Visiting Arches National Park in July

When you want to plan a trip to Arches National Park in July, it’s important to know what weather to expect, what things you can do, what to pack and where to stay.

Use this Arches National Park travel guide so you know what to expect when visiting Arches in July!

This guide will help you plan your July vacation to Arches National Park: avoiding the crowds during the busy season, things to do and tips for how to beat the heat!

We’ve put together some done-for-you Arches National Park itineraries:

• Arches National Park in One Day
• Two Days in Arches National Park
• Three Days in Arches National Park
• Arches National Park and Canyonlands in One Day

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A Photo Tour of Arches National Park

Take a visual tour through Arches National Park to see the stunning landscapes you’ll see when you visit!

Visiting Arches National Park in July

Timing is everything! And Arches in July is no exception. Take note that Arches has implemented a TIMED ENTRY program from April through October:

Timed entry tickets will be required to enter the park from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and will allow visitors to enter the park during a one-hour specified window of availability. After entering, visitors may stay in the park as long as they wish for the remainder of the day. Reservation holders may exit and re-enter the park on the same day with a correctly validated ticket. Visitors can book reservations first-come, first-served on Recreation.gov. The park will release reservations three months in advance in monthly blocks.

In July we highly recommend getting to the park EARLY to avoid the heat!! And if you don’t have a timed entry ticket, you can still visit the park as long as you enter before 6 a.m. Go in early enough to see and photograph the sunrise at Arches National Park!

Another option is to visit the park after 5 p.m. when the temperatures and crowds in the late afternoon start to diminish. You won’t need a ticket to see and photograph sunset at Arches National Park, or enjoy stargazing at night!

Is July a Good Time to Visit Arches National Park?

Arches National Park is open 24/7. Visit the NPS site to get the Arches National Park operating hours.

July will be hot and crowded when visiting Arches National Park.

If you want to avoid the heat and crowds, check out our list of best times to visit Arches National Park with information about what to expect during each season and every month of the year.

Arches National Park Weather in July

July is right in the middle of the Arches National Park summer vacation season. Expect highs in the 100s and lows in the high 60s degrees Fahrenheit.

You won’t find many shady spots at Arches National Park. We suggest you plan your outdoor activities like hiking in the cooler mornings and evenings. You can enjoy the scenic drives in your car with the AC running, or the hotel swimming pool during the heat of the day.

Check out our resource for the best time to visit Arches National Park in case summer doesn’t sound that appealing with the high temperatures!

Things to Do at Arches National Park in July

There are fun outdoor things to do at Arches National Park. Keep in mind that in July you’ll want to do most of these activities in the cooler times at morning and evening.

Arches Scenic Drive in July

During the day in July is the perfect time to enjoy the AC as you drive through Arches! The full 43-mile Arches National Park scenic drive, including the spur roads, takes 2 to 3 hours. Add more time if you’ll be taking photos or hiking at any of the stops.

The road is paved with pullouts and parking lots perfect for any Arches National Park photography you want to do. Some of the arches and landmarks can be seen from the parking lot, or by a short walk.

Download the Arches scenic drive map to navigate along the scenic road to each point of interest.

Hiking in July at Arches National Park

The Arches National Park hiking trails are fully exposed to the sun. You’ll want to avoid daytime hiking and instead head out in the morning or late afternoon when it’s a bit cooler and the sun isn’t so intense.

It’s important to stay hydrated and protect yourself from the sun: pack water bottles, wear sunscreen and a sun hat! your hiking in the

You’ll want to hit The Windows Area and Devil’s Garden Trail in the morning so you don’t have to fight the crowds. Keep in mind that Delicate Arch is awesome at sunset for photography, but it may be impossible to get a parking spot. You may want to hike to Delicate Arch in the morning as well!

We recommend you schedule the bigger, busy hikes first thing then fit in the other shorter hikes like Sand Dune Arch, Skyline Arch and Balanced Rock during the later afternoon when parking spots open up more frequently.

Arches National Park Photography in July

Taking Arches National Park photos is our favorite thing to do at this park. In July we recommend you get up early to photograph sunrise at Arches National Park. Doing this you won’t need to worry about getting a timed permit!

There are great spots to photograph sunrise at Arches: La Sal Overlook, Courthouse Towers, and the Windows area. If you don’t want your photos to have people climbing on the rocks, you’ll also want to photograph Balanced Rock, Turret Arch or the Windows in the morning.

You can’t beat sunset at Arches National Park, but most locations it will be hard to get photos without people! This is especially true at Delicate Arch since it’s the most popular place to see and photograph at Arches!

We share tips like this in our 3 day Arches & Canyonlands Itinerary and Photography Guide. It details all the best places and times to take pictures! You can also download a free checklist of the Arches National Park photo spots!

Arches National Park Stargazing in July

Stargazing at Arches is a must-do! The slogan “Half the Park is After Dark” invites you to take one evening to enjoy a star-filled sky! In July you can see the milky way from 10:30 pm to 3:30 am which means a late night or very early morning. But it’s so rewarding for those who want to make the effort!

Did you know Arches National Park is internationally recognized as one of the best places for stargazing? It gets that disctinction because of its remote location, accessibility, altitude and clear skies.

Arches is a popular destination for astrophotographers so you won’t be alone in the park at night. Be sure to use a headlamp with a red light!

Things To Do Near Arches National Park

You’ll find a ton of other places to visit in Utah that are near Arches National Park to add to your itinerary:

• Things to Do in Moab
• Kid-Friendly Things to do in Moab, Utah
• Canyonlands National Park Island in the Sky
• Needles Canyonlands
• Dead Horse Point State Park

BUY AT AMAZON: Arches and Canyonlands Guides and Maps:

Planning an Arches National Park Vacation:

• Arches National Park Travel Guide
• Best Time to Visit Arches National Park
• Things to Do at Arches National Park
• Arches National Park Packing List
• Arches National Park with Kids
• Arches National Park Photography
• Tours Near Moab, Utah

Where to Stay Near Arches National Park:

There are no hotels in Arches so most people stay in the nearby town of Moab. There are all types of lodging in and near Moab from budget-friendly hotels to higher-prices resorts. You’ll also find vacation rentals, a hostel, campgrounds and RV parks.

• Places to Stay Near Arches National Park
• Hotels Near Arches National Park
• Places to Stay Near Arches National Park with Kids
• Arches National Park Camping

Here are a few of our favorite places to stay near Arches:

• Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Moab – we enjoyed our stay and highly recommend this hotel due to its location close to Arches.
• Purple Sage – our all-time favorite place to stay in Moab – walking distance to shopping, full kitchen, and only 8 units so you don’t feel lost in a large hotel. 
• Red Cliffs Lodge – rooms up to 6 people – located 17 miles from Moab, this lodge is known for its beautiful location, winery and activities like horseback riding, fishing and more!
• Vacation Rentals Near Arches – we really like rentals with a kitchen, washer and dryer and amenities like a swimming pool and hot tub.