Best Time to Visit Arches National Park

Arches National Park, nestled in the high desert of Utah, is a breathtaking destination renowned for its over 2,000 natural sandstone arches. Its unique landscape and diverse activities make it a year-round attraction, but the best time to visit Arches National Park depends on your preferences for weather and crowd levels.

Use this Arches National Park travel guide to learn more about what it’s like to visit during various seasons and months of the year to help you decide the best time for YOU to plan your vacation.

Arches National Park best time to visit

You’ll find a variety of things to do no matter what month you visit Arches National Park: hiking, biking, canyoneering, scenic drives, stargazing, photography, and more!

We live only a few hours away from Arches, and this guide is based on our experiences visiting all four seasons of the year! You’ll find a list of things to do, packing checklist, travel tips and weather information for the different seasons and months at Arches National Park.

The number one tip for visiting Arches National Park is to pack clothing and gear for the weather and temperatures for the time you’ll visit the park. Take a look at our Arches National Park Packing List and grab your free printable checklist by clicking the image below!

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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

Most of the year you’ll enjoy fun outdoor things to Do at Arches National Park like scenic drives, hiking, biking, and photography. During the winter, the activities may be a bit more limited due to cold or snowy conditions!

When planning a Utah National Park vacation it’s important to be up-to-date with current weather and road conditions!

Use these resources to plan your Arches vacation:

Timed Entry at Arches National Park

Arches is one of the nine US National Parks requiring reservations. You must have a timed entry reservation to enter the park from April 1 to October 31. You can enter Arches National Park before 7am and after 4pm without an advance reservation.

If you don’t have a ticket, you can still enter the park BEFORE 6am or AFTER 5pm. Those are the best times for Arches National Park photography and avoiding the crowds anyway!

Balanced Rock at Arches in the winter
Balanced Rock

Visiting Arches National Park by Season

There are important things to know about visiting Arches during each season. Check out these lists of the things to do, and what to expect, at Arches during the spring, summer, fall and winter.

Visiting Arches National Park by Month

Check out these articles to know all about planning a trip to Arches during a specific month so you know in advance what to expect. You’ll find general travel information, list of things to do, packing checklist, travel tips, and weather information for each month at the park!

Delicate Arch at sunrise Photo Jeepers 800
Delicate Arch at sunrise

Arches National Park Weather

It’s important to be prepared for the Arches National Park weather you can expect each season and month of the year.

Do your research to know what it’s like visiting Arches National Park at various times of year so you can decide which season and month is best for you to plan your vacation to this stunning park!

  • January: Highs 44 | Lows 22 degrees F
  • February: Highs 52 | Lows 28 degrees F
  • March: Highs 64 | Lows 35 degrees F
  • April: Highs 71 | Lows 42 degrees F 
  • May: Highs 82 | Lows 51 degrees F
  • June: Highs 93 | Lows 60 degrees F
  • July: Highs 100 | Lows 67 degrees F
  • August: Highs 97 | Lows 66 degrees F
  • September: Highs 85 | Lows 54 degrees F
  • October: Highs 71 | Lows 40 degrees F
  • November: Highs 55 | Lows 30 degrees F 
  • December: Highs 45 | Lows 23 degrees F

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.

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 actiities 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.

Arches National Park Itineraries

We’ve created some done-for-you itineraries for visiting Arches depending on the time you have to spend at the park. Click the graphic below to get a free travel bundle that includes printable daily itineraries. Or click the links below to see detailed itineraries of the best things to do at Arches!

Arches National Park Travel Bundle
best time to visit Arches National Park everything you need to know

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