Generally, Arches National Park is several hours drive from any major cities or towns. The closest large international airport is located 4 hours to the north in Salt Lake City Utah.
Arches National Park is located just outside of Moab, Utah and fairly isolated from major cities. The town of Moab however is well appointed with great accommodation, amazing restaurants and stocks all the essentials that you will need on your trip.
Most visitors to Arches National Park drive and therefore knowing how to drive from any direction is particularly helpful.
Drive to Arches National Park From the North
The closest city to the north of Arches National Park is Salt Lake City. The drive will take you 3.5-4hours depending on where in the park you wish to go.
You will need to head south on the I-15 before taking the US-6 E towards Price. Continue until you come to exit 182 towards Moab merging onto US-191 S. This will take you right past the Arches National Park Entrance and into Moab if you aren’t going to the park that day.
The drive is very easy with some stunning scenery along the way. A great place to stop along the way is Price, Utah. It is a small town at the halfway point. While there is not much in the town it has a lovely free dinosaur museum which our kids loved. We found it really interesting too. We spent about 2 hours here which is saying a lot.
Just before you reach Moab and Arches National Park you will pass the entrance to Canyonland National Park. If you are visiting the area you need to do both national parks. We stopped off at Canyonlands on our drive into Moab. There are quite a few short hikes just off the side of the road which are great for stretching legs and the payoffs are amazing. I was pretty sure my kids were going to fall off the side of the cliffs though! Pregnancy hormones probably didn’t help the anxiety there!
Drive to Arches National Park From the East
Generally, if you are heading to Arches National Park from the east you are coming from Colorado.
On average, Arches National park is 5 hours drive from Denver Colorado. This is a fairly easy drive where you will stay on I-70 W until you reach the turnoff for Moab onto I-191 S. I-191 S will take you right to the entrance of the park and into Moab.
The drive from Dever Colorado will also take you through some stunning places. You really are spoilt for choice in this part of the country with numerous national parks and monuments. It would be a great idea to perhaps stop at in Grand Junction CO to visit the Colorado National Monument. The drive takes you right through Grand Junction CO so it makes the perfect location to have lunch or stop and have a break.
Another good stopping point could be the Iron Mountain Hot Springs in Glenwood Canyon. Right off the I-70 it will be a refreshing way to break up the trip. If you are going to do a road trip right you need to make sure you have the best places to stop!
How to Find The Best Places To Stop on a Road Trip
Drive to Arches National Park From the South
To the south of Arches National Park, you are going to find Arizona. Many visitors continue on to Arches National Park after visiting Grand Canyon National Park located south in Arizona. It is roughly 5-6 hours the Grand Canyon and Arches National Park depending on which part of the Grand Canyon you are coming from.
If you are not coming from the Grand Canyon you are still looking at roughly a 5 hour drive from Flagstaff Arizona. You are going to take US-89 out of Flagstaff and head North before turning right on to US-160E. Finally you will turn onto the main highway into Moab and Arches National Park US-191N.
The drive to Arches National Park from the south is long and there is not a lot to do along the way. A lot of desert! However, one place you may be interesting in stopping is Monument Valley. It is a slight detour at around the half way point but well worth it.
After our trip to Arches we headed south and stopped at Sedona for a few nights before reaching the Grand Canyon. This place is incredible. I wish we could have stayed for longer. Everywhere you looked was full of beauty and views that you could never even have dreamed of. If you have the time make sure you stop!
Drive to Arches National Park From the West
Driving to Arches National Park from the west means the largest city is likely Las Vegas. Technically Las Vegas is south west but the route also includes a lot of the small towns and areas you are probably wanting to visit to the west of the park anyway.
Starting in Las Vegas you will need to follow the I-15N watching the for the signs for Salt Lake City. The you will head east following the signs for Denver on I-70 E. Exit 182 will take you to Moab on US-191 S.
The route from Las Vegas to Arches National Park passes through St George Utah which is the gateway to Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park. These are both incredible places to visit. We have only done Zion National Park due to limited time but it is one of my favourite places in the world. If you are making your trip to Arches part of a vacation and you are passing through these areas I would recommend spending time in these parks too. They are some of the most well known and famous parks in the country for good reason. They are also some of the most expensive.
How to Visit the National Parks for FREE
Closest Cities to Arches National Park
The closest large city to Arches National Park in Salt Lake City which is 3.5 hours north of the park. The town of Moab is a short 10 min drive to the parks visitors center. Moab has all that you will need for your stay including amazing restaurants, accommodation to suit everyone as well as grocery stores and all other basic necessities.
Can You Drive Through Arches National Park?
Generally, you can drive through Arches National Park. It can get very busy in peak seasons and traffic delays are to be expected. One very significant issue that comes with driving in Arches National Park is parking. There are spaces for RV’s and campers however these are limited. It is advisable to not bring them during peak times.
There is currently no shuttle system in Arches National Park. The National Park Service is looking at developing a shuttle system or increasing parking capacity. The park has had a huge 90% increase in visitor numbers over the last 10 years and they are working to try and keep the park as accessible as possible.
Can You Drive an RV or Camper Through Arches National Park?
You can drive and RV or camper through Arches National Park. There is parking for RV’s at many of the hiking trails and view points. The road however is windy and the parking is limited especially in peak season.
If it is possible to leave your RV at the campground and only bring your vehicle this is recommended. It can become a little frustrating looking for parking spaces in such a small area towing a large RV.
Generally, there are a number of boondocking locations in the area that you could look into if you are just passing through and not wanting to stay in a campground.