Utah has some of the most impressive national parks in the United States and some of our favorites. Arches National Park is one of the most popular parks in the state due to its proximity to Moab, easy access, and Delicate Arch, the most popular attraction in the park. It gets around 1.7 million visitors per year. Arches National Park is also one of Utah’s mighty five (Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion). The beauty of this park is that it is small and easy to get around and spend 1 Day in Arches National Park.
Arches National Park is easy to navigate and many of the attractions are only a short walk from the parking areas, except for a few where a hike is needed.
This itinerary will allow you to see all the main highlights, drive the entire park’s scenic drive and have time to stop for great views and snacks along the way all under 24 hours!
Table of Contents
The best way to start your day in Arches national Park: Delicate Arch – The most popular attraction
The main reason for doing this first is because it requires a hike and due to its popularity. They say that the early bird gets the worm and if you want to get views without many crowds, you must head to Delicate Arch first thing in the morning.
You might have seen it in calendars or in famous photography. Delicate Arch is one of the most iconic sights in the UnitedStates. If you are camping inside the park, then you are in luck! If you are staying in Moab, you are still very close! Wake up early in the morning and make sure you have plenty of snacks – there are no places to buy food inside this park!
You must hike for 3 miles (round-trip) to get to Delicate Arch. It should take 2.5 hours to hike, take in views, and snap some photos. Make sure to bring plenty of water! The sun can be very strong – even in the winter.
Parking is widely accessible but make sure to arrive early! When we visited Delicate Arch, we started driving to the park when it was still dark outside – it was winter – late November.
You might be tempted to stop at some of the beautiful rock formations you will pass by as you drive to the Delicate Arch hike parking lot. Trust me, you will have time for those after Delicate Arch. It is important to get to the park’s main attraction first to be able to experience it with less crowds.
Park at the Wolfe Ranch Parking Lot to start your hike (you can enter this into Google Maps), which is about 35 minutes from Moab.
Happy hiking!
Delicate Arch is one of the most iconic natural wonders of Utah and the United States. It stands 46 feet tall with a perfect curve that frames the sky.
Arches Scenic Road Strategy
From Delicate Arch we recommend driving all the way to one of the ends of the scenic road. This way you can make your way to the other end and stop at all the major attractions.
Below is a map with all the stops we recommend:
We suggest starting from the north in order to make your way down and out of the park. This is a perfect strategy if you are also trying to visit Canyonlands National Park after – or any attraction in between the two parks. This itinerary follows this route.
Sand Dune Arch
Of all the hidden gems along the scenic drive, Sand Dune Arch stands out as a total game-changer. Located between towering stone fins, this arch feels like a secret oasis in the desert – one that seems like you have to work a little to uncover. In reality, it is a very easy walk from the parking lot on a sandy trail – but it feels that way do to how hidden it is. The very short journey to it feels almost like stepping into another world – where the ground turns red from light gold colors. You will be surrounded by towering walls of red stone when you reach the hidden arch, which provide a perfect pocket of shade from the sometimes strong Utah sun.
Garden of Eden
Garden of Eden is not to be missed! Literally, you can’t miss it because you will certainly see it from the road as you drive by. But don’t just pass by—pull over and park, because this is one spot you’ll want to get up close to. As you wander through the area, you’ll be surrounded by massive fins and spires that seem to touch the sky. It’s a fantastic place to stretch your legs after the car ride, walk around, and just take in the beauty of this desert sanctuary.
Double Arch
Double Arch is not just a view, its an experience. Standing under two giant stone curves that seem to defy gravity is truly a representation of what Arches National Park is all about. These two arches connect at the base and are massive in size. From here you will also get amazing landscape views from the park. Make sure to climb all the way to the top for some awesome pictures! Watch your step! It is easier to park at the Windows Section parking lot and walk over to the Double Arch trail head, which is a 3 minute walk.
The Windows and Turret Arch
Make sure to stop at the Windows section and Turret Arch, which you can walk over to from Double Arch. Parking at the Windows Section comes in handy!
Balanced Rock
You will be able to see balanced rock from far away as you drive to it and it looks like the rock is about to fall! It is a giant rock on top of a rock formation that is coming out of the ground! It almost looks like the rock is just balancing on top and someone could just push it down.
Courthouse Towers
The Courthouse Tower rise dramatically from the desert floor like nature’s skyscrapers striking against the sky. An amazing sight to see while in Arches National Park.
💡 KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
From April 1 to July 6 and August 28 to October 31, visitors to Arches National Park will need a Timed Entry Ticket (booked through Recreation.gov) and a Park Entrance Fee or valid Park Pass to enter between 7 am and 4 pm. Those without tickets can enter before 7 am or after 4 pm, and the park remains open 24/7. If you’ve already booked a camping, backcountry, Fiery Furnace, or special use permit, no timed entry ticket is required. Check out the park’s website for more updates:
https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/timed-entry-pilot.htm
PARK PASS: Check out the different options in the following link. https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm
It costs $30 per vehicle to enter the park. We recommend the America the Beautiful annual pass if you are visiting multiple parks during your trip and/or entering the same park multiple times. It is $80 for U.S. residents and starting in 2026 it will be $250 for non-residents. We renew ours every year! Remember, the America the Beautiful pass is per vehicle – this means that everyone inside the vehicle is covered.
🏨 WHERE TO STAY DURING YOUR VISIT?
Camping: There is only one campsite – Devils Garden Campground but reservations fill up well in advance. https://www.nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/camping.htm
The best place to stay during your visit is the small city of Moab, which is about 10 minutes from Arches National Park. This is by far the most convenient place to stay. There are numerous hotels and motels in Moab. There are also plenty of stores to buy water and snacks and restaurants for after a long day of adventure.
☀️🍃❄️🍂 BEST TIME TO VISIT
As you can imagine, temperatures can get very hot in Utah and it might be a great idea to avoid the hotter months, such as July. July and August are the busiest months in the park. If you want to avoid large crowds, it is best to visit outside of the summer months. We recommend visiting during the Spring or Fall. We visited in November and the weather was perfect! It was a bit cold but a jacket is enough. We personally prefer cold than hot when visiting places when we will be hiking most of the time! You can always layer up in the cold but there are not many options when the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit! There was not that many people when we visited. One downside of visiting in the fall and winter months is the shorter days – it starts getting darker at 17:30 – 18:00. Summer days will give you longer days but it would be important to at least wake up early in order to enjoy cooler weather and less crowded places.
WHAT YOU MUST PACK
Make sure to pack snack or a lunch to eat during your hikes or at an overlook – there are no restaurants inside the park. This is a positive in my opinion – more time with nature!
Make sure to bring plenty of water since there are no stores inside the park! It is very easy to get dehydrated under Utah’s sun. Make sure to take your water bottles with you – leave no trace!
What to wear?
This will depend on the weather and the season you visit. Arches National Park can be very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter. Also, even when it is cold, the sun can make it hot. I think it is smart to wear layers and taking them off depending on how you feel. I highly recommend hiking boots for any visit to a national park or any trip that will include hiking. It is not fun to hike in uncomfortable sneakers for an entire day!
Short Packing list (must pack):
- Hiking boots
- Good hiking clothes appropriate for the weather (layering is advised)
- Hiking socks
- Hiking sock liners
- Sun protection: Hiking hat, sunblock, and sunglasses
- Water bottle/water bladder (make sure you leave plenty of water in your car for refills
🏜️ What to do near Arches National Park:
Canyonlands National Park: 30 minute drive from Arches National Park. Make sure to take the scenic drive in the Island in the Sky section of the park for impressive views of this massive landscapes.
Dead Horse Point State Park: 30 minute drive from Arches National Park. Make sure to go to Dead Horse Point Overlook for an awesome sunset.
TRAVELER PRO TIP
Get to the park very early in the morning – right before sunrise – and head directly to the Delicate Arch trailhead. Less crowds and cooler weather for the longer hike.
