Arches National Park is one of my favorite American national parks. There are over 2,000 natural arches in the park, mostly focused in several key sections in the park. Many of them are short and easy walks from parking lots, though there are some longer and more challenging hikes too.
The incredible natural beauty and variety of ways to experience the arches and fins they are formed from put this park on my list of the best national parks in the United States.
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Arches National Park at a Glance
⭐ State: Utah
⭐ Main attractions: Natural arches, sandstone fins
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Itineraries for Arches National Park
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These are not your average blogger itineraries, which tend to be short summaries of things that bloggers did on their one visit there. These itineraries are all about YOU and helping you have the best time.
They will take away the overwhelm that often accompanies planning a trip to Arches National Park. They’re a combination detailed hour-by-hour itinerary (with options for different activity levels), guidebook, hiking guide, driving directions, travel tips, and more. You’ll need nothing else to plan your trip – it’s all done for you (but you still have choices).
One-day, two-day or three-day detailed itineraries for Arches National Park available for purchase:
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Arches National Park Travel Guide
Planning a trip to Arches National Park can be overwhelming – but it doesn’t have to be. Use this Arches National Park guide for all your trip planning. Click on the links below to go to detailed guides and answers to your questions.
How to Plan a Trip to Arches National Park
This guide will help you with what you should AVOID doing when you plan a trip to Arches National Park.
Read More: 7 MISTAKES TO AVOID IN ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
Here are my top travel tips for Arches National Park
Read More: TOP TIPS FOR VISITING ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
There is a timed entry permit system for most of the year.
Read More: ARCHES TIMED ENTRY SYSTEM
Entrance Fee for Arches National Park
There is an entrance fee for the park. Find the latest fees on the NPS website.
To avoid long lines and save money, if you are planning to visit more than just Arches National Park this year, it can be great value to purchase an America The Beautiful pass.
The one-year pass includes entrance at sites managed by the National Park Service, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and Army Corps of Engineers. It covers the fee for entrance for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle or up to 4 adults at sites that charge per person.
Get an America The Beautiful pass here.
There are other types of passes available for seniors, veterans, etc.
Read More: NATIONAL PARKS PASSES
Arches National Park Visitor Center
There is one entrance to the national park and one Visitor Center. It’s just inside the entrance, before you drive up a small hill to enter the main section of the national park. It’s normally open year-round and daily except for Christmas Day. Hours vary by the season.
Best Tours Arches National Park
🎧 Get a self-guided audio tour of Arches National Park
Things to Do in Arches National Park
One of the main things to do is the scenic drive, which connects all the main highlights.
Read More: GUIDE TO THE ARCHES SCENIC DRIVE
If you want to maximize your time in the park and focus on the best arches in the park, this guide is for you.
Read More: THE 10 BEST ARCHES IN ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
Hikes in Arches National Park
There are some really great hikes, ranging from very easy to challenging.
Read More: BEST HIKES IN ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
5 easy trails in Arches National Park – perfect for families, first-time visitors, or anyone short on time.
Read More: 5 BEST EASY HIKES IN ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
My favorite hike in the park, with eight arches.
Read More: DEVILS GARDEN TRAIL GUIDE
Where to Stay In and Near Arches National Park
There is only one place to stay inside the national park – the basic Devils Garden Campground.
The nearest gateway town is Moab.
There are plenty of vacation rental options if you prefer to have your own place.
Read More: BEST VACATION RENTALS IN MOAB
Whether you want a luxury stay, a family friendly suite with plenty of space, or one of the pet friendly hotels near Arches National Park, this guide will help you choose the perfect place to stay.
Read More: THE BEST HOTELS NEAR ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
➡️ Find a hotel in Moab on Expedia.
➡️ Find more vacation rentals in or near Moab on VRBO.
How to Get To Arches National Park
The most common ways to get to Arches National Park are to drive or fly into one of the nearby airports and pick up a rental car there.
Read More: HOW TO GET TO ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
🚗 If you need a rental car, find one on RentalsCars.com
✈️ If you’re looking for a flight, find a good deal on Skyscanner
The Nearest Airports for Arches National Park
There are several airports that you can fly into/ out of. This guide tells you about all the airports near Arches National Park with the pros and cons of each of them.
Read More: THE AIRPORTS NEAR ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
This is the closest (but not necessarily the most convenient) airport to Arches National Park.
Read More: CLOSEST AIRPORT TO ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
✈️ If you’re looking for flights, use Skyscanner to scan the Internet for the cheapest deals.
How to Get Around Arches National Park
There are no shuttles in Arches National Park, so the only way to get around is to have your own vehicle or take a tour. The roads are all paved and there aren’t restrictions on RVs or trailers.
🚗 If you need a rental car, find one on RentalsCars.com
The Best Time to Visit Arches National Park
The park is open all year.
A quick summary of the best time to visit the national park for different interests and priorities.
Read More: BEST TIME TO VISIT ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
Take a look at what the park’s like in each season and month to help you decide when to visit Arches National Park.
Read More: VISITING ARCHES NATIONAL PARK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
How Long to Spend in Arches National Park
How many days you should go to Arches National Park for depends on when you have time off, how much time you have, your budget, and your interests. I recommend at least two days in the park, and longer if you plan to visit the Fiery Furnace section.
Let’s take a look at how much time to spend at Arches National Park and what you can realistically expect to see and do while you’re there.
Read More: HOW MANY DAYS IN ARCHES DO YOU NEED?
Travel Insurance for Arches National Park
In addition to working out the logistics of your trip using this travel guide, Arches National Park planning should also include travel insurance. Protect yourself against trip cancellation, loss or theft of your property, or any medical emergencies.
A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can compare Travel Insurance plans here or get a quote right now:
Arches Packing List
Use this summer packing list for Arches National Park so you know what to bring.
Read More: ARCHES SUMMER PACKING LIST
Arches Reviews
Read these hilarious (and real!) reviews from Yelp and TripAdvisor. Manage your expectations.
Read More: BAD REVIEWS ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
Best Books About Arches National Park
I love to read books about places I go. Get in the spirit of your vacation and learn about Arches National Park before you go, immerse yourself with reading material while you’re there, and/ or keep your memories alive after your trip.
This Arches reading list includes interesting tales, information, novels and picture books.
Read More: BEST BOOKS ABOUT ARCHES NATIONAL PARK
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About the author
James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.
He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and most of the national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.
Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for many of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, and other resources will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.
As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including USA Today, Newsweek, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.