Driving through Arches National Park

You can spend a couple hours or the better part of a day driving the 36 mile (round trip) road through Arches National Park. With plenty of places to stop and snap pictures and panoramic views for miles, you can enjoy the brilliant artistry and majesty of Arches without having to leave your vehicle.

Driving on your own can allow freedom to explore arches on your own, but be aware of the timed entry reservations system that will require planning months in advance. Learn about timed entry reservations here.

If you’re simply just driving through the park and time is a luxury, making a stop at all the designated view points and points of interest is really the best way to get the most of your experience. If time is of concern, or you really want an abbreviated tour featuring the highlights, we recommend the following itinerary:

La Sal Mountains Viewpoint

Make your first stop the La Sal Mountains Viewpoint to take in the amazing sight of the La Sal Mountains, Utah’s second highest mountain range, juxtaposed against Arches’ red rock spires.

Courthouse Towers Viewpoint

Courthouse Towers Viewpoint should be your next stop to click a quick picture of the towering skyscraper-esque sandstone walls and spires.

Balanced Rock

Balanced Rock is arguably one of the most unique formations in the Park and a must see on your tour.

Windows District

Take a quick detour to drive the loop through the Windows District where you’ll see the sights of the Garden of Eden, Cove of Caves, Turret Arch, North Window, South Window, and Double Arch.

Delicate Arch Viewpoint

Continue to the Delicate Arch Viewpoint, follow the road all the way until the end. Here, you will need to park your vehicle and take a short walk to get a view of the Arch that is famous across the world.

Moab Arches National Park Fiery Furnace Overlook

Fiery Furnace Viewpoint

Fiery Furnace Viewpoint is next on the list. Here, you can peer into a maze-like cluster of narrow fins and and spires.

Skyline Arch

Skyline Arch is an easily accessible and photographable arch and the last recommend stop before reaching the end of the park and making the turn around at Devils Garden.

Exit Path

You’ll exit the Park via the same road, so if you feel you missed something, you can catch it on the way out.

How much time you spend driving through Arches National Park depends upon how distracted you get. 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.

You can drive yourself into Arches National Park, but be aware of the timed entry reservations system that can require months of pre-planning. There are a few things to consider, which can help you make the decision to visit Arches on your own or join a guided tour.

The best reason to drive into the park yourself would be if you are planning to hike further off the highway stops that a typical guided van tour would do, such as the hikes to Delicate or Landscape Arches, and beyond.

If you want to do a very thorough job of exploring the park and think you’ll need more than four hours, we recommend you self-guide through Arches.

Some people can and others, not such a good idea. If you think the wondrous sights of cliffs, spires, arches, and vistas for miles might distract you from being a safe driver, we highly recommend you take a guided tour and let your seasoned guide worry about the navigating, driving, and parking amongst the crowds.

Depending on your thirst for knowledge and your ambition to search it out, you may elect to let a professional spoon feed you information, or opt to study books, maps, and the informational park signs as you go.

There’s no wrong way to visit Arches National Park, and whether you choose to do it yourself or take a guided tour, there’s no doubt you’ll have a phenomenal experience.

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What to take, where to eat, where to stay, what to do, and a few little secrets on the side. Our Moab Insiders Guide will provide you with all the essentials for a perfect Moab experience.