An ink jet printer includes a movable carriage supporting a recording head, a cam member adjusting the height position of the carriage to adjust the distance between the paper and the recording head, a cap member that can abut the recording head, and an engagement member that can engage with the carriage in a case where the carriage moves from a printing area to a head opposing position. The cam member adjusts the height position of the carriage when the distance between the paper and the recording head is between a first distance in which the carriage does not engage with the engagement member and a second distance in which the carriage engages with the engagement member. The carriage is decelerated while moving, and the deceleration timing is earlier for the second distance than for the first distance.