How to Spend One Day in Arches and Canyonlands: The Perfect Itinerary

Utah is well known for its Mighty 5 National Parks, but can you spend just one day in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks if you’re short on time?

You sure can! Woohoo, right?!

These two parks are amazing and, honestly, two must-visit National Parks in the United States! With Arches at 76,000 acres and Canyonlands at 338,000 acres, you’ll find plenty of hiking trails and amazing views.

And while they have similar red rock landscapes, they’re also very different.

One has over 2,000 towering arches, and the other has expansive, deep canyons, making them both worth a visit. Plus, they’re both within 45 minutes of each other, so it makes sense to fit them into one day trip!

We spent 10 days road-tripping around Utah, and of those 10 days, several days were spent in Arches and Canyonlands.  

In this post, you’ll find out which park is our favorite, an itinerary for visiting both parks in one day, and everything you’ll need to know for the perfect one day in Arches and Canyonlands!

How to Spend One Day in Arches and Canyonlands

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How Far Apart Are Arches and Canyonlands?

Both Canyonlands and Arches National Parks are located in southern Utah near the small town of Moab. Moab is the closest town to both of the parks, making it the best place to stay during your visit.

Now, while the two National Parks are located near Moab, they are about a 40-minute drive or around 30 miles from each other.

It’s a quick and easy drive to get between the two. And outside of booking a tour to explore both Parks, you’ll need to have your own or rent a vehicle as no public busses or shuttles run between or in the Parks.

Do You Need a Permit to Visit Arches or Canyonlands?

Currently, you don’t need a permit to visit Canyonlands National Park, but you DO need a permit to visit Arches National Park.

Arches National Park Permits

To help with some of the congestion that happens within the park, a timed entry reservation ticket is required for entry into Arches between April 1st and October 31st.

To get a permit for Arches National Park, head to Recreation.gov.

All reservations open 3 months in advance on the first of the month at 8 am MDT. This is the best way to get a ticket.

However, if you cannot snag a permit, you’re not quite out of luck yet! A limited number of permits are released the day before your desired visit date at 7 pm MDT.

Tickets sell out really quickly, so we recommend grabbing yours in the advance sale whenever possible!

A timed entry permit is not required if you visit outside April 1 – October 31st.

Is One Day Enough to Visit Arches and Canyonlands?

If you only have a limited time for your visit to Utah, then yes, you can definitely visit both Arches and Canyonlands in one day.

Take note that you won’t be able to see everything since these parks are large, and there is much to do! However, you will be able to hit the highlights and potentially a few extras, depending on how fast you move!

Canyonlands also has 5 sections, so you’ll only get to see one section, Island in the Sky, on your visit. As for Arches, we’ll take you to some of the best sights throughout the park.

Don’t worry; even with a 1/2 day in Arches and Canyonlands, you’ll still see many amazing things!

PRO TIP: If you have more time to spend than a 1/2 day in each park, check out our one-day itinerary to Arches and one-day itinerary to Canyonlands!

Best Time to Visit Arches and Canyonlands

When planning your trip to these national parks, there are a few things to note about when to visit.

The summer months (June through August) are considered the worst times to visit since it’s the high season that comes with plenty of crowds. This can make getting through both parks in one day difficult since you’ll have to wait for traffic and the parking lots are very small.

Not to mention, it’s hotsy totsy in Utah in the summer. With temperatures staying in the 90s and reaching the 100s, if you visit in the summer, please come prepared with loads of sunscreen and water.

Spring (April and May) and fall (September and October) are the best months to spend one day in Arches and Canyonlands. These months offer cool (if not cold!) temperatures with fewer crowds.

We visited at the beginning of October, and it was perfect! Great weather, no rain, and little crowds.

PRO TIP: We recommend Spring! One reason that we particularly love spring for visiting both parks is that, with more daylight hours (thanks Daylight Savings!), you can spend more time in the parks, therefore squeezing more into your short trip!

Where To Stay Near Arches and Canyonlands

Moab is the closest town to Arches and Canyonlands, so it’s here in Moab that you’ll find the majority of accommodation options, not to mention great restaurants, cafes, and shops.

Places like Sun Outdoors, Moab Springs Ranch, and The Moab Resort are close-ish to Canyonlands (just outside of Moab), AND with onsite pools, you can take a dip to cool off from that Utah heat after a day of exploring.

If you’re looking to stay in Moab itself and a short 5-10 minute drive to Arches, The Gonzo Inn, Robber’s Roost, Sunflower Inn, and Hoodoo Moab are all AMAZING locations in the center of Moab. Enjoy comfortable rooms that are within walking distance of restaurants, and by staying in Moab, you’re VERY close to Arches National Park, too!

Oh, and if you want to give glamping a try, Under Canvas Moab is definitely worth considering!

Staying Inside Arches and Canyonlands National Park

Unlike other National Parks like Zion, Grand Teton, Mount Rainier, Grand Canyon, or Yellowstone that offer in-park lodging, Canyonlands and Arches do not.

If you wish to stay within the borders of Canyonlands and Arches National Parks, you must camp.

Arches National Park Camping

There is only one campground within Arches National Park: Devils Garden Campground. It’s 100% necessary to make reservations in advance of your visit.

Canyonlands National Park Camping

Unlike Arches, you have a few camping options to choose from in Canyonlands.

1. Island in the Sky Campground (Willow Flat): This year-round campground is located in the Island in The Sky section of the park. All sites here are first come, first served, meaning no reservations are accepted.
2. The Needles Campground: Located in The Needles section of the park, some sites can be reserved online, while others are on a first-come, first-served basis.
3. Backcountry Camping: For those looking to get away from it all, you can backcountry camp in Canyonlands. You will need a permit to go backcountry camping, which can be purchased online four months before you visit.

One Day in Arches and Canyonlands + Map

Before we dive into the one-day itinerary for Arches and Canyonlands, let’s go over a few of our top tips to ensure you have the best visit possible!

• Start Early: Starting as early as possible (ideally at sunrise) will give you the most out of the daylight hours to see it all! Plus, the earlier you start, the cooler the temperatures are, and the fewer people there are!
• Stay in Moab: Moab is the closest town to both parks, and we recommend staying there! Also, since Arches is the closest park, we’re having you start there immediately at sunrise vs. Canyonlands.
• Pack Appropriately: Bring everything you need for the day to avoid making unnecessary stops and losing out on any time in the park. This means bringing any food, water, jackets, medicine, extra clothing, etc., you may need throughout the day.
• Restaurants & Gas: There are no restaurants or gas stations in either of the parks, so be sure you fill up on gas and get everything you need (meals and snacks) in Moab the night before.
• America the Beautiful Pass: If you’re planning to visit another national park in Utah, like Bryce Canyon or Zion, we recommend purchasing an America the Beautiful National Parks pass to save some money. It grants you access to all 63 national parks for one year!

Use the + and – icons to zoom in and out of the interactive map to get a better sense of where each sight is located for your one day in Arches and Canyonlands.

Watch the Sunrise From Delicate Arch

To start your day off strong, head to the trailhead for Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. There’s a reason this arch is on Utah’s license plate! It’s beautiful.

This trail is just over 3 miles long and covers about 700 feet of elevation gain. A few spots are pretty steep and slippery, so it’s important to bring a headlamp since it may be dark when you start the hike.

Also bring a jacket, because it will likely be cool in the morning!

Delicate Arch is a very popular spot at sunrise and, honestly, any time of day. It’s the largest completely free-standing arch in Arches National Park, standing at 46 feet tall.

Because of its popularity, you might have to wait in line to snap a picture with the arch, depending on the time of year you visit. There aren’t many ways around this, except to take your picture off to the side instead of directly in front of the arch.

Either way, it’s a beautiful spot and a great start to the day!

PRO TIP: If you’re a coffee or tea drinker, plan to pack a thermos and some mugs to enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea as you watch the sunrise from Delicate Arch!

Hike The Devil’s Garden Trail to Landscape Arch

After visiting Delicate Arch, it’s time to head to the popular Devil’s Garden Trail. This is Arches National Park’s longest-maintained trail and the most popular hiking trail in the Park.

The entire trail is about 8 miles long, but since you only have a short time here, you won’t be hiking the full 8. Rather, you’ll hike to Landscape Arch, which totals just under 2 miles roundtrip.

The Landscape Arch is the longest arch in North America, measuring 306 feet (93.3 meters).

If you hike past Landscape Arch or take the offshoot trail just before it, you can see loads of other arches, such as Tunnel Arch, Pine Tree Arch, Partition Arch, Navajo Arch Dark Angel Arch, and Double O Arch.

Just a friendly reminder that if you wish to see all the arches on the Devil’s Garden Trail, you can expect it to take anywhere from 3-4 hours. And since you’re short on time, we don’t recommend tackling the full 8-mile trail.

Rather, plan to hike to Landscape Arch, grab a few photos, then turn around and head back to the trailhead where your vehicle is parked.

Walk The Windows Loop Trail & Explore Double Arch

After your 2-mile hike on the Devil’s Garden Trail, make your way over to the Windows Loop trail.

There are 4 large arches in this area that you can see all in one stop! It’s the perfect final hurrah for your 1/2 day visit to Arches.

Start on the Windows Loop Trail, which is about 1.2 miles long. It leads you to two arches: the South Window and the North Window. They look out to the La Sal Mountains and are massive! You can actually crawl up into the windows, which is where many people watch sunrise and sunset.

The Windows arches are probably our favorite arches in Arches National Park. We are totally biased, but don’t miss these during your visit to Arches National Park!

After seeing The Windows, head over to Turret Arch, which is just a short walk away and right off the main trail. You can actually see Turret Arch through the North Window!

Once done at Turret, walk to your last arch, Double Arch. Getting its name because it’s two arches connected by one tall rock formation, Double Arch is just across the parking lot from The Windows, and the trail is less than ½ mile long.

Oh, and you can climb up Double Arch, allowing you to take in views of the Park!

Picnic Table Lunch at Arches Visitor Center

Once done exploring The Windows and Double Arch, it’s time to say goodbye to Arches National Park.

However, before heading out of Arches National Park and over to Canyonlands National Park, you have the option to stop for a picnic lunch outside of the Arches National Park Visitor Center.

You’ll find picnic tables outside the visitor center, and we recommend eating lunch here! This stop allows you to kill two birds with one-stop since you can grab a souvenir at the gift shop, use the restroom, and fill your water bottles after eating.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to stop, you can opt to eat your lunch on the 40-minute drive to Canyonlands.

Whichever option you choose, we recommend packing a lunch so you don’t have to go back to Moab to grab food. This will save you time and allow for more time spent exploring Canyonlands!

PRO TIP: As you make your way out of the park towards the Visitor Center, you’ll drive by Balancing Rock and Park Avenue. Two other awesome sights in Arches! The plus side is that you do not need to stop since you can see both of these landmarks from your car window!

Hike to Mesa Arch in Canyonlands

After visiting Arches National Park and enjoying lunch, funny enough, your first stop in Canyonlands National Park will be another arch 🙂

Mesa Arch is a large arch that frames the distant views of the La Sal Mountains and the deep canyons below. This formation is one of the most popular stops in the Island of the Sky section of Canyonlands, if not the entire park.

Mesa Arch makes for a beautiful start to your visit and only takes a 0.5 mile easy walk to get to!

After sitting in the car on the drive between Arches and Canyonlands, this is the perfect way to stretch your legs again and get acquainted with the expansive views of Canyonlands!

Take In The Views From Green River Overlook

After Mesa Arch, make your way to Green River Overlook, which is a short and easy walk to a scenic overlook. Taking about a 1/4 mile, Green River overlook looks out over the huge canyons in Canyonlands National Park.

Spaces like these make you feel really small in a National Park! You can see for miles and miles on end!

Optional: Hike to White Rim Overlook

Depending on how much time you have left in the day, or should we say how much gas you have left in your personal tank, the hike to White Rim Overlook is an optional addition to your 1/2 day Canyonlands visit!

The hike to this stunning overlook is about 1.8 miles long. Just be sure to plan accordingly and ensure you have enough time to complete it. While it is a beautiful spot, we don’t want you to miss Grand Viewpoint, which is the most popular place in Canyonlands for sunset. 

If you’re not a hiker, plan to skip White Rim Overlook as the next stop, Grand Viewpoint Overlook, is also a 1.8-mile walk to reach the overlook for sunset.

White Rim Overlook is an optional hike, after all, so don’t street yourself if you’d like to skip it 🙂

Sunset at Grand Viewpoint Overlook

For the last stop of your one-day in Arches and Canyonlands itinerary, head to Grand Viewpoint Overlook for the sunset. This is the most popular spot in Canyonlands for sunset, so you’ll likely see several other people here.

It’s a 1.8-mile trail to reach the overlook, so be sure you give yourself enough time to get here to enjoy the sunset.

The views from here are stunning and are some of the most expansive, making it the perfect spot to watch the sun go down over the massive canyon that gives this park its name.

Grand Viewpoint Overlook not only gives you a great view of the canyon but also of Junction Butte, a 6,388-foot tall rock formation that juts out from the canyon’s floor. 

Oh, and be sure to grab a jacket and maybe a few snacks before setting out. Both are perfect little add-ons to have as you sit back and enjoy the sunset as your one day in Canyonlands and Arches comes to an end.

Alternative Option: Dead Horse Point State Park For Sunset

Now, another alternative option for you to consider.

If you’ve finished your stops at Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park and still have time before sunset, consider heading into Dead Horse Point State Park.

Located 30 minutes from Canyonlands (back in the direction of Moab), Dead Horse State Park is WELL worth the stop if you have some time to spare.

The views here are similar to those at Canyonlands, with deep, vast canyons.

The most popular point of the park is Dead Horse Point, a very short and easy trail leading to an overlook of the Colorado River weaving through the canyons.

You can plan to catch the sunset from here vs. Grand Viewpoint if you’re pacing ahead of schedule. If not, and you still have some energy left, Dead Horse State Park is amazing for stargazing before heading back into Moab for the night.

Have More Than One Day In Arches And Canyonlands?

If you have more time to spend than a 1/2 day in each park, check out our one-day itinerary to Arches and one-day itinerary to Canyonlands.

Alternatively, you can enjoy some wild outdoor adventure and fun! After all, Moab is an outdoor junkie paradise!

Go whitewater rafting (or paddleboarding!!) down the Colorado River, take a helicopter ride, hit the walls for some rock climbing, go on a 4×4 offroading adventure, or partake in a dirt bike or mountain biking excursion!

As you can see, there are endless ways to spend your days enjoying Moab and its surrounding trails, sights, and parks!

So, Which is Better, Arches or Canyonlands?

This is a tough question because Arches and Canyonlands National Parks are VERY different from one another. Which you prefer really depends on what you like to see and do!

Canyonlands has a lot of vast canyons with expansive views that really take your breath away. It’s a large park with 5 sections, and to fully experience it, you’ll need 3-5 full days!

Arches is much smaller, and you could cover most (if not all!) of the park in just one day. The views here are also expansive (not as much as Canyonlands) but are more focused on the arches, hence the name. There are 2,000 documented arches in the park, so yeah, there are loads of arches to see!

If we had to choose, we would have to say that Arches National Park was our favorite of the two by a slim, SLIM, margin. We just loved this park. It felt like a giant, rugged jungle gym, allowing you to get up close and personal with many arches while taking in the stunning, arid desert landscape.

However, we really did Canyonlands and would HIGHLY recommend squeezing one day in Arches and Canyonlands versus missing one.

They really are both magical lands and we are so excited for you to explore them!

Want More Information on Utah!?

The Ultimate 10 Day Utah Roadtrip

One Day in Canyonlands National Park

How to Spend 1 to 2 Days in Zion National Park

One Day In Bryce Canyon

How To Spend 2-3 Days in Moab

Arches National Park in One Day

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For more travel tips, guides, and awesome travel shots, be sure to poke around our site and follow us on Instagram @wanderingstus, Pinterest, and Facebook. Oh, if you have any questions, let us know in the comment section. We’re happy to answer. Or, leave us a positive note!

Happy Travels,

– Lauren & Jesse Stuart (The Stu’s)