Most people miss out on some of the most amazing views in Arches, but that doesn’t have to be you! Check out this itinerary before you go.
STEP TWO: Pick Your Dates
>> How long should I stay?<<
This task should only take a few minutes. Based on the decision you made in Step One, now it’s time to look at the calendar and pick your dates!
The reality of your trip will begin to set in as soon as you specifically decide when you are going to go.
As you look at the calendar to pick your dates, you’ll want to keep these things in mind:
- How much time you’ll be able to get off of work
- The amount of time it will take to travel to and from Arches (not including your sightseeing days)
- How many days you can afford for lodging and dining
- If there are any major holidays/fee-free days/festivals you’d like to be in the park for or avoid
In addition to picking a specific time to visit, you’ll also need to think about how many days you want to be in Arches. Let me provide some guidance!
3 Days
To fully experience both Arches and Canyonlands Island in the Sky {it’s so close…..you might as well plan in some time for this one too!}, I strongly suggest giving yourself at least 3 FULL sightseeing days. In that amount of time, you can see the best points of interest and give yourself time to get off-the-beaten-path as well.
A 3-day visit will allow you to avoid the crowds like a champ, which will be especially beneficial if you plan on being in the park during the summer! If you have time to stay longer, you’ll open up more options for longer hikes and extra activities such as jeeping and mountain biking.
2 Days
Spending 2 full days in Arches is enough time to hit everything on this list of 10 things you can’t miss — but you’ll run out of time to see Canyonlands if you try to do it all.
Two days in the park will still allow you to see the park’s main points of interest and complete the big must-do hiking trails!
1 Day
Arches in 1 day can be done, but I definitely don’t recommend it! You likely won’t have much time to explore some of the park’s most popular trails. Also, while it is possible to see a good portion of the park, it will be impossible to avoid the crowds as you explore.
You’ll also be traveling to the most popular areas of the park during some of the busiest times of the day, so finding parking may be a challenge!
Alright, are you ready to complete Step Two? Let’s lock in some dates! Don’t forget to choose your dates based on how many sightseeing days you have PLUS the number of travel days you’ll need to get to and from the park.
It’s time to take a look at the calendar and pick some specific dates for your trip to Arches!
Congrats! It’s so exciting to have the actual dates picked out.
Ready for Step Three? Let’s go!
Click NEXT to answer the question “what should I do in the park?”.
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