Road Trips: Moab, Utah - What You Need to Know Before Visiting Arches National Park

Arches National Park is full of red rock canyons, desert landscapes. This photo was taken on Tower Arch trail. 

When Brett asked me what I wanted to do over Spring Break this year, I immediately said, “I want to go to Moab”. I don’t know about you but we have been craving some warmer weather, camping under the stars, and exploring a new landscape. After spending some time in Sedona two summers ago together, we fell in love with the magic of the desert and canyons of red rock so we knew we needed to add Moab to our list. 

Arches National Park is located just outside of Moab and offers so many amazing views, plenty of options for hikes, and the most perfect picturesque spots, making it a content creators dream (it was so hard to pick what pictures to put in this post because there are so many). 

There are so many places to pull to the side of the road and hop out to get some amazing content to share with your community. 

We got to see so many amazing sights and hike some of the top trails so I’ve decided to break up the next couple of blog posts into different parts, covering details about getting to Arches National Park, essentials you need to pack, and top hikes to do in the park. 

Getting to Arches National Park 

This photo was taken using Google Maps from an iPhone. The drive from Denver to Arches National Park is so beautiful, full of different landscapes and sights to see. 

We drove from Denver to Arches National Park and it was about a 6 hour drive. If you are flying in from another state, an option is to fly into Salt Lake City, Utah and drive 3 hours and 44 minutes to the park or fly into Grand Junction and drive 1 hour and and 45 minutes to the park. 

Fees & Passes To Get Into the Park

In order to get into the national park, you have to pay a fee or show a pass. Admission into the park is $30 and is good for seven days, allowing you to come and go in and out of the park as much as you like within those seven days. What we recommend is buying an America the Beautiful annual pass that you are able to use for a year to get into any national park in the country. 

An important thing to note is the park now requires a Timed Entry Reservation from April 3 to October 3 in 2022 so be sure to get your reservations to ensure you have a spot to get into the park. 

Exploring & Navigating the Park 

This was shot on my iPhone and is one of my favorite pictures I took on our trip. It was one of those quick shots I wanted to get while there were no cars on the road. 

Once you enter into the park through the visitors center, you will quickly find yourself entering into what feels like another world. As you drive up into the canyon and make a turn to open space, you will see the La Sal Mountain Range as the perfect backdrop to the red rock. 

There are many different places and different roads you can take to explore the park. Be sure to grab a park map at the visitors center or you can download a park map from the website. An important thing to note is there is limited phone service once in the park so be sure to download the park map and your Google Maps before your day of adventure. 

Essentials to Pack For a Day in Arches

This photo was taken on Devil’s Garden trail and it had the most amazing views of the La Sal mountains. 

It is very important to make sure you have all the correct essentials in order to safely enjoy your time at Arches. Below are top ten essentials to be sure to pack: 

1. WATER!: If you are visiting the park anytime between the beginning June to the end of August, the park can easily reach 100 degrees or more Farenheit on the rocks. Even if you are visiting in April or September, it is important to have plenty of water. We recommend a hydration pack to ensure you have plenty of water. 

2. Sunscreen: The UV rays are very high in Arches and there are not many places for shade. Be sure to pack sunscreen! 

3. Chapstick: This is a must-have for us as the dry wind can make your lips super chapped while outside. We love Burt’s Bees chapstick and are always sure to have it in our hiking pack.

4. Hiking Boots or Shoes: When hiking on trails in the park, you will find rocky, sandy trails and the right footwear can be a game changer. Be sure to have hiking boots or shoes that have ankle support and good traction.

5. Hat & Sunglasses: Wearing a hat can help protect your scalp from the strong sun and sunglasses will help protect your eyes from the strong rays. We love wearing our Patagonia Logo Trucker hats when hiking.

6. Day Pack for Gear: Along with our water pack, we like to carry around a day pack to keep our sunglasses, chapstick, sunscreen, snacks, and maps in. Check out this REI Co-op Flash 18 pack. 

7. Headlamp: Some of the hikes in the park are best at sunrise or sunset. A headlamp is important to have for hiking when it is darker outside. 

8. Camera & Tripod: There are so many places to get amazing content and capture fun memories. We recommend a good camera and this tripod that works great to hold your camera and phone.

It is so important to make sure you have your essentials while exploring the park. A water pack and hiking boots are two of the eight essentials you should pack for your adventure.