Arches National Park: A Utah Mighty Five Park
See the majestic geological formations at Arches National Park. Hike to an arch or take the scenic drive through the park.
Arches National Park is a unique park in Utah, near the eastern border with Colorado. Plan a trip to discover the array of colors, textures, and landforms only found in this area.
Take in a sunset in the gorgeous park, hike on the trails to see the over 2,000 natural arches in the park, or drive along the scenic route through the red rocks. The park is bordered on the southeast by the Colorado River.
What to do at Arches National Park
The Best Trails and Hikes at Arches
- Broken Arch Trail
- Delicate Arch Viewpoint Trail
- Double Arch Viewpoint and Trail
- Sand Dune Arch Trail
- Fiery Furnace Viewpoint (requires a fiery furnace permit for the ranger-led hike)
- Tower Arch Trail
- Balanced Rock Viewpoint and Trail
Double Arch Viewpoint
Things to do at Arches National Park
- Drive the scenic route through the park
- Stop at the visitor center for a Junior Ranger book
- Hike one of the many trails in the park to see the world-famous arches
- Obtain a permit to go canyoneering in the park
- Register for a rock climbing permit to climb one of the many established rock climbing routes
- Stay at the park after dark for amazing night sky views
What to see at Arches National Park
Arches Visitor Center
Arches National Park Visitor Center
There is only one visitor center for Arches National Park and it’s found just past the entrance station. You can see it from US 191 as you approach the park turnoff. Stop in to talk to a Park Ranger about your plans for the day, get a Junior Ranger book for any children in your group, add a stamp to your Passport Book, and search for the perfect souvenir. The visitor center will also have the last flushing toilets you’ll find in the park. Otherwise there are vault toilets at most of the trailheads.
Passport Book Stamp Location
National Park Passport Book Stamp Locations
- Arches Visitor Center
Arches National Park Basics
5 miles north of Moab, Utah
on US 191 in zip code 84532
$30 per vehicle
Valid for 7 days
Mountain Time Zone
1929
Location, Phone Number, and Address
Arches National Park is located in southeastern Utah. The National Park Service Visitors Center and park don’t have an exact address, but it is 5 miles north of Moab, Utah, on US 191 in zip code 84532.
The closest building outside the park is Springhill Suites Moab at 1865 N Hwy 191, Moab, UT 84532.
Arches can be reached by phone at 435-719-2299.
What are the Entrance Fees for Arches?
The entrance fees for Arches are part of a timed entry system through the National Park System from April 1 through October 31 so make sure to plan ahead. The timed entry ticket is $2 per vehicle per day that you are entering the park. Have your entry tickets ready to show when you pull up to the main entrance. Entry reservations are made through the recreation.gov website.
In addition to the timed entry pass, you will also need an entrance pass into the park. The standard passes are valid for 7 days from the date of purchase.
- Standard Pass for a standard passenger vehicle: $30 per vehicle
- Standard Pass for a motorcycle: $25 per vehicle
- Standard Pass for a pedestrian walking or biking into the park: $15 per person
- Arches National Park Annual Pass: $55
You can also use all National Park and valid Interagency Passes at Arches.
Current as of July 2024
What Time Zone is Arches National Park in?
Arches is in the Mountain Time Zone in the United States.
When is the Best Time to Visit?
Due to the extreme heat in the summer months, the best time to visit Arches National Park is in March or April before it gets too hot. Or plan a trip in the fall after the summer heat has subsided by visiting in September, October, or November. Keep in mind, too, that monsoon season in the area is from July through September. The area is prone to flash floods that can make trails dangerous.
Visiting in the winter months guarantees you won’t have to worry about heat-related illness. And you may get a chance to see the rare Southern Utah snowfall on the red rock of Arches.
When did Arches become a National Park?
Arches was established as a National Monument on April 12, 1929. It was designated as a National Park on November 12, 1971, as a joint effort of President Lyndon B. Johnson and President Richard Nixon.
How Big is Arches National Park?
The entirety of Arches National Park is 76, 679 acres or about 119 square miles of high desert on the Colorado Plateau.
Park Website
Always check the official park site for the most up-to-date information, hours, prices, and conditions.
Travel Tips for Arches National Park
Driving Through Arches National Park
Arches National Park has an 18-mile scenic road that runs through the park. There are a number of viewpoints that can be seen from the main road or at small pullout areas.
Drive to the Windows Section for the most popular viewpoints in the park. From here you can see some of the largest arches and stop for a walk up to Double Arch or North Window.
You can also drive to Delicate Arch Viewpoint to see the most famous arch in the park from about a mile away.
Where are the National Park Entrances?
Arches only has one entrance, off of US 191. From Moab, you will drive 5 miles north on US 191 and the park will be on the right. From Crescent Junction and I70, drive south on US 191 for 22 miles and enter the park on your left. Look for the sign at the park entrance. The visitor center is visible from the road.
What is the Nearest City to Arches?
The town of Moab is just outside of the National Park, about 5 miles south of the entrance to Arches.
Once you go further than Moab, there aren’t very many cities in the area. Grand Junction, Colorado, is about 110 miles northeast of Arches. Salt Lake City, Utah, is about 230 miles northwest of the park. Denver, Colorado, is about 350 miles northeast of the area.
What is the Nearest Airport to Arches?
There are two small airports in the area. Canyonlands Field (CNY) is about 11 miles from the park entrance. Since it’s such a small airport make sure to plan ahead and make sure there will be flights at a reasonable cost.
Further out, you can fly into Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT) which is about 110 miles from the park, or Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) about 230 miles from the park.
No matter which airport you choose, you are going to want a rental vehicle. There is no public transportation in Arches National Park.
Itineraries including Arches National Park
Lodging Near Arches National Park
Where to Stay
When you are headed to Arches National Park, it’s best to stay in Moab as there are no hotel or lodge accommodations inside the park.
Another option is to go about 45 minutes north to Green River and stay in one of the hotels there.
Campgrounds in the Area
One campground is available for reservations inside the park, the Devils Garden Campground. Sites can be reserved up to 6 months in advance. There are a total of 51 sites in the camping area.
Outside of the park, there are a number of campgrounds available in Moab and the surrounding area.
Nearby Canyonlands National Park also has two campgrounds available with the Island in the Sky Willow Flat Campground being the closest to Arches. There are only 12 sites available, though, so it fills up quickly.
What are the Closest National Parks to Arches National Park?
Canyonlands
Island in the Sky 30 miles • 30 minutes drive
Needles 80 miles • 1.5 hour drive
The Maze 158 miles • 5.5 hour drive
Canyonlands
Mesa Verde
150 miles • 3 hour drive
Facts about Arches National Park
The Plants and Animals of Arches
Desert conditions determine the type of plants and animals that thrive in Arches National Park. Some of the most common plants are prickly pear cactus, bunch grass, moss, Utah juniper, evening primrose, and yucca.
The animals are also effected by the drought and extreme conditions found in the Utah desert. Many of the animals have had to adapt to the area. Those animals include antelope squirrels, red foxes, sparrows, peregrine falcons, bighorn sheep, mule deer, cougars, and collared lizards.
Also note that the desert is home to two types of rattlesnakes that are venomous: faded rattlesnakes and western rattlesnakes.
What is the Highest Point? What is the Lowest Point?
Elephant Butte in the Windows section of the park has the highest elevation at 5,653 feet above sea level at the peak.
The visitor center is at the lowest point at 4,085 feet above sea level. Once you leave the visitor center, you will encounter quite a few switchbacks on the roadway to get you into the park.
Arches Fun Facts
- The park sees about 1.5 million visitors per year
- Arches is one of the “Utah Mighty Five” National Parks
- Climbing on Balanced Rock or any arch in the park with an opening larger than 3 feet is banned
- Landscape Arch is the longest natural arch in North America
- 11 movies were filmed in Arches National Park including Thelma & Louise, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and Hulk
- Arches is a designated International Dark Sky park
- There are four types of arches: cliff wall arches, free-standing arches, pothole arches, and natural bridges