Everything you need to know about visiting Arches National Park with kids!
Fantastic geologic formations created millions of years ago, stark red rocky landscapes, massive rock fins and boulders, and over 2,000 natural sandstone arches form Arches National Park. Over 1.8 million visitors made the trek to Arches in 2021 to tackle the family-friendly hikes, scenic drives, and to get out into nature in an unbelievable way. With all of the places to climb, dig, explore, and discover, it’s no wonder that Arches is a great place for kids!
How to Get to Arches National Park
Arches National Park lies in Utah just north of Moab, about 30 miles from Canyonlands National Park. The closest international airport is in Salt Lake City, about 230 miles away. Grand Junction, Colorado has a Regional Airport with flights from the larger cities in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado. Canyonlands Regional Airport offers flight connections to Salt Lake City and to Denver.
Moab is the perfect central location when visiting Arches and Canyonlands parks. Find the best hotel deals here. And here is a great list of Moab restaurants you won’t want to miss!
For those who opt to camp, we stayed at the Arches Gateway RV Resort and Campground and the kids loved it! Located just minutes from the entrance to Arches, the campground also has a huge pool and hot tub- perfect for a dip after exploring the parks all day.
Note: From April until the beginning of October Arches is requiring a timed entry in order to reduce congestion and crowding. Timed entry passes will not be required for visitors with camping, backcountry, or special use permits. Click here for reservations and the most up-to-date information on the passes. Be sure to sign up below to follow along with our journeys, read about our trips with tips and itineraries, and to see all of the national parks we’ve enjoyed!
The best places to visit in Arches National Park with kids
Arches National Park is a great place for kids of all ages, and for those that are still young at heart. There are shorter hikes, family-friendly lookouts, pull-offs and overlooks, scenic drives, and plenty of wide open spaces for kids to get out and engage with nature!
Double Arch
Double Arch is one of the first stops you will encounter when entering Arches National Park, and it was one of our favorites. In the Windows section of the park, Double Arch is just over a half mile round-trip and is great for small kids. The kids loved climbing into and underneath the arches, and there are tons of spots for unique photo opportunities here.
Fun fact for movie buffs: You may recognize this area from the beginning scenes of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, one of our favorite family movie series, filmed at Double Arch!
The Arches National Park Scenic Drive
The scenic drive in Arches is an 18-mile route through the park, hitting all the highlights. It takes about three hours to drive if you only stop at the short hikes and overlooks briefly, but if you opt for longer hikes then plan to spend the day in the park. The scenic drive begins in the Windows section, then goes up into the Delicate Arch viewpoints, and ends in the Devil’s Garden section.
Tip: The scenic drive is a great way to get a feel for the park without having to do longer or strenuous hikes, perfect for those traveling with little ones or visitors with mobility issues.
Windows Loop
Beginning from the same parking area as Double Arch, the Windows Loop takes hikers to North and South Windows arches plus Turret Arch. The entire loop is a relatively flat one mile jaunt under and around these magnificent arches.
Balanced Rock
On the way to Double Arch and the Windows Loop is Balanced Rock. You don’t have to get out of the car to see it, but there is a short paved “hike” (0.3 miles round trip) if you want to get closer. One of the most iconic features of the park, Balanced Rock stands 128 feet tall and weighs over 3,600 tons. While not really “balancing” at all, standing below and looking straight up really puts some perspective on how large these rock formations are.
Tip: There is a picnic area near Balanced Rock for a quick lunch or snack!
Delicate Arch
At the top of our list was hiking to Delicate Arch, the most well-known arch in the park (hello Utah license plates!). Delicate Arch is 46 feet high and 32 feet wide, making it the largest free-standing arch in the park. This hike ended up being a highlight of our trip and the perfect way to end our time in Utah!
We timed it so we were arriving at the arch right before sunset, which apparently is the busiest time to attempt this hike. While there were crowds of people waiting to get that perfect picture under the arch, we didn’t find the actual hike to be crowded at all.
Note: Delicate Arch is in the east side of the park by Wolfe Ranch, a Civil War-era cabin that still stands today. Families can explore inside the structure and envision how primitive life must have been living in this space. This area also has a rock wall with Ute Indian petroglyphs carved into the side.
Hiking to Delicate Arch with kids
Delicate Arch can be seen from several different locations. The Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint is an easy flat walk, around 200 feet round-trip. Upper Delicate Arch Viewpoint is listed as moderate and is about half a mile round-trip. To get close to the arch however, visitors must take the trail to Delicate Arch. This hike is three miles long and climbs 480 feet in elevation.
Our 6-year-old did this hike with us and there were some sketchy parts along the way, but as a whole it was definitely doable. Some areas are wide and flat, but you still have to watch your footing around larger rocks and crevices. We left just as the sun was setting, as there was no way I was going to try to cross all those rocks after dark. There were people starting the hike right before dark and in flip-flops, which I do not recommend.
Landscape Arch
At the very end of the scenic drive through the park is the Devil’s Garden, where Landscape Arch sits. It is hard to see in a picture how magnificent this one really is. It is the longest arch in North America at 306 feet, and no one knows how much longer it will be standing due to continuing erosion from wind and water.
This was an easy hike, 1.6 miles round-trip and relatively flat. At every turn you get a different view of the arch. Because the arch is so delicate and due to recent rockfalls, the park no longer allows visitors underneath or too close to the arch.
When planning any trip to a National Park we highly recommend the America the Beautiful National Parks Pass. We visited all five of the parks in Utah on this epic road trip, so the pass paid for itself. If you are planning on visiting more than 2 parks a year, the pass is definitely worth your investment. At some parks it even saves you time entering the park, as you can bypass the normal lines and drive right in!
Common questions about visiting Arches as a family!
How many days should I spend in Arches National Park?
If you only have one day to spend in Arches National Park, take the scenic drive and pick a few of the shorter stops like Double Arch and Delicate Arch Lookout. Pack a lunch for the car and get an early start to make the most out of your day. Ideally you will have two to three days to spend in the park. Plan some of the longer hikes and try to see both sunrise and sunset in the park- they are entirely different experiences!
Is Arches National Park kid-friendly?
Most definitely yes! Kids of all ages can find something really interesting to see in this park. Plus, getting out and really exploring nature is such a great thing for families to do together. Climb on the rocks, feel the sand, hike to amazing viewpoints, and run to your heart’s content!
When is the best time to visit Arches National Park?
Summer is the busiest time to visit Arches National Park, and it is also very, very hot. Spring or fall seem to be the ideal time to travel to Arches, we visited in March and the weather was perfect. Some days were slightly chilly and windy, so definitely pack layers if you visit in the early spring. Also note there are no timed entry passes required from mid-October until the beginning of April!
If you have more time...
With a few extra days added to your road trip, plan a day or two at Canyonlands National Park. Just 30 minutes from Arches, Canyonlands has several different sections to see in the park. Sunrise at Mesa Arch was stunning! We talk about all of Utah’s Mighty Five parks in our Utah road trip itinerary, one of our favorite road trips to date.
You can also spend time exploring the town of Moab. Rich in locations for ATV and 4×4 tours, close to the Colorado River for rafting adventures, and scenic byways through the Colorado River Gorge, Moab is an adventure all in itself!
Tips for a family vacation to Arches National Park
- Bring more water than you think you will need, especially in the summer. Arches has a dry desert climate year-round. These hydration packs are great for hiking with kids because of all of the different compartments for snacks, tissues, hand sanitizer, and anything else needed along the way!
- There are several hikes that are very exposed, so sunscreen is a must! Also a hat and sunglasses are helpful.
- In the late summer the mosquitoes can be awful, so bring good bug spray. Also citronella candles or tiki torches are helpful if you are camping.
- Pack a few layers of light clothing in case the wind kicks up on any of the hikes. We had several days with sandstorm type winds so our windbreakers came in handy.
- A great item to travel with is a portable GPS navigation, we bring ours on every trip. This one is affordable and easy to pack! Keep in mind that there is very little cellular service in the park.
- Pack a cooler for the car with ice, drinks and snacks to enjoy at one of the picnic spots in the park.
- A pair of sturdy, close-toed hiking boots makes hiking in this dusty and rocky terrain much easier.
- A set of inexpensive binoculars kept our kids busy on hikes for hours.
- There are restrooms and picnic areas throughout the park, but no gas stations. Fill up in Moab before entering Arches.
- Arrive early to the park to avoid lines at the entrance, there is only one way in and out.
- If visiting during the summer months, plan your hikes for early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat of the day. Most trails have little to no shade.
We spent two days in Arches National Park as a family and enjoyed every minute. There are so many different areas to explore it would be easy to spend even more time here. Arches definitely needs to be on your family vacation bucket list!
Other amazing national parks to explore with kids:
Safe travels!
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Arches National Park has been on my list for quite some time. I love that you include tips and activities for every kind of traveler! I’ll definitely be saving this as I plan my trip!
This sounds incredibly fun!
We LOVED Arches- I agree with everything you wrote- great trips… we know compare any challenge to climbing to Delicate Arch.. “this ‘aint no Delicate Arch.” Thanks for bringing back good memories.
Haha you are so right, there isn’t much that is delicate about Delicate Arch! Made me chuckle 🙂
That looks so cool! My husband and I need to get out of the south more often and see more of the country and that seems like a good place to explore.
Arches National Park is amazing! I took my two kids last year and we hiked delicate arch. It is so cool!