Moab, Utah: Melting RVs, Locked Doors & Desert Heat Lessons

By now, Moab, Utah feels like an old friend. We’ve been here three or four times, and every visit somehow tops the last. The red rock landscapes, the incredible canyons, the sense of adventure—it all keeps us coming back. But this year, Moab went with a twist: we arrived in the middle of summer, and it was over 100 degrees.

Let me tell you… We have officially created a new rule:

👉 If it's over 90 degrees, we're out.

Even with our trusty swamp cooler working overtime, it was still too hot to exist comfortably. The RV felt like a rotisserie oven, and at one point, the side of our RV literally started to melt. I wish I were kidding. We had a brand-new problem to fix—and yet another story for the RV repair log.

The Great Lockout of Moab, Utah

As if the heat wasn't enough, Moab decided to test my patience in new and creative ways. One morning, Patrick had to drive back to Grand Junction for a doctor's appointment, leaving me and the dogs behind.

No big deal—until I took Piper and Keva out for their morning walk and came back to find the RV door locked. The one day Patrick decided to lock it, of course, was the one day we were apart.

The 100-degree day was looming, but thankfully it was still early morning—around 85 degrees—so I had a short window before things got miserable. Unfortunately, my cell phone was inside the RV, so I had no way to call a locksmith. I started knocking on doors around the campground until finally the front-desk manager took pity on me and helped me call for help.

After an hour in the desert heat, two annoyed dogs, and one very sweaty human later, we were finally back inside. The RV lock with a number pad immediately went on the Christmas list as a top priority because nothing says "holiday cheer" like never being locked out of your house again.

Canyonlands, Arches & Dead Horse State Park

Of course, it wasn't all chaos—Moab is still one of the most stunning places on Earth. We revisited Canyonlands National Park and did a few hikes despite the heat. There's something magical about standing on the edge of those canyons, staring into landscapes that look like they belong on another planet.

We also drove out to Dead Horse State Park to see the famous potash ponds—bright blue against the red desert, almost surreal. It's one of those places where photos never quite capture the scale or color.

And yes, we did go to Arches National Park (again). But let me be clear—I did not do the hike to Delicate Arch this time. Been there, done that, still recovering. It's a killer hike in cooler weather, and I wasn't about to climb it in triple digits.

Poolside People-Watching

With the heat being what it was, we spent a lot of time in the RV park pool, which turned out to be surprisingly entertaining. Moab draws travelers from all over the world, and apparently, it's a top stop for Europeans doing the Vegas-to-Moab RV loop.

Every few days, there'd be a new rotation of accents and families soaking in the water, all trying to figure out how to survive the desert heat. It became our unofficial pastime—cooling off and swapping travel stories with people from every corner of the globe.

The Moab Magic (Even in the Heat)

Despite the heat, the melted RV, and the lockout fiasco, Moab still has our hearts. There's just something about this place—the rugged beauty, the endless trails, the sense that you're standing on sacred, ancient ground.

We'll be back again (hopefully when the temperature stays below 90). Still, Moab will always be a reminder that the best adventures usually come with a few curveballs—and a locksmith on speed dial.