Parks Collecting contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Arches National Park 1 Day Itinerary

How to have the trip of a lifetime to Arches National Park without the stress and hassle.

You’re here because you’re looking for a One Day Arches National Park Itinerary.

Planning a trip to Arches is tricky and can be overwhelming.  I get it…

You want to plan your trip yourself. ❌ You don’t want to be stressed by the whole planning thing.  

You want to see the highlights. ❌ You don’t want to miss out on the best parts.

You want to maximize – and enjoy – your time in the park.  ❌ You don’t want to wait in line to get in or waste part of your your day driving around looking for a parking space.  

You want to use your time as efficiently as possible.  ❌ You don’t want to waste time backtracking or figuring out where to go.  

You want to do the best hikes.  ❌ You don’t want to get to a popular hike when absolutely everyone else in the country is on the same trail (or at least it seems like it).

You want to have an amazing trip. ❌ You don’t want to worry that you missed something amazing.

Maybe you’re traveling with several people all who have different energy levels or abilities.  ✅ You want to make everyone happy. ❌ You don’t want to give up on the things you really want to do.  

Well, you’re in the right place. 

itinerary testimonial
Arches


I’ve used all my years of experience planning and traveling to create your detailed – and flexible1-Day Arches National Park Deluxe Itinerary using the ParkPro Plan System

You’ll know exactly how to spend your day there – what to do, where to be, and when to go for the best views and to avoid the crowds.

But you’ll also have the flexibility to choose options for your own comfort level and interests.

as seen in with logos of various newspapers and magazines that James Ian and Parks Collecting have been featured in

You probably came here looking for a free itinerary. Why should you pay for one? 

Well, itinerary blog posts are invariably pretty general. My itineraries are completely different from a typical blog post. They have a detailed minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour breakdown of what to do, so that you can use it to guide your whole trip. They also include detailed driving directions, hike descriptions, information about each of the viewpoints and attractions, adjustments if you stay in different places, and all the bonus extras.

They’re a lot of work to create and keep updated. Which is why I can’t give them away for free.

Feedback Form Utah 5

What’s the difference between this itinerary and a guidebook?

Blog itineraries have little detail. Guidebooks, on the other hand, have LOTS of details.  But for some things they have too much information and for others, not the information you need.

They provide information about every place to stay and place to eat and lots of things to do. However, they don’t curate all that information into a workable itinerary. You need to do that yourself, and with so much information to digest, it can be hard to know exactly the best things to do / see and when.

On the other hand, they also lack really helpful information such as detailed driving directions from each point in your itinerary to the next, and detailed hike descriptions.

itinerary testimonial Yellowstone ONe day

What makes this itinerary different from others?

This itinerary is created using my unique ParkPro Plan System.

Personalization with Flexibility: Offers Option A and B for each block of the day to suit both adventurous and relaxed travelers. 

Timing Mastery: Stops are scheduled with precision for best views (e.g., canyon views, river views, rock formations). 

Accessibility-Friendly: Includes less-active or mobility-friendly alternatives for nearly every stop. 

Actionable Detail: Down-to-the-minute guidance with specific directions, distances, and travel times. 

On-the-Ground Insight: Recommends where to park, what to skip if needed, and how to adjust expectations (e.g., crowd sizes, visibility conditions). 

Local Secrets: Points out underrated views (e.g., lesser-known trails and best spots for rarely-seen views and hidden gems). 

Supplemental Resources: Provides a shuttle guide, plus guides for accommodations, dining, maps, and even trail safety. 

Designed for Efficiency & Fun: Balances bucket list must-sees with local spontaneity—like how to respond to a last-minute wildlife encounter.

Smart Transitions: Includes advice for combining Zion with Bryce Canyon, adjusting based on entrance points, and syncing with airport travel.

WHAT IT INCLUDES

🗺️ Park Overview
👍 Essential tips for visiting the park
📅 Daily ‘Day at a Glance’ detailed schedule
⚠️ Warnings and useful information
🗒️ Detailed breakdown of each step of the itinerary
🕙 Hour-by-hour overview for each day
🏞️ Options for different interests and activity levels
🚗 Detailed driving directions with maps
🥾 Detailed hike descriptions and trail maps
📷 Recommendations on where – and when – to find the best views
🛶 Additional attractions and activities
🎛️ How to adjust your schedule depending on where you stay
✈️ Useful links for booking your trip
🔗 Links to exclusive Updates section with current conditions affecting the itinerary

PLUS FREE BONUS EXTRAS:

Arches Accommodations Guide

All the accommodations inside the park plus a hand-curated list of additional options near the park

Arches Dining Guide

All the dining choices inside the park plus a carefully selected list of additional places nearby

Dead Horse Point State Park Guide

A complete guide to nearby Dead Horse Point State Park

A private one-day tour of Arches National Park can cost more than $350! Save money and use my itinerary to create your own personal trip with your family and/ or friends for less than $10/ day!

GET YOUR ARCHES NATIONAL PARK 1-DAY ITINERARY

Arches 1-Day Itinerary Cover
26 pages
Arches 1 day

$9

HOW IT WORKS

>> Buy the itinerary.

>> Get instant access to a downloadable PDF + access to downloadable PDFs of the free bonus extras + access to frequent updates.

>> Save the PDFs to your computer then upload them to your phone or print them out for your trip. [Note this is NOT a physical product mailed to you- it’s a PDF that you can download and print.]

>> Have an awesome trip to Arches National Park!

“This was a life saver!  This itinerary was just what I was trying to do on my own but had no idea how to do it and I was frustrated.  Thank you!”

Jackie, Cookeville

A SNEAK PEAK OF THE ARCHES NATIONAL PARK ITINERARY

p1 Arches Itinerary
p2 Arches Itinerary
p3 Arches Itinerary
p4 Arches Itinerary

FAQS

What happens if my plans change and I can’t use the itinerary this year?

This itinerary is specifically designed so you can use it any year. You’ll get access to an exclusive section of my website with major updates that may affect the itinerary. So, you can use it this year, next year or in five years’ time, and still have access to any current updates that might affect your trip.

What happens if my plans change after I’ve bought the itinerary and I have more (or less) time to spend in the park?

The itineraries are designed for the length of time you plan to be in the park, but they can be adjusted.

If you think you might end up with less time, I recommend getting a longer itinerary and trimming down if needed. You can always email me at james@parkscollecting.com for suggestions on how to do that if you find yourself in this situation.

What if I’ve already started to plan my trip? Is this helpful?

Yes. You can check your self-planned trip against this itinerary. You are bound to pick up some extra tips and get some extra ideas for when and where to go.

What if I want to go for longer than 1 day?

The one-day itinerary has you seeing the major park highlights, but there are loads of extra activities, hiking trails, and options for leisurely days enjoying the park. If you have more time, I recommend getting a longer itinerary.

If you want to spend even longer, check out my Parks Collecting guides for extra things to do.

I’m planning to go to Arches in winter. Can I use this itinerary?

Yes. The national park is open all year. Most of the hikes can be done in winter, though if you get the two-day itinerary, the Devil’s Garden primitive trail is not safe to do when icy or snowy. Everything else is possible.

In fact, winter is a wonderful time to visit Arches – there are few people, you won’t suffer from the summer heat, you won’t need to deal with entrance reservations, and the arches are incredibly beautiful when dusted in snow.

This is not my first trip to Arches National Park. Will this itinerary be helpful for me?

This itinerary is designed for first timers to the park. If you’ve been before, you will probably pick up some new tips, but overall, it may not be the best option for you.

I don’t like being stuck with a really rigid plan. Is this itinerary for me?

Yes! This itinerary has been specifically created to give you choices. There are options for those who like to be active and hit the trails but also for those who want to experience the park in a more leisurely way.

Also, while the itineraries are designed to be a complete ‘plug-and-play’, many people create their own version by using all the detailed information and mixing and matching to suit their own unique trip. This works too.

itinerary testimonial Yellowstone
I don’t like to hike. Does this itinerary have options for me?

Yes. There are options for people who like to hike and alternate options to experience the same general areas of the park for those who either can’t or prefer not to hike.

I like to hike and want to do some long hikes. Will this itinerary be useful for me?

If you like to hike, I recommend staying longer. The 2-Day Itinerary includes a couple of options for longer and more strenuous hikes.

Why should I pay for this? There are lots of blogs with free itineraries and even ai.

While that’s true, itinerary and ai-generated blog posts are invariably pretty general and not always correct.

This itinerary is completely different from a typical blog post. It has a detailed minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour breakdown of what to do, so that you can use it to guide your whole trip. It also includes detailed driving directions, hike descriptions, information about each of the arches and other attractions, adjustments if you stay in different places, and all the bonus extras.

What’s the difference between this itinerary and a guidebook?

Guidebooks provide information about every place to stay and place to eat and lots of things to do. However, they don’t curate all that information into a workable itinerary. You need to do that yourself, and with so much information to try to digest, it can be hard to know exactly the best things to do / see and when.

On the other hand, they also lack really helpful information such as detailed driving directions from each point in your itinerary to the next, and detailed hike descriptions.

My itineraries have done all the heavy lifting for you. I have sifted through all the information you’d find in guidebooks (from my personal experience) to create a step-by-step schedule – and added in all the practical information you need to know when you get there.

How does this itinerary work when I might stay somewhere different from other people buying it?

The itinerary assumes you will stay in Moab, which is the main gateway town to Arches National Park. However, it includes full details on how to adjust the timing based on where you stay. If you stay somewhere else nearby, you will know exactly how to tweak the timing for where you are staying.

Will this really help me avoid crowds and ensure they I see all the highlights?

While it’s impossible for me – or anyone – to guarantee you won’t encounter crowds, if you follow the timing and order of each day’s schedule, you’ll have the greatest possibility of minimizing any impact from other visitors to the park. It’s impossible to avoid the crowds completely, but traveling at shoulder season will also help.

If you only have limited time, this 1-day itinerary is a great option. I specifically chose the areas and sights in order of priority, together with logistics, to ensure that whichever itinerary you choose is the best for the time you have available.

What happens if I have technical problems accessing the itinerary?

It’s generally very easy to download the PDF at the time of purchase. However, technical problems may occasionally happen. If you have any trouble downloading the itinerary you purchased, just email me james@parkscollecting.com and I’ll email you a link to your itinerary.


WHO AM I?

James Arches NP

I’m James and I totally get how stressful planning a trip to the national parks can be.  You want to have the trip of a lifetime, but it’s hard to know exactly how to plan it all. 

I’ve traveled to most of the US national parks (and 82 countries, all 7 continents, and most of the states in the US).

Through all those travels, I’ve learned exactly how to plan complicated vacations.  And in my travels to Arches National Park, I’ve discovered the park’s hidden secrets, where the best views are, when to take the best photos, all the other great attractions, and how to avoid the crowds. 

And I’m sharing all this with you in this itinerary.


GET YOUR 1-DAY ARCHES NATIONAL PARK ITINERARY

Arches 1-Day Itinerary Cover
26 pages
Arches 1 day

$9


Are you looking for a different Arches itinerary?

➡️ Arches National Park Two Day Itinerary
➡️ Arches National Park Three Day Itinerary