1 Day in Arches National Park Itinerary

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Only have one day in Arches National Park to explore the trails and main sights?

There are very few parks in the national park system that you can see within a short period of time. And while it’s always better if you have more time to explore Arches National Park, I totally think you can do it within one day–especially if you plan on checking out some of the other parks that make up the Mighty 5.

Daniel and I had a little more time in the area to explore, but we could have absolutely covered the highlights of Arches within a long day. If you can fit everything in, that also makes it a lot easier with the reservation system that Arches has implemented–you only have to get it for one day instead of multiple!

Here is a basic itinerary that I would recommend to most goers, though you might want to change it up a bit depending on if you have any kiddos with you, or if you want to combine your day in Arches with a day in Canyonlands National Park right nearby.

In summary: This itinerary covers the essentials I think you should see when you visit Arches National Park in one day, as well as answers some FAQs that might be on your mind before your trip.

Quick tip: Remember that it can get toasty–especially during the summer months. Consider hiking in the morning and evening if you can!

Can you see Arches National Park in one day?

While there are some national parks that you can only scratch the surface seeing in only a day, Arches is the perfect park for a short visit. Because it is relatively compact (119 square miles), you can get from one end to the other fairly quickly,. While there’s always something new to explore, you can absolutely hit the highlights without having to extend your trip several days.

Morning: Devils Garden

Personally, I find that starting your Arches trip from the far end of the park is the best way to go to avoid the crowds. Arches has a reservation system that you need to be aware of, but if you only have one day there, then I recommend setting that alarm early and getting in before 7:00 am and before reservations are required anyway since you’ll need a little more time, and you’re going to be working around the hottest parts of the day.

Quick tip: If you are camping, it might be worth looking at staying at the Devils Garden campground so you can start this itinerary early and you don’t have to worry about the reservation system.

Once you have entered the park, you’re going drive around 30 minutes until you get the Devils Garden parking lot where the Devils Garden Trail starts. Since this is where you’ll be doing the majority of your hiking for the day, we want to make sure you are doing it when it is nice and cool! Along this trail, you’ll see some of the most famous arches including Landscape Arch, the Double O Arch, and the Navajo Arch.

Make sure to bring along plenty of water and snacks. While the whole trail is 7.9 miles and around 1,085 feet of elevation, I recommend downloading a map from AllTrails and then you can pick and choose which arches you want to see. My favorite arch? Navajo Arch–it’s much quieter than the others and offers some incredible views. The can’t-miss? Landscape Arch–one of the longest natural arches in the world.

I really suggest taking your time in this area of the park. You’re going to have fewer crowds since you are seeing Arches in reverse order than most visitors do, and even if you choose not to do the whole trail, it can take some time to navigate where you’re going. This is why I suggest your entire morning here.

Late morning: Delicate Arch

Once you have had your fill of the Devils Garden, you’re going to backtrack a bit until you reach the parking lot for the Delicate Arch Hike. It wouldn’t be a itinerary for arches if it didn’t include this highlight! It should be still pretty early in the day if you get going before 7:00 am, so it shouldn’t be too hot unless you are hiking in summer.

Parking for this hike can fill up fast–which is another reason to get there before the crowds start funneling in. If not, it’s worth it to be patient or head down to the Delicate Arch Viewpoint parking lot for some extra spots.

Even if it is fairly cool, you’re going to want to bring plenty of water with you. The hike is 3.2 miles and 629 feet of elevation gain, so even if this is easy to you, it’s made a lot harder when it starts to warm up. Having the right gear and sun protection will make it a lot more pleasant–and it’s a good idea to know the signs of heat exhaustion and what to do.

I think this is a great hike for families, and Daniel and I saw visitors of all abilities taking it on. I would give yourself around two hours to complete the hike and give yourself plenty of time to get that shot of you at the the most famous arch in the park!

Quick tip: Don’t forget to check out the petroglyphs nearby and the Wolfe Ranch–they add some super interesting history to your visit!

Afternoon: Balanced Rock, La Sal Mountains Viewpoint

After snapping your pics at Utah’s crowning glory, you’re going make your way to another famed feature of the park, Balanced Rock. It’s a super short drive and worth a quick stop–it shouldn’t take you long to walk around it, and since it is hot during this time of the day, you’re going to want to be out there as little as possible.

Balanced Rock is about at most a 15-minute activity, but it is definitely worth checking out. Parking might be limited during this time of the day, so you can always choose to head to your next stop, the La Sal Mountains Viewpoint, before backtracking until things have cleared out a little bit.

The La Sal Mountains Viewpoint is also a quick stop, but definitely worth it for the photo opportunity. This is another spot where you can get out, get your photos, and hop back in a cool car so you aren’t standing out in the heat for too long. Of course, from here, you are looking at the La Sal Mountain range far away–they are extremely high mountains that reach up to 13,000 feet and depending on the time of year, can be snowcapped.

Evening: Park Avenue and Courthouse Towers

Now that things are starting to cool down again, you’re going to head out on one more of Arches best hikes. You’ll park in the Park Avenue parking lot to start your hike. Keep in mind that there are no water stations here–Daniel and I ended up bringing some in the car with us so we could refill our water bottles before we set out on this hike.

At 1.8 miles and 298 feet, it’s the easiest trail of the day and since you’ve been hiking a lot, a nice way to end your time in Arches. You’ll be traversing through some really unique formations that a reminiscent of a cityscape–which is why it is called Park Avenue. The payoff of this hike is the formations called the Courthouse Towers, stone columns that resemble an official building.

During this time of the day, the lighting should be pretty fantastic to take some photos, and this is a wonderful spot to capture the oranges and reds in the rock.

Once you have had your fill of these amazing structures, turn back the way you came and head to your car to end the day, and head to one of the restaurants in Moab for a well-deserved, hearty dinner.

Quick tip: Tired of hiking? You can still see the Courthouse Towers at a viewpoint before the La Sal Mountains Viewpoint.

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FAQs for visiting Arches in one day

Here are some commonly-asked questions I get about visiting Arches within short window, and some information I personally found helpful during our time there.

Conclusion

I hope this itinerary has helped you decide what are the can’t-miss things you’ll want to see if you only have one day to enjoy Arches. While you will always have to skip some sights when you have a limited amount of time, I’ve tried to include the most important attractions and hikes, while also keeping in mind the heat and crowds you’ll have to face.

Have any questions about your day in Arches National Park? Let me know in the comments!