The 2 Best Dinner Tours in Moab
Moab, Utah, is famous for its dramatic landscapes, rugged outdoor adventures, and striking canyon vistas. But what about winding down with a memorable dinner experience after a day of exploring? The area offers some fantastic options that combine scenic views, local storytelling, and great food. These tours are perfect for those looking to enjoy Moab’s natural beauty from a different perspective—by boat, under the stars, with a delicious meal in hand.
In this guide, we’ll look at two top-rated dinner cruises. The first combines a cowboy-style dinner with a captivating sound and light show on the Colorado River. The second offers a more relaxed sunset boat tour with an optional BBQ dinner. Both provide a unique way to enjoy Moab’s stunning canyon scenery, but each has its own flavor and appeal.
Quick Overview
We’ve selected the best dinner tours in Moab based on reviews, uniqueness, and value. The list features a Colorado River Dinner Cruise with Music and Light Show that promises an immersive storytelling experience, and a Sunset Boat Tour with Optional Dinner offering a more casual, scenic sunset cruise. For more details on these experiences, check out Moab: Colorado River Dinner Cruise with Music and Light Show and Moab: Colorado River Sunset Boat Tour with Optional Dinner.
1. Moab: Colorado River Dinner Cruise with Music and Light Show
This tour offers a cowboy-style dinner combined with a slow boat ride on a calm part of the Colorado River. Starting at 1861 N Hwy 191, the three-hour experience is designed as a relaxing yet engaging way to end your day. The highlight is a sound and light show projected onto the canyon wall, which narrates the story of the canyon’s creation through lights, shadows, and music.
The boat cruise lasts about two hours and is complemented by a hearty Dutch cowboy dinner. During the ride, guides share stories about Moab’s culture and history, providing context to the stunning scenery around you. Reviewers consistently praise the friendly hosts, delicious food, and the breathtaking light show. One wrote, “The scenery was exquisite and the light show was very beautiful and educational.”
What sets this tour apart is the combination of local storytelling, culture, and visual spectacle. It’s particularly suited for travelers who want an immersive cultural experience with a relaxed pace and impressive visuals.
Bottom Line: This tour offers a unique mix of storytelling, scenic beauty, and good food, making it a top choice for those wanting a memorable evening that combines natural beauty with cultural storytelling.
2. Moab: Colorado River Sunset Boat Tour with Optional Dinner
For around $129, this sunset cruise provides a more casual but equally stunning way to experience the Colorado River. The tour lasts about 1.5 hours, starting at 1861 N Hwy 191, and includes a series of stops for photos of iconic rock formations like Little Arch and Jug Handle Arch. It’s designed to maximize scenic views during the golden hour when canyon walls glow with rich colors.
Led by guides like Brandon, known for their informative and lively commentary, this tour offers insight into the geology and history of the area. Post-cruise, you can enjoy an optional BBQ dinner by the riverside, adding a delicious conclusion to your day. Many reviews praise Brandon’s personality and knowledge, saying the trip was “amazing” and “a blast.”
The tour offers a balanced experience of sightseeing, photography, and relaxation. The multiple short stops for photos and the opportunity to dine afterward make it ideal for travelers who want a flexible, scenic experience without the longer commitment of a dinner cruise.
Bottom Line: If you prefer a shorter, scenic sunset cruise with a chance to enjoy a casual BBQ afterward, this tour is a smart pick. It’s especially good for travelers who enjoy photography and learning about the local geology.
How to Choose
When deciding between these two options, consider your interest in storytelling versus scenery, your budget, and how much time you want to spend in the evening. The Moab: Colorado River Dinner Cruise with Music and Light Show is ideal for those wanting an interactive, cultural experience with a hearty dinner and a visual show. It’s perfect for a memorable final night in Moab.
On the other hand, the Sunset Boat Tour with Optional Dinner offers a more relaxed, shorter experience with a focus on scenic beauty and photography. It’s best suited for travelers who prefer a casual, scenic outing and might want to combine it with a sunset meal.
Both tours fill up quickly, especially in peak season, so booking early is advised. Consider your physical comfort level—both tours involve boat rides, but the sunset cruise is shorter and more flexible.
Final Thoughts
Moab’s dinner cruises deliver more than just a meal—they offer a way to connect with the landscape, whether through storytelling and a light show or via stunning sunset vistas. The Moab: Colorado River Dinner Cruise with Music and Light Show stands out for its cultural and visual experience, perfect for those wanting a memorable storytelling night. The Sunset Boat Tour with Optional Dinner provides a more laid-back, scenic experience, ideal for photography lovers or travelers short on time.
For most travelers, these tours are a great way to relax after a day of outdoor adventures. If you’re craving an immersive cultural experience, the dinner cruise is hard to beat. But if you prefer a shorter, scenic experience with a delicious meal afterward, the sunset tour hits the spot. Either way, booking in advance guarantees you’ll secure your spot for a memorable evening in Moab.