Denver to Arches National Park: The Perfect Outdoors Weekend Trip
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Wondering how to get from Denver to Arches National Park? You’ve found the right post!
Six hours west of Denver, you’ll find the towering spires and graceful sky-grazing curves of Arches National Park. This beautiful national treasure is a top travel destination for multiple reasons, from her 2,000 natural sandstone arch formations and petroglyph art to the surprisingly varied color palette brushed onto her by Mother Nature.
We absolutely loved taking trips out to Moab. It soon became one of our #1 recommended spots when friends and family visited us. They’d be wondering what to do during their trip, and we’d always be like… “what about taking a trip this weekend to Arches?”
If you’re in Denver searching for a great vacation, going from Denver to Moab on a road trip is probably one of the best things you can do for yourself. Load up the car with your favorite snacks and best hiking gear, put on a great playlist, and head off for an unforgettable trip!
Why You Should Road Trip from Denver to Arches National Park
While the driving distance from Denver to Arches National Park, at about 350 miles, may seem daunting, in reality, you almost couldn’t make a better trip.
You head west out of Denver by car, and you’re all but shot out of the city like a cannon; you basically drive straight across Colorado, hang a left just past the Utah border, and there you are!
Okay, it is actually slightly more complicated, but not by much. And the real treat is that the drive is just beautiful: you’ll be passing through Colorado’s famed ski resort country, replete with snowy peaks and gorgeous swaths of pine forest.
You’ll cross over rushing rivers as they cut through rugged canyons, pass through historic mining towns, and have the chance to visit other parks along the way.
And since you’re on Interstate 70 for the main bulk of your road trip, your travel path is dotted with cities large and small. You won’t have any problem making any rest stops or provisioning breaks that you need.
We absolutely loved visiting Arches for the very first time on a southwest road trip. Learn more in our video!
How to Travel from Denver to Arches National Park National Park
If you really, really don’t want to drive from Denver to Arches National Park… we’re going to recommend that you do it anyway.
While commercial flights are technically available from Denver to Moab, they all stop in Phoenix. Then, once you get to Moab, while you will be close to the park, you still have to manage transport between it and the airport.
Buses and trains are also an option, but again, they leave you just short of the park and still need to arrange additional transport.
The best option that takes the least amount of time and is most economical is the humble road trip by car!
Where to Stay Between Denver and Arches National Park
When you’re making the Denver to Arches drive, you can break up the trip–you don’t have to drive the full six hours all at once! Because your travel route takes place largely along a major interstate with plenty of cities, you have your pick of places to rest overnight.
If you want to stop at a halfway point, that will put you approximately in Glenwood Springs. This popular resort city has no shortage of accommodation available at any time of year.
You can stay at the Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge with its giant hot spring pool, the charming little Hanging Lake Inn, or the kitschy-cute Starlight Lodge motel, just to name a few.
The fantastic thing about stopping in Glenwood Springs is that you can go early and spend a good part of a day there just enjoying yourself. Hike out to Doc Holliday’s grave, learn new things in the Frontier Historical Museum, or picnic at Two Rivers Park.
Then, the next morning, just get back in your car and finish up your trek to Arches!
Tips for Visiting Arches National Park National Park from Denver
Get a timed entry pass
Like many national parks, Arches has implemented a reservation policy, and you will need a timed entry ticket (and to pay the entry fee) to get into the park with your vehicle between 7 AM and 4 PM from April to October.
Fortunately, you can (and should!) reserve your time online through the National Park Service. Note: If you have a backpacking, camping, or other kind of permit already, then this entry fee will allow you entrance.
Print out directions
Always print a paper copy of your driving map and your park map. Spotty mountain cellular data is a real thing, you don’t want to just rely on your phone.
Check alerts and conditions
Keep an eye on the Alerts and Conditions page from the National Park Service. You wouldn’t want to start out driving from Denver to Arches National Park without knowing about possible park closures and emergencies!
Read up on safety tips
Read the Safety Tips page as well! This has so much helpful information on being properly prepared for your visit to Arches National Park.
Whether you are a park newbie or a seasoned explorer, it’s always good to check here and make sure you know and have everything you need for a fun, safe trip.
Check the weather forecast
Check the weather ahead of time for each part of your road trip; this will help you to pack accordingly.
Best Time of Year to do a Denver to Arches National Park Road Trip
The most popular times to visit Arches National Park are spring and autumn, so you’ll be sure to have an extra-gorgeous road trip driving between Denver and Arches. The brilliant colors and fantastic weather will make your entire trip a total dream!
Whether you’re going into the park for a day of backpacking or a few days of camping, you’ll have the best time during the spring and autumn months… though you may have to elbow jockey for space with other park goers (we’re not kidding when we say these are popular seasons for park visits!).
Summertime visits are of course possible, but Arches can get punishingly hot during the day. Park visits at this time are recommended to be short and to take place either early or late in the day, when it can be cooler.
You’ll also want to be sure you have plenty of water, electrolyte replacers, and lots of food on hand during these scorching seasonal trips.
As you can imagine, winter turns Arches National Park into a frosty wonderland, with snow dusting the peaks, swirls, and towers of rock formations. It’s also a quieter time of year visitor-wise.
Ice, however, can close roads, make hiking trails treacherous, and just really put a damper on your Arches trip in general. You’ll want to be sure to wear sturdy, non-slip, waterproof footwear and bundle up well.
Perfect 3-Day Denver to Arches National Park Itinerary
Are you wondering how to spend three days in Arches National Park? Here’s a great itinerary to start with.
Day 1: Start your drive
Enjoy a leisurely mountain drive out of Denver! Whether you’re toughing the full six hours out in a day or planning to stop overnight along the way, take your time.
Admire the scenery, visit some of the smaller towns and villages, and explore a few of the historical landmarks and beautiful viewpoints along the interstate.
Day 2: Begin exploring Arches National Park
If you stopped overnight, today you get up and finish your road trip–make sure you leave your hotel well enough in advance that you arrive in time for your timed entry slot (if you have one). If you arrived in Moab or at the park campgrounds the night prior, then it’s time to wake up, get your hiking boots on, and head right into the park.
With 120 square miles of beautiful parkland, it might seem difficult to know where to begin. We do have a few suggestions–
- There are many hiking trails in Arches National Park; reasonably seasoned hikers will particularly enjoy the Delicate Arch Trail. It takes two to three hours to hike roundtrip, but your reward is to stand at the feet of the park’s most famous arch as it curves elegantly into the sky. If you’d prefer a less challenging hike, the Delicate Arch Viewpoint Trails are an excellent alternative with equally stunning views.
- Stick with your car, grab your camera, and explore the park through your lens. Arches has plenty of driveable acreage you can enjoy from the air-conditioned shelter of your vehicle.
- The iconic Fiery Furnace is a labyrinth of canyons, sandstone monoliths, and claustrophobically narrow passages that can only be accessed through special permits or ranger-led tours. Still, it’s a legendary hike, so if you’re able and up for it, and you can get your hands on a permit, it’ll be an unforgettable experience you can be proud of enduring.
After your day in the park, why not get a head start on your trip back to Denver? If you’re not too tired, drive the hour and a half to Grand Junction, just on the other side of the Colorado border, and get a hotel for the night.
Day 3: Drive back to Denver
Good morning, Grand Junction! This border city is the center of Colorado’s wine country.
Reserve yourself a spot on one of the many winery tours available, or just check out a few wine tastings at a few of the wineries. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon before you get a good late lunch and head back to Denver.
Grand Junction is also renowned for its excellent produce, so if wine isn’t really your thing, you might better enjoy visiting some local orchards and picking up delicious fruit, award-winning jams, and other homegrown treats.
Or you can sleep in, visit a spa for a good massage, and get good and relaxed before you get back into the car. After your long day at Arches, you’ll have earned some pampering!
In the end, making the journey from Denver to Arches National Park is an undertaking very much worth taking on.
You can enjoy gorgeous scenery every mile of your drive, explore charming and interesting towns along the way, and make some of the best memories of your life in the park itself.
Carve out some time for yourself and hit the road for an epic Denver to Arches National Park road trip–you won’t regret it.
