in Moab?
If you choose to have a small ceremony, then there are plenty of stunning spots in Moab that are completely free, which means the cost of eloping can be as low as $50—the cost of a Utah marriage license. Even if you were to have a larger guest count for your ceremony, the cost for these same locations would increase by only about a couple hundred dollars to account for permits or entrance fees, which still gives you a ton of affordable options in the area.
Beyond that, the total cost of your elopement will vary depending on your guest count, vendors, travel costs, etc. Most of the couples who hire me prioritize having an adventurous experience in an epic location, which is why they typically invest a lot of their budget in photography to ensure every moment of it is captured.
The beauty of Moab is that, no matter what your budget is, there are a wide range of venues and destinations to choose from, so you’re sure to find something that feels completely you.
If you want to know more, feel free to check out my full cost of eloping guide here!
Activities to do during Moab elopements:
Moab is surrounded by countless national parks, state parks, and trails, offering plenty of activities to enjoy during your visit.
Here are just some of my favorite ones in the Moab area:
- Riding in a hot air balloon (this is the only way to see an aerial view of Arches! I talk more about this in my story about Rachael & Emily below)
- Visiting Arches National Park
- Exploring Dead Horse Point State Park
- Taking a scenic drive down the La Sal Mountain Loop Road
- Visiting the waterfall on the Mary Jane Canyon Trail
- Night hiking in the canyons
- Biking on the Moab Canyon Pathway
- Floating the Colorado River
- Paddleboarding on Ken’s Lake
Including an activity in your elopement can make the entire experience even more exciting and memorable, and Moab has great options to make sure your wedding day feels completely out of the ordinary from your regular life. Whether you want to take advantage of the nearby river, admire Moab from the skies, or explore any one of the stunning national parks around the city, you will have no shortage of choices when it comes to deciding how to spend your time and make memories that you will never forget!
Are dogs allowed in Moab?
Yes, Moab is super dog-friendly with plenty of options for lodgings and restaurants when it comes to places you can bring your pup! As for the trails, the rules are a bit more specific: while most of the nearby national parks won’t allow dogs on their land, you can bring them to most of the BLM-managed parks and areas, as long as they’re on a leash. Always double check for specific trail info or campground rules before you head out.
Moab Elopement & Wedding Photos
Rachael & Emily’s Moab Fall Elopement Vow Renewal
Rachael & Emily are very dear friends of mine, and I’ve been adventuring with these two for well over a decade. Back in the day, Rachael & Emily would go out on what they called “Adventure Tuesdays” where they picked a fun brand new thing to go do on Rachael’s day off—and I got to tag along for quite a few of those experiences!
I photographed their original elopement in the Dolomites back in 2017, and around 5 years later, they were starting to look into doing a vow renewal in a new cool destination. Naturally, I flooded our group chat with tons of ideas.
I’d been wanting to take a couple up in a hot air balloon in the desert forever by that point, and Rachael & Emily were excited about the idea! They told me they’d always wanted to do something like it, but never felt like they had a “good enough” reason to go for it. But we all agreed this was exactly the occasion to do it.
The big advantage for doing a hot air balloon in Moab is that it’s actually the only legal way you can see Arches National Park from above. No drones or helicopters allowed. And the view was so worth it. The pilot was able to get the balloon up-close-and-personal with some of the most famous rocks in the park. Rachael & Emily were totally speechless.
Rachael & Emily’s 2-day timeline including 4X4 driving, a ceremony during peak alpenglow, some time playing music together, a sunset watching session, dancing in the moon alpenglow (super rare & exciting), and, of course, the hot air balloon tour. Because this was a vow renewal, their goal for their days was just spending time together soaking up the landscape and each other’s company.
I wrote a full blog post about their vow renewal here that you can check out!






















































Hey I’m Maddie Mae
Moab Elopement Photographer
I’ve been designing, planning, & photographing adventure elopements around the world for over a decade, so if you’re looking for someone with years of experience, then you’re in the right place! I can help you navigate the logistics of planning a destination elopement and make sure it’s as stress-free as possible so you have the wedding you always wanted.

Moab Elopement Packages
To check my availability, just contact me here for a free planning consultation and we can get started!
Always included:
8+ Hours of guided, fun photography coverage by Maddie Mae with relaxed sightseeing & exploring
The Adventure Instead Elopement Experience™
My travel costs are covered and included to anywhere in the U.S.A (including Alaska & Hawaii)
$9,800 for all of the above including 8-hours of photography
Full-day, multi-day, and custom packages available.
No added travel costs. No hidden fees of any kind.



























