Do you still need reservations for Arches National Park?

By making reservations in advance, visitors can enjoy a stress-free visit to one of the nation's most stunning national parks. When are reservations required? Between April 1, 2023 and October 31, 2023 reservations are required for your vehicle to enter Arches National Park every day between 7 am and 4 pm.



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MOAB, Utah—Starting Saturday April 1, 2023, Arches National Park will implement a pilot, temporary timed entry system to access the park. From April 1 to October 31, 2023, between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily, visitors will need to purchase a timed entry reservation in advance to enter the 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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Between April 1, 2023 and October 31, 2023 reservations are required for your vehicle to enter Arches National Park every day between 7 am and 4 pm. Reservations will allow visitors to enter the park during a one-hour window.

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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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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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Two days in Arches is ideal though and would give you enough time to explore the Fiery Furnace on the ranger-led hike and do a few more of the longer hikes. One day is really all you need at the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park if you're sticking to the overlooks and shorter trails.

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Timed entry tickets are required from April 1 - October 31, 2023 to enter Arches National Park between 7 AM and 4 PM daily. In order to enter Arches National Park, visitors will need to pay the park entrance fee.

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To beat the crowds, try entering the park early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Temperatures are cooler and the light is better for photography.

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You'd have commendable focus to get in and out of the Park in under two hours, but it can be done. Even if you don't plan to stray from your vehicle, we recommend you budget an extra hour to take in the magnificent scenery and snap a picture or two.

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(For now, heavy hitters including Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Great Smoky Mountains parks don't have any reservation requirements in place for entry; other amenities, like campgrounds or backcountry permits, do require advance booking.)

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Here's how to minimize the crowds at Arches National Park:
  1. Avoid summer travel and during holidays. ...
  2. Plan your trip to arrive and explore during the week, avoiding weekends.
  3. Start your day early. ...
  4. Get out and hike. ...
  5. If you're in a hurry, with limited time, save this park for another vacation.


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Arches National Park is Open On very busy days, when parking lots fill to capacity we temporarily delay additional park entries. Visitors who encounter a closed gate may try back in a few hours or consider visiting other nearby destinations.

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For those who aren't up for the hike, there are two other viewing options: The Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint just down the road only requires a 100-yard walk over flat ground to get a fine look at the arch from a mile away.

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Personally I think that hiking boots are required in Arches National Park. The trails are rough and uneven and there are places where you do need to climb over rocks, so if you want to do some of the longer and more difficult hikes it is best to have good footwear with you.

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However, if possible, try to schedule your vacation for the late fall, winter or early spring months. Shoot for November to April. If you're insistent on a red-hot Moab summer, stick with the weekdays — Tuesday and Wednesday are the best days to go. And on any day in any season, go before 8 a.m. or in the afternoon.

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If you only want to see a few highlights in each park, then yes, one day in Arches and Canyonlands is enough time. For a better experience, add one more day to your itinerary, so you can spend one full day in Arches and one full day in Canyonlands.

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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 do not need a permit or reservation to visit most areas in Zion Canyon. You do not need a permit or reservation to ride a park shuttle. You do not need a permit or reservation to enter the park. You do need to pay the park fee.

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