Arches National Park Alerts and Current Conditions

Cover of Brian Russ's guide to Arches National Park

Last checked: October 25, 2026. This page tracks what's closed, what's changed, and what's coming up at Arches National Park, Utah, from the park's alerts, conditions, and hours pages. I check it daily and rewrite it when the park posts something new, so bookmark it rather than an old news story. Entry lines and full trailhead lots can change a morning's plan fast, so check the park's own alerts the day you go.

Current alerts

  • Expect waits at the entrance and full trailhead lots. The park warns of long lines at the entrance station. If a trailhead lot is full, come back later rather than parking on vegetation or the roadway. On very busy days, when the line backs up to the highway or the lots fill, the park may hold new entries for a while; if you hit a closed gate, try again in a few hours. (NPS)
  • A Moab-Arches shuttle has started service. On September 10, 2026, the park announced the shuttle, started by Grand County to cut traffic and give visitors another way into the park. Check the release for how it works and whether it runs on your dates. (NPS)
  • Unpaved roads can be rough. The main paved park road is open. The park says unpaved roads may need four-wheel drive, or be impassable, after summer storms. (NPS)

Open and closed right now

  • The park is open 24 hours a day, year-round. Entrance is $30 per private vehicle, $25 for motorcycles (good for seven days), or $15 per person on foot or by bike, with youth 15 and under free. (NPS)
  • Arches Visitor Center: open daily, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., through October 31. Restrooms, drinking water, and outdoor exhibits are available around the clock. (NPS)
  • Devils Garden Campground: open year-round. Sites are reservable for nights through October 31. Firewood is sold only at the visitor center bookstore, not at the campground. (NPS)
  • Ranger programs run spring through fall; check at the visitor center for the schedule. The park doesn't offer them in winter.

Coming up in the next few weeks

  • Sunday, November 1: the visitor center switches to fall hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. The same day, Devils Garden Campground goes first-come, first-served for every site, through February 28.
  • Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving): the visitor center is open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Sunday, November 29: winter hours begin, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, through February 28, 2027.
  • Christmas: the visitor center closes at 1 p.m. on Thursday, December 24, and is closed Friday, December 25.

What this means for your trip

Nothing on the park's list closes a major viewpoint or trail right now. The park says it's busiest from March through October and suggests entering before 8 a.m. or after 3 p.m. to avoid traffic. That advice still holds for the last week of October. If Delicate Arch or Devils Garden is the main event, go early and have a second hike in mind in case the lot is full.

Campers should note the switch on November 1. You won't be able to book a site at Devils Garden for November through February. Sites go to whoever shows up first, so arrive early in the day and have a fallback outside the park. In late fall and winter, the park lists highs of roughly 30 to 50 degrees, with occasional snow or ice. Days are short, too, so plan the long hikes for the middle of the day.

Earlier alerts (outdated)

  • Outdated: reported by the park as of October 22, 2026; no longer listed as of October 25, 2026. All-terrain wheelchairs are available. Arches is one of five Utah parks that now offer a free, non-motorized all-terrain wheelchair for unpaved trails. It needs someone to push it, supply is limited, and it's first-come, first-served, so contact the park before your trip about availability and suitable trails. (NPS, as of October 22)
  • Outdated: reported by the park as of October 22, 2026; no longer listed as of October 25, 2026. Fire restrictions were lifted on September 4. Campfires and charcoal are allowed again in the fire pits and grills provided at developed sites and picnic areas. The NPS notes the region is still in drought, so put fires fully out. (NPS, as of October 22)
  • Outdated: reported by the park as of October 22, 2026; no longer listed as of October 25, 2026. No timed-entry reservation this year. For 2026 the park dropped its timed-entry requirement, so you can drive in any time. You still need an entrance pass, and reservations are still required for Devils Garden Campground and for Fiery Furnace hikes, self-guided or ranger-led. (NPS, as of October 22)

Before you go

  • Check the park's current conditions and alerts the morning of your visit. The park suggests checking its entrance webcam, linked from that page, before you drive in.
  • For traffic around Moab, the park points to the Utah Department of Transportation's traffic site.
  • Campground reservations for March through October are on Recreation.gov or by phone at 1-877-444-6777.

If a closure knocks out part of your plan, my guide to Arches National Park has nine one- to three-day itineraries at easy, moderate, and strenuous effort, each with a backup plan for weather or closures. You can also check alerts and conditions for every national park.

This page is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service. Always check the park's current alerts before you go.