Arches National Park Itinerary: 10 Best Things to Do in Arches National Park
Have you ever been to a place where around every corner you are like “OMG LOOK! Woaaaaaah. It’s so pretty!”. That was Arches National Park for us.
Out of the five national parks Alex and I visited in Utah, we LOVED Arches National Park the most! It was simply breathtaking! Not to say the other national parks weren’t, however, it was just… different. Everything seemed more epic in Arches National Park and the sunsets. They were B-E-A-Utiful. This guide will review everything you need to know to create the perfect Arches National Park itinerary, including travel tips, where to stay, the best hikes in Arches National Park, and the best things to do in Arches National Park.
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Travel Tips for Creating an Arches National Park Itinerary
Time needed to explore
If you are looking to hike, I recommend allocating 2 days in Arches National Park. If you are looking to drive around and see everything that is easily accessible, you really only need 1 day. It only takes half an hour to get from the park entrance to the end of the park, so the drive goes by quickly if you aren’t looking to hike!
Things to know before you go
It will get HOT quickly in Arches National Park, so be prepared to drink lots of water, eat lots of snacks, and wear a lot of sunscreen. There was barely any shade in the park, so we drank over a gallon of water a day when exploring. We also brought a lot with us when we hiked. It was much needed!
Tips and Tricks
Arches National Park has over 1.5 million visitors per year, so it is implementing a timed entry reservation system to help with the increasing crowds. The tickets are first-come, first-serve, so I recommend getting yours as early as you can during their release schedule.
Always remember to leave no trace.
It’s crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some of these spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they don’t have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.
Closest Airport to Arches National Park
Arches National Park is located in the southeast corner of Utah. The easiest way to get to Arches National Park is to fly into Salt Lake City International Airport. The Salt Lake City International Airport is only a four-hour drive to the park, making it the closest airport to Arches National Park with the most flight options. There is an airport in Moab that is closer to Arches National Park, but it is very expensive to fly into it, and it doesn’t have many flight options.
I highly recommend renting a car for your drive to Arches National Park because there isn’t a bus service from Salt Lake City to the park. There are a few shuttle options that leave from Moab to visit Arches National Park, but it is much easier to have a car to visit the popular sights.
Best Places to Stay Near Arches National Park
If you decide to spend the night near Arches National Park, I recommend staying in Moab. It is less than 20 minutes away from the park entrance and has everything you need in it. It has plenty of hotels, an endless amount of restaurants and a great grocery store with decent prices, so you are golden if you stay here!
If you have or can rent camping gear or a campervan, I highly recommend it because there are campgrounds close to Arches National Park. If you are interested in renting a campervan, I highly recommend renting from Escape Campervans!
Best Hotels Near Arches National Park:
Best Campgrounds Near Arches National Park:
Arches National Park Itinerary: The 10 Best Things To Do in Arches National Park
There was a lot to see in Arches National Park, but the below are the best things to do in Arches National Park, in my opinion! Make sure to stop at every possible viewpoint even if I don’t mention it below. Everything is well worth the stop and should be in your Arches National Park itinerary!
The Windows, Turret Arch, and Double Arch
These arches are most likely what you picture when you think of Arches National Park. These arches are also some of the most well-known attractions and best things to do in Arches National Park, so you already know the parking lot is going to be packed! We came here during sunset, and it was beautiful! We always arrived in our sunset location over an hour early to secure a good spot.
The Windows consist of two arches - North Window and South Window and are on the same side of the parking lot as Turret Arch. These are all very easily accessible and do not require much of a hike which is nice!
It’s about a 1-mile roundtrip loop to see both Windows and Turret Arch. The trail will first bring you to North Window where you can go up and into the arch. It’s pretty cool! It will then take you around to South Window which you cannot easily get into, but you can enjoy the epicness from beneath it.
Once you are done enjoying the beautiful Windows, you can head back to Turret Arch. This is another arch you can walk up and through! Be careful if you do decide to go into either arch. The footing can be tricky, especially if wet.
If you are looking to get away from the crowds, I recommend hiking the Primitive Loop Trail because it is one of the best hikes in Arches National Park. You can start this hike the same way as above, but instead of turning to go to Turret Arch, continue to the left around South Window to the backside of the arches.
This is an awesome way to enjoy the beauty of these arches without the crowds. Alex and I hiked both trails since they were very easy but really enjoyed the Primitive Loop!
Double Arch is across the parking lot and only requires a short hike to get to it. This arch is EPIC. It’s just so big and when you walk into it, you really feel the greatness of it. I love the ability to walk into these arches!
During sunset, we saw many people climb further into these arches because there was a small hole in the rock where you can sit and watch the sunset. I was jealous I didn’t see it before, but that’s okay! Anywhere over near these arches makes for an incredible sunset and should be added to your Arches National Park itinerary.
OH! And don’t forget to stop at the Garden of Eden on the way to these arches! It is really cool and worth the stop.
Skyline Arch
Skyline Arch is another beautiful arch that is easy to get to, so it is a must-add to your Arches National Park itinerary. The Skyline Arch trail is only 0.4 miles round trip and allows you to get to its base.
Since it sits up high, you will be so impressed by how huge it looks when you are up close to it. Since the trail is short, you can see Skyline Arch from the parking lot, so if you don’t want to hike it, you can still take in its beauty. No matter which way you want to experience Skyline Arch, it is one of the best things to do in Arches National Park.
Sand Dune Arch, Broken Arch, and Tapestry Arch
Sand Dune Arch, Broken Arch, and Tapestry Arch are beautiful and unique arches that can be easily hiked together and should be added to your Arches National Park itinerary! Although you can hike to them separately, I highly recommend making the trail a loop to see all three in one hike!
Sand Dune Arch is a classic arch that you have probably seen. It is unique compared to the other arches in Arches National Park because it is between sandstone fins! Broken Arch is not broken even though you would think it is because of its name. It is a tall arch that has been worn thin over the years but is still standing strong!
Tapestry Arch is much less visited than Sand Dune Arch and Broken Arch, but just as beautiful! The arch stands tall against a sandstone fin with what looks like two smaller arches next to it. Since the three arches are not far away from one another, I highly recommend hiking them in a loop!
If you want to hike to Sand Dune Arch, Broken Arch, and Tapestry Arch in one 2.8-mile roundtrip hike, I recommend starting at the Sand Dune Arch trailhead. The trail is flat for 0.1 miles, then turns right to a small incline to get to Sand Dune Arch.
After you take in the beauty of Sand Dune Arch, head back to the trail and turn right to continue to Broken Arch. The trail will come to a junction after 0.3 miles, where you will continue right for 0.2 miles to Broken Arch. Once you explore Broken Arch, you will continue 0.5 miles to the Tapestry Arch junction, where you will turn right to continue 0.2 miles to the arch.
After you explore all that Tapestry Arch has to offer, you can either head back the way you came or continue in a loop past Devils Garden Campground and back to the Sand Dune Arch trailhead. This is one of the best hikes and things to do in Arches National Park, so make sure to add it to your itinerary!
Delicate Arch
Delicate Arch is another arch you probably picture when thinking about Arches National Park. It’s pretty iconic and is on everyone’s Arches National Park itinerary! Que every tourist. Yes, the parking lot will be busy no matter what time of day you go because it is considered one of the best things to do in Arches National Park.
The best time to visit this arch is near sunrise or sunset. It is in very harsh lighting during every other part of the day. It is one of the best places to watch the sunset in Arches National Park, so you will not be alone in hiking to Delicate Arch.
There are three ways you can view Delicate Arch. The first two easy ways are located at the end of Delicate Arch Road. There are two viewpoints here: Lower and Upper. The Lower Viewpoint is the easiest to hike to Delicate Arch since it’s a mere 50 yards from the parking lot. The Upper Viewpoint is half a mile from the parking lot and requires a more steep hike to Delicate Arch.
If you are looking to get up close and personal with Delicate Arch, have no fear, there is a hike for you! The hike to Delicate Arch is 3.2 miles roundtrip and gains 500 feet of elevation. That may not seem difficult, but oh it is in the hot sun with no shade! It felt as if the hike was never going to end for us!
And all of the elevation for the hike to Delicate Arch is at the very beginning of the trail. Was it worth the hike? Absolutely! The arch was beautiful! However, we should have done it earlier or later in the day when it may have been a bit cooler and the light would have been better for pictures.
Park Avenue
The Park Avenue Trail is one of the first attractions in Arches National Park and is often overlooked! The easy, two-mile roundtrip hike brings you to the bottom of a canyon through the Three Gossips, Courthouse Towers, Queen Nefertiti, Queen Victoria Rock, Organ, and Tower of Babel. These all can be seen from the road, however, the Park Avenue Trail brings you up close and personal with them.
It is one of the best hikes in Arches National Park for those looking for an easy hike with beautiful views! It is one of the best things to do in Arches National Park!
You can access the trail from two points: Park Avenue Viewpoint and Courthouse Towers Viewpoint. Either starting point is great and leads to the other parking lot, so regardless, you will be experiencing the same thing at either starting point. Make some time on your Arches National Park itinerary to stop here because you won’t regret it!
Devils Garden Loop
The Devils Garden Loop is at the very end of Arches National Park and is the longest and most difficult trail in the park. I think it was super fun once you hike past the first mile because the crowds tend to give up after the arches, so the trail becomes very peaceful. If you are looking for a challenging hike, make sure to add Devils Garden Loop to your Arches National Park itinerary!
The trail is about 7.9 miles with over 1,000 feet of elevation gain and brings you past A LOT of arches. If you want to hike the full trail, I suggest planning for 4-6 hours, especially if you want to take your time. You will also need A LOT of water. It becomes extremely hot on this trail, and you need a lot of water and snacks to hike the entire trail.
The first part of the trail is well-maintained and brings you to Landscape Arch, Pine Tree Arch, and Tunnel Arch. Once you get past these and see “Primitive Trail” signs, the trail is less maintained and more rugged. The fun part!! The trail is fairly well marked and if it’s not, you will see cairns, so you should have no problem following it. And of course, make sure to stick to the designated trail! The vegetation around here is so precious and does not need anyone’s shoe mark on it.
If you decide to do the full loop, you will see Tunnel Arch, Pine Tree Arch, Landscape Arch, Partition Arch, Navajo Arch, Black Arch, Double O Arch, and Private Arch. Yup, that’s a lot of arches! And all of them are beautiful in their own way. Devils Garden is one of the best things to do in Arches National Park to see the most arches.
If you have the time, I recommend hiking this trail. It is one of the best hikes in Arches National Park and the only “hiker’s hike”!
What to Pack for a Arches National Park Itinerary
Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
Microspikes: If you plan on winter hiking, you will need to bring microspikes.
Snowshoes: Also if you hike in the winter, you may need snowshoes.
Is Arches National Park on your bucket list? This guide provides everything you need to create an epic Arches National Park itinerary, including what to pack, travel tips, where to stay, the best hikes in Arches National park, and the best things to do in Arches National Park.
Make sure to allocate time to visit Canyonlands National Park as well which is only a short drive from Arches National Park! You can even visit Arches and Canyonlands in one day!
Hey, I’m Nichole
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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