Are you planning a trip to Arches National Park? Home to over 2,000 natural arches, including the iconic Delicate Arch and the incredible Devils Garden, this is one of my favorite national parks.
Getting to Arches National Park is fairly easy but it still requires you to make plans ahead so you can have a hassle-free trip.
If you’re trying to decide the best way to see Arches National Park, this guide will help you travel to Arches National Park with ease. You’ll get ideas on how to go to Arches National Park, plus useful links to Arches National Park itineraries and other planning guides.
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If you are planning to visit Arches National Park in spring, summer or fall, make your planning easy and stress free with a detailed itinerary. I have 1-, 2-, and 3-day itineraries for Arches National Park that include all the park highlights, give you choices based on your preferred activity level, and take all the stress out of planning your trip.
Where is Arches National Park located?
Arches National Park location: The national park is in eastern Utah. Canyonlands National Park is also nearby, and a trip to both parks is common.
Towns near Arches National Park include Green River, Monticello, Castle Valley, Blanding, Bluff Hanksville, Mexican Hat and Spanish Valley. But Moab is the closest town to Arches National Park; the distance from Moab to Arches National Park is just 5 miles.
Other major cities near Arches National Park include Grand Junction and Salt Lake City. After Moab, Grand Junction is the closest city to Arches National Park, around 110 miles away.
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How To Get To Arches National Park
Tours of Arches National Park
If you don’t want the hassle of getting to Arches National Park by yourself (and dealing with the reservation system), then a tour might be the best option for you. There are several to choose from:
4WD Back Country Tour (half day). Actually, this is a great tour even if you do have your own vehicle, because it doesn’t go on the main road. Instead, you enter via the ‘back door’ on dirt roads to see parts of the park few people visit.
Book half-day back country tour of Arches National Park
Private full day tour and hike combo. A full day of off-roading and hiking in Arches National Park (for up to four people).
Book full-day tour and hike in Arches National Park
Private day trip from Salt Lake City. If your time is more limited, this private day-long tour from Salt Lake City is a great option. It’s a long day, but you will get to see the park highlights in just one day.
Book an all-day private tour of Arches National Park from Salt Lake City
Utah’s Mighty 5 (five-day tour). See all five of Utah’s incredible national parks in an intensive 5-day trip. Includes Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Zion, and Bryce Canyon National Parks.
Book a five-day trip to all Utah’s Mighty 5
How to Fly to Arches National Park?
The closest airport to Arches National Park is Canyonlands Field (CNY), a regional airport just 14.2 miles northwest of Moab.
If you’re coming from Dallas, Phoenix, Santa Ana, or Las Vegas, Grand Junction Regional Airport is another airport to consider as you’re deciding where to fly into for Arches National Park. It’s located 110 miles from the park so it’s roughly an hour and a half drive to the park.
You can also get flights to Arches National Park via Cortez Municipal Airport. This airport is two hours away from Arches, but it’s a good choice if you also want to see Mesa Verde National Park.
The best way to get around the park is through car rentals which are available at these airports. Book a rental car with rentalcars.com
For more detailed information about flying to Arches National Park, read my guide to the best airports for Arches National Park.
Check prices on flights to Arches National Park here.
If you’re looking for a scenic flight, there are 30-minute aerial tours of Arches National Park that give a unique view of the park and its arches.
Book a scenic flight over Arches National Park here.
Taking the Train to Arches National Park
There are no direct trains to get you to Arches National Park but you can take an Amtrak train to a station somewhat near the national park, then get a rental car for the final leg.
Amtrak’s California Zephyr runs daily between Chicago and Emeryville in California. It has routes serving Green River and Grand Junction.
Green River, UT is just 45 miles from the Arches National Park entrance, but there are no car rental agencies there, so this station is the best option if you want to travel the final leg to Moab by bus (see Taking a Bus section below for details) – and then take a tour or pick up a rental car in Moab to get into the park.
Amtrak’s Grand Junction station in Colorado is further afield (around 109 miles from the park), but there are car rental agencies there, so this is the best station to use for Arches National Park and Moab if you want to drive into the park ands around the Moab area. You can also take a shuttle bus to Moab (see Taking a Bus section below for details).
Taking a Bus to Arches National Park
If you’re flying into Salt Lake City, the Road Runner Shuttle operates as the Arches National Park shuttle with drop offs in Moab.
If you’re traveling via Amtrak, they also have train pick-ups and drop-offs and operate as the Grand Junction to Moab shuttle and Green River to Moab shuttle.
If you take a bus to Moab, you will still need to take a tour bus into the park or rent a car in Moab to explore the park itself. Book a rental car with rentalcars.com
How to Drive to Arches National Park
Arches National Park is just five miles from Moab but is fairly isolated from major cities. Even if you fly, you will most likely end up driving to Arches National Park from the airport – and, of course, you may choose to see Arches National Park as part of an epic road trip. (If you do, be sure to check my Road Trip Essentials list to make sure you have everything you need).
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Book a rental car with rentalcars.com
Here are basic directions to Moab, Utah from major departure points around the country:
Salt Lake City to Moab takes about three and a half to four hours, though the drive is really easy and uncomplicated. The distance from Salt Lake City to Arches National Park is 230 miles. You can take I-15 S, then head to US-6 E. Drive until you reach I-70 E. Then take US-191 S going to Arches National Park Road.
If you’re planning to drive from Denver to Arches National Park, it will take you more or less five hours to get to the park’s Visitor Center. From Denver, take North Broadway and West 8th Avenue and head off to West 6th Avenue or the 6th Avenue Freeway. Drive from I-70 W going to US-191 S in Thompson Springs. Take exit 182 from I-70 W and follow US-191 S until you reach Arches National Park Road.
Driving from Las Vegas to Arches National Park is also feasible but is a longer distance. Las Vegas to Arches National Park is around 453 miles so your trip will take about six and a half hours. The Las Vegas to Arches National Park route is your best choice if you’re also seeing other places of interest like Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park. To reach the park by car, you can get on I-515 N or US-95 N. Take I-15 N and I-70 E to US-191 S in Thompson Springs. Then, take exit 182 from I-70 E and continue driving on US-191 S. From there, you’ll reach Arches National Park Road.
Distance from Grand Junction To Moab, Utah is 113 miles and it’s a relatively quick trip that will only take you about an hour and 45 minutes. From I-70BL W, take I-70 W going to US-191 S in Thompson Springs, then exit to 182 towards US-191 to Crescent Junction. Follow along US-191 S towards the park’s road.
The quickest way to travel from Phoenix to Arches National Park is to fly from Phoenix Sky Harbor International to Moab. But if you really want to take an epic road trip, it will take around eight hours. Stop off in Sedona, Williams, Prescott, Canyonlands National Park, Old Town Cottonwood, Watson Lake, and more. From West Washington Street and West Adams Street in Phoenix, get on I-17 N or US-60 W and drive towards US-89 N. Continue towards US-160 E, then US-191 N to Arches Entrance Road.
From St. George to Arches National Park is about 335 miles. Driving from St. George, Utah to Arches National Park will take you about 5 hours. Get on I-15 N and drive to I-70 E and take exit 182 going to US-191 S in Thompson Springs. Continue driving until you reach Arches Entrance Road.
Getting from Park City to Arches National Park will take you about four hours. The distance between the two points is 231 miles. You can take US-189, US-40 E, or Highway 40 W E from UT-248 E or Kearns Boulevard. Then, continue on US-189. Take US-6 E going to I-70 E, and drive to US-191 S towards the park’s Entrance Road.
From Flagstaff to Arches National Park, travel time by car is around five and a half hours (328 miles). From Flagstaff’s Historic Route 66, drive to N 89 then US-160 E. Continue on US-191 N to Arches National Park Road in Grand County.
If your travel route is from San Diego to Arches National Park, it’s best to fly to one of the nearest airports to Arches National Park.
Flying from Tucson to Arches National Park’s nearest airports is also better to lessen driving hours.
More feasible routes you can take are from Mesa Verde National Park / Durango to Arches National Park, which is about a three-hour drive. Drive from US-160 W to CO-184 W or North Main Street in Mancos. Head to US-491 N in Lewis, then follow US-491 N and US-191 N to Arches Entrance Road.
Cedar City to Arches National Park is accessible via I-15 N from North Main Street. Continue driving on I-15 N and I-70 E. When you reach US-191 S in Thompson Springs. Take exit 182 from I-70 E, then follow US-191 S which will lead you to the park’s Entrance Road.
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Book a rental car with rentalcars.com
Check out my guide to saving money on rental cars before you book.
FAQs about the Best Way to Get to Arches National Park
How far is it from Zion to Arches National Park?
Zion National Park is 342 miles from Arches National Park. It will take you about five and a half hours to travel between both parks.
How far is it from Bryce Canyon to Arches National Park?
The distance from Bryce to Arches National Park is around 278 miles. If you’re driving directly from Bryce Canyon to Arches, it will take you about 5 hours.
What is the distance from Moab to Salt Lake City?
The distance Salt Lake City to Arches National Park is about 236 miles, which will take a maximum of 4 hours.
How is the drive from Denver to Arches National Park?
If you’re planning an epic Denver to Moab drive, you can easily do it in a day. You can take the quicker west route along I-70 on your Denver to Arches National Park drive. This route also takes you through scenic spots like Gunnison and Montrose.
What is the distance from Denver to Moab?
Denver to Moab distance is 355 miles and takes more or less 6 hours with some stops.
How far is it from Grand Junction to Arches National Park?
The driving distance from Grand Junction, Colorado to Moab, Utah is 109 miles. Driving from Grand Junction to Moab, Utah will take you around an hour and 45 minutes.
What’s the distance from Green River, Utah to Arches National Park?
Green River is just 60 miles from Arches National Park. You’ll quickly reach it in about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Travel Insurance for Arches National Park
Hopefully you now know the answer to: Where is the Arches National Park entrance and how do you get there? In addition, you should definitely have travel insurance when you travel to Arches.
Good travel insurance will cover you for trip cancellation, theft or damage of your property when traveling, medical help if you have an accident in or while visiting Arches National Park or medical repatriation if you need to get medi-vaced out.
A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can choose the best travel insurance plan for your trip here or get a quote right now:
Enjoy Arches National Park!
You might also like to read:
When you start to plan your trip to Arches National Park, how to get there is just part of what you need to consider. Planning trips to Arches National Park is less less stressful if you also consider the following things:
- The closest airports to Arches National Park
- The Arches National Park reservations system
- 1-, 2- and 3-day itineraries for Arches National Park
- 12 Fun Facts About Arches National Park
- Books to read about Arches National Park
- Arches National Park Guide
- Best Hikes in Arches National Park
- Devil’s Garden Trail Guide
- The Best Time to Visit Arches National Park
- Vacation Rentals Near Arches National Park
- 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Planning a Trip to Arches National Park
- How many days in Arches National Park do you need?
Did you decide the best way to visit Arches National Park? 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 To Get To 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 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 USA Today, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.
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