Flight options??

Fillups

I know there are lots of options with flights and the departure city matters also, but to those that already done Moab O/R, or researched it, did you fly into SLC or pay the extra to Grand Junction? I’m from OH and have a couple options for direct to SLC, but the 4 hour drive (?) is bit buzz kill.

We also looked at NH, looks like you have to fly into Boston with 2 hour drive, but don’t think I can book before the October Fall session would be over there.
Thanks in advance!

Not sure it will help. But it is a neat drive from SLC to Moab.
Have fun!

Detour

We're planning to make an extended stay of our trip to Moab - to include a few nights at the Red Cliffs Resort. We can get considerably cheaper flights if we are flexible our travel dates. Since I have extra days to enjoy the surrounding area, thought on using Denver, Vegas or Salt Lake City as my destination airport?

If you want to do some national park sight-seeing during the drive I would fly into Vegas and fly out of Denver (or vice versa) if you can swing it. Driving to Moab you have Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, and Canyonlands National Parks. On the way to Denver you'll have... well... pretty much the best of what Colorado has to offer at your disposal (you'll have to pick and choose cause no way you can it all).

If flying into and out of two seperate airports is not an option, I would probably pick Denver over Vegas. The drive from Denver to Moab will be a lot more entertaining overall, and in my personal opinion is Denver International is one of the less-annoying airports in country.

If you are looking to just drive in and out in the most efficient way possible... Salt Lake City.

If you want to go full tourist mode... flying into Sunport (Albuquerque International) is another option. Telluride is of course a big tourist hot-spot, Durango has the Durango/Silverton Narrow-gauge Railroad (awesome), Pagosa Springs has some awesome hot springs available, and there is Los Alamos National Labs if you are into World War 2 history. And of course you will be close to all of the major indian reservations if you want to explore some of their culture/jewelry/etc. All of that is along the way between Moab and Albuquerque.

---

In terms of airlines...

• Denver - Southwest/United
• Albuquerque - Southwest
• Vegas - Southwest
• Salt Lake City - Delta

Fillups

I know there are lots of options with flights and the departure city matters also, but to those that already done Moab O/R, or researched it, did you fly into SLC or pay the extra to Grand Junction? I’m from OH and have a couple options for direct to SLC, but the 4 hour drive (?) is bit buzz kill.

We also looked at NH, looks like you have to fly into Boston with 2 hour drive, but don’t think I can book before the October Fall session would be over there.
Thanks in advance!

NH @ Gunstock was great. You can fly into Manchester and stay near Tilton about an hr+ away.

RagnarKon

If you want to do some national park sight-seeing during the drive I would fly into Vegas and fly out of Denver (or vice versa) if you can swing it. Driving to Moab you have Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, and Canyonlands National Parks. On the way to Denver you'll have... well... pretty much the best of what Colorado has to offer at your disposal (you'll have to pick and choose cause no way you can it all).

If flying into and out of two seperate airports is not an option, I would probably pick Denver over Vegas. The drive from Denver to Moab will be a lot more entertaining overall, and in my personal opinion is Denver International is one of the less-annoying airports in country.

If you are looking to just drive in and out in the most efficient way possible... Salt Lake City.

If you want to go full tourist mode... flying into Sunport (Albuquerque International) is another option. Telluride is of course a big tourist hot-spot, Durango has the Durango/Silverton Narrow-gauge Railroad (awesome), Pagosa Springs has some awesome hot springs available, and there is Los Alamos National Labs if you are into World War 2 history. And of course you will be close to all of the major indian reservations if you want to explore some of their culture/jewelry/etc. All of that is along the way between Moab and Albuquerque.

---

In terms of airlines...

• Denver - Southwest/United
• Albuquerque - Southwest
• Vegas - Southwest
• Salt Lake City - Delta

Appreciate the break down by option. We're definitely more into the national parks than "Vegas" - although I'm sure Vegas has its own sight seeing highlights (people watching alone....). We'd most likely fly out of Detroit - so Delta tends to be our goto airline option (with good pricing options). It's been years, but we've visited much of Arizona, Grand Canyon, Badlands, etc. so although all are worthy of visiting again, we were leaning towards Denver for something different. We've also been to Salt Lake City for work conferences many years ago as well - but didn't venture much out of the city proper. Perhaps Denver as our in/out for flight - but loop down to Albuquerque after Moab. Weather could be a factor, as we are looking at last weekend in February to sneak in before the prices start to jump for the ramp up of the busy season.

Detour

Appreciate the break down by option. We're definitely more into the national parks than "Vegas" - although I'm sure Vegas has its own sight seeing highlights (people watching alone....). We'd most likely fly out of Detroit - so Delta tends to be our goto airline option (with good pricing options). It's been years, but we've visited much of Arizona, Grand Canyon, Badlands, etc. so although all are worthy of visiting again, we were leaning towards Denver for something different. We've also been to Salt Lake City for work conferences many years ago as well - but didn't venture much out of the city proper. Perhaps Denver as our in/out for flight - but loop down to Albuquerque after Moab. Weather could be a factor, as we are looking at last weekend in February to sneak in before the prices start to jump for the ramp up of the busy season.

Oh I 100% agree regarding Vegas. The only reason to fly into Vegas is because it puts you closest to southern Utah and all of the major southern Utah national parks... most notably Zion, which is probably in my top 5 favorite national parks. I personally would spend as little time as possible in Vegas itself.

And yes, in February weather will be a factor. End of February is at the tail end of peak ski season for most of western Colorado. It also means places like Telluride and Durango are likely to have a fair amount of skiers, so if you are generally anti-crowd like I am... something to keep in mind.

RagnarKon

Oh I 100% agree regarding Vegas. The only reason to fly into Vegas is because it puts you closest to southern Utah and all of the major southern Utah national parks... most notably Zion, which is probably in my top 5 favorite national parks. I personally would spend as little time as possible in Vegas itself.

And yes, in February weather will be a factor. End of February is at the tail end of peak ski season for most of western Colorado. It also means places like Telluride and Durango are likely to have a fair amount of skiers, so if you are generally anti-crowd like I am... something to keep in mind.

Thanks!! I’m like you. I hate people! 😂

Don't overlook flying into Grand Junction (GJT) or even Canyonlands (CNY). Sometimes you can get a good deal, and having a layover in SLC or DEN may be easier than driving from there to Moab.