Arches vs. Canyonlands (and How to See Both in One Day)
Scribbled by Claire ◊ 24 Aug 2025
Are you short on time and don’t know which is better – Arches or Canyonlands? Or, perhaps you’re wondering if visiting both is possible? If you only have one day to spend around Moab, we’ve listed all the pros and cons of each park based on various interests, plus suggestions for a one-day itinerary through both.
You’re heading off to the cracking little town of Moab, Utah, and only have one day. Which national park do you choose to visit?
To your west is the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park, one of the largest parks in the Southwest, sliced into sections by the mighty Green and Colorado Rivers. To the north is Arches National Park, the famed playground of more than 2000 red sandstone arches packed into relatively small boundaries.
So, Arches vs. Canyonlands – which do you pick in a pinch?
Heads up: both parks are incredible, but Canyonlands wins it for me. However, if you’re looking for more accessible trails, Arches is a bit better, whereas if you’re looking for adventurous offroading and mega-vistas, Canyonlands is the one!
We’ve spent an unreasonable amount of time hiking, backpacking and offroading in both parks over many years. So here, we’ve given you all the pros and cons of each, what activities are best, and why we’d choose Canyonlands! If you’re desperate to see both in a single day, we’ve written out exactly how we’d do that, too.
For more things to do in the area, check out our three days in Moab itinerary.
IN THIS GUIDE //
A Flying Visit to Arches + Canyonlands
WHERE ARE ARCHES AND CANYONLANDS?
OUR CHOICE
PROS AND CONS
WHICH PARK IS BEST TO AVOID THE CROWDS?
WEATHER IN ARCHES AND CANYONLANDS
WHICH PARK IS CHEAPER?
WHICH PARK IS BETTER FOR HIKERS?
THE BEST PARK FOR DRIVERS
WHICH PARK IS THE PRETTIEST?
WHICH PARK HAS BETTER CAMPING?
HOW TO VISIT BOTH PARKS IN ONE DAY
BOTH PARKS, ONE DAY – MAP
PLACES TO STAY NEARBY
WHERE TO NEXT?
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Where are Arches and Canyonlands?
Arches and Canyonlands are two of the famous mighty five Utah national parks.
Both these renowned parks sit either side of Moab, a bold little town, towered over by the La Sal Mountains and the instantly recognisable cliffs of southern Utah.
⬩ Arches National Park is relatively compact, with the entrance and visitor centre just five miles north of the town. This is the busier of the two parks, with over a million visitors annually.
⬩ Canyonlands National Park is far larger with a lot more wilderness, cut into three main sections (not including the river):
– The Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands is the most popular and nearest to Moab, reached by an easy 30-mile drive west and south. This is the area that we are focusing on throughout this post.
– Needles, the other district that you can feasibly visit, is much further from Moab, around 1.5 hours away.
– The Maze is the third district but has difficult, remote access and is not practical to visit in one day or without organisation, experience and equipment.
Our Choice: a Short Summary
I’m heavily biased when it comes to Arches and Canyonlands.
You see, Canyonlands is my favourite national park in the entire of the American southwest; it’s absolutely epic. This makes it tricky to be impartial when I do not believe Arches is even in the same league!
However, I can acknowledge that for certain trips that are short on time, Arches is definitely the better choice, especially if you want to have a less intense day with minimal hiking.
⬩ I would recommend Canyonlands to anyone who wants crazy, mind-blowing vistas, offroading, and epic hiking.
⬩ If you want more easy-going hikes and accessibility within a shorter day, then Arches is definitely your best bet.
⬩ Both parks offer four-wheel drive options. The area around Klondike Bluffs in Arches is awesome and has some cool arches and beautiful scenery, but I’d go for the White Rim Road via Shafer Canyon in Canyonlands, if I had to choose between them.
⬩ For campers, I do not rate Arches’ Devils Garden Campground, but love Canyonlands’ Willow Flat Campground.
⬩ For serious hikers, Canyonlands is superior in pretty much every way. It has some truly spectacular, remote, challenging trails and backpacking routes. Arches has a few iconic hikes, like Delicate Arch and the Fiery Furnace, but it just doesn’t compare, over all.
So, maybe controversially, when faced with the Arches or Canyonlands question, we’d choose Canyonlands every time.
The Pros and Cons Quick List
Below is a quick summary of all the pros and cons for both parks. This is useful if you only have one day and are trying to decide where to visit based on your specific preferences and requirements.
Arches National Park
+ Small compact park, can get around it very easily
+ Closer to Moab
+ See the most famous image in Utah (Delicate Arch)
+ Can see nearly the entire park in one day
+ Fiery Furnace is an epic, genuinely unique hike
+ A little more family-friendly
– Hikes are far less exciting and grand
– Super busy on the trails
– Timed entry currently in operation
– The prettiest arch is in Canyonlands (Mesa Arch)
– The traffic congestion is savage
– Parking makes me never want to return!
Canyonlands National Park
+ Less visitors
+ Far more scenic and challenging hiking
+ Much more accessible and exciting four-wheel driving
+ Easier to get camping and permits
+ Spectacular vistas
+ Multiple districts to visit (with more days, anyway)
+ Next to Dead Horse Point State Park
+ Best for sunrises and sunsets
– Further from Moab than Arches
– Spread out, so takes longer between sights
– Some people say that all the vistas look the same (I would disagree with this!)
– Can still have some traffic and congestion
ARCHES VS CANYONLANDS – QUICK BATTLE ROUND 1
BEST IN SUMMER | Canyonlands – it’s at higher elevation, so slightly cooler
BEST IN WINTER | Arches – the uniquely-shaped landscape is prettiest in the snow
BEST FOR SUNSET | Canyonlands – it’s vistas a-plenty (plus Dead Horse Point is just adjacent)
Which Park is Busier (and Larger)?
Arches is far busier than Canyonlands, all year around. This means that, if you’re intensely crowd-averse like me, then Canyonlands will be a much nicer experience.
In 2023, Canyonlands has 800,322 visitors (within an area of 527 square miles). In the same year, Arches had 1,482,045 visitors (within an area of 120 square miles).
The front country area of Arches is very small for the number of visitors it receives, so rarely feels tranquil unless you are far from the main roads. Hiking the park’s most popular trails, like Delicate Arch, is actually impossible during certain times because there is simply nowhere near enough parking.
Canyonlands can feel busy at particular locations, like Mesa Arch and along the Grand View Point trail but, generally, everyone feels a little more spread out and you can usually park.
Weather in Arches and Canyonlands
For the most part, both parks share similar-ish weather conditions year around. The season you choose to visit in will likely dictate what activities you end up doing.
The best time to visit both parks are the shoulder seasons of March to May and September to November, which give you considerably better options for outdoor activities. The weather is often mild with lots of sunshine. However, crowds and accommodation rates are super high, so Canyonlands is a nicer option during these peak times to avoid the throngs of people.
Which is Better in Summer?
During summer, Canyonlands can be a little cooler compared with Arches (but still scorching) which makes it a little better for anyone wanting to do something active.
Southern Utah gets very hot, often above 100 F (38 C), which is not ideal for hiking in either park, particularly between the hours of 10am and 4pm. It would not be a wise plan to attempt certain hikes at all, like Delicate Arch in Arches, which is completely exposed and on burning hot slick rock with no shade.
Most of Canyonlands’ more adventurous hikes are also totally exposed with large elevation changes, and it would be unwise to hike long distances during summer.
There is also a heightened risk of monsoon storms and lightning throughout the summer season (although Canyonlands offers the most immense views of the storms during this time!).
Which is Better in Winter?
Winter can be a great time to visit both parks as tourist numbers are low and lodging is far cheaper. However, we think Arches is a better choice in winter.
It’s worth noting that, despite the extremely high temperatures during summer, the area around Moab gets lots of snow, ice and freezing conditions. If you have the gear and experience, though, it is a great time to be outdoors in either park. We personally think that Arches is the most striking during winter, as its crazy rock formations look super photogenic covered in snow!
Canyonlands is far more remote and I wouldn’t want to get stuck out there in a snow storm, either!
ARCHES VS CANYONLANDS – QUICK BATTLE ROUND 2
BEST FOR HIKERS | Canyonlands – it has loads of epic, strenuous, panoramic trails (although Fiery Furnace in Arches is one of my favourite hikes ever)
BEST FOR ROAD DRIVERS | Arches – definitely has the most scenic views directly from the road
BEST FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS | Arches – so many distinctive views and angles, plus the La Sal Mountains
BEST FOR BACKPACKERS | Canyonlands – I’ve done six backpacking trips in Canyonlands and they were all magnificent routes
BEST FOR OFFROADING | Canyonlands – especially Needles and the White Rim Road
Which Park is Cheaper?
Both Canyonlands and Arches National Parks have the same entry fees. A seven-day pass is $30 per private vehicle.
However, Arches also has a timed entry reservation permit of $2 from April 1st – July 6th and Aug 28th – Oct 31st. This is to reduce overcrowding on the roads and help people park, so Arches is technically a little more expensive at certain times of year!
These Arches permits are released on a first-come, first-served basis three months in advance, although there are a small number available for purchase the day before. You do not need a permit outside the hours of 7am to 4pm.
There are also two other payment options depending on your trip plans:
1. the Southeast Utah Parks pass, which includes entry to Arches and Canyonlands, plus Hovenweep and Natural Bridges National Monuments (both in the area and worth visiting). This pass costs $55, is valid for one year and permits entry to one private vehicle.
2. an America the Beautiful national park pass. If you are intending on visiting other national parks and monuments, we’d advise getting one. The America the Beautiful pass costs $80 for the year, and grants access to every federally managed national site in the United States. It is extremely easy to make it worthwhile if you are driving around southern Utah.
Which Park is Better for Hikers?
Canyonlands is, by far, the best park for avid hikers.
It has the most adventurous, remote backcountry trails, incredible backcountry camping, and even the easier mesa-top hikes have views comparable to the Grand Canyon!
Permits are also easier to obtain in Canyonlands than Arches, and crowds on the trails can be almost non-existent if you choose the right route. I’ve done way more backpacking routes in Canyonlands than any other park – it’s my favourite place in the world to hike! We’d recommend the Lathrop Trail or the Murphy Loop for anyone looking for a long day hike or overnight trip.
Canyonlands also has its other district, Needles, which has some absolutely outstanding hiking routes, but this area isn’t really feasible for a one-day trip to Moab unless you’re very dedicated.
Arches has some great hiking, too, but the options are much more frontcountry and populated. Just getting parking at most of the trailheads can be a challenge! The park does have many shorter, accessible hikes where you don’t need to go far from your car, and also has some iconic hikes, such as Delicate Arch. I’d also be remiss not to mention one of my favourite hikes ever – Fiery Furnace, is in Arches.
The Best Park for Drivers
Canyonlands is, over all, a better park for driving enthusiasts. However, there’s a bit of nuance to it.
For offroad drivers, Canyonlands wins, hands-down. The park is home to the famous White Rim Road, which runs through one-hundred miles of incredible backcountry scenery, traversing the canyons above the Colorado and Green Rivers. There are steep switchbacks, vistas for miles and very few people. It’s one of the premier offroad options in the area and one of my favourite trips, ever. If you’re interested in driving it, you can see a chunk of it in one day – check out our White Rim guide for more information.
Canyonlands National Park is also home to Needles – an actual offroading Mecca. So, if you have a modified Jeep, or some other type of monster beast car, have a look at the routes.
For paved routes, Arches’ scenic drive cuts right through the centre of the park and is really beautiful. It’s great for anyone with mobility issues as the scenery, and even many of the arches, can be easily viewed from a car. Canyonlands’ paved mesa top road is not as impressive (although it still has some incredible panoramic moments!).
Which Park is Prettiest?
I personally think that Canyonlands is the prettiest park of the two, especially during wildflower season in Spring. However, other people would surely disagree with me and say that Arches is genuinely unique, undeniably beautiful, and that it is definitely the prettiest!
Arches is certainly the most unique, whereas Canyonlands is the most panoramic, with vast views that rival the Grand Canyon. They’re two totally different looking parks.
Arches definitely wins for me in winter – the weird, otherworldly rock formations just look super cool with a dusting of snow.
Canyonlands, without a doubt, is my pick during spring, with carpets of wildflowers down on the White Rim, and dramatic lightning storms on the opposite canyon rims during summer.
Which is Best for Photographers?
For photographers, we’d recommend Arches (but only just!). There are so many cool frames, angles and strange features that make the park super exciting to capture. It’s also easier to reach the most iconic spots in Arches, so you’ll likely have to lug around heavy camera equipment a shorter distance than in Canyonlands. Remember that ‘light-painting’ is illegal in the park, even if you see loads of photos online using artificial lights to glow up an arch at night.
Canyonlands, on the other hand, is genuinely immense for anyone who loves landscape photography, with endless vistas from all sides. Mesa Arch is one of the most famous photography spots in the region (particularly at sunrise) and it’s really easy to get to!
I also think that Canyonlands has the small benefit of having two major rivers running through the park, which gives the landscape shots a focal point. It’s also a lot quieter, so is much easier to reach crowd-free spots for capturing your shots.
Honestly, the answer to this question is a tricky one – they’re both immensely photogenic.
Camping Near Arches and Canyonlands
There is loads of camping all around the Moab area.
Down both routes 128 and 279 near Moab, there are tonnes of affordable first-come, first-serve BLM sites right on the Colorado River. These can be busy.
Down Kane Creek Road/Kane Springs Blvd (leads to the Chicken Corners offroad route), there is a lot of slightly more remote camping – we particularly liked Ledge B campground down there. These campgrounds don’t get that busy from our experience.
Nearer Moab, along the same road, Kings Bottom is really nice.
The nearby national parks both have camping too. Arches has Devils Garden Campground (reserve well in advance). We didn’t love this one to be honest. There are a few really great sites in the rocks and the group site is cool, but lots of them are open and more designed for RVs. Canyonlands has Willow Flat Campground which is lovely and has a bit of a windswept vibe up near Green River Overlook (first-come, first-serve).
There are also a few BLM campgrounds, like Horsethief and Cowboy Camp, just outside the boundary to Canyonlands, on the road in (first-come, first-serve).
Which Park has Better Camping?
As mentioned above, each park has one front country campground. Both have their pros and cons:
Arches – Devils Garden Campground
This is bookable in advance, which is great for people who like to plan ahead, and terrible for anyone planning on the fly!
It’s also hit and miss for campsite spots. We had to be moved to the group site once because the spot we booked was totally inappropriate for tents (it was an RV only site but the website didn’t say that). Half the sites are really cool and up against the rocks, but the other half are kind of open and not very nice at all. This campground is also always so busy (it can feel like a playground or a bro-festival, especially if you’re near the large group site!).
Despite the negatives, the campground is a 40-minute drive from Moab, which is a big plus. Another positive is that a campsite at Devils Garden guarantees you a place to park your car at the far end of the park – Devils Garden car parking gets insanely busy during the day!
Standard sites cost $25 per night.
Canyonlands – Willow Flat Campground
This campground is first-come first-serve, so it’s great for anyone who doesn’t plan ahead. It does fill up, but you’ve got a good chance of getting a spot if you turn up in the morning.
Willow Flat is far more remote, with no water and a much more empty, desolate (but pretty) feel. It’s also next to some of the best views in Canyonlands National Park (in my opinion). It feels like the antithesis of Devils Garden!
The campground is around 50 minutes from Moab and costs a very affordable $15 per site.
ARCHES VS CANYONLANDS – QUICK BATTLE ROUND 3
EASIEST ACCESS: Arches – only a few minutes from Moab
SMALLEST CROWDS: Canyonlands – definitely the quietest with the least visitors
LARGEST: Canyonlands – at 337,570 acres (vs Arches 76,519 acres)
MOST UNIQUE: Arches – there’s nowhere like it
How to Visit Both Parks in One Day
If you still can’t decide which to visit with only one day and are dead-set on going to both, below is how we’d tackle that challenge! We honestly don’t recommend you visit Arches and Canyonlands in one day unless you have no choice, but this is what we would do in that scenario.
This route is represented on the Google Map below the itinerary.
It would be easiest to see the most of both when the days are longest and it’s not crazy hot, so May would be a particularly good month.
Morning
Pick up a to-go breakfast in Moab (Giliberto’s Mexican Taco Shop is open from 6am and does smashing, enormous breakfast burritos for a great price – they’re so big, you can probably eat half for lunch, too. Then head down to Arches National Park entrance.
⬩ Arrive at Arches as early as possible. Head down the scenic drive to the Delicate Arch trailhead. Do the hike to the top before heading back to the car (2 hours).
⬩ Continue along the Scenic Drive past Fiery Furnace (you can stop to take a look at the viewpoint) and park up at Devils Garden and do the short hike to the impressive Landscape Arch (30 minutes).
⬩ Drive back towards the entrance along the scenic drive; stop at either Windows and/or Park Avenue for a short wander (20-30 minutes). Take a quick picture of Balanced Rock and the Phallus Pillar on route.
Leave the park and drive to the entrance of the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park.
Afternoon
⬩ Head towards the visitor centre at Island in the Sky in Canyonlands. Just past the visitor centre, stop off at the viewpoint for Shafer Canyon and watch the Jeeps head off towards the White Rim Road (10 minutes). Stop here for a quick packed lunch (we love shopping at the Village Market for lunch snacks).
⬩ Drive on towards Mesa Arch and do the short hike to the famous viewpoint (30 minutes).
⬩ Head towards Upheaval Dome. Take the steep stairs up to the first viewpoint (1 hour).
⬩ Pop into the Green River Overlook nearby (10 minutes).
⬩ Drive towards the Grand View Point and take the panoramic walk along the cliff to some of the best views in Canyonlands (and Utah in my opinion!) (1.5 hours).
Sunset
⬩ Drive out of Canyonlands National Park and drop into Dead Horse Point State Park. If you time it right, you can see the sunset colours across the spectacular canyon views before heading back to Moab for the evening.
This day is exhausting and rushed. However, fit, energetic and enthusiastic people could very easily get it done. Good luck if you try, and start early!
Head back to Moab and grab some food, drinks and a nap! For loads of recommendations for things to do (and eat) in Moab, check out our detailed three day itinerary.
Both Parks in One Day: Map
Below is a savable Google Map of all the things we recommend on this itinerary.
⬩ Green are nearby campgrounds.
⬩ Orange are things to see and do.
⬩ Blue is a suggested driving route.
To save this map, select the star next to the title.
BEST PLACES TO STAY NEAR THE PARKS
Moab is the closest town to both Canyonlands and Arches National Park. The town is very well equipped for tourists, including markets, restaurants, motels, campgrounds, breweries and quirky shops.
We’ve stayed in *a lot* of places in Moab at varying budgets (Moab is generally expensive – stay in Green River for slightly lower prices, or camp).
These are the best ones we’ve found:
Bowen Motel ($$) – this simple motel has the most central location on the main street, comfortable, clean rooms, and often a decent price point. We’ve stayed here a few times now and never been let down. It’s always our choice when the price is right.
Moab Rustic Inn ($$) – decent sized but slightly dated rooms, however it was clean, quiet, with a great price-point and also had a pool.
River Canyon Lodge ($$) – we’ve stayed here a few times since they did room renovations and it’s nice. The rooms are small, but modern, there’s a pool and the location is right next to the Moab Food Truck Park, which we love. You can hear a little through the walls though.
Kokopelli West ($$$) – super cute, colourful cabins, lovely hosts, great location. This amazing little find has modern, up-to-date rooms with comfy beds, fire pits and a general vibe that I just loved.
Under Canvas Moab ($$$) – I’ve stayed in other Under Canvas locations, and this particular one lives up to the name. It’s like luxury glamping and I love it! The tents gets pretty hot though, so I’d give it a miss during the scorching summer months.
Red Cliffs Lodge ($$$) – if you’re looking for something a bit special, this could be it. Hidden down Route 128, surrounded on all sides by cliffs, perched on the shore of the Colorado River is this surprising find. The location is unmatched, the rooms have a modern twist but with a kind of wood cabin vibe, and the room patios are huge. We actually discovered this place by driving past it – then immediately booked it!
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CAR HIRE FOR YOUR AMERICAN SOUTHWEST ITINERARY
We always rent our vehicles all over the world, including our recent extended trips in the United States, with Discover Cars. They’re often the most affordable, plus they paid out immediately on an insurance claim we made when our car took some heavy damage in Sicily. We fully recommend them.
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TAKE A LOOK BELOW OR CHECK CAR RENTAL
Where to Next?
Although we’ve had to choose between Canyonlands or Arches National Parks here, we’d recommend you schedule as much time in Moab as possible to enable a visit to both parks, plus maybe do some of the other excellent drives, activities and hikes in the area. South-eastern Utah has so much to offer, it would be a pity to only spend one day in the area.
If you have to choose, though, the parks are quite contrasting from each other and cater to very different kinds of adventurer – which means it’s likely that one will suit you more than another!
If one day is all you have, we really hope this post can help you decide what to do with your time. However, if you can find something extra in your schedule, we’ve written in detail about how we’d spend the perfect day in Canyonlands and an ideal, crowd free day in Arches!
Have a fantastic trip!
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