Arches National Park Travel Guide
Arches National Park Travel Tips
This section deep dives into the essential ingredients for a successful visit to Arches National Park.
Where is Arches National Park?
Arches National Park is located off State Route 191 just outside the city of Moab in Southern Utah, the gateway town to Arches and Canyonlands NP. Capitol Reef National Park is 140 miles west on scenic Highway 24, followed by Bryce Canyon (260 miles) and Zion National Park (310 miles).
How to Get to Arches National Park?
The quickest way to get to Arches National Park is by following Interstate 70 until its junction with Highway 191. After that, it’s another 28 miles to Arches and another five miles to Moab. Depending on the traffic and the number of trucks, this last section can sometimes be slow going.
However, the most impressive way to get to Arches NP is via scenic Highway 24, which slices through Capitol Reef National Park. Slightly further, the road from Bryce Canyon to Arches takes you through a portion of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
When driving to Arches from the south, State Route 191 is pretty much the only available option. If you have extra time, take a scenic detour before crossing the mountains near Monticello. In Bluff, head west on Highway 163, then turn north on State Route 261 and reconnect with SR191 via State Route 95. This 82-mile detour offers “classic” Southern Utah scenery, including the “Valley of the Gods,” without the crowds.
When is the Best Time to Visit Arches National Park?
Arches National Park is open throughout the year, but the best time to visit Arches is during spring and early fall. Here’s what to expect in each season at Arches.
Winter: it’s very cold in Southern Utah, even during the daytime. The short days mean you’ll likely need two days to properly explore the park in good weather, but frequent snow can alter your plans.
Spring: this is a great time to visit Arches, with pleasant weather and little chance of trail or road closures. Longer days in late spring mean more can be seen at Arches on a single day.
Summer: it’s very hot and dry, not to mention very crowded at Arches. Late summer thunderstorms can cause flash flooding and damage to trails.
Fall: the days are still long in early fall, but the summer heat is less frequent. By late fall, it is possible to experience brief but extremely cold weather around Arches and even snow.
If possible, avoid visiting Arches NP during weekends in peak months.
How Long to Spend in Arches National Park?
Spending one day in Arches NP is adequate for exploring the park’s main highlights, including a few short hikes to top sites. But, of course, this depends on the weather and the amount of daylight.
However, a two-day visit to Arches NP is more optimal. It provides the opportunity to do one “proper” hike while also adding a buffer in case of bad weather or heavy congestion inside the park. You can also shorten this second day by using the morning for sightseeing and the afternoon for continuing to your next destination.
Where to Stay Near Arches National Park?
Inside the park: there are no lodges inside Arches NP, but there is one campground at Devils Garden. You can reserve campsites between March and October, but you’ll need to act fast as demand usually far outweighs supply.
Outside the park: Moab is the most convenient option for visitors to Arches NP. This small city is primarily centered around the tourism industry, so it’s well geared to handle the masses. Even though Moab offers a wide range of accommodations, hotel prices are quite high during peak months. I stayed in three hotels in Moab during my visit.
I stayed at the Scenic View Inn & Suites for the first two nights. The hotel is located four miles south of Moab and can be a little hard to find at night due to anti-light pollution laws prohibiting the use of neon signs outside Moab. Rooms are modern, feature excellent amenities, and some even have pretty views of the La Sal Mountains.
I switched to the Comfort Suites in “downtown” Moab for the next two nights. This was another great find, though on the pricey side. The rooms are huge, and there are many dining options within walking distance or a short drive.
I spent the last night seeing what some of the older motels are like. I stayed at the Adventure Inn, which was an adequate experience for the price I paid. Such motels show their age. The walls are thin, and room features are a little outdated, but if you’re looking for a clean bed without breaking the bank, this can be a suitable option.
Additional camping options: if the Devils Garden campground is full, look for other options in BLM campgrounds along State Route 128. For the most part, this scenic highway follows the contours of the Colorado River. See this website for in-depth information about camping options in and around Moab.
Entering Arches NP: Reservations, Permits & Fees
Arches National Park is open 24 hours throughout the year (fee required). Entry is via State Route 191 and is limited to a set number of cars allowed inside the park at any given time. Therefore, it is not uncommon to see a queue of cars waiting to enter even at 7:30 am.
With over 1.5 million annual visitors and the controlled number of cars in the park, the queue to enter Arches NP was becoming unbearable. Therefore, park officials implemented timed entry reservations, so advanced reservations for Arches National Park are required during peak months.
(1) If you plan to visit multiple national parks, pre-purchase the America the Beautiful Pass or the Southeast Utah Parks Pass. (2) A special permit must be pre-purchased to visit Fiery Furnace.
Getting Around Arches National Park
If advanced reservations are still in place during your visit to Arches, park congestion might slightly ease, but it’s more about preventing the long queues at the entry gate. At the time of writing this guide, it’s possible to drive inside Arches NP with your car. This might change in the future, with Arches following Zion’s move to switch to a shuttle system. Parking is very limited inside the park, especially in popular sites such as Delicate Arch.
Arches National Park’s small size and rising popularity require careful planning to optimize your visit. Here are a few tips for how to plan your day.
- If the permit system is still in place, secure your park entry.
- Get an early start to avoid wasting time at the entry gate or finding parking at popular spots.
- Arches is a photographer’s paradise. If you’re an early riser, get an earlier start and watch the sunrise.
- Use the morning for long hikes or hikes in popular spots like Delicate Arch. Such places will get congested as the day progresses, and parking will be an issue.
- If possible, drive first to the furthest points in the park and work your way back. This way, you’ll drive against the incoming traffic.
- The park’s scenic drives offer countless roadside stops. Visit the key spots first to save time.
- If possible, stick around for sunset. Delicate Arch is the most popular place to watch the sunset at Arches National Park, but there are additional worthy candidates.
- Keep in mind the park’s three main anchors: Delicate Arch, the Windows Section, and Devils Garden.
Hiking in Arches National Park
Most hikes at Arches NP are short and involve a brief walk from the parking area to the trail’s highlight. However, during the busy months of the year, the popular trails, such as Delicate Arch, are very crowded. Check this travel guide covering some of the best hikes in Arches National Park.
Here are a few hiking tips:
- Buy a copy of “Hiking Canyonlands and Arches National Parks”. This guide contains detailed descriptions of over 60 hikes in the region.
- Try doing longer or more “crowd-prone” trails early in the day.
- That said, also take into account optimal lighting. For example, Delicate Arch is better in the afternoon.
- Check trail conditions on the park’s website or the visitor center before arrival. Some trails might be closed for maintenance or search and rescue missions.
- If you want to get off the beaten track, see hiking options in the Klondike Bluffs area.
- Download trail maps to your smartphone so you’ll be able to navigate even if offline.
- Bring more water than you need, especially in the summer months. Drinking water is available at the visitor center and Devils Garden.
- Wear proper hiking shoes, especially for the longer hikes. Shoes with a good grip are essential as you often hike on the hard sandstone.
- Check the weather forecast and pack accordingly. If there’s a chance of rain, exercise caution and pack accordingly.
- Protect yourself from the sun.
- Do not hike on the arches!
Dining & Shopping
At the time of writing this Arches National Park travel guide, there are no shops, cafes, or restaurants inside the park. Bring everything with you.
Mobile Reception & WiFi in Arches National Park
Prepare to go offline during your visit to Arches NP. As soon as you clear the section of road that rises steeply from the visitor center, mobile reception and data are highly unreliable.
Download an offline Google Map of Arches NP and mark the points of interest you wish to visit before heading out. That way, you’ll still be able to navigate from point to point even without reception. I also highly recommend purchasing All Trails Pro and downloading trail maps of the hikes on your wishlist so you can navigate offline.
What to Pack for Arches National Park
Here are a few items worth considering when planning a trip to Arches NP. This is not an exhaustive list.
- Get your copy of the Moon Guide to Arches & Canyonlands. If your visit to Arches NP is part of a more extended road trip, the Lonely Planet guide to Southwest USA is a good alternative.
- Water: bottles or a water pack
- Sun protection: hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
- Clothing: lightweight and sweat-repelling layers but also warm layers for cool mornings
- Dry weather: lip balm and tissues
- Light rain jacket in case of showers
- Safety: first-aid kit, walking poles (optional), sturdy hiking shoes, thick socks
- Change of clothes for if doing a long hike
- Hygiene: alcogel, small garbage bag
- Energy bars
- USB charger to charge your phone in the car
- Dress in layers
What’s Next?
In this Arches National Park travel guide, we’ve covered the essential topics to keep in mind when planning your trip. Now, visit this page to explore sample itineraries and discover the best hikes. Lastly, additional travel guides to Southern Utah are helpful if you combine your visit to Arches with additional members of Utah’s “Mighty Five.”
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