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What town is near Arches and Canyonlands National Park?

What city is closest to Arches National Park? Moab, Utah, is the closest city to Arches National Park, located just 10 minutes from the park entrance. Therefore, staying in Moab is the best option when visiting Arches National Park. The next largest city is Grand Junction, Colorado, over 2 hours away.



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Moab. Moab is the closest town to the Island in the Sky area of Canyonlands National Park.

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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.

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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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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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Moab is located along Utah's Eastern border less than 50 miles from Colorado. Nearby metros are Salt Lake City to the north, Denver in the east, and Las Vegas out west. The surrounding national parks of Arches and Canyonlands, as well the La Sal Mountains make Moab an epicenter for the ruggedly awesome wilderness.

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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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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.

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This does not mean you should not visit Canyonlands, but you may want to spend more time in Arches than Canyonlands if you are short on time. We would also agree that Arches is a better visit, but if you want to explore the wilderness by 4×4, then Canyonlands is a better option.

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Driving Canyonlands National Park in One Day The Island in the Sky District offers the wonderful opportunities for sightseeing by car and is the most accessible. The 34-mile round-trip scenic drive features awe-inspiring overlooks, from a 1,000 feet above, of the valleys below and the other districts of the park.

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Ideally, you need at least two days in Canyonlands National Park. With two days, you can visit both Island in the Sky and The Needles. Each additional day you add gives you more time for some epic adventures, such as the White Rim Road, white water rafting, backpacking in The Needles, or exploring The Maze.

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Yes, the driving distance between Zion National park to Arches National Park is 355 miles. It takes approximately 5h 29m to drive from Zion National park to Arches National Park.

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Similar to Arches, the primary appeal to Canyonlands National Park is in the name. You can expect expansive canyon views and interesting rock formations throughout the park. The immense size and depth of these canyons are sure to awe you while visiting the park.

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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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If you're looking for challenging hikes through narrow canyons and along steep cliffs, Zion may be the better choice. If you're more interested in exploring unique rock formations and stunning arches, Arches may be the better choice.

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The entrance of Arches is located 5 miles (8km) north of Moab, along highway 191. Arches National Park is normally open year-round, 24 hours a day. The park is very busy between March and October.

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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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The best time to visit, especially for hikers, is in the spring or fall, when daytime temperatures are usually from 60° to 80°F (16°-27°C) and nights are cool.

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