Moab, Utah and tourist entities, including nearby Arches National Park are adapting to the increased demands on local resources and attractions. While guided tours in Arches National Park will not require you to get your own timed entry reservation, if you are planning to visit Arches National Park in your own vehicle, you will need to make an advance reservation. Here’s how it works.
If you plan on visiting Arches National Park in your own vehicle between April and October, you will need to reserve an entry ticket before coming to the park. Arches National Park will allow approximately 2,700 vehicles into the park from 6:00 AM until 5:00 PM at allotted time slots each day. The timed entry system will help displace the congestion at the entrance of the park and on the trails with the aim to improve the experience for all visitors.
Guests driving their own vehicle will reserve a ticket for a certain time and can enter the park within that hour. For example, if you have a 4:00 PM time slot, you will be allowed to enter between 4:00 PM and 4:59 PM. In order to enter Arches National Park, you’ll need your entry fee or park pass, a screenshot, print out, or download of your entry ticket, and a valid photo ID.
Once you have entered the park during your time slot, you are free to stay in the park as long as you desire. You can also exit and re-enter the park on that same day if your ticket was validated during your designated time window.
If you enter the park prior to 6:00 AM or after 5:00 PM you do not need an entrance ticket.
Visiting Arches National Park doesn't always require a reservation. You only need to reserve your own ticket if driving and parking your own vehicle through the park during the times of day and dates of the year that require reservations. Guided van tours, operated by the Moab Adventure Center allow easy access into the park with pre-reserved timed entry passes.
Those who are joining us on a guided tour through the park do not have to reserve a timed entry ticket. We take care of everything for you. All you need to do is meet at our store or schedule a complimentary pick-up at your hotel and we will guide you through the park.
Timed Entry Tickets will be available in block releases 3 months in advance at 8 am MT. The first block release will occur on January 3rd, 2022 and will include tickets for April 3rd through April 30th. Please check the release schedule below for the full release schedule:
Tickets for the most desirable times will likely disappear quickly, so mark your calendars for the exact date that your desired entry day will become available.
Those who prefer not to make an online reservation can call 877-444-6777. International guests can call 606-515-6777.
There is a straightforward online process to reserve a ticket:
The only additional cost of the timed entry ticket is a non-refundable $2.00 online processing fee. The usual entrance fees remain the same - $30.00 for non-commercial vehicles and $25.00 for motorcycles. Those with annual National Park passes or senior passes still need to pay the $2.00 processing fee.
The park will reserve a limited amount of tickets that become available at 6:00 PM the evening before. The NPS website recommends planning ahead and not relying on this later entry ticket option. We echo that recommendation.
Once you have entered the park during your time slot, you are free to stay in the park as long as you desire. You can also exit and re-enter the park on that same day if your ticket was validated during your designated time window.
If you enter the park prior to 6:00 AM or after 5:00 PM you do not need an entrance ticket.
If you plan on visiting Arches National Park in your own vehicle between April and October 2022, you will need to reserve an entry ticket before coming to the park.
If you are unable to reserve an entry ticket, call Moab Adventure Center at 435-259-7019 to see if you can join one of our tours into Arches National Park! We offer a morning and sunset tour each Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday while the pilot program takes place. Our experienced guides offer insightful information as you discover the highlights of this unique park. Plus, you don’t have to worry about driving or parking; you can just enjoy the view and play “Spot that Arch” while the guide takes care of everything else.
We also offer a 30 minute scenic flight over the park if you are unable to obtain a ticket or join a guided tour with us. Flying over the park provides an uncommon perspective as you get to see memorable features such as Delicate Arch, the Fiery Furnace, the Windows Section, and more from above. This is a great option for those who have limited time in Moab but want to see the beauty of Arches National Park. Flights depart daily in the morning but a reservation is required. Please give us a call if you would like to learn more and any of our staff will be happy to assist you.
If you have purchased an entrance ticket but can no longer come or the date doesn’t work for you, you can cancel your reservation through the recreation.gov website. You will not receive a refund, but you will allow someone else to enjoy Arches National Park.
If you need to reschedule your entry ticket for a different date or time, you will have to make a new reservation and pay an additional $2.00 non-refundable fee.
Timed entry tickets are not available for resale, transfer, or auction.
Over the last decade the amount of visitors has increased dramatically to more than one million each year. Record numbers of visitors explored the park in 2020 and this trend continued throughout 2021. Because of this, the park has to turn away visitors when the parking lots become full. Often guests find themselves in a long line waiting to enter the park or once they do enter the park, they disappointingly have to bypass certain trailheads because there is not enough room to park. Guided van tours can help you avoid parking frustration while still visiting all the most popular attractions.
The National Park Service aims to educate, inspire, and help generations enjoy the natural and cultural wonders of the world. We express our gratitude for the National Park System and their dedication to sharing these incredible places with individuals from around the world. We are pleased to be able to share this park and other wonderful parts of Moab with our guests. This timed entry pilot program can be a useful tool to help more travelers enjoy a less crowded experience at Arches National Park. If you have any questions, or would like to reserve a guided van tour, please contact us at the Moab Adventure Center. We are happy to help and look forward to speaking with you soon.
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