Quick Facts:
- Topic: Moab economic impact of off-roading, measured for the Off-Road Business Association (ORBA).
- Released: Oct. 22, 2026, with figures for 2025.
- Total impact: $178.7 million in the local economy.
- Direct spending: $140.9 million.
- Jobs supported: 1,134, including 915 direct jobs.
- Taxes: $13.5 million in state and local revenue.
- Researcher: Tourism Economics, part of Oxford Economics.
- Best for: Off-roaders and club members who follow route decisions on public land.
5 min read
In This Article
Overview
The Moab economic impact study from the Off-Road Business Association (ORBA) puts a dollar value on off-roading in Moab. ORBA, a subsidiary of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), released the study on Oct. 22, 2026, according to the SEMA press release. It reports off-roading generated $178.7 million in total economic impact in Moab during 2025.
Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, conducted the analysis. Specifically, visitors and suppliers together spent $140.9 million directly. The study ties 1,134 jobs to the same spending. As a result, you now have local data to quote in a public comment. ORBA calls it the first economic impact study of off-roading in Moab.
However, read the report as industry research, not a neutral audit. ORBA exists to protect motorized recreation access, and the group says so plainly. This article covers what the numbers show and where the money goes. It also covers how the study sits next to closed routes near Moab, and what to do with it.
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What the Moab Economic Impact Study Measured
Tourism Economics built the model from 2025 data for Grand County, Utah. It used an IMPLAN input-output model, a standard tool for local economies, to measure three kinds of impact. Direct impact counts what visitors and off-road suppliers, such as shops, guides and outfitters, spend. Indirect impact follows their purchases from other local businesses, while induced impact follows the wages those workers spend.
The report bases visitor volume on federal data. Specifically, it cites the Moab Field Office reporting more than 300,000 off-roading visits. Those figures come from the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation. It also names 2025 events. These include the Easter Jeep Safari, Cruise Moab, Ultra 4, the Moab REDROK Rally and Jeep Jamboree Moab.
Direct spending totals $140.9 million, split between $130.0 million from visitors and $10.9 million from suppliers. Indirect and induced effects add $37.7 million, which brings the total to $178.7 million. Also, the report notes rounding in its totals. Labor income reaches $36.5 million. The study counts 1,134 part-time and full-time jobs, equal to 21.8% of all local employment, and the activity produces $13.5 million in state and local taxes.
Moab Economic Impact by Spending Category
Visitors do not spend most of their money on trail gear. The study splits the $140.9 million of direct spending into five categories, and transportation leads by a wide margin.
| Category | Direct spending | What the study includes |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation | $54.5 million | Gasoline and local transportation costs. |
| Stores and retail | $40.0 million | Off-road and automotive retailers, groceries, general retail. |
| Food and beverage | $20.5 million | Restaurant meals and convenience stores. |
| Lodging | $13.7 million | Hotels, motels and short-term rentals. |
| Recreation | $12.2 million | Tours, entertainment venues, arts and culture. |
Transportation takes about 39% of the direct total, and gas stations alone account for $46.4 million of business sales. Jobs rank differently. Food and beverage adds nearly 280 jobs, and retail adds 211. Off-roading also supports nearly 61% of all transportation jobs in Grand County, a category covering Jeep rentals and mechanics.
Trail Access and the BLM Review
The study arrives during an ongoing dispute over trail access. In September 2023, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) decided to close 317 miles of Moab routes. The routes sit in the Labyrinth Rims/Gemini Bridges Travel Management Area, according to the BLM. In September 2025, the BLM opened a reassessment of whether some of those routes should reopen.
As of Oct. 28, 2026, the BLM’s ePlanning page for the plan lists no amended decision. The BLM says the 2023 route designations stay in effect until it issues one. Check the BLM Moab Field Office for current route status before every trip. See our guide to the best off-road trails in Utah for open routes.
ORBA states its goal in the release. The group says quantifying the economic contribution of off-road recreation in Moab “reinforces the importance of maintaining access to trails, public lands, and recreation opportunities.” Similar disputes are underway elsewhere. For example, we covered the Bears Ears motorized access changes, and the Forest Service is revising its travel management rule nationwide.
What This Means for You
If you belong to a club or write public comments, you now hold a local, sourced data set. Pair it with route-specific details. The BLM cited damage to natural and cultural resources and user conflicts in 2023. Still, an economic study speaks to none of those.
Keep three limits in mind. First, ORBA commissioned the work and advocates for off-road access. Second, the model estimates impact and does not measure trail condition. Third, the figures cover Moab only, although ORBA calls this its first regional study and points to similar studies in other regions. For comparison, read how the New Mexico OHV survey asks riders what they spend.
You also have practical moves. Comment when a travel management plan opens. Next, join an access group you trust, stay on designated routes and spend locally. Because transportation is the biggest category, fuel is the part of this study you notice most on the road.
Next to fuel, tire care is the other routine cost of a rough-trail trip. Airing down before rough sections and airing up before pavement are standard steps. The ARB ARB505 deflator kit, the VIAIR 400P portable air compressor and an AstroAI digital tire pressure gauge cover both steps. Per the listing, the VIAIR 400P is rated for tires up to 35 inches. First, check your tire size.
Air down and air up gear for rough trails
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Final Thoughts
The ORBA study does one job well. It replaces a loose claim about off-roading’s worth with sourced numbers: 1,134 jobs and $178.7 million. The full report lets you check each Moab economic impact figure.
I have owned five Jeeps over the years, including two Grand Cherokee Overlands and a Gladiator. Because I love the brand, I want the trails those rigs were built for to stay open. Still, a number from an advocacy group is a starting point, not the end of the debate.
If you plan a Moab trip, check route status first, spend locally and pack recovery gear. Then read the full report yourself, because you will argue access better when you know exactly what it says.
FAQ
How much does off-roading contribute to Moab’s economy?
The study puts the total at $178.7 million in 2025. Within it, $140.9 million was direct spending by visitors and off-road suppliers.
Who conducted the Moab economic impact study?
Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, performed the study for ORBA. It used an IMPLAN input-output model for Grand County.
How many jobs does off-roading support in Moab?
The study counts 1,134 part-time and full-time jobs, including 915 direct jobs. Together they equal 21.8% of all Grand County jobs.
What is the Off-Road Business Association?
ORBA is a wholly owned subsidiary of SEMA. It is a national advocacy organization focused on protecting and expanding motorized recreation access.
Are the closed Moab trails reopening?
Not yet. The BLM decided in 2023 to close 317 miles of routes and opened a reassessment in September 2025. Its ePlanning page lists no amended decision as of Oct. 28, 2026.