Simple question, simple answer. If you have ONE DAY in Moab, climb Ancient Art tower in the fishers. Sleep at the lazy lizard hostel. If you have spare time after AA, I'd recommend checking out Canyonlands or arches.

I will be passing through the area and get to spend only one day and two nights in early July and am thinking it will be a little hot to climb,

The folks recommending AA perhaps haven't been there in July. Will you have a partner or do you have to find someone who's also crazy enough to climb in Moab in July? Not saying it can't be done, but also don't be surprised if the temps are over 100F (which will feel like 115F in the sun). If you really want to climb, temperatures may force you to one pitch routes on Wall Street in the late afternoon shade.

Assuming you won't want to climb, you could...
* hike as much of the trail around the Fishers as heat allows.
* if you get a super early pre-dawn start, you could probably hike to Delicate Arch (in Arches NP and on our license plates) and make it back to the car without dying

* driving tours:
- the La Sal Loop road
- Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands, with short hikes to viewpoints
- tour Arches NP
- up to Hurrah Pass (doable in standard 2WD up to the pass, if Kane Creek is low enough. Don't go beyond the pass without at least high clearance if not 4x4)
- tour Indian Creek and the Needles District of Canyonlands

* take a partial day raft trip on the Colorado

All good suggestions...but...my climbing of AA was done in August - and also several daytime hikes to Delicate Arch.

The folks recommending AA perhaps haven't been there in July. Will you have a partner or do you have to find someone who's also crazy enough to climb in Moab in July? Not saying it can't be done, but also don't be surprised if the temps are over 100F (which will feel like 115F in the sun). If you really want to climb, temperatures may force you to one pitch routes on Wall Street in the late afternoon shade.

If it's way too hot, there's always mill creek canyon, usually a fair amount colder up there.

But not exactly a casual area.
The OP didn't mention what difficulty he was looking for and his profile has a blank skills section. However his ascent log shows 5.7 - 10d. Mill Creek might be a bit much.

In my original post I was asking for non-climbing ideas. How best to get to know the area in order that when I return with more time and cooler weather I already know my way around and can get right down to business.

Wall street gets blasted by the sun, though. Wouldn't kane creek be better, at least you have morning shade in a fair few places.

Simple question, simple answer. If you have ONE DAY in Moab, climb Ancient Art tower in the fishers. Sleep at the lazy lizard hostel. If you have spare time after AA, I'd recommend checking out Canyonlands or arches.

Two words: River Tower

I find it too miserable to do much around Moab in the summer except river activies. Do a commercial one day westwater trip for a really good hot water activity.

NOOOOOOOOO

I figured AA would be a good option since it's only about 3-4 hours car to car. I forgot to mention it should be done early morning.
If it's way too hot, there's always mill creek canyon, usually a fair amount colder up there.

ANcient art is 1 hour car to car.

How do you figure? That's pretty divergent from what Supertopo says: a 20 min approach, average 4 - 6 hrs to climb, 1 hr to descend.
Even if you cut the approach time in half, just descending 350' will eat up most of the remaining part of that hour.