History:
Arches National Park is located in eastern Utah near Moab. Inside the park include 2,000 natural arches. People inhabited the area beginning about 10,000 years ago during the ice age. You can see their mark on the park, literally, by check out the petroglyphs left by the Ute tribes in the rock.
What to Do:
If you only have a few hours, I would recommend driving the road out to its end without stopping, and then coming back and making stops along the way so you will know exactly where you want to stop. There’s a lot of hiking trails in the park and so many arches and rocks, that you can literally spend days here and see something new.
Specific spots I would recommend checking out include:
- Landscape Arch
- Double Arch
- Delicate Arch
- Balanced Rock
- Fiery Furnace
- Courthouse Towers
- Dark Angel
- Petrified Dunes
Where to Stay:
You can camp in the park, but there isn’t any additional lodging. To find a hotel or motel to stay, I’d recommend checking out spots in Moab. Prices range from cabins at about $80 to moderate hotels and glamping at $200, and then more high end hotels around the $300-$400 per night range. The next time I visit, I plan to stay at UnderCanvas in Moab which is outdoor glamping not far from the park.
Tips:
- Check out what spots you may want to hit ahead of time. There’s a lot to do, so if you only have a few hours, look into what are your “must dos”.
- Bring water. Pack some food if you will be in the park for a few hours.
- If you’re headed there in the winter, I would recommend a four wheel drive car as the road from the visitors’ center to the beginning of the arches goes up a pretty steep road.
- It’s $30 for entry into the park if you don’t have a National Park Pass. If you visit more than 3 parks a year, I would recommend purchasing the $80 park pass so you can save on your other entrance fees.
- If you have time, check out Canyondlands National Park nearby and Dead Horse Point State Park all near Moab.
