How Far is the Closest Airport to Arches National Park
The closest major airport to Arches National Park is Salt Lake City International Airport. It is approximately a 4-hour drive from Salt Lake City airport to Arches National Park. Walker Field Airport is located in Grand Junction Colorado and is a 1-hour 45-minute drive from Arches. It is a much smaller airport but an option for most airlines.
Canyonland Fields is the closest airport to Arches National Park however flights are very limited generally only offering flights from Denver CO or Salt Lake City UT. It is located a short 15-minute drive to the park.
However, Canyonland Fields may be an option if you are wanting to avoid driving long distances. There is a shuttle bus that can bring you into the town of Moab which is the hub for all Arches National Park activities. Here you will be able to find accommodation, restaurants and organise tours and adventures within the park.
In general, most visitors will fly into a major airport in the area and drive to the park. There are a number of national and state parks in the Southern Utah area which are often visited together.
How Far are the Major Cities to Arches National Park
Arches National Park is fairly isolated from most large cities. You can expect a 4-6 hour drive from the nearest major cities.
How To Drive To Arches National Park
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City is the closest major city to Arches National Park. It is a 3.5-4 hour drive to reach the parks visitors centre. The drive is relatively easy and straightforward.
A great halfway point in the drive is Price, UT. Here you will find a cute little museum that is great for kids and adults alike. We spent a good 90 minutes here on our trip a couple of years ago.
Denver
Denver to the west of Arches National Park is a 5-hour drive to the visitors centre. You can break this trip up by stopping along the way at the famous hot springs town of Glenwood Springs.
Glenwood Springs is a well-loved tourist town offering an abundance of adventurous and relaxing fun for all ages. If you can swing a spare day it might be an idea to stay a night here to really enjoy it.
However, if you can only spare a couple of hours on the trip to Arches National Park then be sure to take a dip at Iron Mountain Hot Springs.
Las Vegas
The trip from Las Vegas is 6.5 hours to Arches National Park. This route also passes through several other areas of interest such as Zion, and Bryce Canyon National Parks. Despite its distance, it is still well worth the drive especially if you spread it out and visit these other two national parks.
How Far is the Closest Town to Arches National Park
The closest town to Arches National Park is Moab, UT. It is only 5 miles from the park entrance. Moab is a well-appointed small town with a population of 5000. This number increases substantially during peak tourist seasons.
Accomodation in Moab
There are various accommodations in Moab that suit all budgets and visitors. There are multiple RV parks and campgrounds in the area along with motels at all different price points.
Hotels and resort-style accommodation are possible. There is also some vacation house type rentals available. It is advisable however to book well in advance during peak seasons to avoid disappointment.
Camping in national and state parks in the area is also an option.
Activities in Moab
Moab is the central starting point for almost all adventures within Arches National park and Canyonlands National Park. Activities include ATV rentals, guided tours, scenic flights and rafting.
There are many other hiking and ATV trails in the area and it is not uncommon to see these vehicles on the main street. Most motels even have washing areas to clean your ATV.
Moab really is the hub for adventure with a multitude of both state and national parks within a very short distance.
Eating in Moab
You will not be short of food options in Moab. This is where I had the best cannoli I have ever tasted in my life. I still think of it often. It was from Pasta Jays. I promise you won’t be disappointed!
Other options include diners and chain restaurants. Many of the diners offer to make you a packed lunch for your day in the park. I thought this was a really great option.
Grocery stores are also easy to find and have all the usual foods.
Public Transport to Arches National Park
There is currently no public transport to Arches National Park. There are several companies that offer shuttle buses to the park and to popular trailheads. You can also hire ATV’s, 4×4’s and bikes if you prefer. ATV’s seem to be the ride of choice in Moab and the parks.
Once within Arches National Park, there is no public shuttle system in place. The National Park Service is working on establishing one due to the increased visitor volume in recent years. Over the past 10 years, visitors numbers have increased by over 90%.
Zion National Park To Arches National Park
Many people who visit Arches National Park also want to visit Zion National Park to the west. They are both some of the most popular national parks in the country. Southern Utah is home to an abundance of state and national parks so it is possible to drive only a few hours or even a few minutes in some cases and find yourself in yet another breathtaking park.
The drive between Zion and Arches takes 5 hours and uses mainly the I-15 and I-70 making it a very easy drive. There are plenty of little towns along the way to stop and enjoy rural Southern Utah.
Arches and Zion are two of the most expensive parks to visit in the national park system but that is for a very valid reason. They are simply incredible and require a good amount of work to maintain and run. You can, however, visit the parks for free!