A One-Day Arches National Park Itinerary From Moab

Arches National Park is a must-stop on any visit to Moab, perhaps in part thanks to the fact that it’s likely right there on your screensaver.

That’s the Delicate Arch, by the way, the iconic payoff on one of the best hikes in the park.

On our trip to Arches, I was surprised by the diversity of the landscapes. Yes, there are arches. Yes, they’re as awesome as they look.

There’s plenty more where that came from, though, especially if you’re willing to hike away from the crowds.

This Arches National Park itinerary is a detailed guide to how we tackled our day in the park. I’ll include tips on the best hikes, scenic spots, and working around timed entry requirements to make the most of one day at Arches.

Is Arches National Park worth visiting?

Arches National Park is worth visiting for its surreal landscape of sandstone arches, towering fins, and balanced rocks.

It’s also a great place to warm up your hiking legs on a tour of Utah national parks. There are quite a few level trails at Arches National Park that are perfect for beginners.

You can see Arches National Park in one day.

One day is as much time as we had. While I’d love to go back again and tackle some of the park’s longer hikes, one day was a great introduction to the park’s intriguing arches.

No matter how much time you have, prioritize the Delicate Arch. It’s one of the most photographed natural wonders in the country for a reason. It’s also featured on state license plates in Utah, so it’d be disrespectful not to go.

How to Get to Arches National Park

Arches National Park is just north of Moab, which is served by the small Canyonlands Field Airport. If you’re up for a road trip, you’ll likely find better schedules and fares flying into the closest major transportation hub in Salt Lake City.

READ MORE: Salt Lake City is a great base for road trips. Check out my favorites!

From Salt Lake City, it’s 234 miles to Moab along the shortest route.

You can also try to find a decent flight deal out of Colorado’s Grand Junction Regional Airport. It’s a little under a two-hour drive from there.

If you’ve taken my advice and you’re on a road trip through Utah, Canyonlands National Park, another spectacular place, is just half an hour south of Arches. Underrated Capitol Reef National Park is a two-hour drive.

Zion National Park is also on many Utah travelers’ bucket lists, but that one is at least a five-hour drive from Arches. It would certainly lend itself to a longer road trip, though. I have a guide to two days at Zion if you’re leaning that way.

Getting Around Arches National Park

Arches is smaller than some of the other Utah parks, but that only makes visits more efficient.

This guide assumes you’re tackling the park on a self-drive tour. You won’t need a special vehicle or 4WD for Arches if you’re sticking to the main sites described here, but you will if you’re headed into the backcountry.

You don’t even need to leave your car if you don’t want to, but hiking offers the best vantage points throughout the park. It’s always recommended to see a national park from your feet if you’re able.

There are guided tours that will take you to the more remote areas of the park if you’re up for some adventure.

Take a look at some popular, highly-reviewed tours below:

One Day in Arches National Park

The ideal approach for Arches is one that involves getting up before sunrise. That gives you the best opportunity to stick it to the crowds that descend the park by mid-morning, especially if you’re here for the Delicate Arch.

It also means you can beat issues with timed entries if you’re traveling during the months when they’re active.

Arches National Park requires a timed-entry reservation for visits between 7am-4pm from April 1-October 31. Reservations become available online three months in advance in monthly blocks.

Even if you’re not following my advice, I’d still pack a lunch for your one day at Arches. Skip the leisurely breakfast in favor of snacks on the go. If you’re staying in Moab, you have quite a few decent food options.

Stop 1: Delicate Arch

The three-mile Delicate Arch trail is the best hike in Arches National Park. This is also the most beautiful arch at Arches. While there are quite a few fantastic hikes in the park, there is only one that’s considered quintessential, and that’s the Delicate Arch hike.

That means you won’t be the only one there, and you should plan accordingly.

If you’re a morning person, I’d highly suggest getting up before sunrise to get to the arch by the time the sun comes up. This makes your day much more flexible, too, if you had issues getting ideal timed entry reservations during the busy months.

You’ll have to compete with some of the more serious photographers who have the same idea, but all of the more normal people will still be in bed while you’re climbing.

If you’re not a morning person, I’d still suggest the same. Just do it. You can rest once you’re there.

Take the Arches Scenic Drive to get there, but don’t get distracted on the way. All of those magical sights aren’t going anywhere.

The trail isn’t all that difficult despite the strenuous rating from the park service, but there are a few sections of the trail that require some effort. There’s a path with a steep drop-off on one end and another section of slick, steep rock.

That area could certainly get a bit precarious with inclement weather.

To distract yourself from those tired legs, don’t miss out on the view of the Wolfe Ranch cabin and a wall of petroglyphs from the Native Ute people on your way to the arch.

Once you’re at the Delicate Arch, spend some time hanging around and watching the pixie girls in flowing dresses dance around the arch below.

If you’re there at sunrise, they know to get out of the way by the time the sun comes up. If you’re there later in the day, when the crowds descend, all bets are off.

Note: There are two viewpoints for the Delicate Arch in the park if you’re unable to do the full trail, the lower Delicate Arch viewpoint and the upper viewpoint. The lower viewpoint is along a flat path, and easy to access for any visitors. The upper viewpoint is a half-mile up a fairly steep climb.

Alternative Stop 1: Devils Garden Trail

Let’s say you want to save the Delicate Arch for sunset, an idea I’ve seen bounced around on other blogs despite the massive crowds that gather for this very thing.

I’m not recommending that here, but some people like options.

Starting your day with the Devils Garden Trail is a more aggressive alternative that will nevertheless give you an introduction to some of the park’s best arches.

This one is 7.2 miles, making it the park’s longest hike. We didn’t hike all of it, but did hike it in pieces to see some of the arches that you’ll catch on the full trail.

Keep in mind this is a challenging trail for the more experienced hikers out there, with a few spur trails throughout to lengthen the trail even further.

Fun fact: Those “potholes” you may come across on hikes in the park aren’t there to be dastardly tripping hazards. They collect little pools of water for all of the desert critters that call the park home. Also, watch your step.

A highlight on the trail is the Landscape Arch, the largest arch in the Devils Garden. On your way there, you’ll also pass by the Tunnel Arch, with Pine Tree Arch down a short spur trail. All three are worth the effort if you’re looking for a good turnaround point.

For those continuing past the Landscape Arch, you’ll be rewarded with views of the Navajo Arch, Partition Arch, and the Double O Arch. That’s the second-largest arch in this region of the park.

You can easily make this trail an out-and-back trail and choose the length that works with your schedule.

At this point, you’ll see another spur trail for Dark Angel, a pillar of sandstone rock. If you’re here for more arches, follow signs for the primitive trail instead to the Private Arch, named as such because you’ll likely have this section of the park all to yourself.

You’ll loop back around to the parking area here, through some of the most rugged scenery you’ll get at Arches.

Note: The trail starts at the Devils Garden trailhead, which seems easy enough. It can be easy to miss those spur trails, though. Make sure you’ve downloaded a map of the park, especially this section, so you don’t miss out on anything awesome.

Stop 2: Fiery Furnace Viewpoint

It’s a labyrinth of narrow canyons down there, which is why you can only venture inside the Fiery Furnace with a guide. You can marvel at it with your eyes from this viewpoint, though.

This is also a good resting point for more treks ahead, so fuel up here if you need to. (We always have sandwiches in our packs on days like this for noshing whenever the mood strikes.)

If you’re lucky enough to have a booking for guided treks in the Fiery Furnace area, an experience that’s at the top of my list for a return trip, this is where it’d happen.

The two-mile hikes are physically demanding, with the expectation that you’re cool with squeezing into tight spaces and boast a decent level of physical fitness. The point is, don’t expect a lazy stroll.

Guided hikes aren’t always an option and must be reserved in advance when they are. Check on the National Park Service website before making assumptions that you’ll be able to do this on your visit.

READ MORE: Utah is spoiled for choice when it comes to atmospheric canyons. Check out this guide to Bryce Canyon National Park!

Stop 3: Landscape Arch Trail

If you don’t have time for the full Devils Garden Trail described above, reaching Landscape Arch is an easy trail to one of the oldest arches in the park.

The hike is easily made longer, though, if you’re intrigued by any of the spur trails along the way. The Pine Tree and Tunnel Arches are both a short distance off this trail if you have it in you. If you stick to the Landscape Arch, it’s just 1.6 miles roundtrip.

Stop 4: Balanced Rock

Balanced Rock is a unique attraction you may have already had a glimpse of in the morning on your way to the Delicate Arch.

This 128-foot-tall feature is iconic in these parts, a result not of intricate balancing acts, but the erosion of its pedestal underneath.

At some point, this area will see quite the rockfall. Until then, take the short trail of about 0.3 miles from the parking lot to really get a closer look at this marvel.

Stop 6: The Windows

Make a brief return to the scenic drive and take the turnoff for Windows Road for a pair of easy trails that are sure to impress you.

This is the Windows Section of the park. It’s named as such thanks to the north and south window arches that you should check out first from afar and then closer up to really feel how small you are.

On the same hike, you’ll reach a short spur trail that will take you to the Turret Arch. This one’s also well worth your time, despite it being smaller than the arches you just came from.

You’ll come upon an arch with both a large opening and a smaller window, and a rock pillar off to the side. That’s the turret. You’ve reached the castles on your journey.

Stop 7: Double Arch Trail

You can leave your car where it is at the Windows lot to access your next half-mile trail to the Double Arch. This is a pair of arches, naturally, that are quite photogenic.

This is actually the tallest arch in the park, and as I like the idea of “bigger is better,” this was one of my personal favorite spots in the park.

Fun fact: You can even get up close and personal with this one, as climbing on the rocks underneath is allowed, even encouraged.

On the way to the arch, don’t miss the Parade of Elephants. The story checks out on this one, as the sandstones really do form what looks like a group of marching pachyderms.

That’s all we had the energy for at Arches National Park. Return to Moab for a proper meal or linger at take a look at some additional hikes below. Some of them are quite short and easy add-ons to your day.

More Things to Do on an Arches National Park Itinerary

Despite its relatively small size, we could have filled up a full second day with hikes around Arches.

Here are a few more hikes at Arches that are on our list for next time:

• Park Avenue: To get a closer look at the features you can see from the La Sal Mountains Viewpoint, head down to the rocks on the two-mile Park Avenue trail. You’ll follow a wash until you reach the Courthouse Towers.
• Double O Arch Trail: It’s just over a four-mile round-trip trek starting at Devils Garden to get there. This intriguing geological arch is just as it sounds: one arch on top of another.
• Skyline Arch Trail: This short half-mile hike offers a view of the nearly 34-foot-tall Skyline Arch. You can also see it from the Devils Garden Campground, where you’re able to get your photos from a wheelchair-accessible path.
• Sand Dune Arch Trail: This easy, family-friendly hike takes you to a small arch in between two tall rocky fins in less than half a mile. The path is shaded along the way, so it’s a nice trek for the afternoon if the sun is hitting you a little too hard.
• Broken Arch Trail: This trail takes you along a flat, sandy path to the Broken Arch, an arch that isn’t actually broken. You’ll pass the Tapestry Arch along the way. If you want to make it a loop, continue through the arch for a two-mile round trip.
• Tower Arch Trail: This challenging 2.6-mile hike takes you to one of the most remote arches at the park. The payoff is the Tower Arch, a massive arch that offers up views of the La Sal Mountains as you look through.

The Best Time to Visit Arches National Park

The best months to visit Arches National Park are the shoulder months of April or May in the spring and September or October in the fall. You’ll get the most pleasant daytime temperatures and Arches National Park weather at these times.

If you want to avoid timed entry requirements, visit the park before April 1 and after October 31. Winter is doable in the park. You may encounter some ice and snow if you’re hitting the trails, so hike prepared with shoes that offer you some good traction.

More Tips for Visiting Arches National Park

You can’t fly blind in a place as magical as Arches. Check out a few more tips before you hit the road for Arches:

• Keep up-to-date with any alerts within the park, which are posted and updated regularly on the park service website. You’ll be able to find any service interruptions or road closures while you’re there to aid in your planning.
• The park is open 24 hours per day. The fee to enter is $30. If you’re there before the park rangers because you’re a sunrise kind of person, you’ll need to pay that fee before you leave the park.
• If you’re visiting more than one national park on your trip to Utah, pick up an America the Beautiful pass. It’s good for the year, and your year starts at the first park you visit. It pays for itself after three national parks. That’s easy.
• Expect a variety of weather while visiting Arches. No matter when you’re going, assume temperature swings, sometimes by as much as 40 degrees. That’s the desert for you.
• If you’re traveling throughout Utah and unsure what to bring along, check out my Utah guide. I include a ready-made packing list for you to protect you from the elements while you’re out there on your adventure.
• Want to ditch the crowds? Consider adding the Corona Arch to your itinerary. The three-mile hike is just outside of Arches National Park but just as good as what you’ll see inside.

Where to Stay Near Arches National Park

There are no accommodations inside the park itself, and any camping opportunities are outside of Arches, as well.

Moab is the most convenient base for you as far as access to both Canyonlands and Arches National Park in Utah, in case you’re doing both. We’ve stayed at the Red Cliffs Lodge and had a positive experience, but that one does get pricey in the busier seasons.

Use the map below to find your next stay in Moab:

Arches National Park meets all expectations.

The expectations for this one are likely pretty high, too. Most of you have seen the Delicate Arch at the very least or heard about the desert park spoiled with arches.

Arches is very much an otherworldly place, even when tourism there picks up in the busy months.

I’m sure we’ll be back at some point to tackle some of the longer hikes or explore parks nearby like Dead Horse Point State Park.

Planning a longer road trip? Check out these guides:

• How to Visit the Bonneville Salt Flats
• A Guide to the Best of Laramie, WY
• Plan Your Next Day Trip From Cheyenne
• Jackson Hole to Yellowstone: A Guide
• Get Weird on Nevada’s ET Highway

Colorado is stunning, too. Check out these guides:

• Things to Do on Visits to Fort Collins
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• A Guide to Golf Trip Tips for RainDance National
• A Hiking Guide to the Impressive Garden of the Gods
• Love Ancient Things? Visit Colorado’s Florissant Fossils

Want to see more?