Arches vs Canyonlands: How to Visit Arches and Canyonlands in One Day
Although Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park are near each other, they offer two completely different experiences and landscapes. We were shocked by how different their landscapes were when we visited!
Both national parks are stunning and should be on your bucket list! But which one should you visit? And how can you visit Arches and Canyonlands in one day? Not to fear! This guide has everything you need!
We will dive into the similarities and differences of Arches vs Canyonlands, so you can know which one should be a priority on your bucket list. Then we will walk through the best itineraries for visiting Arches and Canyonlands in one day!
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Arches vs Canyonlands: How are these national parks similar?
Although Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park have differences, they are similar in many ways. Let’s dive into the similarities between these beautiful national parks!
Location
Arches and Canyonlands are both located in Southern Utah near Moab. Moab is a small desert town in the middle of Arches and Canyonlands, making it a fantastic place to stay when you are visiting. It has everything you need, including hotels, grocery stores, and restaurants.
Hiking
Both national parks have hiking trails for all levels! Whether you want to hike a half-mile to a beautiful overlook or an epic 8-mile loop, Arches and Canyonlands have hiking trails for everyone.
Scenic Drives and Overlooks
If hiking isn’t your thing, you don’t have to worry about Arches and Canyonlands. Both national parks offer stunning scenic drives with overlooks that don’t require hiking.
Closest Airport
Although Moab has an airport, it is small, has minimal flights arriving into it, and is very expensive to fly into it. The easiest way to get to Arches and Canyonlands is to fly into Salt Lake City International Airport and drive four hours to Moab.
Park Transportation
Neither Arches nor Canyonlands offers a shuttle service, so I highly recommend renting a car to explore the national parks. There are a few shuttle services from Moab to Arches and Canyonlands, but it’s much easier to rent a car and have the flexibility to be on your schedule.
Weather
Since Arches and Canyonlands are in a high desert region of Southern Utah, they have similar weather. Here is what to expect during each season (note: these are in Fahrenheit):
Winter: the temperature can be anywhere from 0-50 degrees with some snow and ice
Spring: the temperatures can range from 30-50 degrees in the morning and 60-80 degrees midday
Summer: the temperatures midday can reach over 90-100 degrees; late summer is also prone to flash floods due to monsoons
Fall: the temperatures can range from 30-50 degrees in the morning and 60-80 degrees midday
Entrance Price
Both Arches and Canyonlands have entrance fees of $30 and allow you into the park for up to seven consecutive days. I highly recommend getting the America the Beautiful Pass which is $80 and gets you into every national park for a year. It is worth it!
leave no trace
It’s crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some of these spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they don’t have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.
Arches vs Canyonlands: How are these national parks different?
Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park are very different national parks but offer beautiful and unique landscapes. Let’s dive into their differences!
Landscape
Although Arches and Canyonlands are close, they have very different landscapes. Arches National Park has over 2,000 arches, while Canyonlands National Park has canyons and thin spires, called needles. Both landscapes are incredible and will leave you in awe!
Size
One of the main differences between Arches and Canyonlands is their size. Arches has over 76,000 acres, while Canyonlands has over 257,000 acres. Canyonlands is over three times larger than Arches!
How is Canyonlands so much bigger than Arches? Canyonlands National Park has four districts: Island in the Sky (most visited), The Needles, The Maze, and the rivers. Island in the Sky is the district most people visit and is similar to the size of Arches National Park. The Needles is about 1.5 hours south of Moab and offers a unique landscape filled with needles. If you are up for some offroading, you can visit the Maze, which requires a high-clearance 4x4 vehicle. Put the four districts together, and you have a large national park!
Crowds
Although Canyonlands National Park is much larger than Arches National Park, Arches is busier. Arches has over 1.5 million visitors per year, while Canyonlands has less than 1 million per year. Arches National Park is implementing a timed entry reservation system to help with the increasing crowds.
Arches vs Canyonlands: Which national park should you visit?
So, should you visit Arches National Park or Canyonlands National Park? Or which should you spend more time in? Honestly, it depends on what you are looking to see!
If you want to explore arches, Arches National Park is for you. If you want to stand on a cliff overlooking miles of canyons, Canyonlands National Park is for you. Honestly, since both national parks are close, I highly recommend exploring both!
You can spend one day in Arches and one day in Canyonlands, or see both Arches and Canyonlands in one day if you have less time! If you have more time, you can spend two days in Moab exploring both beautiful parks!
Arches and Canyonlands in One Day Itinerary
Although you can spend a day or more in each national park, you can see both Arches and Canyonlands in one day. This guide has two itineraries that explore Arches National Park and the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park. I recommend starting your day before sunrise and ending after sunset, so you have the most time in each national park.
Itinerary 1: Canyonlands for sunrise and Arches for sunset
Mesa Arch: Mesa Arch is the classic sunrise spot in Canyonlands National Park. The 0.6-mile roundtrip easy trail brings you to a stunning arch sitting at the edge of the canyon. Because this is a beautiful sunrise spot, there will be many people. Most are respectful of space and will give you room for photos, but it can be busy. It’s worth it, though!
If you want a quieter place for sunrise, you can hike to Grand View Point and work your way backward on the list to end at Mesa Arch before heading to Arches National Park!
Shafer Canyon Overlook: Shafer Canyon Overlook is a short walk from the parking lot that overlooks the 18-mile Shafer Canyon Road that runs through the canyon below you.
Green River Overlook: Green River Overlook is one of the best overlooks in Canyonlands National Park, offering views of Orange Cliffs, White Rim Road, and the Green River. And it’s only a short walk from the parking lot!
Candlestick Tower Overlook: Candlestick Tower Overlook has views of beautiful rock formations that resemble candlesticks. You can either take in the views from the parking lot or walk a short path to the canyon rim for better views.
Buck Canyon Overlook: Buck Canyon Overlook overlooks miles of canyons and the La Sal Mountains. It’s a small overlook, but worth the stop for its stunning views!
White Rim Overlook: White Rim Overlook offers similar views to Buck Canyon Overlook from the parking lot. If you are up for an easy 2-mile roundtrip hike, you can hike to White Rim Overlook for even more stunning views. It’s worth the quick hike, I promise!
Orange Cliffs Overlook: Since you are stopping at almost every overlook, you might as well stop at Orange Cliffs Overlook and take in more beautiful views of Canyonlands National Park!
Grand View Point: Last but certainly not least, you have Grand View Point. Grand View Point is one of the most beautiful overlooks in Canyonlands National Park, especially if you hike the easy 2-mile roundtrip trail to Grand View Point Overlook. The views will make you feel like you are on top of the world!
If you are looking for a less popular spot to begin your day in Canyonlands for sunrise, I highly recommend visiting Grand View Point. You can start your day there and work backward through this list.
Drive to Arches National Park: From Grand View Point, it is about a 1-hour drive to the Arches National Park entrance.
Park Avenue: Park Avenue is one of the first stops in Arches National Park. The easy 2-mile roundtrip trail offers stunning views of Three Gossips, Courthouse Towers, Queen Nefertiti, Queen Visitor Rock, Organ, and Tower of Babel that will make you feel small in the best way!
The Windows, Turret Arch, and Double Arch: These three arches are among the most visited arches in Arches National Park because they are stunning! There is an easy 1-mile loop that allows you to get an up-close and personal experience with North Window, South Window, and Turret Arch. If you are up for it, I highly recommend hiking the easy primitive trail around the back of the Windows to enjoy a peaceful hike with unique views of the arches. Double Arch is across the parking lot and has two huge and beautiful arches. The easy 0.6-mile roundtrip trail brings you into both arches.
Sand Dune Arch: Sand Dune Arch is one of the most unique arches in Arches National Park because it is between sandstone fins. The easy 0.3-mile roundtrip trail brings you under Sand Dune Arch, making it an easy hike to add to your one-day itinerary!
Pine Tree Arch, Tunnel Arch, and Landscape Arch: If you have time in your day, I highly recommend hiking the easy 3-mile roundtrip trail to these three arches. Pine Tree Arch, Tunnel Arch, and Landscape Arch are at the beginning of the Devils Garden Trail and offer incredible viewpoints. Although you won’t have time for the entire 9-mile Devils Garden Loop, this section is a perfect addition to your itinerary!
Delicate Arch: It’s time to end your day by watching the sunset near one of the most iconic arches in Arches National Park. Delicate Arch sits at the edge of a cliff, offering stunning views of the surrounding area and the La Sal Mountains. The 3.2-mile roundtrip trail gives you an up-close and personal experience with Delicate Arch and a beautiful spot for sunset. It is one of the most popular sunset spots in Arches National Park, so you will not be alone here, but the views are worth it! It’ll be the perfect way to end exploring Arches and Canyonlands in one day.
Itinerary 2: Arches for sunrise and Canyonlands for sunset
Delicate Arch: It’s time to begin your day by watching the sunrise near one of the most iconic arches in Arches National Park. Delicate Arch sits at the edge of a cliff, offering stunning views of the surrounding area and the La Sal Mountains. The 3.2-mile roundtrip trail gives you an up-close and personal experience with Delicate Arch and a beautiful spot for sunrise. It is one of the most popular sunrise spots in Arches National Park, so you will not be alone here, but the views are worth it!
Pine Tree Arch, Tunnel Arch, and Landscape Arch: If you have time in your day, I highly recommend hiking the easy 3-mile roundtrip trail to these three arches. Pine Tree Arch, Tunnel Arch, and Landscape Arch are at the beginning of the Devils Garden Trail and offer incredible viewpoints. Although you won’t have time for the entire 9-mile Devils Garden Loop, this section is a perfect addition to your itinerary!
Sand Dune Arch: Sand Dune Arch is one of the most unique arches in Arches National Park because it is between sandstone fins. The easy 0.3-mile roundtrip trail brings you under Sand Dune Arch, making it an easy hike to add to your one-day itinerary!
The Windows, Turret Arch, and Double Arch: These three arches are among the most visited arches in Arches National Park because they are stunning! There is an easy 1-mile loop that allows you to get an up-close and personal experience with North Window, South Window, and Turret Arch. If you are up for it, I highly recommend hiking the easy primitive trail around the back of the Windows to enjoy a peaceful hike with unique views of the arches. Double Arch is across the parking lot and has two huge and beautiful arches. The easy 0.6-mile roundtrip trail brings you into both arches.
Park Avenue: The easy, 2-mile roundtrip Park Avenue Trail offers stunning views of Three Gossips, Courthouse Towers, Queen Nefertiti, Queen Visitor Rock, Organ, and Tower of Babel that will make you feel small in the best way!
Drive to Canyonlands National Park: From Park Avenue, it is a half-hour drive to the Island in the Sky entrance of Canyonlands National Park.
Mesa Arch: Mesa Arch is the iconic arch in Canyonlands National Park. The 0.6-mile roundtrip easy trail brings you to Mesa Arch, which sits at the edge of the canyon.
Shafer Canyon Overlook: Shafer Canyon Overlook is a short walk from the parking lot that overlooks the 18-mile Shafer Canyon Road that runs through the canyon below you.
Green River Overlook: Green River Overlook is one of the best overlooks in Canyonlands National Park, offering views of Orange Cliffs, White Rime Road, and the Green River. And it’s only a short walk from the parking lot!
Candlestick Tower Overlook: Candlestick Tower Overlook has views of beautiful rock formations that resemble candlesticks. You can either take in the views from the parking lot or walk a short path to the canyon rim for better views.
Buck Canyon Overlook: Buck Canyon Overlook overlooks miles of canyons and the La Sal Mountains. It’s a small overlook, but worth the stop for its stunning views!
White Rim Overlook: White Rim Overlook offers similar views to Buck Canyon Overlook from the parking lot. If you are up for an easy 2-mile roundtrip hike, you can hike to White Rim Overlook for even more stunning views. It’s worth the quick hike, I promise!
Orange Cliffs Overlook: Since you are stopping at almost every overlook, you might as well stop at Orange Cliffs Overlook and take in more beautiful views of Canyonlands National Park!
Grand View Point: Last but certainly not least, you have Grand View Point. Grand View Point is one of the most beautiful overlooks in Canyonlands National Park, especially during sunset. The easy 2-mile roundtrip trail offers incredible views that will make you feel like you are on top of the world! It’ll be the perfect way to end exploring Arches and Canyonlands in one day!
Where to Stay Near Arches and Canyonlands
What to Pack for Arches and Canyonlands
Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
Microspikes: If you plan on winter hiking, you will need to bring microspikes.
Snowshoes: Also if you hike in the winter, you may need snowshoes.
I hope this guide helped you understand Arches vs Canyonlands! Although they are close, they are different in many ways. This guide also gives you the best itinerary for exploring Arches and Canyonlands in one day!
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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