If you’re wondering how many days to spend in Arches National Park, you’ve come to the right spot. I’m here to help you determine the amount of time to budget for this national park to make sure you don’t miss out on anything!
How many days should you spend in Arches? This park is small and can be seen in one full day; however, staying for two days will give you time to see all of the best hikes and viewpoints.
My name is Ash, and I am a former park ranger. I’m also a Utah native, and you’ll find me in Arches often! I can’t wait to help you plan your trip to this incredible national park.
Let’s dig deeper into the things you’ll want to consider when deciding how many days you should spend in Arches National Park.
Can I See Arches in One Day?
Yes! Arches is a relatively small park with many short trails that all have iconic views. If you’re hoping to do a short hike (or two or three!) and see some of the most popular natural arches and unique rock formations in Arches, then you can definitely do that in one day.
If you only have one day in the park, I recommend visiting Delicate Arch, one of the world’s most famous geologic features. You’ll need to keep in mind that this is one of the park’s most popular spots, so expect some crowding.
In addition to the Delicate Arch trail, you will also have time to complete many of Arches’ shorter trails. Hikes to Balanced Rock, Double Arch, Landscape Arch, Courthouse Towers, and the Windows section can all be completed within a few hours. You will be able to cover a lot of ground in one day and see some fantastic arches while you’re here!
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!
Arches in Two Days
You can explore a good portion of Arches in one day, but spending two days in the park will give you a much more complete experience!
If you can spend two full days in Arches, you will have time to see all of the can’t-miss spots, venture off the beaten path for a longer, more moderate hike, and perhaps take a ranger-led tour.
With two full days in the park, you won’t have to miss out on anything. You can hike to Delicate Arch, the Devils Garden trail, the Fiery Furnace, and still have time to experience all of the smaller viewpoints and shorter trails along the scenic drive.
It will also be much easier to structure your time around the crowds and parking area issues that are common in this park — this will help you feel more peace and solitude while you’re here.
Do you need help with your daily schedule for the Arches?
Get the inside scoop for your upcoming vacation —> this itinerary is the most detailed, epic, and easy-to-follow guide to the park!
Other Things to Consider
Before you solidify your travel dates or book your lodging for Arches, you’ll want to think about a few things, such as:
How much time will it take to travel to and from Arches (not including your sightseeing days)?
Many people forget to factor in enough time to drive to the park, which can cut into your sightseeing and leave you wishing for more. For example, if you plan on spending one day in Arches, but you don’t get an early start, you’ll severely limit the things you’ll have time to see. This is especially true if you visit during the spring, summer, or fall — every parking lot along the main road will be completely full by then.
Are there any major holidays/fee-free days/festivals you’d like to be in the park for or avoid?
If you’re visiting over a holiday or fee-free day, the crowds will be higher, and parking lots will be packed. You may have a harder time getting around to all the can’t-miss spots, so some extra time could be beneficial.
Are there other national parks and points of interest you’re hoping to see on the same trip?
Arches is only about 45 minutes from Canyonlands National Park. In addition to that, the town of Moab and the surrounding area has enough activities to keep you busy for a lifetime. Most people underestimate the number of days they’ll need to fully enjoy this area, especially if you want to try out jeeping the unpaved roads while you’re here!
Should I Spend More Time in Arches or Canyonlands?
Chances are, if you’re heading to Arches, you may also be visiting Canyonlands National Park. These parks are about 45 minutes apart, but many people like to see both while in the area.
Canyonlands is a lesser-known national park than Arches — it’s often overlooked due to its more famous neighbor. But Canyonlands is much larger than Arches and has a greater variety of amazing activities. You can hike, bike, jeep, and raft in this park.
I recommend spending two full days in Arches and two full days in Canyonlands (one day in the Island in the Sky District and one day in the Needles District). If you can’t give four full days to this area, I’d spend 1-2 days in Arches and one day in Canyonlands Island in the Sky.
Arches Itinerary Options
I’m here to help you determine how many days to spend in Arches, so here are a few sample trip itineraries for the area that can help you decide how to split your time between parks!
After you decide how to split your time, these detailed itineraries will provide you with a ton of extra information on favorite things to do, driving directions, some of the best places to stay and eat, and insider tips for your trip.
If you have:
A Weekend in Moab
I recommend spending one day in Arches and one day in Canyonlands Island in the Sky. If it’s a long weekend, add another day to Arches.
One Week Road Trip in Southern Utah
Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks
Day 1 — Fly into Vegas and drive to Zion (3 hours)
Day 2 — Zion all day, then drive to Bryce Canyon in the evening (2 hours)
Day 3 — Bryce Canyon all day, then drive to Capitol Reef in the evening (2 hours)
Day 4 — Capitol Reef all day, then drive to Arches in the evening (2 hours)
Day 5 — Arches
Day 6 — Canyonlands
Day 7 — Drive back to Vegas to catch your flight (7 hours)
Arches and Canyonlands
Day 1 — Fly into SLC and drive to Moab (4 hours)
Day 2 — Arches
Day 3 — Arches
Day 4 — Canyonlands Island in the Sky District
Day 5 — Canyonlands White Rim Road, Dead Horse Point State Park, or a Moab activity
Day 6 — Canyonlands Needles District
Day 7 — Drive back to SLC to catch your flight (4 hours)
10-Day Road Trip in Southern Utah
Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks
Day 1 — Fly into Vegas and drive to Zion (3 hours)
Day 2 — Zion
Day 3 — Zion
Day 4 — Zion in the morning, then drive to Bryce Canyon for the afternoon/evening (2 hours)
Day 5 — Bryce Canyon
Day 6 — Scenic Highway 12 in the morning, then Capitol Reef in the afternoon/evening (2.5 hours)
Day 7 — Capitol Reef all day, then drive to Arches in the evening (2.5 hours)
Day 8 — Arches
Day 9 — Canyonlands
Day 10 — Drive back to Vegas to catch your flight (7 hours)
2 Week Road Trip in Southern Utah
Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks
Day 1 — Fly into Vegas and drive to Zion (3 hours)
Day 2 — Zion
Day 3 — Zion
Day 4 — Zion all day, then drive to Bryce Canyon in the evening (2 hours)
Day 5 — Bryce Canyon
Day 6 — Bryce Canyon
Day 7 — Drive and sightsee along Scenic Highway 12 to Capitol Reef (3 hours)
Day 8 — Capitol Reef
Day 9 — Capitol Reef all day, then drive to Arches in the evening (2.5 hours)
Day 10 — Arches
Day 11 — Arches
Day 12 — Canyonlands
Day 13 — Canyonlands
Day 14 — Drive back to Vegas to catch your flight (7 hours)
Do you love to have a plan?
Get the inside scoop for your upcoming vacation —> this itinerary is the most detailed, epic, and easy-to-follow guide to the park!
I hope that helps you decide how many days to spend in Arches National Park to ensure a great time! Enjoy your trip!
More Arches Trip Planning Information
Arches Itinerary — a detailed hour-by-hour sightseeing schedule.
How to Get to Arches — the best airports and roads in the area.
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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