Arches National Park with Kids: Ultimate Guide for Your Visit
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Is Arches National Park a good place to take kids? YES!
Arches is a wonderful national park for kids and has many doable hikes for a young family.
In this post, I’ll cover everything you need to know about visiting Arches National Park with kids.
Getting to Arches National Park
The two closest airports are Grand Junction (109 miles away) and Salt Lake City (about 230 miles away).
We flew into Grand Junction, rented a car, and then drove about 1 hour and 40 min to Moab.
It was a very easy drive, and there were even a few scenic stops we did along the way.
Where to Stay with Kids
We stayed at the Springhill Suites by Marriott, and it was AWESOME!
It is SO close to Arches. It is just a five minute drive to the park.
A few things we loved about this hotel–
Best Time to Visit with Kids
The best months for visiting Arches National Park, in terms of temperature, are April to May and mid September to October.
During these times, the weather is nearly perfect.
We visited during Memorial weekend, and the weather was phenomenal.
We wore sweatshirts, and the temperatures were perfect for hiking.
Best Sights to See in Arches National Park with Kids
Arches Visitor Center
We LOVE national park visitor centers.
It is a great place to find a souvenir and do some interactive learning about the park.
I recommend visiting the Arches National Park visitor center towards the end of your day.
This strategy allows you to beat the crowds to the most popular hikes and sights in the national park.
Just make sure you check the hours for the visitor center so you have enough time to visit it before it closes for the day.
Park Avenue Viewpoint
Park Avenue Viewpoint is the closest spot to the visitor center.
Its views are absolutely stunning.
Depending on how busy the park is that day I suggest visiting this viewpoint on your way out of the park.
We visited this spot the first evening we arrived at Arches.
We only had about a half hour until dark so it was a perfect opportunity to drive into the park quick and stop at this amazing viewpoint for a few minutes.
Expert Tip
To make the most of your visit to Arches National Park, I recommend staying at a close hotel like the Springhill Suites in Moab. This allows you to visit the park outside of the timed entry requirements. You can enter the park after 4PM without a timed reservation and enjoy sights like the Park Avenue Viewpoint.
Balanced Rock
Balanced Rock can be seen from the main park road. It is a great little place to hike if there is available parking.
It is only .3 miles round trip and you could even take a stroller on this one if you wanted!
The Windows Section
The Windows Section has the Windows Loop Trail, and on this 1 mile hike you can see the North and South Windows as well as Turret Arch.
It is a very easy hike to do with kids! I definitely recommend it.
Double Arch
Double Arch is right next to the Windows section. The parking lot is even the same.
This hike is just .5 miles round trip so it is another great one to do with the kids.
Delicate Arch
When you think of Arches National Park, Delicate Arch is probably the image that comes to mind.
It is undoubtedly the most iconic arch and is considered a symbol of the state of Utah.
Unfortunately, you cannot see this arch from the main road.
There are a couple of options of ways catch a glimpse of it.
I recommend stopping at the Upper Viewpoint, which is about a .5 mile walk with stairs, to see a view of it.
The full hike to Delicate Arch is 3 miles round trip.
During my trip, my sister and I completed this hike while my husband stayed at the hotel with the kids. It took us well over an hour, even moving at a decent pace.
Sand Dune Arch
Sand Dune Arch is the kids’ favorite hike!
It is about 0.3 miles each way, with plenty of sand to hike through and play in.
It’s like a beach in the middle of Arches National Park.
The kids had a blast playing in the sand, and some people even brought sand toys.
It’s a super fun stop, and I highly recommend making time for it, especially if you have younger kids!
Landscape Arch
Landscape Arch, located in the Devils Garden area, is the longest arch in North America.
You can reach it via a 1.6-mile round trip hike, which is a very doable hike for kids.
These are the main stops we visited in Arches National Park, all of which were not only very manageable but also fun to experience with young kids.
I love Arches National Park- it’s definitely one of my favorite national parks and a great place to take the kids!
Top Tips for Visiting Arches National Park with Kids
Tip #1: If possible, plan to visit the park over the course of about three days. This allows you to explore the park in shorter bursts instead of cramming everything into one day. It also helps you navigate the crowds more strategically. For instance, if a parking lot is too busy earlier in the day, you can return in the evening for a hike to a specific arch.
Tip #2: Drive past the busiest parking lots and continue further into the park, especially if you arrive early in the morning. This allows you to be strategic about where you stop.
Tip #3: Make your timed entry advance reservation as soon as it becomes available, which is three months before your visit. From the beginning of April to the end of October, a timed entry ticket is required to visit Arches National Park from 7 AM to 4 PM. If you visit the park outside of these times, you do not need a timed entry ticket.
Tip #4: Along many of the trails in the park, you’ll notice rock piles called cairns, which are placed by park rangers to help mark the route. The kids will enjoy looking for them, but be sure that no one moves or knocks them down.
Tip #5: Scenic Drive is the main 36-mile out-and-back paved road in Arches National Park. If you only have one day in the park, you can drive this road and stop for a few minutes at each viewpoint. This road provides access to all the best sights and trailheads.
If you are thinking about taking a trip to Arches National Park with kids, I would tell you without a doubt that you SHOULD do it.
I recommend creating a game plan for the sights you want to see and the hikes you want to do. Familiarize yourself with the park in advance by printing an online map. This will help you make quicker decisions in the park if you need to adjust your plan due to crowds or lack of parking.
If you only have one day to visit Arches, read my post Arches National Park in One Day for tips on how to best spend your day!
Besides Arches National Park, do you want to know more about what to do with kids in Moab?
Read my post Things to do in Moab with Kids for some other awesome sights and attractions to visit on your trip.
Download my free road trip activities printable to entertain the kids during your road trip to Arches National Park plus download my free travel itinerary planner to help plan your trip to Utah or wherever your adventures take you.
May you LOVE your adventure. KW
