Arches National Park Scenic Drive
Arches National Park Scenic Drive
Arches National Park Scenic Drive
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- 212MoreeSeffner, Florida154 contributionsAbsolute Must!We had a timed entry for 9am. Arrived and got in line a little before 9. Entry was simply and quick. We drove the entire Scenic Drive stopping along the way to hike at several trailheads. We picnicked at Panorama Point. We were able to finish the drive and make our way to the visitor center before it closed (we had tons of questions and they were very helpful with answers). The dessert is blooming in May! So many flowers.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 7 May 2024
- onerebeccaBirmingham, Michigan143 contributionsBeautiful during sunset viewsThis drive during sunset is so beautiful and the Windows look out point did not disappoint during the sunset. I now know why they put the sunset like pictures on a lot of their tshirts. The skyline after the sunset over the mountains and rocks is majestic! A must see!Visited May 2024Travelled with familyWritten 23 May 2024
- K BLafayette, California482 contributionsStunning views of much of Arches' stunning sceneryBreath taking views of many of the Park's highlights, lots of places to pull over for scenic views. After Capitol Reef and their short one road, it felt like Arches had LOTS of paved road to many of the main view areas. It is still the case that much of the Park must be hiked or visited via 4x4 but we found plenty to see and do along the paved highway. It is also true that due to the deluge of tourists, there is 'timed entry' like 8am to 4pm. We went both times between 4-5pm and waited maybe 2-3 cars: not long at all.Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 2 July 2024
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NewfiePupLover
Des Moines, IA353 contributions
Aug 2020
Unique, surprising and beautiful. Arches National Park is one of the smaller national parks so you can experience most of what you want - unless you're going to do some serious hiking or camping - in only a few hours. Some of the famous arches are within a short walk from the driving and parking areas, while some of the others require some serious hiking to view. We traveled here with small children so the longer-distance hiking wasn't an option, but the park was still wonderful and a place I'm glad we came to. There is one road in and the same road out, but with a few offshoots taking you to different groupings of rock formations and arches. In between the famous and highlighted formations is high desert area which some people have commented is "vast nothing" or worse; but, it's very beautiful in it's own way. I would recommend a trip to Arches National Park to see the park itself, but also to participate in other activities around Moab including 4x4 Hummer tours, rafting, bike riding, etc. And, the town of Moab has lots of good options for lodging, dining, shopping, etc. It's remote, but that's also part of the experience.
Written 14 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BruinDan
Fullerton, CA3,197 contributions
Oct 2020
Whether you have a limited amount of time to visit or simply want a “lay of the land” before decided on your itinerary, the Scenic Drive at Arches National Park is a worthwhile activity. You can spend a couple hours or the better part of a day driving the 36 mi/59 km (round trip) road through Arches National Park. With plenty of places to stop and snap pictures and innumerable panoramic views, you can enjoy the natural beaurty and majesty of Arches without having to leave your vehicle.
After stopping at Arches National Park visitor center (which every visitor should do), you’ll drive up steep switchbacks on a paved park road. At the top, Park Avenue is the first of many potential photo stops you’ll reach. Next will be the spur road to the La Sal Mountains viewpoint; about a mile after that turnoff, you’ll make a turn and find yourself on a straightaway with an absolutely jaw-dropping set of formations. Join the other cars pulling over to take photos of this amazing sight. Just down the road is the Courthouse Towers viewing area, which is worth a stop. Next you should stop at the parking lot for Balanced Rock, one of the best-known attractions in the park. As you continue your drive you will behold wondrous sights of cliffs, spires and vistas for miles. One of the nice things about this drive is there are many turnouts along the road where you can get out, stretch your legs and take some photos. As you near Devils Garden (the turnaround point for the drive) you will catch a glimpse of Skyline Arch, the only arch in the park that is visible from the road.
Even though the Scenic Drive is beautiful, to get an even greater appreciation for Arches I would suggest getting off the main road and occasionally getting out of your vehicle. Even if you have ambulatory issues or are not in great physical condition, there are still things you can do. For example...
Take the spur road over to the Windows and take the short 0.5 mi/0.8 km round trip hike to Double Arch, which is one of the most interesting arches in the park.
Have a picnic lunch at Panorama Point.
Take the spur road toward Delicate Arch and see the iconic arch from the Delicate Arch viewpoint.
Pull over in the parking area for Sand Dune Arch and take the short 0.3 mi/0.5 km hike to the arch.
Stop in the parking area for Skyline Arch and walk 0.2 mi/0.3 km to see the arch close up.
No matter how much (or how little) you decide to do during the drive, by all means take the Arches National Park scenic drive and find out why the park is so deservedly famous.
After stopping at Arches National Park visitor center (which every visitor should do), you’ll drive up steep switchbacks on a paved park road. At the top, Park Avenue is the first of many potential photo stops you’ll reach. Next will be the spur road to the La Sal Mountains viewpoint; about a mile after that turnoff, you’ll make a turn and find yourself on a straightaway with an absolutely jaw-dropping set of formations. Join the other cars pulling over to take photos of this amazing sight. Just down the road is the Courthouse Towers viewing area, which is worth a stop. Next you should stop at the parking lot for Balanced Rock, one of the best-known attractions in the park. As you continue your drive you will behold wondrous sights of cliffs, spires and vistas for miles. One of the nice things about this drive is there are many turnouts along the road where you can get out, stretch your legs and take some photos. As you near Devils Garden (the turnaround point for the drive) you will catch a glimpse of Skyline Arch, the only arch in the park that is visible from the road.
Even though the Scenic Drive is beautiful, to get an even greater appreciation for Arches I would suggest getting off the main road and occasionally getting out of your vehicle. Even if you have ambulatory issues or are not in great physical condition, there are still things you can do. For example...
Take the spur road over to the Windows and take the short 0.5 mi/0.8 km round trip hike to Double Arch, which is one of the most interesting arches in the park.
Have a picnic lunch at Panorama Point.
Take the spur road toward Delicate Arch and see the iconic arch from the Delicate Arch viewpoint.
Pull over in the parking area for Sand Dune Arch and take the short 0.3 mi/0.5 km hike to the arch.
Stop in the parking area for Skyline Arch and walk 0.2 mi/0.3 km to see the arch close up.
No matter how much (or how little) you decide to do during the drive, by all means take the Arches National Park scenic drive and find out why the park is so deservedly famous.
Written 29 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelingSoccerLoon
Saint Paul, MN5,802 contributions
Aug 2020
Not long after entering the park as you climb up the road through several switchbacks, you will experience spectacular sights throughout the drive. My favorite section was driving from Park Avenue through The Courtland Towers area. Balanced Rock is beautiful especially at sunset and is about a 30 min drive from the entrance. It takes about 40-45 min to drive to the end of the scenic drive at Devil's Garden Trailhead. As beautiful the sights are along the road, the highlights of Arches National Park involved getting out and doing some hiking including to Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch and beyond to Double O Arch, Broken Arch and the Windows area.
Written 13 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
siglerk76
Warren, OH280 contributions
June 2020 • Family
We drove there with our kids and my wife couldn't stop taking pictures. The arches are great and the view is amazing.
Some tips:
1. There is no gas station in the park and it is about 20 miles in and out.
2. There are a few arches that needs walking to, some very short and easy and some a bit longer.
3. If you are into seeing the Delicate Arch, which is the most iconic arch, it will take you around two and a half hours ( depends on the walking skills of your group). My kids were too tired from the day and we did not do the hike, we saw it from a view point a mile further.
4. There is no place to buy food or beverages in the park, so bring your own.
5. Pets are not allowed on almost any trail, so think about it.
6. If you are planing to see all the arches and all the hikes to them it will take you a full day in the park.
Enjoy!
Some tips:
1. There is no gas station in the park and it is about 20 miles in and out.
2. There are a few arches that needs walking to, some very short and easy and some a bit longer.
3. If you are into seeing the Delicate Arch, which is the most iconic arch, it will take you around two and a half hours ( depends on the walking skills of your group). My kids were too tired from the day and we did not do the hike, we saw it from a view point a mile further.
4. There is no place to buy food or beverages in the park, so bring your own.
5. Pets are not allowed on almost any trail, so think about it.
6. If you are planing to see all the arches and all the hikes to them it will take you a full day in the park.
Enjoy!
Written 29 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ReadRibbet
1,628 contributions
Aug 2022
Easily accessible just outside of Moab, the scenic drive through The Arches was a spectacular experience. When we travelled there in late August, the park still was using a time reservation system but we were able to find many openings even at the last minute however they did turn people away who approached the entrance without a reservation. We used our senior national park pass, so there was no additional fee to enter the park. The drive was very manageable with a paved road throughout. There are many places to pull over or pull off and park so that you can take in the views and land formations. Some of the more popular areas were quite crowded and finding a parking place did require circling around a few times. Some of the formations do require significant hiking for access but others are readily available with short walks or from a distance. Restrooms are scattered throughout the park. There is a very large visitor center at the entrance. It was certainly worth the drive.
Written 3 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tracey M
Bluemont, VA497 contributions
July 2021
The scenic drive is the best way to see all of the beautiful arches and other sites. We arrived at the park around 6:00pm which was perfect. Most people were leaving, so the park was not crowded at all and we didn't have to wait to enter the park, in fact, it was free as there was to the back and worked our way forward which worked well for us. You can stop at how many or few areas you choose to. The drive took us about 2.5 hours with stops here and there and some short hikes. There was a surprise around each corner with another beautiful display of nature.
Written 3 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
shnpan
Birmingham, AL988 contributions
Jan 2020
This was an amazing drive through beautiful scenery. We visited in January so there was snow everywhere adding to the natural beauty of the park. Be sure to stop at the visitor center and pick up a map so you won't miss anything.
Written 7 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelerCentralFLA
Clermont, FL1,776 contributions
May 2022
My son and I visited Arches National Park on our trip across Southern Utah. The road through Arches National Park is an easy way to see some of the best sites without doing a lot of hiking. We did do several hikes, but we also enjoyed the drive. In fact as we entered the park and drove in we just kept being impressed by the views along the road. There are pull-offs to see Delicate Arch (from a distance) and Balanced Rock and Double Arch. It is a great drive and it is very accessible.
Written 18 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
essexkittycat
London, UK222 contributions
Apr 2022
Once you have a ticket you just turn up at your allotted time. Tickets for the next day get released at 6pm so be ready at that time to get the slot you want, if you want to visit during the day.
You can just drive and pull over for snaps and toilets which are accessible for disabled people. However, you can’t see every arch from the road and stops. The ‘easy’ walks were mostly well laid out and added to the enjoyment. the extension to the tapestry arch wasn’t easy to follow and we did get lost at one point. Another two groups turned back as they got lost too.
April was a great time to go as it was still hot with a breeze. I couldn’t imagine doing in the summer months!
The arches was so impressive to see. Much more than the Grand Canyon
You can just drive and pull over for snaps and toilets which are accessible for disabled people. However, you can’t see every arch from the road and stops. The ‘easy’ walks were mostly well laid out and added to the enjoyment. the extension to the tapestry arch wasn’t easy to follow and we did get lost at one point. Another two groups turned back as they got lost too.
April was a great time to go as it was still hot with a breeze. I couldn’t imagine doing in the summer months!
The arches was so impressive to see. Much more than the Grand Canyon
Written 21 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mbc1
Vestavia Hills, AL30 contributions
May 2021
Arches is a beautiful park but be prepared for long waits for parking spaces, lots of people, and not-so-easy hikes to many arches. We never saw the very back of the park because hikers get there about 5 am and take up all the parking spots for the day. Parking in this park is VERY limited, which is disappointing. The walks to the arches rate from moderate to difficult. Don't be fooled by the hikes rated easy; the terrain can be uneven, uphill, and rocky. 2 places in the Park (such as balanced rock) have wheelchair paths which are paved.
Written 27 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
From this weeks arches info- you may not have pets on hiking trails, overlooks, or in backcountry even in carriers. You may walk them along roads and in parking lot - but WAY TOO HOT to leave them in a car. Moab has kennels with boarding services.
Written 16 May 2021
Are the scenic drives well marked in the park? I will be travelling with 3 older ladies 65-77 with some health issues. Hiking will be out of the question but I still want them to be able to see the beauty of the park.
Written 24 April 2018
Yes, the roads are well marked with names of attractions and junctions with side roads to attractions. However, as is common in national parks, I do not remember seeing highway route number signs in the park. Please use the park map and or a gps navigation system to track where you are and where you wish to go. I found the roads to be very well marked as they are in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks where I work but visitors often complain because they don’t take the junction signs at their face value and as very accurate and all the signage needed.
Written 24 April 2018
Planning a visit to southern Utah in April starting near Grand Junction Colorado, like to hike but have about 10 days. Which are best national parks to see and how many days to plan there?
Written 22 December 2017
Hi, April is the best time for hiking in Utah. Don't spend too this time for a long drive, better for hiking itself. Nor as far from Grand Junction you can explore Gunnison Canyon NP and Curecanti area. Then you can get impression drive through Million dollars Hwy to Mesa Verde NP (all mountain passes still closed on April).
The other way - to Arches NP (and Castle valley) with a lot of trails. It will take minimum 2-3 days. Then huge Canyonlands NP - several districts of this park provides trails for a lot of days. Or can continue to the South - Gods valley near Bluff, or to the West from White Mesa to Natural Bridges, and then follow HWy 95 to Colorado river and more far.
Written 25 December 2017
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