Can you drive your car through Arches National Park?

There are other entrances, but these are considered 'secret entrances' through unpaved roads. Once you reach the park, the road system in Arches National Park comprises paved roads and dirt tracks. You can drive on unpaved roads but we recommend a suitable vehicle, something with 4-wheel drive and good sturdy tires.



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You can spend a couple hours or the better part of a day driving the 36 mile (round trip) road through Arches National Park. With plenty of places to stop and snap pictures and panoramic views for miles, you can enjoy the brilliant artistry and majesty of Arches without having to leave your vehicle.

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Those who drive into the park from April 1 and early October between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. will need a reservation. Arches implemented a timed-entry pilot program two years ago as a way of spreading out traffic and preventing temporary closures, and it appears it will likely stick.

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If you do not have a pass, you also will pay the Arches National Park entrance fee. Timed entry reservations will not be required for those with camping permits, backcountry permits, Fiery Furnace permits, special use permits, concessions contracts, or commercial use authorizations. Entrance fees still apply.

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Vehicles must stay on established roads within Arches National Park. Some park roads are unpaved and require high-clearance 4X4 vehicles. These routes lead into parts of the park where there are few visitors and extraordinary scenery.

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More than 1.5 million visitors come to Arches National Park each year, and that number is growing. During Arches' busy season (March through October), you may experience limited parking at all destinations in the park.

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Climbing, scrambling, walking or standing upon, or rapelling off any named or unnamed arch with an opening greater than three feet is prohibited in the park. This is to promote visitor safety and the opportunity to view natural features undisturbed. Balanced Rock is also closed to climbing.

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It's easy to access and can be visited no matter how much time you have to spend. If, as I was, you're rather short on time, you can make the most of just one day in Arches National Park.

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With one busy day you can see the highlights of Arches National Park. But if you want to take your time and explore a few hidden gems and off the beaten path places, plan on spending two days in Arches National Park.

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Do you plan to visit Arches National Park from April 1 - October 31 between 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.? You must also have a timed entry ticket to enter the park. All visitors are required to pay a park entrance fee except youth 15 and under who are admitted free.

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The best time to visit Arches National Park is April through May and September through October, when daytime temperatures average about 60 to 80 degrees. In the summer, temperatures can exceed 100 degrees, which can make exploring the park's trails very uncomfortable.

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Arches National Park isn't the only place in Moab to see epic arches. If you're looking for more places to put on your Utah or Moab itinerary, check out these 3 arches that aren't in the park, but are still as beautiful! All arches are also FREE and less crowded than the National Park!

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The only fully-paved road in Arches is Scenic Drive, a 25-mile, out-and-back road that passes the majority of the park's viewpoints and trailheads. If you're tight on time or don't enjoy hiking, you could drive the park—stopping 10 minutes at each viewpoint—in about three hours.

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To complete the journey through Arches National Park on the paved roads it takes only 1 hour 30 minutes without stops. To drive through Arches National Park on both paved and unpaved roads it'll take 2 hours and 30 minutes without stops to go to the notable landmarks, which is highly recommended.

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Best Things To Do in Arches National Park
  • Arches Scenic Drive. There is one road that travels through Arches National Park and that is Arches Scenic Drive. ...
  • Park Avenue. ...
  • La Sal Mountains Viewpoint. ...
  • Balanced Rock. ...
  • The Windows and Turret Arch. ...
  • Double Arch. ...
  • Garden of Eden. ...
  • Hike to Delicate Arch.


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Visitors may enter the park before 7 am and after 4 pm without a timed entry ticket.

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Can you do Bryce Canyon and the arches in one day? Yes, but barely, and it isn't recommended. It takes roughly 4 hours and 50 minutes to drive from Bryce Canyon National Park to Arches National Park, which would leave you with very little time to explore either park.

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You cannot sleep in your car at Arches National Park unless you have a reserved campsite at the Devils Garden Campground, which is the only designated campground within the park.

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The park is open 24 hours a day. Late afternoon and evening hours offer beautiful sunsets and reduced crowding, and naturally dark night skies sparkle overhead. During summer months, many trailhead parking lots fill by 7:30 am.

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Top 10 Tips
  • Pack your Patience. ...
  • Plan out the activities you want to do ahead of time.
  • Have a backup plan in case Arches is already full (temporarily restricting access) when you arrive. ...
  • Stay up to date on park closures and restricted access times by checking our Alerts or visiting Twitter.
  • Be ready for the desert.


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Seven Mile Parking is a private parking area outside Arches National Park, where RVs, cars and off-road vehicles can park for the day or park overnight. If you're looking for an alternative or back up overnight parking option around the area, Seven Mile Parking is an option.

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