By local experts at Discover Moab
UPDATE: January 2026--Timed Entry Reservations Are Not Required for 2026
Timed entry reservations are not required to visit Arches National Park in 2026. While reservations were mandatory in prior years, they will not be required this year. You can enter the park at anytime without a reservation. Read more…
Preparing for your visit
If you're planning to visit Arches during peak times throughout the year, here are a few insider tips to help plan your visit.
- Purchase a park pass before you arrive at Arches
Park passes can be purchased online or in town at the Moab Information Center. Bring your pass with you to help speed up your entrance!
- Check the Arches webcam
Check the Arches Entrance Station webcam before you arrive. Arches is a 10-minute drive from downtown Moab.
- Arrive before 7 AM or after 2 PM
Try to plan your visit around peak times, and arrive early if you're planning to do popular hikes like Delicate Arch or the Devil's Garden. You can also visit the park in the afternoon, but bring water and prepare for warmer temperatures. Arches is open 24 hours a day; consider visiting Arches at night to enjoy some of the best stargazing in the world!
- Stay flexible
If popular locations are busy, explore lesser-traveled areas.
Remember: Arches is just one stop among all there is to see and do in Moab. For more recreation ideas, visit the Moab Information Center, our places to go and things to do pages, and other ideas below!
A valid entrance pass remains required and may be purchased at the entrance station or online at Recreation.gov. Reservations continue to be required for Devils Garden Campground and self-guided and ranger-led Fiery Furnace hikes.
To help maintain safe traffic flow, visitors are asked not to wait in roadways for parking spaces. When parking areas reach capacity, staff may temporarily restrict access to specific locations to reduce congestion and protect visitor safety. Additional scenic viewpoints and trailheads throughout the park offer outstanding alternatives during peak periods.
“Arches is one of the most incredible places in the world. When you visit during popular times, arriving early and purchasing a pass in advance can help speed up your entrance into the park,” says Michael Soleta, director of the Moab Office of Tourism. “Beautiful scenery in Moab doesn’t stop at the borders of the park; Arches is really just the beginning of all there is to see and do in and around Moab.”
If you want to avoid peak times
Consider visiting other nearby parks and trails during peak Arches visitation times, including:
During your visit
Visitors are asked not to wait in roadways for parking spaces. Additional scenic viewpoints and trailheads throughout the park offer outstanding alternatives during peak periods.