Jeeping in Arches National Park

Hey there!  Are you ready to get some red dirt on your tires?  Jeeping in Arches National Park is an exciting and unique way to see the beautiful backcountry and get away from the crowds of this busy national park!  

The nearby town of Moab is a wildly popular destination for jeeping.  All it takes is a short drive down Main Street to discover how much love this town has for its world-class backcountry roads!  But many people don’t realize that you can leave the pavement and take your jeep deep into Arches National Park, making the route described in this article a fabulous way to experience some solitude in the park.

I love Arches National Park, and in truth, I wasn’t sure if spending a day jeeping through the park would be worth the time and effort.  But this adventure quickly rose to the top of my list of favorite things to do in this park.

Hiking to two seldom-seen natural arches, being alone in some of the most beautiful red rocks I’ve ever observed, and listening to the gorgeous natural sounds of solitude made me feel like I had the park all to myself.  I fell in love with Arches all over again — and I want you to experience the same!

What You Need to Know About Jeeping in Arches National Park

• A high-clearance, 4-wheel drive vehicle is required for this adventure.  OHVs, ATVs, and UTVs are not permitted in Arches National Park.   We rented a jeep from Twisted Jeeps and would HIGHLY recommend you do the same to enjoy the experience fully.
• Come prepared!  You’ll want to have a full tank of gas, plenty of water, and a map specifically for these roads.  We used and loved this book for our Moab jeeping adventures (if you rent your jeep from Twisted Jeeps, they let you borrow their copy for the duration of the rental.) This blog post does not include mileage markers/maps because I strongly encourage you to take a detailed map of the route with you.
• The middle part of this route (the Tower Arch 4X4 Road to the Eye of the Whale) is not a beginner route — technical driving skills are highly suggested before attempting this trail.  If you would rather have someone else do the driving, consider taking a guided tour instead.
• Conditions vary along this road, so stop in at the Visitor Center to make sure the roads are open and passable.  Spring and fall are the most popular seasons to complete this drive.  Summer temperatures can easily reach 100+ degrees, and snow is common in the winter.

Do you really need a jeep to drive these backcountry roads in Arches? 

YES! We saw several other vehicles (trucks and SUVs) that had to turn around because they weren’t able to clear the obstacles!  It was comforting to know that we were in a vehicle that was specifically outfitted for the bumpy road we were on — and that we weren’t going to scrape up/bottom out our own truck!  Jeeps are perfect for this kind of adventure.

Our jeep from Twisted Jeeps performed flawlessly.  I take safety very seriously, especially with my young kids in tow.  This is not a place you want to be stranded!  I was completely ecstatic with the upgrades added to the jeep we got from Twisted Jeeps, and I genuinely believe that these are the best jeeps you can rent in Moab.

Getting Here

Your jeeping adventure begins on the Willow Springs Road.  To get here from downtown Moab, drive approximately 12 miles north on Highway 191. 

You’ll pass by the Arches Visitor Center, the turn-off to Canyonlands National Park, the Archview RV Resort, and Moab Under Canvas before reaching the Willow Springs Road.  If you get to the airport, you’ve gone too far.

Look for the small sign marking the Willow Springs Road and turn right here.  It’s time to have some fun!

Click NEXT to start your jeeping adventure in Arches National Park.

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