Arches vs Canyonlands: Which Is Better & Why?

If you’re trying to decide between Arches vs Canyonlands National Park for your next Utah road trip you’re in the right place! I’ve been to both parks several times and while they’re very close to each other they can be quite different.

Depending on your preferences (hiking, epic sunsets, avoiding crowds) one park is probably better for you than the other. However, if you have time I highly recommend you do both! They’re unique in their own ways and you can see each park in just one day.

In this article:

• Arches Vs Canyonlands – which one is best for hiking, avoiding crowds, etc
• Best activities & trails in Arches and Canyonlands
• Itineraries for each National Park

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Arches vs Canyonlands Overview

Arches and Canyonlands are very close to each other geographically. However, these parks are actually quite different from each other.

The primary differences are denoted by their names – Arches is known for its natural stone arches (the densest concentration of 2,000+ natural stone arches in the world!) whereas Canyonlands is known for its deep canyons and large mesas formed by the Colorado and Green Rivers.

Differences Between Arches Vs Canyonlands

Here’s a quick comparison to show you what you can expect in each park. You really can’t make a bad choice when deciding between Arches or Canyonlands (they’re both fantastic!) but you’ll have a different experience depending on which one you choose.

PS – If you want to see both parks I have a recommended itinerary for Arches and Canyonlands at the end of this post!

FUN FACT: Canyonlands is 5x bigger than Arches, but most visitors stick to the Island In The Sky District which is similar in size to Arches.

Arches Vs Canyonlands: Best Hikes

This is one category where I think the largest difference in Arches vs Canyonlands is obvious.

For trail details check out my articles on the best hikes in Arches and Canyonlands hikes here.

NOTE: Arches and Canyonlands are considered high desert and there are limited water refill stations in each park. Plan ahead and bring lots of water with you – at least 4 liters per day, but if you’re hiking plan for 2 liters per hour of activity. I bring this 5 gallon collapsible water container with me on my road trips for easy refills and emergencies.

Arches Vs Canyonlands: Best Things To Do

Aside from hiking and seeing the viewpoints there are several great things to do in Arches or Canyonlands. Most of these tours start in Moab, which is really convenient if you’re already staying there!

While you can absolutely see Arches with a regular vehicle, there are some awesome sights that can only be accessed with a 4×4 vehicle.

If you’d prefer to explore the more remote areas in Canyonlands there are also guided tours of Canyonlands backcountry from Moab. A majority of Canyonlands (outside of Island In The Sky) is rugged dirt roads, many which require a 4×4 vehicle, so this is a great option!

Plus, there’s a ton of things to do nearby in Moab, like ziplining, a jet boat ride or canyoneering.

Check out this post on the best things to do in Arches and Moab for my complete list of activities, excursions, and day trips.

Entrance Fees & Requirements For Arches Vs Canyonlands

Both parks have a $30 entrance fee, which is good for everyone in your vehicle for 7 days. Unfortunately, there are no daily pass options and the weekly pass is the least expensive option.

TIP: If you’re planning to visit at least one other National Park in the next year I recommend getting an America The Beautiful annual pass to save money. The pass is $80 and gets you into all National Parks (and other National recreation areas) for free for 12 months.

While you can visit Canyonlands year-round without a reservation, you will need a timed-entry vehicle reservation for Arches if you’re visiting during the summer. You can book them at recreation.gov. Specific dates change each year.

How To Get To Arches And Canyonlands

The nearest airport to Arches and Canyonlands is Canyonlands Field Airport (CNY), but it’s fairly small with expensive flight prices and limited schedule options.

Instead, most people use Salt Lake City (SLC) airport which is just under 4 hours from Arches and Canyonlands.

However, if you plan to visit the other Utah National Parks (like Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park) then I highly recommend flying into Las Vegas, which is almost 7 hours to Arches and Canyonlands – but only 2 from Zion. LAS typically has much better flight schedules and prices, as well as better rental car rates.

TIP: I recommend using Discovercars.com to book your rental car. They have the best prices and very lenient cancellation policies in case your plans change.

Read my complete guide to a road trip from Zion to Arches National Park here.

Where To Stay

The best place to stay while visiting Arches or Canyonlands is in Moab. The rest of the area is fairly remote, so Moab is not only nearby with lots of shops and restaurants, but it’s also one of the only towns within convenient driving distance.

There are many hotels near Arches. These are my top recommendations:

• Hoodoo Moab, Curio Collection by Hilton – Full on-site spa and amenities.
• Gravity Haus Moab – Best value for amenities.
• Wingate by Wyndham Moab – Save without sacrificing comfort.
• Under Canvas Moab – For a unique experience.

There are no hotels or lodges in Arches or Canyonlands National Parks, but there are a few campgrounds.

If you want to stay in Arches you’ll need a reservation at the only campground in the park: Devils Garden ($25 per night). Read my complete guide to Camping in Arches National Park here.

Canyonlands has two campgrounds: The Needles ($20 per night) and Island In The Sky ($15 per night).

Best Time To Visit Arches & Canyonlands

The best time to visit Arches and Canyonlands is March-April or September-October. These months are considered to be the “shoulder season” – not the off season, and not quite the busy summer season.

By visiting during these shoulder season you’ll avoid crowds, extreme heat, and you may be able to avoid the timed-entry vehicle reservation requirements at Arches, too.

Weather At Arches & Canyonlands

Packing List for Canyonlands and Arches

Packing for Canyonlands and Arches can be a little tricky because they are both high deserts.

This means that even in the summertime the temperature at night can drop significantly. In fact, there can be more than a 40℉ temperature difference between sunlight hours and night hours.

For this reason, having proper clothing and layers is the most important consideration for your packing list.

One Day In Arches Itinerary

It’s entirely possible to see Arches National Park in one day! In fact, I completed this park in one day during my recent trip.

Here’s my itinerary for one day in Arches that hits all the highlights worth seeing!:

Arrive early! Try to be in the park before daybreak so you can watch sunrise in Arches National Park at Delicate Arch. The hike is 3 miles out and back, so plan to hit the trail at least 45 minutes before sunrise.

TIP: If you enter before 7 am you won’t need a timed-entry vehicle reservation.

I hiked to Delicate Arch just before sunrise and it was already fairly crowded with people lining up to get their photo in front of the arch. The crowds only gets worse as the day progresses so an early start is ideal!

Next, head farther into the park to hike Double O Arch in Devils Garden. The trail is 4.2 miles long, and also includes Landscape Arch.

This is the longest trail included on this itinerary Arches National Park and it’s best done first thing in the morning before the day gets too hot!

Since this is the farthest into the park you can travel, starting your day in Arches here will position you to avoid most of the crowds as they slowly work their way in from the entrance.

After Double O Arch and Devils Garden, slowly start heading back towards the park entrance. On the way, stop by Fiery Furnace Viewpoint.

Fiery Furnace is a natural maze made out of sandstone and is only accessible via a ranger led hike or with a permit. It’s really neat to see from the viewpoint along the road, and you’ll drive right past it so it’s worth a stop!

Next, stop by The Windows section of the park. This area has several iconic arches and is the trailhead for both North and South Windows as well as Double Arch (which is different than Double O Arch) and Turret Arch.

NOTE: The parking area here can be a little tricky but once you find a spot you’ll be able to explore multiple hikes and arches by foot. Plan a little extra time into your itinerary because you may need to circle the parking lot a few times before a spot opens.

Balanced Rock is another cool formation to check out, and it’s right along the road so you can see it from your car or on the short trail to it. This hike is a quick 0.3 mile trail that takes less than 30 minutes to complete and is almost completely flat.

From Balanced Rock you follow Arches Scenic Drive back towards the park entrance.

Along the road you’ll see Petrified Dunes viewpoint, Tower of Babel, Sheep Rock, Courthouse Towers viewpoint, Three Gossips, The Organ, Courthouse Towers, La Sal Mountains viewpoint and Park Avenue viewpoint.

One Day In Canyonlands Itinerary

Even though it’s a massive park, most visitors explore Canyonlands in one day.

Truthfully, I think one day in Canyonlands is more than enough time to see the highlights, especially if you aren’t planning any backpacking or off-roading excursions deeper in the park.

There are 4 “districts” in Canyonlands, but most visitors explore Island In The Sky district because it’s the closest and easiest to get to from Moab, doesn’t require a 4×4 vehicle, and has the best hikes and viewpoints!

Mesa Arch is the perfect spot for sunrise in Canyonlands! The hike is pretty mild – only 0.7 miles total and mostly flat – so it’s easy first thing in the morning.

This is a fairly popular spot, even before daybreak, so I recommend arriving 30-minutes (or more) before sunrise so you can find a parking spot and get settled in for sunrise. Expect to see many other people here! As the day goes on it’ll become even more crowded.

After, head to Upheaval Dome, which is a short detour along Upheaval Dome Road right next to Mesa Arch. This is a great spot to see if you only have one day in Canyonlands, and doing it in this order will save you time driving back and forth.

If you’re short on time, hike to Upheaval Dome First Overlook which is only 0.6 miles but fairly steep (115+ feet of elevation change).

Seriously, it’s a constant 8-15% grade incline the entire half mile which has earned it a rating of “moderate” even though it’s a very short hike.

If you have more time (and energy) you can keep hiking to Second Overlook which is a combined total of 1.3 miles round trip and 225+ feet of elevation change (basically just as steep as the first portion of the trail to First Overlook.)

FUN FACT: While there’s some uncertainty about the craters origins, it’s widely believed that it was created by a meteor strike.

Also along Upheaval Dome Road you’ll find the trailhead for Aztec Butte which is one of the coolest hikes in Canyonlands. It’s only 1.6 miles total, but you’ll see two interesting sites along the route.

The first site is Aztec Butte which has some stunning views of Canyonlands. While the trail is mostly easy the final quarter mile to the top of the butte is steep and requires some scrambling – but this is the only truly challenging part of this hike (and you can skip going all the way to the top if you want).

The second site is ancient ancestral Puebloan structures. You can get close to the structures but please remember not to touch them! It’s fascinating to be able to explore something so old.

Finally, head all the way to the southern tip of Grand View Point Road (the main road that runs through Island In The Sky). There are some beautiful overlooks along the road, but the two I highly recommend you check out are Grand View Point and White Rim Overlook.

TIP: Download this self-guided driving audio tour of Canyonlands ahead of your trip so you can experience the park more deeply. This guided tour is just like having a tour guide with you and will automatically play details about the areas your in as you pass them.

From the parking area you can see some incredible views at each of these overlooks. They also both offer a short hike which takes you out along the canyon rim for stunning views of the massive canyon below.

Both hikes are each 1.8 miles, but White Rim Overlook has a bit more elevation change (159 feet) than Grand View Point (73 feet).

TIP: Parking is limited at each of these spots, but new spots open up fairly quickly as most visitors are only stopping for a few minutes to see the overlook before continuing on.

At this point, you’ve covered the best things to do in Canyonlands except for one final thing! As you head out of the park you’ll pass Shafer Trail Viewpoint just before the visitors center.

This is the most iconic view in the entire park, and it’s easily accessible from the roadside pull off. I wouldn’t really classify this as a hike, as it’s only 0.3 miles total and takes less than 10 minutes to get to the edge of the mesa to see the deep canyon views below.

Spend a few minutes and get some neat pictures of the famous switchbacks along Shafer Basin Road!

Bonus: Sunset At Dead Horse Point State Park

Regardless of whether you spent one day in Arches or Canyonlands, my recommendation for how to end your day is the same either way!

Head to Dead Horse Point State Park for sunset. It’s a quick 10 minute drive past Canyonlands entrance to get to the state park, and 30 minutes from Arches entrance. I promise it’s worth it!

There’s an entry fee of $20 per vehicle but the sunset is spectacular from here and worth the price.

There’s plenty of parking at the end of the road, near Dead Horse Point, and lots of rocks and benches where you can find a somewhat private spot to watch sunset from. This is literally the best sunset I’ve ever seen in my life.

Stick around for a while after the sun goes behind the horizon. The sky here does some wild things and there’s a full spectrum of color throughout the sunset. I’ve never seen the sky change from one vibrant shade to another as quickly as I did here.

How To See Arches And Canyonlands In One Day

Arches and Canyonlands are located within 30 minutes of each other so it’s possible to see both in one day if you’re really motivated! While it’s not exactly ideal (you’ll have a super long, full day!) it’s still better than having to skip one of these great parks!

I recommend starting at Arches before sunrise. This will help you avoid Arches timed-entry vehicle reservation requirements (goes into effect at 7 am during the summer) by getting through the gates early. 

Additionally, Arches has very limited parking and road infrastructure to accommodate the increased crowds in recent years so an early arrival will help you avoid congested parking lots and crowded trails, too.

During your half day in Arches I also recommend you see The Windows section of the park, which includes Double Arch, North and South Windows and Turret Arch. These all share one parking lot so it’s easy to park once and see them all!

Finally, drive all the way down the Arches Scenic Drive to Devils Garden where it dead-ends. You’ll pass several stunning viewpoints.

Once at Devils Garden take the short hike to Landscape Arch (you can keep going to other arches if you have time!) and be sure to refill your water bottle there as it’s the only water refilling station in the park besides the visitor center at the entrance.

After spending the morning in Arches you can head straight to Canyonlands, or you can stop in Moab (only 5-minutes away) for a quick lunch before continuing to your second park of the day.

While Arches is a fairly small park and possible to see in half a day, Canyonlands is quite large. However, the Island In The Sky district of Canyonlands is actually the same size as Arches, so it’s also something you can easily see in half a day.

Once you arrive in Canyonlands I recommend you drive all the way south on Island In The Sky Road to Grand View Point Overlook.

Grand View Point Overlook is incredible from the parking lot, but if you’re up for some movement you can also take the 1.8 mile trail along the canyon rim.

TIP: This area can get a little busy, so a good alternative is White Rim Overlook right next door if you can’t find any available parking at Grand View Point.

Next, head back North along Island In The Sky Road and stop along any of the viewpoints you passed on the way in to take photos.

Halfway back to the entrance you’ll pass Mesa Arch, which is a must-see in Canyonlands and only a short 0.7 mile loop hike.

NOTE: This is the most iconic view in the park so it tends to get a bit crowded and you may need to wait in line to get your photo taken.

After, head back towards the visitor center. If you’re visiting between April-October you may be able to attend one of the free ranger talks in the evenings!

TIP: Ranger program schedules change quite a bit so the best way to tell what’s planned during your trip is to check the sign at the visitors center on your way into the park.

Finally, head over to Dead Horse Point State Park (10-minute drive) to catch sunset.

Keep Planning Your Utah Trip

Check out these additional resources for your road trip to Utah!

• Mighty Five Utah National Parks Road Trip
• Las Vegas To Arches National Park Road Trip Itinerary
• Salt Lake City To Arches National Park Road Trip Itinerary
• Arches National Park Itinerary And Travel Guide