Arches National Park | Timings, Park Fees & Reservations

Arches National Park is north of Moab in Utah state. The River of Colorado borders it in the southeast. A long, thin Landscape Arch stands in Devil’s Garden to the north. Other geological formations include Balanced Rock, towering over the desert landscape in the middle of the park. Park timings are 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Arches National Park

The park has 2,000 natural stone arches, hundreds of soaring peaks, massive rock fins, and giant balanced rocks are there. This red-rock wonderland will amaze us with its formations, refresh you with its trails, and motivate you with its sunsets.

Arches National Park Details:

Distance from Moab City8km
Directions from Moab CityThe entrance of Arches is placed 5 miles north of Moab, along highway 191.
Entrance Fee$30/vehicle – Good for seven days. (sometimes may change.)
Visitor CenterIt includes interactive exhibits, temporary educational booths, a 150-seat auditorium, and a bookstore featuring guidebooks, maps, DVDs, and postcards.
Park HoursThe park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

It is extremely crowded during the season from March through October, with the highest visitation occurring in May, June, and September. And Timed entry tickets were required from April 3 – October 3, 2022, but are no longer required to enter the park.

The Best time to visit Arches National Park:

  • Like April and May, September and October offer cooler, pleasant temperatures at the park.

Arches National Park Reservations:

  • Reservations are not available at the park entrance or park offices.
  • Make a Recreation.gov account in advance to purchase a Timed Entry Ticket.
  • Online Reservation at Recreation.gov.
  • Use the mobile app (iOS/Android) Recreation.gov.
  • Calling the Reservation Line: 877-444-6777
  • Calling the Reservation International Line: 606-515-6777
  • Calling the Reservation Line (TDD): 877-833-6777
  • Reservations can be made three months in advance of your visit:
  • April reservations (April 1-30) open January 10.
  • May reservations (May 1-31) open February 1.
  • June reservations (June 1-30) open March 1.
  • July reservations (July 1-31) open April 1.
  • August reservations (August 1-31) open May 1.
  • September reservations (September 1-30) open June 1.
  • October reservations (October 1-31) open July 1.
  • One Day Before Your Visit – A limited number of tickets will be available for purchase one day before entry at 6 pm MDT through Recreation.gov. These expect to sell out quickly (5-10 minutes), and visitors are encouraged to plan.

Arches National Park Timings:

  • From March and October, the park is very busy. Enter the park before 8 am or after 3 pm to avoid traffic.
  • The park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; however, the visitor center timings vary by season. (435) 719-2299.
Park Fees:

Visitors need to pay the entry fee to enter the Arches. You must purchase a 7-day pass valid only at Arches or an Annual pass valid at Arches.

Single vehicle (per vehicle)$30
Motorcycle (per vehicle)$25
Pedestrian/Bicycle (per person)$15
Interagency Annual Pass$80
Southeast Utah Parks Pass$55

Arches National Park Weather:

In Arches National Park, the summers are dry and hot, and the winters are short, cold, snowy, and partly cloudy. Over the year, the temperature varies from 20°F to 95°F and is rarely below 8°F or above 101°F.

The best time of year to visit the park for warm-weather activities is from early June to mid-September.

The Best Sunsets In Arches Park:

Balanced Rock:

And you can then see the sun setting behind the rock, as well as how the light changes the colors of the rock as the sun sets in front of it. It is a sunset for your “good” camera.

Delicate Arch:

It is the most photographed spot in the entire Arches Park Service and the spotlight of almost all the tourism advertising in Utah.

Fiery Furnace:

The locals say Fiery Furnace is one of the best spots for sunset in the National Park. This remote, hike-in-only park area gets its name from the reddish rocks at sunset.

Broken Arch:

Staying in the Devil’s Garden Campground in Arches National Park, one of the spot options for sunset leaves right from the campground. Our recommendation for sunset from the campground is the Broken Arch trail, departing from Site 40, out approximately 1.7 miles to Broken Arch.

Courthouse Towers & Park Avenue:

Our final pick for a great spot for sunset is the Courthouse Towers and Park Avenue area. It’s hard to beat the late evening glow from these monumental formations.

Arches National Park Camping:

There are no services inside Arches Park. Moab is the nearest place to get food, gas, and supplies, approximately a 45-60 minutes drive from the campground.

  • Individual Sites: You can reserve campsites up to 6 months in advance. Facilities are drinking water, picnic tables, grills, pit-style and flush toilets. From November 1 to February 28, all sites are first-come, first-served. Phone and online reservations for made through recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. The group size is ten people and two vehicles.
  • Group Sites: Group sites can be reserved 12 months before. The campground has two sites for 11 or more people. Juniper Basin campsite lodging for up to 55 people is available from March 1 to October 31; Canyon Wren campsite lodging for up to 35 may be reserved year-round. No RVs or trailers are permitted in the group sites.
CampingNightly Fee
Devils Garden Campground$25 per site
Juniper Group(based on a group size of up to 55 people)$100-$250 per site
Canyon Wren Group(based on a group size of up to 35 people) $75-$160 per site

Hotels Near Arches National Park:

Please note that food is not available within the park. 

  • Big Horn Lodge
  • Days Inn
  • Hampton Inn
  • Adventure Inn Moab
  • Expedition Lodge
  • Best Western Canyonlands
  • Best Western Greenwell
  • Hyatt Moab
  • Gonzo Inn

Official Website: www.nps.gov/arch

Arches National Park Address & Contact Numbers:

  • Address: Arches National Park P.O. Box 907 Moab, UT 84532
  • Visitors Center GPS Coordinates: 38.616391, -109.620345
  • Email: archinfo@nps.gov
  • Phone: (435) 719-2299, General Info TTY: (435) 719-2319

FAQs:

Can you camp in arches national park?

No.

Where to camp near arches national park?

The nearest Campground is Devils Garden Campground, Courthouse Rock Campground.

Are dogs allowed in arches national park?

No. Pet is allowed on established roads or parking areas, campgrounds, and picnic areas.

Where to stay near arches national park?

You can stay at Hotels nearby the park in Moab.

How far is arches national park from salt lake city?

230 miles.

What is the best month to visit National Park in Utah?

Like April and May, September and October offer cooler, pleasant temperatures at the park.

What is Arches National Park famous for?

The park has 2,000 natural stone arches, hundreds of soaring peaks, massive rock fins, and giant balanced rocks.

Who started the National Park Service?

On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the act creating the National Park Service.

Who is Incharge of the Arches National Park Service?

Charles F. “Chuck” Sams III.

How much time do you need in National Park?

Two days would give you enough time to explore.

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