Utah National Parks Itinerary – 1 Week in Arches and Canyonlands
We promised more itineraries this year so we’re really excited to share this post all about Arches and Canyonlands National Parks with you! It’s the first in a series of Utah road trip itineraries focused on the National Parks. We’ve written a lot about Utah already but it’s such a remarkable place that we think everyone should visit at least once.
There are glittering rivers edged with lush green trees cutting through vibrant multi-colored monoliths of rock. There are cool dark canyons that create an oasis of respite from the desert heat. There are sunsets so intensely red and yellow that you think the sky is on fire. Even the dirt in Utah is a stunning shade of red. We should know, we’re still finding it clinging to Stan the Tan Van 5 months later.
With all this incredible scenery and numerous geological marvels, it’s not surprising that Utah has 5 national parks—known as the Mighty 5. Each park is unique and feels like its own world. So how do you choose where to spend your time? Well, that’s exactly why we’re creating these itineraries—to help make the planning process easy so you can maximize your adventuring.
Trying to cram all 5 parks into one week would leave you sitting in your vehicle most of the time. With only a week, we recommend choosing either the eastern or western parks to focus on. If you have a few more days you could add Capitol Reef. This post is all about the eastern parks—Arches and Canyonlands near Moab, UT. You can find our itinerary for the western parks—Zion and Bryce Canyon here.
What to do in a Week in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks
Where to stay
The Parks: The campgrounds inside Arches and Canyonlands are small and fill quickly, so our advice is to book as early as possible.
Free Camping: There’s tons of BLM land around Moab so it’s easy to find free camping. Of course, it’s best to arrive early in the day so you’re not searching for a site in the dark. Some BLM campgrounds have fees so check them out ahead of time. Here’s a link to the free camping site we use and the other fee-based BLM campgrounds. To visit the Needles section of Canyonlands you’ll want to move locations. Our recommendation is this surreal free camp spot aptly named Hamburger Rock.
Hotels and Commercial Campgrounds: If you prefer hot showers and indoor plumbing, the Moab Tourism website is a great resource for finding all lodging types.
Where to eat
Moab brewery: Gelato and beer, how can you go wrong?
Zax Pizza: Three words: Pizza. Lunch. Buffet.
La Hacienda: Flavorful Mexican food with big portions.
Moab Farmer’s Market: Re-stock your road trip snack supply at the local farmer’s market. Last summer it was held on Friday evening at the Swanny City Park.
3 days at Arches National Park
What to do
- Take in sunrise at the Windows and Turret Arch area.
- Make the short trek to Double Arch (also in the Windows and Turret Arch area).
- Hike to (and stand under) Delicate Arch.
- Visit Balanced Rock.
- See at least 7 different arches on the Primitive Trail including the world’s largest arch.
Get a full 2-3 Arches National Park itinerary here.
4 days at Canyonlands National Park
What to do
Island in the Sky District
- Stop at Mesa Arch.
- See canyons for days from the Grand View Point Overlook trail.
- Visit ancient ancestral Puebloan granaries at Aztec Butte.
- Gaze into the mysterious Upheaval Dome.
Needles District
- Stop at Newspaper Rock on your way to the Needles and see hundreds of petroglyphs—some carved 2,000 years ago.
- Climb ladders on the Cave Spring Trail.
- Hike to Chesler Park over diverse desert terrain.
Get even more details about things to do in Canyonlands National Park here.
Add-on Capitol Reef National Park
Where to stay
The Park: There’s one developed campground in Fruita with 71 sites. Most sites are reservation only for much of the year so as usual, book early.
Free Camping: Free BLM camping can be found to the east and west of the park. There’re also boondocking options in the National Forest south of the park.
Hotels and Commercial Campgrounds: There are other lodging options including hotels, resorts, cabins, and Bed and Breakfasts in the areas surrounding Capitol Reef. Here’s a great site for finding lodging in the area. Just be sure to check distances, as some of these are bit far from the park.
Where to eat
Chuckwagon General Store Deli: We went here looking for coffee and found a fresh tasty deli counter. You can grab lunch to go or eat there.
Mesa Farm Market: Located 24 miles east of the Capitol Reef visitor center, this market has it all. In addition to produce they offer salads, artisan breads and baked goods, cheese, yogurt, fresh juices, and more.
Other options: The Capitol Reef tourism dining page lists lots of other tasty establishments.
What to do
- Hang out by the natural water “tanks” in Capitol Gorge.
- Take in the amazing views of the crooked landscape along the Chimney Rock Loop Trail.
- Stand on top of Cassidy Arch.
- Hike to Hickman Bridge natural rock formation.
- Take a trip through time in Fruita and learn about the history of the area’s early settlers.
Get even more details about Capitol Reef National Park here.
If you have more than a week to spend in the magnificent state of Utah, make sure to check-out our Ultimate Utah National Park Road Trip Itinerary. It includes all Mighty 5 parks—Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands. Leave us a comment below if there’s anything else you’d like to know about these parks. Or anything else in general you want included in future itineraries. Thanks for reading and happy travels!
Related Posts:
- Utah National Parks Itinerary – 1 Week in Zion and Bryce Canyon
- Utah Road Trip Itinerary – 2 Weeks in the Mighty 5 National Parks
- How to Spend 2 Days in Arches National Park (Itinerary)
- 13 Road Trip Essentials (Make sure to have everything you need for your road trip adventure)
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