Planning to visit Arches National Park with kids? Here’s the best tips for visiting this incredible park!
Arches National Park is located in southeastern Utah, about 5 miles north of Moab.
This national park is well known for having the largest number of natural stone arches in the world. There’s over 2,000 sandstone formations here!
The most popular arch is called Delicate Arch. Most people will recognize it, as it’s a symbol for the state of Utah.
My entire family of 6 really enjoyed this park. In fact, it ranks in the top 3 favorite National Parks with every one of us.
So, all that said. You HAVE to go here. It’s incredible! Here’s everything you need to know to plan your visit.
What to Know Before You Go
Arches National Park can get a little busy in places.
If you want to do the popular hike to Delicate Arch, you’ll need to arrive early in the morning to score a parking spot in the main Delicate Arch parking lot by Wolfe Ranch. If you don’t get one the first time around, circle back. There’s always people coming and going.
You’ll also find that the parking area around Devil’s Garden can get congested at certain times of the day. If that’s on your bucket list, you’ll want to plan to either be there early or late to avoid prime time traffic.
Do some planning ahead of time to decide which trails you want to do and what is best for your family.
If a hike like that is not your crew’s style, no worries! There’s plenty of great things to experience at Arches National Park.
Also, be sure to plan to spend some time in Moab. It’s a one of a kind little town in the middle of nowhere. With all terrain vehicles driving down the main streets, it feels like being in a different world. There’s amazing food, gift shops, and it’s just a fun place to be. There’s no where quite like it.
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What to Bring
Comfortable Walking Shoes – preferably hiking boots – You’ll be walking a lot. Many of the trails have steep inclines and rocks to climb over or onto, so you’ll want those hiking boots with traction. We usually wear sneakers, but always wish for the boots!
Sunscreen – Apply and reapply! This is a must for a day in the sun in Utah.
Hat – A hat is absolutely necessary when you are hiking to keep the sun off your face and head. You WILL get sunburned in the desert like conditions if you don’t.
Comfortable Backpack – If you plan to be away from your car, you might want one to carry necessities, your lunch, extra water. We never strayed away from our car for more than a couple of hours though.
Lunch – If you plan to be in the park most of the day, you’ll need a lunch. We packed a light lunch of sandwiches, apples, chips and cookies.
Water – Bring plenty of water – the climate here is very hot and dry. Bring more water than you think because you’ll dehydrate quickly.
Hand Sanitizing Wipes – Many of the trails only have pit bathrooms (no running water). Wipes are great for “handwashing.”
What to Do at Arches National Park
Delicate Arch
First, I’d recommend heading for the Delicate Arch if you have older kids (8 and up).
This is one of the most popular hikes in the park, so you’ll want to go here first, before the crowds arrive for the day.
Admittedly, the hike to Delicate Arch was pretty rough on our crew. My kids range in age from 9 to 15. It’s mostly a constant uphill climb.
There’s lots of elevation gain quickly and at times the trail is hard to follow as it flattens out into a wide area. There’s usually a large group of people hiking along with you so you can follow along.
There’s also a major drop off as you climb the cliff upwards near Delicate Arch. I personally wouldn’t bring younger kids up this trail. It’s challenging for grown-ups and I can’t imagine tackling it with small children in tow.
I was really glad we did the hike though. The pay off at the end to get close to Delicate Arch is amazing!
Also, at the beginning/end of this trail, you can find some petroglyphs. They are so incredible!
Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint
If a hike up to Delicate Arch isn’t right for your crew, no worries! You can view it from the Lower Delicate Arch trail.
It’s literally an easy 100 yard walk and you can see the Delicate Arch off in the distance. It’s also wheelchair accessible.
There’s also an Upper Delicate Arch trail. We didn’t do this one, but it might be a good option for those who want to get a little closer to Delicate Arch without the major hike. It’s rated as moderately difficult.
Sand Dune Arch
Sand Dune Arch is another easy trail that’s great for kids.
It’s a little narrow in places, but that adds to the fun!
It’s only 0.3 miles roundtrip and a simple walk into a canyon to see this cool arch.
It is sandy, so it’s not stroller friendly, but the kids will love it!
North Window/South Window/Turret Arch
Our family also did the North Window and South Window trails and saw the Turret Arch as well.
These are accessible by a simple walk. You can see things up close really quick!
There’s plenty of walkways to take shortcuts if needed, or longer walkways to take a closer look.
Double Arch
If you are looking for another classic photo op at Arches, don’t miss Double Arches. It’s located in the same area as the Windows.
We actually missed this one on our first day. We literally drove past it and then later realized that we had missed it and went back into the park to see it.
It’s gorgeous! This is another super easy trail that is only a half mile roundtrip. And the views are absolutely spectacular.
Balanced Rock
This is another easy trail that goes around the base of the incredible Balanced Rock.
You can definitely see Balanced Rock from your car, if you are running short on time. However the trail will allow you to get a close up view. Plus the kids can burn off some energy on this easy trail that is also wheelchair accessible.
I hope this has been helpful in planning your trip to Arches National Park!
More National Parks Tips
Ready to check more National Parks off of your bucket list?
Check out Great Sand Dunes National Park. It’s such a great place for families with young kids.
The Grand Canyon is totally worth the hype it receives! It’s a must-do!
Learn all about Bryce Canyon here. It’s another one of our family’s favorite parks!
Plus, learn all about Visiting Mesa Verde National Park with kids here. The history of this park is amazing!
And don’t miss the free printable Road Trip Packing List here. It’s perfect for that big family road trip!
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