If you’ve decided to visit Arches National Park but are trying to decide how long to spend at Arches National Park, this guide is for you.
The national park is relatively small, but with over 2,000 natural arches, it packs a punch, and there is lots to see and do. We’ll break it down by days so you can make the best decision for your trip.
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How many days in Arches National Park Do You Need?
How many days in Arches National Park?
So, how many days do you need in Arches National Park? It depends. When deciding how long to spend in Arches National Park, you’ll need to think about how much time you have overall and what other places you want to visit, plus your preferred activity level. If you don’t hike, you’ll need less time, but if you do hike, then you’ll definitely want to spend longer.
Most people spend between half a day and three days in Arches National Park. Let’s take a look at different options to see what you can realistically see and do.
A Half Day in Arches National Park
Half a day is not a lot of time, but if this is all the time you have, you should definitely still visit.
There is only one road in the national park and all the highlights are along Arches National Park Road. The road is 25 miles and you need to drive and out and back. If you don’t hike, you can drive the full road, stopping off at the major viewpoints for about 10 minutes each, in half a day.
READ MORE: Guide to the Arches Scenic Drive
There are several distinct sections or areas in Arches National Park. These include Park Avenue, the Windows section (and nearby Balanced Rock), Delicate Arch, Fiery Furnace, and Devils Garden.
You won’t have time to hike to Delicate Arch, but can visit a viewpoint for a distant view of the park’s most iconic arch.
If you have just half a day in Arches National Park, it is really important to have a plan. Without one, you won’t get the most out of your limited time. Your best option is to get my 1 day itinerary for Arches National Park.
It has a detailed hour-by-hour schedule with alternatives for different activity and fitness levels, plus trail maps and descriptions, driving instructions, important information, essential tips, and everything else you need to make the most of your time in Arches National Park.
One Day in Arches National Park
Do you have a full day and are wondering what to do in Arches National Park in one day? Although you’ll still miss out on some amazing hikes and you won’t be able to see all the major arches in a day, it’s possible to see the major highlights of Arches National Park in one day.
Timing is important, as parking lots can fill up, even with timed entry permits in effect for much of the year, but with the right planning, you can see and do a lot in 1 day. Arches National Park is easy to navigate.
If you get an early start, you could hike to Delicate Arch for sunrise (or at least the early morning light). This is the free-standing arch that appears on Utah’s license plates. It’s a 3.2-mile round trip out-and-back hike to get to the arch and takes about 2-3 hours in total, plus time to enjoy the arch.
You’ll also have time to not only see Park Avenue from the viewpoint, but to hike down into the ‘avenue’ between the viewpoint and Courthouse Towers. Keep an eye out for Baby Arch.
A one day Arches National Park itinerary could also include time at the Windows Section. You can do the short walk around nearby Balanced Rock and hike to the North and South windows as well as Double Arch, which is reached from the same parking lot, but in the opposite direction.
If you have just 1 day in Arches National Park, it is really important to have a plan. Without one, you won’t get the most out of your limited time. Your best option is to get my one-day itinerary Arches National Park.
It has a detailed hour-by-hour schedule with alternatives for different activity and fitness levels, plus trail maps and descriptions, driving instructions, important information, essential tips, and everything else you need to make the most of your one day at Arches National Park.
2 Days in Arches National Park
If you can fit two days into your overall trip itinerary, then I really recommend it. With two days, you can see most of the front country arches, do some epic hikes and not feel too rushed.
In addition to the hikes that you can do in one day, having an extra day gives you time to hike Devil’s Garden. Devil’s Garden is divided into three interconnected trails and you can do one, two or all three. The easiest section goes to Landscape Arch, the longest single span natural arch in the United States. You can also easily see Tunnel Arch and Pine Tree Arch.
If you like hiking, you can continue to Double O Arch, via Partition Arch and Navajo Arch (recommended!). You can then return the way you came or complete a loop on a primitive trail through Fin Canyon.
On this extra day, you can also hike to Sand Dune Arch via Tapestry Arch and Broken Arch.
With two days in Arches National Park, you will have extra time, but will need to carefully coordinate all of your activities. It’s really important to have a plan to get the most out of your time. Your best option is to get my Arches National Park 2 day itinerary.
It has a detailed hour-by-hour schedule with alternatives for different activity and fitness levels, plus trail maps and descriptions, driving instructions, important information, essential tips, and everything else you need to make the most of your two days in Arches National Park.
Three days in Moab/ Arches National Park
You can realistically see and do all the highlights in Arches National Park in 2.5 days. This extra day on your 3 day Moab itinerary can include a hike through Fiery Furnace. This section of the park has really narrow canyons through tall fins and is a labyrinth in which it’s easy to get lost.
You need to either get a special permit or join a guided hike. I recommend the guided hike. A ranger takes you through the maze, explaining things along the way. This hike does involve some scrambling, squeezing and shuffling, so it’s not for everyone.
To round out your Moab 3 day itinerary, I recommend spending half a day at nearby Dead Horse Point State Park, which is just 45 minutes away. You can drive to the main viewpoint, but there are also several fairly easy hiking trails with sensational views over the surrounding canyonlands.
If you have just 3 days to spend in Arches National Park, it’s really important to have a plan. Without one, you won’t get the most out of your limited time. Your best option is to get my Arches National Park 3 day itinerary (which includes Dead Horse Point State Park).
It has a detailed hour-by-hour schedule with alternatives for different activity and fitness levels, plus trail maps and descriptions, driving instructions, important information, essential tips, and everything else you need to make the most of your 3 days in Moab Utah.
Travel Insurance for Arches National Park
In addition to deciding how much time do you need in Arches National Park, you will also need get travel insurance for your trip. Whether it is for unexpected trip cancelation, emergency repatriation or medical help, or to replace something lost or stolen, having travel insurance will give you piece of mind and help you when you need it.
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:
Enjoy Arches National Park!
As you’re deciding how many days to spend in Arches National Park and planning your trip there, you might also want to read:
- Detailed Itineraries for Arches National Park
- 12 Fun Facts About Arches National Park
- Best Hikes in Arches National Park
- Best Airports for Arches National Park
- How to Get to Arches National Park
- Guide to Timed Entry in Arches National Park
- Guide to the Devil’s Garden Trail
- Recommended Books To Read About Arches National Park
- Vacation Rentals Near Arches National Park
- 7 Mistakes to Avoid when Planning a Trip to Arches National Park
How much time in Arches National Park did you choose? I’d love to hear. Join my private Facebook group National Parks Collectors and comment and let me know (you can also pick up extra planning tips, share your photos and stories with other national park lovers and more).
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How many days in Arches National Park Do You Need?
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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 all of the main 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 most of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, comprehensive camping and hiking gear reviews and buying guides, and helpful packing lists and gift guides 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 Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.
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