Visiting Arches National Park with kids

Are you looking to visit Arches National Park with kids? In this guide we will give you all our best tips for taking a family vacation to Arches National Park, alongside the best things to do in the park. 

Important Note: This post may contain affiliate links which means if you click through and make a purchase I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you!

Planning a Trip to Arches National Park with Kids

We love visiting National Parks with kids. However visits to National Parks with children do take a bit more planning.

In the first section of this Arches National Park with kids we will tell you everything you need to know to plan a visit to Arches and Moab generally before we turn our attention to things we can do in the park itself. 

What is the Best Time to Visit Arches National Park

I always think there is never a wrong time to visit a National Park. And Arches is one of the US National Parks that is open year round. However despite this year round opening, I would say that there are better times than others to visit Arches National Park. 

The reasons for this are two fold – crowds and weather. 

As with many places in Utah, the temperatures in Summer are scorchingly hot. In fact you will find many summer months reach 100 degrees F. 

On top of this you will find, that despite the weather, the crowds are at their highest in the summer. 

However in Winter, the temperatures will be around 40-56 degrees and you may find snow and ice on the trailheads which can making hiking with kids more difficult. 

Also there are no ranger programs at Arches in the Winter which reduces the attraction of the park for littles. 

But at least if you travel in Winter you will be rewarded by cheaper accommodation and fewer crowds. 

However overall I would recommend visiting Arches National Park in the shoulder seasons of either Fall of Spring.  Note: Spring at Arches is classified as March to May while Fall runs from September to November. 

Temperatures during the shoulder season at arches tend to hover between 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit depending on the month you are traveling in. This is much more pleasant for exploring with kids than in the Winter and Season. 

However having said that we visited Moab during Summer and it was very very hot. But it is was doable, if not expensive outside of the park. 

If you are visiting in Summer or plan to visit on a Peak DAy i.e. school vacations such as public holidays we have tips for you too!

For more information on the best time to visit Arches National Park and how long you need in Arches check out these posts.

Best Time of Day to Visit Arches

If you are visiting Arches during summer or at a peak time i.e. school vacations and public holidays we recommend getting to the parks early. 

By getting into the park early in the morning you can beat a lot of the crowds (away from the best sunrise spots in Arches of course). 

By traveling earlier you will get some trailheads to yourself and not have to deal with the heat which is a win win especially when traveling with kids. 

Also one of the things that surprised me about Arches, was how small some of the trailhead parking lots are. These fill up very quickly and you will not be able to stop if you are not at a designated parking lot. Therefore you need to get their early to get a spot to see the main Arches National Park Attractions such as at the Devil’s Garden and Delicate Arch trails.

When we arrived to Arches at 6am we did not have to queue to enter, however by 9am the queue was hundreds of cars deep.

Make Reservations

Arches National Park is the 3rd most popular national park in Utah, and draws over 1.5million visitors a year. 

Therefore to protect the park and its ecology and geology, they have instituted a reservation system during peak season.

Peak Season at Arches National Park usually runs from April through to October. During this period a timed reservation ticket is required.

Reservations usually open up around 3 months prior to visit date. But keep checking the website and make your reservation well in advance to get a time slot and the date you want.

Best Places to Stay Near Arches National Park

One of the best ways to ensure that you get into the parks early is to stay close to the park itself.

Now if you can book far in advance we recommend it as you will get a better price and more options accommodation wise. We booked our trip at short notice so found the prices to be very high. 

Although Moab isn’t a huge town, it does have a lot of variety in terms of accommodation and does have something for all price points. 

However, I personally would always recommend you stay in central Moab if you can. This way you can walk to restaurants and if you stay on the side of town with the National Park you will find it easier to get their earl. 

Also if you are visiting in summer and you are traveling with kids I would also advise you selecting somewhere with a pool. My perfect day in Moab is getting an early start in the park and spending the afternoon cooling down in the pool 

The closest hotels to the Arches National Park entrance with a pool are:

• Springfield Suites
• Fairfield Inn and Suites 
• Holiday Inn Express
• Aarchway Inn – has a free local shuttle into town
• Super 8 Moab – this is the most budget option we could find near Moab that still had access to a pool.

For something a little bit different families might like to consider Moab Under Canvas – a beautiful way to sleep under the stars in the desert. However I would only advise this for those visiting with older children and teenagers rather than those visiting Arches National Park with toddlers. 

For more information on the best places to stay near Arches National Park check out this post. 

Buy a National Parks Annual Pass

If you are planning to visit more than one national park in the year (you are likely going to do at least two being based in Moab) then you might want to consider getting an annual national parks pass, aka the American the Beautiful Pass. If you visit multiple parks this will be a cost saving as for 80USD you will get the whole family (one vehicle) entry at all the US National Parks.  

For more tips on visiting and hiking national parks with toddlers check out this post. 

What to pack for visiting Arches National park with Kids

So now you know some of our top tips for visiting Arches National Park with kids, what should you pack?

Well this very much will depend on the season you travel in however some of the things we recommend taking whatever time of year you visit are:

Layers

Although the summer in Moab gets hot, hot hot, if you are the park early there is a chance you feel a slight chill, especially if you are traveling with small children. 

For this reason we recommend packing layers. These are especially essential for the shoulder seasons or the Winter.

Sun Screen, hats and other sun safe clothing

When traveling with children sun safety is always important. However given the temperatures you experience in Utah it is especially important. 

We recommend packing plenty of sunscreen, wide brimmed summer hat and other sun safe clothing.

We usually wear long sleeve tops made of natural fabrics in light colors which can reflect the sun.

For more information on what to pack for Arches in Summer check out this post. 

Reusable Water Bottle and plenty of water

Whether you are planning on doing short hikes or plan to undertake some the more difficult hikes in Arches National Park you will need water. 

There are very few amenities in Arches National Park so you should carry a reusable water bottle and extra water with you.

Good Walking shoes

Whether you are going on the marked or primitive trails you will definitely want good hiking shoes for the whole family. 

We had hiking boots in Summer, but this are even more essential if you are visiting in Winter. 

Baby Carrier 

Depending on the age of child you are traveling with will depend on whether you need a baby carrier or a hiking backpack for toddlers. 

If you are are traveling to Arches with a baby you will find that not many of the trails are stroller friendly so a carrier is needed instead. 

If you are visiting Arches in Summer we recommend picking a hot weather baby carrier that has mesh and other cooling features. 

If you are travelling with a larger toddler or are planning on doing a more challenging hike that little legs might not be able to complete you should consider brining a back pack carrier such as this toddler back pack! 

Best Things to Do in Arches National Park with kids 

Arches National Park Scenic Drive

The Arches National Park Scenic Drive is an 18 mile drive around the park. But there are some additional side roads too. 

The drive is brilliant as all of the main attractions are close to the parking area off the scenic drive so even if you are traveling with small children or during summer you are able to see some of teh park’s greatest attractions.

While the road is beautiful to drive it would be a shame to miss out on some of the hikes. We recommend trying to complete your hikes early in the day when the heat is not at its highest, and then complete the drive during a hotter part of the day. 

Family Friendly Hikes in Arches National Park with kids

One of the things we loved about Arches National Park is the fact that there are walks for all difficulties and hikers of all skill levels.

The fact that there are some easy short hikes means that even little legs can do them. 

Saying that we even managed to do some primitive trails with our toddler. However if you are looking for easy Arches National Park Hikes to do with kids our favorites are: 

Park Avenue

Park Avenue was the first “hike” we did when we entered the park and the vista is simply breathtaking.

This is a really short walk to the viewpoint and it has a proper footpath so it is even possible to do this one with a stroller. 

For a longer hike you can go from Park Avenue to Courthouse Towers. This is a simple 1 mile hike but the only downside is this is not a loop so you will be backtracking on yourself. 

Balanced Rock

Balanced Rock is one of the most popular trailheads in the park because:

• it is short (0.5km)
• it is easy and can even be done with a stroller
• it takes in one of the biggest attractions in the park – the Balanced Rock.

Balanced Rock is famous because of the erosion of rock face which makes it look like one rock is balance on top of the other.

The Trail is simple and even and is one of the best things to do in Arches National Park with toddlers.

However there is also a longer primitive trail nearby for those looking for a longer walk and looking to get away from the crowds at Arches National Park.

For more information on arches national park hikes for families check out this post. 

Windows

The Windows Trail is another super popular and easy Arches National park hike for families. Again the whole trail here is only around 1 mile and as an added bonus you get to see not one, not two but three of the most impressive arches in the park. These are the North and South Windows and the equally impressive Turret Arch. 

The Double Arch and Turret Arch Trail 

Next to Windows is the Double Arch Trail. This is also a very short hike as it is only around half a mile in length. 

Landscape Arch

This hike is just over 1.5 miles and is actually pretty easy. It is a must do when visiting Arches as it leads to the world’s longest arch. 

Delicate Arch

Of all the arches in the park the most famous has to be the Delicate Arch. However this is a more challenging hike than the others on the list and it can get very crowded depending on the time of day you decide to get there. 

If you want to do this it is worth doing early in the day to try and beat the crowds. 

The hike is around 3 miles long and will require plenty of water. 

Although this is a great arch to see, as we were visiting Arches National Park with a toddler, we decided it was not an appropriate hike for us to do. 

However the good news for those traveling with littles is, although it is most spectacular to visit this arch up close, for those who can’t do the hike, you can see the arch in the distance from the Scenic Drive.  

The most famous of the arches in the park! This area can get very crowded so on the day you decide to do this hike you should drive straight there! This hike is about a 3 mile round trip and requires plenty of water. This is the most difficult hike on our list and not one for everyone I’m sure but we had to include this given the reward at the end!

Join the Park Ranger Program

Now my little one was too young to take part in this but the Junior Park Ranger program is something I have admired for a long time, and will definitely be introducing my little one to as soon as she is old enough!

Best Things to Do Near Arches National Park

One of the things we love about Arches National Park is that it is close to a lot of other great things to do for kids. 

Not only does Moab have Arches National Park, you can also visiting Canyonlands National Park with kids very easily in the same trip. And there is also Dead Horse Point State Park which anywhere else in the World would be a national not state park.

But other than that there are lots of other great things to do in Moab with kids such as 

• Moab Film Museum
• Moab Giants
• Rafting Trips
• Horse Back Riding. 

Important Information About Arches National Park

Where is Arches National Park?

Arches National Park is located within the Utah town of Moab. And is close to another National Park, Canyonlands as well as the Dead Horse State Park. 

What is Arches National Park famous for? 

Arches National Park is famous because it has the world’s largest concentration of sandstone arches anywhere in the world. 

There are actually over 2000 arches within the park with the most famous being the Delicate Arch which is something you will definitely want to visit although it will take a little bit of planning with kids. 

FAQs About Visiting Arches National Park with kids?

Is Arches National Park good for kids?

In my opinion, Arches National Park is one of the best National Parks to visit with kids. The combination of hikes of different difficulties and the activities in the park from rafting to horse back riding make it a great park to visit with kids. 

Is Arches National Park toddler friendly?

When we visited Arches National Park we visited with our toddler so I think we are qualified to say that we found Arches National Park to be toddler friendly. 

There are some stroller friendly trailheads in the park and others are very easy to do with a carrier. 

We would just recommend visiting the park in the shoulder seasons to avoid peak crowds and getting into the park early so you aren’t hiking with toddlers during the worst heat of the day. 

How many days do you need in Arches with Kids?

How many days you need at Arches NAtional Park with kids really depends on the time of year you visit and the hikes you want to do. 

If you are visiting in Summer you will not want to be in the park during the worst heat of the day so you may want to allocate two days in the park to take it more leisurely.

However if you are visiting in the shoulder seasons and only plan on doing shorter trails then you may be able to get everything you want to do in one day. 

Have you been to Arches National Park with kids? What are your top tips and recommendations?

Further Moab Reading 

• Best Things to do In Arches National Park (including hikes)
• Best Things to do In Canyonlands National Park (including hikes)
• Moab Packing List 
• Moab Itinerary

 

Have you been to Arches National Park with Kids? Let us know what your favorite thing to do is in the comments below. And if you have a question that we don’t cover in the post drop it below and we will get back to you as soon as we can!