🏜️ Our Family Trip to Arches National Park & Moab, Utah

Family Traveling USA
Jun 30
4 min read

This spring, our family took our very first trip to Moab, Utah, and explored the incredible Arches National Park with our three kids! We weren’t totally sure what to expect—but we ended up falling in love with the area’s red rock views, family-friendly hikes, and vibrant little town.

In this post, we’re sharing our full two-day itinerary, what we wish we knew in advance, and helpful tips for visiting Arches National Park with kids.

🛏️ Where We Stayed in Moab

We stayed at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Moab, which was perfect for families! The outdoor pools and hot tubs were surrounded by stunning red rock views—making our pool time feel like a vacation highlight in itself.

The hotel was clean, comfortable, and close to both the park entrance and downtown Moab, where we loved exploring the local shops and restaurants.

🎟️ Timed Entry at Arches – What to Know

During our visit in late April, Arches National Park required timed entry passes between 7 AM and 4 PM. (Timed tickets are required from April 1–July 6 and August 28–October 31, 2025.)

Each day we visited, we had to reserve a $2 timed entry ticket in addition to our park pass. The entry line was longer than expected both days—even on a Monday—so give yourself extra time to wait in line. On the second day, we arrived just 1 minute past our entry window, and thankfully they still let us in.

Tips:

Screenshot your timed entry tickets in case you don’t have service.
They did check our ID with the tickets, so make sure you have it handy.
Parking was tough—nearly every lot we passed on Day 1 was full. Bring patience and flexibility!

🥾 Day 1: Sand Dune Arch, Broken Arch & Tapestry Arch

We lucked out with a parking spot near Sand Dune Arch not long after arriving. There’s a vault toilet near the lot (no seat—just a basic pit toilet).

The short hike to Sand Dune Arch was an instant hit with the kids. You walk through narrow red rock fins into a sandy open area—basically a giant red rock sandbox! It was busy, but the kids had a blast playing in the sand while we enjoyed the scenery.

From the same parking lot, we continued the trail to Broken Arch, which was quieter and just as beautiful. The trail had red rocks, desert plants, lizards, and wide-open views. After snapping photos under Broken Arch, we followed the trail to Tapestry Arch. There were almost no people here—it felt like we had the desert to ourselves!

This peaceful hike was our favorite of the trip—easy terrain, amazing views, and plenty of space to explore.

🏞️ Day 2: Hiking to Delicate Arch

We hadn’t originally planned to hike to Delicate Arch, but after hearing so many people talk about it—and seeing it everywhere from hotel art to Utah license plates—we decided to go for it!

We arrived early and snagged a parking spot at the Wolfe Ranch Trailhead, which also had restrooms with seats (yay!). The trail was very popular, and we saw many other hikers along the way.

The hike is around 3 miles round trip, with a steady incline and little to no shade. Even on a cooler spring day, it felt warm in the sun. The hike starts near a historic ranch, then climbs a long stretch of slickrock. (Carrying a baby on my back added to the challenge—but we made it!)

As we neared the top, the landscape became more scenic with plants and sand, but there’s a narrow ledge—about 6 feet wide with no railing—that you have to walk to reach the arch viewpoint.

Delicate Arch itself was absolutely stunning, but crowded. There was a long line to take photos under the arch, so we skipped it and just enjoyed the view. The hike back was much easier, with a steady downhill walk back to the lot.

We were so proud we made it—and it’s a memory we’ll never forget!

🌄 Bonus Stop: Wilson Arch

On our way out of town, we spotted Wilson Arch along the highway. It’s located on BLM land and free to visit, so we pulled over for one last adventure. A short but steep climb took us up to the arch—and it was totally worth the stop. Beautiful views, great photo ops, and no crowds!

💬 Final Thoughts

We had such a great time exploring Arches National Park and Moab as a family. While the park was busier than we expected and the timed entry system added a little stress, the incredible scenery, family-friendly hikes, and unique red rock formations made it totally worth it. We definitely plan to come back!

🎥 Be sure to watch our full Arches National Park video here!