Arches is a stunning national park located in one of the most scenic areas of Utah. In this article, we’ll discuss how to get to Arches National Park, including the best airports to fly into and the best roads to drive!
If you are flying to Arches National Park, the closest airport is the Canyonlands Regional Airport, which is only 11 miles from the park entrance. If you’d rather fly into a larger international airport, then book your tickets to the Salt Lake City International Airport.
Driving to Arches National Park? You’ll drive along US 191 to get to the entrance of the park. When you enter the park, you will be traveling on the Arches Scenic Drive, which is the main park road that connects all of the major points of interest in Arches National Park.
My name is Ash, and I’m a former park ranger. I’ve been to Arches National Park many times, so I know the park well! I can’t wait to help you plan your upcoming trip to this remarkable national park.
Let’s talk more about how to get to Arches National Park, including my advice on the best airports and roads in the area!
Where is Arches National Park Located?
Arches National Park is located in Southeast Utah. It is about 5 minutes from Moab, UT, 2 hours from Grand Junction, CO, and 4 hours from Salt Lake City, UT.
The nearest national park to Arches is Canyonlands National Park, which is only about 30 minutes away.
The closest town to Arches is Moab, and you’ll find a ton of lodging, dining, and activity options here.
What is the Closest Airport to Arches National Park?
Canyonlands Regional Airport
The Canyonlands Regional Airport (CNY) is the closest airport to Arches National Park. (This airport is sometimes referred to as Canyonlands Field Airport.) If you don’t mind flying into a small airport and would like to shorten your drive time, you can fly into this airport and enjoy a 15-minute drive to the park’s main entrance and visitor center!
This airport is serviced by Contour Airlines, in partnership with American Airlines, offering daily service from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, and RedTail Air, which provides twice-weekly connections to the Salt Lake City Airport.
Other Regional Airports Near Arches National Park
Grand Junction Regional Airport
Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT) is another smaller airport that gets you pretty close to Arches.
Your trip from Grand Junction to Arches is about a two-hour drive. Flights to and from this airport are offered by Allegiant, American Airlines, Breeze, and United Airlines.
You can expect connections to major cities such as Denver, CO; Dallas, TX; Phoenix, AZ; Los Angeles, CA; Las Vegas, NV; Santa Ana, CA; and Mesa, AZ. However, some of these connections are seasonal.
What are the Largest Airports Near Arches?
If you don’t want to pay a premium price to fly into one of the smaller regional airports listed above, it will make the most sense to fly into the nearest major airport near Arches, such as the airports in Salt Lake City or Las Vegas. Ticket prices to these airports can be much cheaper, but your drive time to the park will be longer.
Salt Lake City International Airport
The closest major airport to Arches National Park is Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). This is a popular airport for anyone visiting Utah’s National Parks, including Arches. In my opinion, this is the best airport for flying into Utah and visiting Arches. It takes about 4 hours to get to the park from here.
If you want to turn your visit to Arches National Park into a road trip of nearby national parks, a route I recommend is Salt Lake City to Arches/Canyonlands (4 hours), Arches to Capitol Reef (2 hours), Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon (2.5 hours), Bryce Canyon to Zion (1.5 hours), and Zion back up to Salt Lake City (4.5 hours).
This airport is serviced by all major airlines year-round.
Other Large Airports Near Arches National Park
Two different airports you could choose to fly into are the Denver International Airport and the Harry Reid International Airport. The drive from these airports is a little longer but may allow you to add in other stops in southern Utah as you make your way to Arches.
Denver International Airport
The Denver International Airport (DIA) is about a 6-hour drive from Arches. If you fly in here, you could stop at Rocky Mountain National Park, Vail, Glenwood Springs, or Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
This airport is a major hub in the west, so you’ll find many different flight options year-round.
Harry Reid International Airport
The Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas (LAS) is a 7-hour drive to Arches. Flying into Las Vegas is popular for people hoping to hit multiple Utah national parks.
This airport is a great option if you want to take a grand tour of the Utah parks. After leaving Vegas, you’ll be close to Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park. You can kick off your tour of Utah from there!
Planning a trip to Arches can be overwhelming.
How do you make a solid plan if you’ve never been to the park before? How do you keep everyone in your group excited and engaged?
You can spend hours on the internet searching for things to do, but you still won’t find the insider tips and first-hand knowledge that I’ve gained from working as a park ranger.
If you’re hoping to see the best sights without getting stuck in traffic, circling parking lots, or being surrounded by people, check out this Arches Itinerary.
You will see all of the can’t-miss spots, plus get lodging and dining guides, driving directions, and insider tips!
The Best Roads to Arches National Park
If you’re driving to Arches, you will see plenty of inspiring scenery along your route. Here are some things you can expect as you approach the entrance to Arches National Park.
Highway 191
Highway 191 is the main road that takes you straight to the entrance of Arches National Park, which is located just a few minutes north of the town of Moab, UT.
From downtown Moab, you will travel north on Highway 191 for 5 miles before reaching the Arches entrance. If you are coming from the opposite direction via Interstate 70 (Crescent Junction), you will drive south on Highway 191 for about 22 miles before reaching the entrance to Arches National Park.
In addition to Arches, you can access a whole bunch of other points of interest from Highway 191, including Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park, the KlonZo Trailhead, Gemini Bridges, and Ken’s Lake.
Highway 191 is open year-round, weather permitting. It is RV-friendly.
Highway 128
Highway 128 is a scenic byway near Arches. This beautiful road follows the Colorado River and leads to some fabulous campgrounds, boat launching areas, and hiking trails.
If you’re driving to Arches from Grand Junction, CO, you can take Highway 128 to the park instead of staying on I-70 to Crescent Junction. Or, if you’re already in Moab, exploring this road is a fabulous way to spend a day!
This road is a basic 2-lane highway with a lot of curves, but driving an RV is just fine along this route. Highway 128 stays open year-round, weather permitting.
Highway 279
Like Highway 128, Highway 279 provides a nice scenic drive as it follows the Colorado River. This road provides access to some of the area’s most popular jeeping routes, climbing areas, and hiking trails.
Highway 279 travels to some great points of interest, but it pretty much dead-ends at the Potash Ponds unless you’re in a 4×4 vehicle, so it’s not really a destination by itself. You’ll want to decide what you’re hoping to see if you’re going to drive this road. If you’re in a regular vehicle, I recommend at least hiking to Corona Arch and stopping at the dinosaur tracks.
This road is RV-friendly until it dead-ends, but you may want to turn around at the Gold Bar Campground if you’re in a large rig. It stays open year-round, weather permitting.
Highway 313
Highway 313 is the road you’ll take if you’re traveling between Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky District).
This is a nice 2-lane road that passes by several beautiful viewpoints, mountain biking trails, the Mineral Bottom Road, and access to Gemini Bridges before landing you in either Canyonlands or Dead Horse Point State Park.
Highway 313 is RV-friendly and is open year-round, weather permitting.
This information should help you get to Arches fast — there are so many fun adventures waiting for you in this exciting national park. Have a great trip!
More Arches Trip Planning Information
Arches Itinerary — a detailed hour-by-hour sightseeing schedule.
How Many Days Should I Spend in Arches? — itinerary ideas.
The Best Time to Visit — what to expect during each month of the year.
Weather, Hours, and Closures — important weather info and common closures.
Where Should I Stay? — the best options in and around the park.
All About Camping — learn about the park’s campgrounds and how to get a site.
10 Things You Can’t Miss on Your First Visit to Arches — the top 10 spots.
The Best Easy Hikes — the perfect trails for kids, wheelchairs, and beginners.
Best Things to Do — activities for every adventurer.
The Ultimate Arches Trip Planning Guide — everything you need to know.
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