The Happiness Function

You can see Arches and Canyonlands National Park in one day while visiting Moab, Utah. With a bit of planning and a lot of driving, you’ll be able to take in all the top sights these parks have to offer.

When I was in college in Grand Junction, Colorado, I was part of the Outdoor Program, where we spent years galavanting in the area, hiking, whitewater rafting, camping, and road-tripping all through Utah. I had the opportunity to spend a summer working for the National Park Service doing plant and soil surveys at Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef.

All this to say, you are in good hands, and I wrote this guide on how to see Arches and Canyonlands in one day so you will have a great trip. Whenever family and friends would visit me, I would take them to Moab for the day to see both parks.

Itinerary: Visiting Arches and Canyonlands National Parks in One Day

Keep in mind that Arches National Park has implemented a timed entry program. Know visiting you might not be able to see everything, so go with the flow.

I have written this itinerary so you can get the most out of your time and see as many of the highlights as possible — all in a day.

What To See at Arches and Canyonlands

Below are the top things to see and do for each park when you only have one day to adventure.

Best Places To Visit in Arches National Park

• Arches National Park Scenic Drive
• Delicate Arch Hike
• Devils Garden
• Landscape Arch
• Sand Dune Arch
• Garden of Eden
• Window and Turret Arches + Double Arch
• Balanced Rock
• Petrified Sand Dunes
• Park Avenue Views
• Arches National Park Visitor Center

Best Things To See in Canyonlands National Park

• Canyonlands National Park Scenic Drive
• Grand View Point Overlook
• Canyonlands View Points
• Canyonlands Visitor Center

You can easily visit Arches and Canyonlands National Parks in a day. Let’s kick off how to see them both. You’ll spend most of the day at Arches and then a few hours at Canyonlands.

Things To Do at Arches National Park

Start your day exploring Arches because there is more to do off of the main paved roads unless you plan on hiking in the backcountry.

If visiting from April 1 through October 31, be sure to get a timed entry ticket. Ticket entry will be from 7 am to 4 pm daily.

Try to avoid visiting during the weekends or a national holiday. And, honestly, just avoid going during summer breaks unless you want to wrangle the crowds and heat in the Moab area.

Cruise Along the Arches National Park Scenic Drive

With how the itinerary is written, you will be doing the Arches National Park Scenic Drive naturally but adventuring within the deeper parts of the park first. Most people start seeing the closest natural attractions to the entrance. This way, you (hopefully) avoid the morning crowds.

Hike To Delicate Arch Hike

If you’d like to hike, we recommend driving straight to the Delicate Arch trailhead. Delicate Arch is the iconic arch you see a lot in magazines and on people’s Instagram accounts. If you can get to the trailhead early during the busy season, like around sunrise, it should be easy to find a spot.

Travel Tip: The park has gotten extremely busy during the high season, so if you can visit in the off-season, you might have a more pleasant visit and hike in general. Hopefully, the timed entry system will help with the crowds.

How Long Is the Hike To Delicate Arch?

Hiking to Delicate Arch will take about 2.5 to 3 hours and is 3 miles round trip.

Visit Devils Garden

After your hike to Delicate Arch, hop back in your car to tour more of the park

Take the Arches National Park Scenic Drive toward Devils Garden. Once you arrive at the Devils Garden parking area, get out, and walk around.

If you’d like another smaller hike, we highly recommend doing the Landscape Arch hike.

Landscape Arch

Hike to Landscape Arch from the Devils Garden trailhead.

To hike to the arch and back is 1.9 miles and takes about 1 hour.

See the Sand Dune Arch

Next, get back in your car and drive to the Sand Dune Arch for a quick hike. It takes 20 minutes to walk there and back and is roughly a 0.3-mile hike.

Explore the Garden of Eden Arches

Then, hop back in your vehicle and head to the Garden of Eden. Bask in the red rock views and keep going down this same road to the Windows and Turrent Arches.

Hike Around the Windows and Turret Arches + Double Arch

Take a 1-mile hike to view the Windows. Hike to the North Window, South Window, and Turret Arch. The walk will take you about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

In the same area, don’t miss the Double Arch hike.

Take a Photo at Balanced Rock

As you can see, we are working our way back toward the visitor center. Pull off and snap some photos of the famous Balanced Rock at Arches National Park. Then, continue heading back towards the entrance.

Admire the Petrified Sand Dunes

On your way out of the park, you’ll see the Petrified Sand Dunes. Feel free to drive right by, depending on your timeline, or pull off and take photos.

Take a Photo of Park Avenue

Again, depending on time, stop and view the towering walls of the Park Avenue area in Arches National Park. It won’t take too long to stop, absorb the views, and grab some beautiful photos before heading to the visitor center.

Stop in the Arches National Park Visitor Center

Whenever we visit national parks for the first time, we actually tend to hit the visitor centers last. It is because we have already researched what we want to do (unless we need backcountry permits). So, you can stop in the visitor center for a pit stop or bathroom break, or skip it and head to Canyonlands National Park.

Things To Do at Canyonlands National Park

Now, you are off to spend the rest of the afternoon in the Canyonlands Island in the Sky District. Don’t worry if you are tired; you can just do the scenic drive to the epic lookout points. This itinerary only focuses on a quick tour of Island in the Sky.

Canyonlands National Park is quite huge and has three districts: Island in the Sky, the Maze, and the Needles.

If you want more information on hiking in the Canyonlands backcountry, you might enjoy our other article on hiking to Druid Arch.

Cruise Along the Canyonlands National Park Scenic Drive

Drive the Canyonlands Scenic Drive through the Island in the Sky District. It will take you along the high desert mesas. Cruise to the end of the scenic road, where you’ll be greeted with a spectacular view at the Grand View Point.

The scenic drive is 34-miles round trip and will take at least two hours. But that is all you need. That is how you can visit both Arches and Canyonlands in one day.

Admire the Landscape at the Grand View Point Overlook

Enjoy the Grand View Point Canyonlands Overlook and desert vistas. Look down into the canyon and see if you can spot the river or the famous White Rim 4×4 road and mountain biking trail.

Enjoy the Canyonlands Viewpoints

If you still have energy in the day, stop at all the other viewpoints along the Canyonlands Scenic Drive, such as the Buck Canyon and White Rim Overlooks.

Stop by the Canyonlands Visitor Center

Are you getting your national park passport stamps? If so, be sure to stop at the Canyonlands Visitor Center on the way out.

Tips for Visiting Arches and Canyonlands

Below are tips for visiting Arches and Canyonlands on the same day:

• Have accommodations close to Moab.
• Buy the America the Beautiful Pass – it is $80 for the year.
• Try to secure an early morning timed entry ticket into Arches.
• Spend the entire day touring both parks – arrive at Arches National Park early and plan to stay later in the afternoon at Canyonlands National Park.
• Bring your food and lots of water – there are limited options inside the parks.

Tips for Adventuring in the Desert

The desert is near and dear to our hearts. Please check out our article on how to recreate responsibly in the desert. We talk about the importance of Leave No Trace and protecting biological soil crust.

Other Questions You Might Have Planning Your Trip

How Far Apart Are Arches and Canyonlands?

Arches National Park to Canyonlands takes about 30 minutes to drive between as long as there isn’t significant traffic or construction.

What Is the Best Time To Visit Arches National Park?

We have spent a lot of time in the Moab area since we lived close by for over ten years. The off-season is mid to late October through early March. Visiting Arches during this time of the year may help you avoid the crowds. Also, if you visit Arches earlier in the day, that is better.

How Long To Visit Arches National Park?

As you can see from this itinerary, you can easily spend more than half the day visiting. It is easy to spend an entire day or two if you plan to do all of the hikes (link to National Park Service hikes). But you can also spend half a day to three-quarters of a day and still have a wonderful visit.

Best Way To Visit Arches National Park

My personal opinion is that the best way to visit is during the off-season. I prefer fewer crowds and cooler weather. Mid-May through the end of September can be pretty hot in the Moab area.

How Long To Visit Canyonlands National Park?

You could quickly spend two or three hours driving the Island in the Sky Scenic Drive or spend days in the Canyonlands backcountry.

Final Thoughts

If you’re an outdoor lover, Moab is a must-see destination. With Arches and Canyonlands National Parks right near town, it’s easy to get a great taste of the area’s natural beauty in just one day. And if you’re looking for more adventure, there are plenty of other activities to enjoy in the area.

Have a wonderful trip!

Ashlee & Pablo

More Utah Travel Guides:

Are you road-tripping through Utah? You might enjoy our other articles to plan your trip:

• Moab: Moab Summer Road Trip Ultimate 3 Day Guide
• Utah: How To Camp for FREE on BLM Land
• Utah: Adventurous Outdoor Things To See in Utah
• Zion National Park: Things To Do in Zion: 2-Day Adventure Guide
• Bryce Canyon National Park: How To Visit Bryce Canyon in One Day
• Capitol Reef National Park: Guide to Visiting Capitol Reef National Park
• Utah: Guide to National Parks in Utah: An Adventure of a Lifetime

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