Is there a scenic drive through Arches National Park?

The scenic drive in Arches passes many outstanding natural features. Parking is limited at all destinations, and popular trailheads like Delicate Arch and Devils Garden may fill for hours at a time, especially on weekends and holidays.



People Also Ask

The scenic drive in Arches is about 22 miles one way, so about 45 miles in total. You should count at least 4-5 hours to drive the entire road and make short stops (5-30min each) at all the scenic viewpoints. If you are planning to hike in Arches, you'll need more time.

MORE DETAILS

Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint is just next to the Arches Scenic Drive and the Upper Delicate Arch Viewpoint is just 0.3 miles further. The Lower Viewpoint is a very short accessible trail right next to the parking that everyone can do. Whereas the Upper Viewpoint requires some climbing.

MORE DETAILS

Hike the Devils Garden Trail to Landscape Arch. If you have the energy, hike the 4.5-mile (round trip) Double O Arch Trail to see all six arches. After a snack, double back along Scenic Drive to the Windows section for a short, 1-mile hike to see three of the largest arches in the park.

MORE DETAILS

Drive to The Windows Section and see some of the park's largest arches. (Add a half hour to stroll beneath either North Window or Double Arch.). Or drive to Delicate Arch Viewpoint and see the world's most famous arch, a mile distant.

MORE DETAILS

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.


MORE DETAILS

Yes. A timed entry reservation is required to enter the park even if you have an existing pass. Annual passes cover the payment of entrance fees, so annual or senior pass holders only need to pay the $2 reservation fee.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

Without a doubt, Delicate Arch is the most famous natural stone arch in the world. Referred to as The Arch by many arriving visitors for whom it is No. 1 on their must-see lists, Delicate has an allure that is hard to explain but impossible to deny. The light opening beneath Delicate Arch is 46 feet (14 m) high.

MORE DETAILS

The Arches Scenic Drive is the main way to tour Arches National Park. It begins right off of US191, north of Moab. This page covers the first part, from the road's start at US-191 to the Windows Road turnoff.

MORE DETAILS

The distance from Canyonlands to Arches is only 27 miles, around 30 minutes of a drive. That is why it is so easy to combine both national parks in one day.

MORE DETAILS

The best easy hikes in Arches are The Windows, Landscape Arch, Double Arch, Sand Dune Arch, and Park Avenue. My name is Ash, and I'm a former park ranger.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

Naturally our list would have to begin with Delicate Arch, The most famous arch in the park, and probably the world. This Arch is featured on the Utah license plate, it's an icon for not just Utah, but the entire desert Southwest. People flock from all corners of the Earth just to see and photograph this arch up close.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

You can also exit and re-enter the park on that same day if your ticket was validated during your designated time window. What time of day can I enter Arches National Park without a reservation? If you enter the park prior to 6:00 AM or after 5:00 PM you do not need an entrance ticket.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

Although both of these parks are in Utah, they offer very different experiences! Choosing which one you should visit depends on what you are looking for. While Bryce offers stunning views of hoodoos, taking an Arches park tour will bring you close to the iconic natural arches.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS