Arches National Park with Kids – How Best to Visit (2026 Update)

You’re planning a family trip to the most amazing Arches National Park in Moab, so I am sure you have plenty of questions!

Where should I start? What should we visit in Moab? How hot will it be when visiting the Arches National park? How long should we visit the Arches National Park? Whats the best way to visit the Delicate Arch with kids?

I have put together this detailed guide so you can find all your questions about Arches National Park with kids – How best to visit, right here in this blog post.

One thing has changed since we first wrote this: Arches dropped its timed entry reservation system for 2026. That’s good news for spontaneous planners, but it also means parking is now the real bottleneck — more on that below.

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2026 Update — What’s Different This Year

If you’ve read older guides (including our own earlier version of this post), here’s what’s changed: Arches ran a timed entry reservation system from April to October between 2022 and 2025. It’s gone for 2026. You can drive up to the entrance station without a booked slot, pay the standard fee, and go in.

The trade-off: individual trailhead parking lots (Devils Garden, Delicate Arch, The Windows) still fill up fast in peak season, and once they’re full, rangers temporarily hold traffic until space clears. There’s a live entrance webcam worth checking before you leave your hotel. The practical upshot for families: arriving before 8am or after 4pm matters more now than it did when timed entry existed, because there’s no guaranteed slot backing you up.

Beautiful Arches National Park – Moab

The most important fact, I can assure you is, visiting Arches National Park with kids in just two days, is not enough! And this is my first piece of advice, make sure you have at least 4 days.

We spent 8 days in Moab and there was not a single day where we were bored, or just had nothing to do. This place is amazing! Not only the Arches National Park, but Moab in general also has plenty of other great family attractions and places to see.

A bit of history

In simple words, it is a wonderland of red rocks and blue sky. Arches, towers, pinnacles, and balanced rocks make this park an endless playground and a wonderful attraction. Over 2,000 arches have been cataloged in Arches National Park. Therefore plenty to see for everyone.

Located in southeast Utah, five miles north of Moab, Arches National Park protects an amazing landscape that includes the largest proliferation of arches in the world.

Click here to get full access to the park map.

Plan your Trip to the Arches National Park with Kids

Arches is one of Utah’s five national parks, and one of the most photographed thanks to how close the arches sit to the trailheads.

Arches National Park with kids is best visited by hiking. It gets you away from the cars, lets you see more of the park, and gives the kids room to run around freely.

Good to Know Before You Visit Arches National Park (updated fees)

Vehicle (private, non-commercial): $30, valid 7 days
Motorcycle: $25, valid 7 days
Individual / hiker / cyclist without a car: $15 — kids 15 and under get in free
Annual pass: $55 — covers Arches and Canyonlands, plus Natural Bridges and Hovenweep. If you’re doing a wider Utah parks loop with the kids, this pays for itself after two visits.
No timed entry reservation needed for 2026 — see the update above.

When to visit Arches National Park with kids

If you want the short version: aim for March–April or mid-September–October — spring or autumn temperatures, thin crowds, and since Arches dropped timed entry for 2026, parking is now the only real obstacle. Arrive by 8am and you’re fine.

Avoid Memorial Day week, July 4th, Labor Day weekend, and US spring break (mid-March to mid-April) — if you’re stuck travelling in that last one, front-load it into early March instead.

Beyond the calendar, how much time you have matters just as much. With a few days to play with, you can enter early, do a couple of hours, then bail for the lake or a hike along the Colorado River. With only a day or two, you’re locked into the park regardless of how busy it is, chasing parking at every stop — and that’s when it falls apart. We’ve watched families exactly there: kids hot and crying, dad fuming, mum one bad parking spot from losing it. Nope, thanks.

We got lucky — first week of June, around 25°C, hardly anyone around. By the time we left, US school holidays had kicked in, the park filled up, and it was pushing past 30°C.

I’d love to go back in winter or early spring, just to see snow against the red rock.

Shot from the secret window lookout down over the Delicate Arche

Tips & Suggestions at Arches National Park with kids

With timed entry no longer in place, crowd management now comes down almost entirely to what time you arrive. In peak season (March–October), Devils Garden, Delicate Arch, and The Windows lots are commonly full by 8am. Early morning or after 4pm are your best windows — not just for crowds, but for light and temperature too.

• If you only have limited time, plan what you would really like to see, drive and hike. You may not be able to see it all, due to full parking places and congestion in the park.
• Enter the park very early or as late as possible. Light is better if you are a photographer and temperatures will be lower.
• Before entering check the Arches National Park webcams. This can help you decide on whether you will enter now or wait.
• Be prepared to change your plan. Instead of visiting the famous Delicate Arch, head over and walk to the Window. I am sure you also have an amazing time.
• If you are a group, try to only go with one car as parking can be very limited.
• Also take your time. Quite often even with a lot of people, you can be at an attraction and as time goes on you do find yourself suddenly alone. Even if it is only for 30 min or so. This is now your time to snap away all these amazing family photos and make the most out of it. It happened to us at Double Arch. We had the whole site for us and it was amazing.

CAMPERS & RV’s: If you have a large RV try to rent a smaller car. The parking is very, very limited for large vehicle and it will just bring you even more stress in finding a proper place during busy season. For oversized campers, consider leaving the rig at a secure lot or arranging car shipping for an extra vehicle and renting a compact locally.
Smaller cars make finding scarce park parking easier, cut stress during peak times, and let your family enjoy Arches without constant parking hassles.

Best Hikes in Arches National Park for Kids

Also read Hiking to Delicate Arch with Kids

You have to be fully aware that the hike to Delicate Arch is exposed and there is very, very little shade. Yes, we hiked it with our 4 year olds, but the kids were “experienced little hikers”.

Fiery Furnace with Kids

Guided hike: If your kids are older and you’re up for an adventure you may want to hike the Fiery Furnace. This needs to be pre-booked well in advance as it sells out super quickly. A natural labyrinth of narrow passages between towering sandstone walls. You must partake in a guided tour or obtain a hiking permit at the visitor center.

• Age limit: children under 5 are not allowed — the terrain involves scrambling and narrow squeezes, not a stroller-friendly area.
• Two permit types: a ranger-led tour (seasonal, roughly $16/person, best for first-timers or families wanting a guide) or a self-guided permit (roughly $10/person, only if your group is confident navigating without marked trails).
• Booking window: permits open on Recreation.gov 2 to 7 days before your visit, released at 8am Mountain Time, and sell out fast — only around 75 self-guided permits are issued per day.
• Group size cap: 6 people per permit, and everyone in your group must attend the mandatory orientation video at pickup.

If your kids are under 5 or you’re not confident about scrambling with them, skip Fiery Furnace and use that time on Landscape Arch or the Windows instead — you’re not missing the park’s best moment, just one specific area.

The Junior Ranger Program (worth doing with kids)

If your kids are into badges and booklets, Arches runs a free Junior Ranger program. Pick up an activity booklet at the visitor centre, complete a handful of park-themed activities during your visit, and a ranger swears them in with an official badge at the end. It’s a good way to structure a slower half-day if you’ve got littler kids who need a break from hiking.

Where to stay in Moab & Arches National Park

Nearby Moab has plenty of hotels and accommodation to keep you within comfortable reach of Arches National Park.

Below you will find a few accommodation suggestions that might be interesting for you. All have good ratings and some feature a swimming pool or hot tub.

Apartments in Moab

• Scenic View Inn & Suites Moab, offers large apartments with pool and WIFI. Perfect for families.

Hotels with pool in Moab

• Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa
• Red Cliffs Lodge 

Exceptional accommodations rating 9+

• The Castle Valley Inn, 9.6
• Hoodoo Moab, Curio Collection by Hilton, 9.2. Perfect locations and walking distance in to town center.

If you prefer a campsite, no worries Moab has plenty of campsites for you.

Accommodation within Arches National Park

Devils Garden Campground is the only designated accommodation within Arches National Park. Sites are often reserved months ahead, and the campground is normally full during peak season.

Attractions around Arches National Park

And another reason why you should slow travel and make sure to have plenty of time when visiting Arches National Park with kids is to ensure not to miss the nearby attractions.

No matter what brought you to Arches National Park, you will be surprised how much more there is.

I will link to this guide some other of our blogs later on when I have finished writing them, but for now check out these nearby beauties which I highly recommend.

• Boat trip around the Dead Horse Point State Park
• Spend the day in Utah’s largest NP, Canyonlands on a 4×4 tour
• Hiking to the Corona & Bowtie Arch
• River Rafting in the Colorado River. It was not like any river rafting on the Swiss rivers, rough and pumped with a lot of adrenaline. But it was nice for a family outing and even a cool dip in the river.
• Moab Giants, a fun park for the whole family, with life size dinosaurs, educational cinemas and other attractions.
• Spend the day at Kens Lake swimming.

And if you still have time, here is an awesome US National Park road trip planner.

FAQ Arches National Park

Is Arches National Park good for toddlers?

Yes, with the right trail choices. Balanced Rock, Sand Dune Arch, and Double Arch are all short, easy, and stroller-manageable in parts. Save Delicate Arch and Fiery Furnace for when kids are older.

How many days do you need at Arches National Park with kids?

You can hit the highlights in a full day, but two to three days lets you avoid rushing, work around nap schedules, and beat the heat by splitting hikes across early mornings. We spent 8 days in Moab and didn’t run out of things to do.

Do you need a timed entry reservation for Arches National Park in 2026?

No. Arches discontinued its timed entry reservation system for 2026. You can enter without a booked slot, though individual trailhead parking lots can still fill and temporarily close during peak hours.

Can kids do the Fiery Furnace hike?

Children under 5 are not permitted. Kids 5 and up can go with a permit, but it involves scrambling and narrow passages, so it suits confident, adventurous hikers rather than reluctant walkers.

Is the Delicate Arch hike safe for kids?

It’s doable for kids 8 and up who are strong walkers, but it’s 3 miles round trip on exposed slickrock with no shade — not a good choice for toddlers, hot afternoons, or anyone prone to overheating.

Where should we stay — inside the park or in Moab?

The only in-park option is Devils Garden Campground, which books out months ahead in peak season. Almost all families stay in Moab, 5 miles south, which has far more choice for hotels, restaurants, and grocery stops.

What’s the best time of day to visit with kids?

Early morning (before 8am) or after 4pm — both for smaller crowds and for avoiding the worst heat, especially June through August.

Is Arches National Park worth it with young kids?

Yes — it’s one of the most visually rewarding parks for kids because the arches are dramatic and close to the trailheads, so you get a big payoff without always needing a long hike.

Conclusion

Arches National Park with kids is one of those trips that sounds intimidating on paper — the heat, the crowds, the drop-offs — and turns out to be one of the easiest wins for a family holiday once you’ve actually got a plan. Give yourself more than two days, get to the trailheads before the parking lots fill, pick hikes that match your kids’ age and stamina rather than the postcard shot, and you’ll come away with the kind of photos and memories we still talk about years later. It genuinely is that good.

And if Arches is one leg of a wider North America trip with the kids, here’s some further reading from the other side of the border:

More North America Family Travel Guides

• Icefields Parkway, 11 Must Stops along the road including Maps and distances in km.
• Best Photography Spots in the Canadian Rocky Mountains + MAP
• Epic Road Trip To Tofino
• Bear Watch Tour from Tofino, Why you should do it.

I hope that the information provided here will prove itself useful when planning Arches National Park with Kids

If I have left anything out, please ask your questions in the comments below so that other readers can join in the conversation and benefit from your queries also.

Thank you & Never Forget to Explore

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