A car is more or less essential in Moab. The town itself is walkable — N. Main Street has most of what you need within about a mile — but the national parks, state parks, and trailheads are scattered across a large area and poorly connected by public transport.
By car: Most visitors rent a car and drive to the parks. US-191 north takes you to Arches (5 miles) and continues to Island in the Sky in Canyonlands (32 miles). The Needles district of Canyonlands is south of Moab on US-191, then west on UT-211 (about 75 miles total). Dead Horse Point State Park is on SR-313, the same junction as Canyonlands Island in the Sky.
By bike: Cycling is increasingly practical for in-town transport and for reaching the trailhead for the Slickrock Trail (3 miles east of town on Sand Flats Road). Arches NP is technically cycleable from town but the 18-mile park road is narrow and busy in season. Bike rental shops on N. Main include Poison Spider Bicycles, Rim Tours, and Moab Cyclery.
By shuttle: An on-demand electric bus service (Moab Transit/USDOT) runs limited routes in town and to the Arches visitor centre entrance in peak season. Check current schedules — the service has expanded in recent years.
For backcountry roads in Canyonlands, Needles, and the La Sal Mountains, high-clearance 4WD is required. Several Moab outfitters offer 4WD vehicle rental and guided 4x4 tours.