1 Day in Arches National Park Itinerary
While in Moab, Utah, you need to spend at least 1 day in Arches National Park!
There’s plenty to do in the park to span a visit of several days, but sometimes, all you have is a short amount of time.
I’m here to tell you that is possible to explore the highlights of beautiful Arches National Park in only one day.
Here’s the itinerary you should follow to get the most out of your brief time in this striking area of southern Utah.
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Planning Ahead for Your Arches National Park Day
Arches National Park is one of the U.S. National Parks currently requiring reservations.
Because of this requirement—and because you’ve only got a 1 day window to experience the park—you’ll need to do a bit of planning before your visit.
Follow these tips to ensure that you have a perfect day at Arches!
NOTE: If this is your first trip to a national park, you’ll want to read through my comprehensive guide to the U.S. National Parks for beginners, which explains in detail everything from how the Junior Rangers program works to how to nab accommodations in the parks.
What do I need to visit Arches National Park?
From April to October, visitors need to plan ahead and grab a timed entry pass for the park. This can be done through the NPS site for Arches National Park and costs $2.
You need a different timed entry pass for each day you plan on going to the park.
Timed entries are available between 6 AM and 5 PM each day during that time period and are allotted in 1 hour increments (6 AM-7 AM, for example).
Don’t forget your photo ID as you’ll also need this when entering.
Finally, you’ll pay the usual entrance fee to get into the park. For a 7-day car pass, you’ll pay $30.
The author’s family at Skyline Arch
When do I NOT need a timed reservation pass?
However, you don’t need a pass if you’ve got valid reservations for camping inside the park, the Fiery Furnace trail, or the backcountry.
You also don’t need a timed pass if you plan to enter the park before 6 AM or after 5 PM.
Is all of this fuss over entering Arches National Park really necessary?
While this seems overwhelming, the process was much needed as Arches was super difficult to get around at peak times in the spring and summer.
On our first trip to the park, there was major road construction going on throughout, and we had the most difficult time navigating around Arches NP.
Add that to the record numbers of people who have visited this area in the last 5 years, and you’ve got a hot, sweaty, sandy disaster on your hands.
Knowing that you can get into the park on your selected day takes much of the stress and guesswork out of your visit.
Will I be able to get a reservation?
Mostly likely, yes.
PIN ME!
When fact checking this post in mid-August , I looked on the NPS site for available entrance times.
There were morning and afternoon arrival times available for every open day on the calendar. There were even several hundred slots open for the next day!
Given that the late summer is THE most popular time to visit Arches National Park, we can assume that this is when the reservation system is at its highest use.
If I could find plenty of times then, you should be able to find a time throughout the spring and summer to align with your planned vacation.
In any case, plan ahead to grab your preferred day and time.
You can get that spot up to 3 months before your arrival date.
1 Day in Arches National Park Itinerary
While on our amazing Denver to Grand Canyon road trip, Arches National Park was a must-do!
It was my first visit to this part of Utah, and we packed as much in as possible.
This itinerary roughly follows what we did on that 1 day initial visit with 2 small kids in tow.
Note: late spring, summer, and early fall are hot in Moab, so stay hydrated!
I’ve organized the activities with the heat and sun exposure in mind.
Morning Activities in Arches National Park
With your timed entry in hand, head to the park’s main entrance on Highway 191 just north of Moab, Utah.
In order to make the most of your short visit, I’d suggest arriving between 6-7 AM.
Not only will you have fewer people willing to get up this early, but you’ll be able to start your first hike before the weather heats up.
Make a quick stop by the visitors center to grab a map, and then make your way deeper into the park on Main Park Road.
Take a right onto Windows Road and find a parking spot in the circular parking lot at the end of the road.
From here, you can do two short hikes, both of which come recommended.
Double Arch trail as seen from a distance
The trailhead for the Double Arch trail is on the far left of the parking lot.
The Double Arch trail is only a 0.6 mile loop, which makes it an easy, refreshing first hike early in the morning.
The author and her children at Windows Trail
When you’re done with that, head back across the parking lot to the Windows trailhead.
Note that the Windows trail is super popular, so the earlier you can go, the better.
If you can time this hike to the sunrise, you’ll be treated to an amazing sight!
Depending on how long you’d like to spend here, you can take the shorter Windows trail loop, or extend your time in this section of the park by adding on the Windows Sand Loop Trail to the Windows Trail Loop.
Both are fairly easy and flat, and our preschooler was able to do the longer trail without any issues.
Leave the Windows parking lot and make your way back towards Main Park Road.
You’ll want to stop about halfway between the parking lot and intersection with the road to see a few incredible geological features.
Pull into the Garden of Eden parking lot to view Owl Rock and Serpentine Rock among the otherworldly formations in the Garden of Eden.
There isn’t a specific trail here to follow, so you can wander through the Garden at your own pace, exploring the areas that look most intriguing.
At 10:30, make sure you’re back at the Visitors Center to jump on the morning Patio Talk.
Here, you’ll learn about the park’s ecosystem, important flora and fauna, and how to protect the environment while you’re visiting.
Dive more deeply into what you’re seeing and doing in the park with the Arches National Park tour on the GuideAlong App.
This app is our go-to when visiting national parks as the guide plays automatically based on your GPS location and doesn’t require a cell signal once the tour is downloaded to your phone.
You’ll get information on the park’s history, geology, wildlife, and more.
Since we can start and stop the tour as much as we’d like, it’s great for traveling with kids.
It’s like having a tour guide in your car with you—but at an extremely reasonable price.
Get your little ones ready for adventure at Arches National Park and beyond with the best camping gifts for kids, as tested by our own camping kiddos!
Mid-day Activities at Arches National Park
Take a break and get some lunch!
Since you’re near the Visitors Center, get one of the picnic tables there and rest for a bit.
As there aren’t any restaurants inside the national park, you’ll want to pack a picnic so you don’t have to head to Moab mid-day.
I recommend putting together a picnic from Village Grocery in Moab, which has a wonderful selection of fresh produce, a salad bar, and locally made sides.
After you’ve eaten, explore the visitors center for a new souvenir, admire the animal sculptures around the exterior of the building, and learn something from the interior exhibits.
Ready for more amazing geological formations? Explore Monument Valley with kids—an easy 3 hour drive from Arches National Park!
Afternoon Activities at Arches National Park
Head back down Main Park Road to the Sand Dunes Arch Parking Lot.
This area is the hub for several great adventures, but I suggest heading to the short Sand Dunes Arch Trail first.
At only 0.4 miles, this flat trail is quick and easy, but what you’ll find at the end is amazing!
Tucked inside the red sandstone walls is a walkway of soft sand.
Take your shoes off, go further, and you’ll find the small but hidden Sand Dunes Arch.
If you are traveling with kids, prepare to stay in this area for a while!
My kids love the cool sand, which they want to play in for hours.
This is a great afternoon hike since it is mostly protected from the sun by the high, sheer rock faces.
Skyline Arch is another short trail in this area that you could add on if you’d like.
NOTE: If you are a more experienced hiker, you could do the Fiery Furnace hike in the late afternoon as this is when the sun reacts most intensely with the beautiful red walls of this area.
However, note that the 2 mile Fiery Furnace hike requires a permit (reserve online or by phone) at least 2 days before you plan to do the hike.
For this reason, and because it is a strenuous, confusing hike, the addition of the Fiery Furnace hike is only suggested for those with a lot of hiking experience or who have been to Arches before.
If you don’t do the Fiery Furnance hike, head back into Moab to grab some dinner before returning to the park for your evening activities.
Keep the vacation going with our 3 days in Moab itinerary!
Evening Activities at Arches National Park
Stargazing at Arches National Park
Watch the sun go down over the beautiful arches in the park, then head to your final activity: a ranger talk.
There are free nightly ranger talks at 8 PM in the Devil’s Garden Campground Ampitheatre, which can cover everything from noctural habits of animals to migration patterns.
After that is over, take a few moments to lay out a blanket and do some stargazing.
The night sky at Arches is incredible and was named an International Dark Sky Park in 2019.
Reflect on your big day of exploring and start planning your return trip!
If you’d like to explore more of this area—including another 6 national parks—you can head out on our suggested Utah and Arizona road trip itinerary.
Arches National Park FAQs
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Arches National Park is located in Moab, Utah. Moab is a small town on the border of Utah and Colorado, about halfway between Grand Junction, Colorado, and the 4 Corners Monument.
Arches is located about 5 miles north of Moab, Utah, on Highway 191.
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Unfortunately, no.
This park is one that you HAVE to plan ahead to visit, or you’ll be turned away at the entrance station.
The park does open up a handful of passes the day before for people who haven’t gotten one yet, but those are really limited.
Read more about the reservation process for Arches National Park here.
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Yes, you’ll need a rental car for Arches National Park as there’s no public transportation.
If you don’t have a car during your visit, you’ll need to arrange a tour with hotel pickup (see below).
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Arches National Park is manageable enough for a self-guided tour, especially when you’re only visiting for one day.
In fact, following my itinerary will give you a great taste of what the park is all about.
That being said, I also understand that some travelers prefer a guided tour of Arches National Park.
If that’s you, consider taking a 4x4 guided tour of Arches National Park, which will allow you to dive into areas of the park that wouldn’t be possible on a 1 day guided tour.
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Moab, Utah, is a vacation destination with hiking, white river rafting, off-roading, mountain biking, and rock climbing in and near town.
This is reason enough why the prices are high—it’s a vacation town, after all—but there’s a second reason.
Moab is remote, and there’s one road in and out of town.
Because of this remoteness, the town has a captive audience who either pay the high price of groceries, tours, and the like, or drive more than 1.5 hours to the next city.
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As you’ll find out when you drive around Moab, Arches National Park doesn’t have a monopoly on the arch geological formation.
In fact, you can see many, many more outside of the park, including on the Corona Arch Trail and in Canyonlands National Park.
So why bother with reservations and crowds for Arches National Park?
Because the variety and density of arches here is staggering compared to anything else in this area.
It’s worth it. I promise!
(But still check out some of the arches outside of the park, too.)
Heading even further west? Check out the best national parks on the west coast!
What else would you add to this 1 day in Arches National Park itinerary?
