Is there only one way in and out of Arches National Park?
There is only one road in and out of Arches National Park and it is that road. You can stop at several pull outs / parking lots and take 5 - 15 minute walks to see many arches. There are other arches that require significant more time and planning.
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There is no public transportation inside Arches National Park. You may need to rent a car, ride a bicycle, or take a commercial tour to get around inside the park. The nearest community is Moab, Utah.
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.
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.
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.
Shuttles & TaxisSeveral local taxi services and shuttles provide drop-off and pick-up service in Arches, which can be a great way to avoid parking hassles. Discover Moab offers a list on its website.
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.
Arches National Park is a relatively small national park with a handful of must-see sights. With one day in Arches, you can visit these top sights and a few off-the-beaten-path places. After multiple visits to Arches National Park, including two visits in the past two years, we have learned a lot about this park.
You could easily spend several days exploring the trails here, so visiting Arches National Park in one day requires some planning ahead to make sure you don't miss the best scenery. Especially since the park often hits capacity by 8 or 9 a.m. during the busy season and the entrance gates close for several hours.
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.
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.
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.
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!