4 Best Gateway Towns To Arches National Park
Arches National Park protects one of the highest concentrations of natural stone arches in the world, with over 2,000 documented formations spread across the high desert terrain in eastern Utah. This incredible landscape is also defined by other outstanding features, like massive, naturally balanced rocks, and iconic landmarks like Delicate Arch and Landscape Arch.
Located just north of the mighty Colorado River, Arches draws millions of visitors each year, despite its relatively compact size and sheer remoteness. Therefore, choosing the proper gateway town is crucial, as lodging availability and proximity to popular trailheads can significantly impact your experience. With that, we will discuss the most ideal towns surrounding Arches National Park, each offering different advantages for travelers planning to explore this profoundly unique and unforgettable corner of the country.
Moab
Moab is widely regarded as the primary gateway town to Arches National Park, situated just five miles south of the park entrance along US-191. This town is built around access and convenience for the large number of visitors arriving every year, as most pass through Moab to reach Arches’ iconic sandstone arches, fins, and other geological formations.
Moab’s walkable downtown is chock full of various outfitters, gear shops, hotels, restaurants, and other amenities catering to hikers, photographers, and off-road travelers. Moreover, lodging ranges from budget motels to full-service resorts, with campgrounds and RV parks scattered along the river as well, for those visiting during the warmer months.
Better yet, Moab’s proximity allows you to reach Delicate Arch or Devil's Garden early in the morning, helping to avoid peak crowds later on. However, beyond Arches, Moab also offers direct access to Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park, and the broader Colorado River corridor, making it a logical base for multi-day stays.
Green River
The city of Green River sits under 50 miles northwest of Arches National Park. It hosts a quieter, more affordable gateway option for visitors who prefer to distance themselves from Moab’s crowds. As you might imagine, this community is situated along the Green River, a major tributary of the Colorado River, and has long served as a rest stop for travelers crossing eastern Utah. Its location near I-70 provides easy highway accessibility, making it convenient for road trips of all kinds in the age of the automobile.
Green River is also known for its nearby attractions, including Goblin Valley State Park, the San Rafael Swell, and river-based recreation, primarily featuring rafting and fishing. On the other hand, the town itself has a small downtown worth exploring, with basic dining options and several motels that cater to overnight stays. The local Tamarisk Restaurant stands out as a remarkably busy, fan favorite joint, serving up classic American fare that is often perfect fuel for a long day outdoors.
Grand Junction
Grand Junction in Colorado is by far the most significant settlement nearby. While it is indeed quite a bit farther from Arches than Moab or Green River, its airport and highway connections make it a practical choice for visitors flying in or combining trips to multiple national parks. Located about 110 miles northeast of Arches National Park, it serves as a significant regional hub for travelers heading west into Utah or east into the Rocky Mountains.
As the largest city on the Western Slope of Colorado, it offers a wide range of accommodations, from full-service hotels to boutique inns, budget-friendly motels, and campgrounds, making it a convenient base for longer trips in the area.
Grand Junction is also known for its wineries, vibrant downtown area, and proximity to the Colorado National Monument, which features towering red rock canyons and numerous scenic overlooks. While here, outdoor enthusiasts of all interests and abilities can take advantage of hiking, mountain biking, and river recreation in the surrounding area of Arches during its busy hours.
Monticello
Monticello, Utah, lies 54 miles directly south of Moab, offering another quiet, small-town option for those seeking a less crowded spot. Nestled near the Abajo Mountains, this town provides incredibly picturesque surroundings of its own to top it off.
Even with its smaller size, Monticello has all the basic overnight options, local eateries, and basic services one may need on a national park outing. Its location also makes it a convenient jumping-off point for exploring not only Arches but also nearby Canyonlands National Park, Natural Bridges National Monument, and a unit of the Manti-La Sal National Forest. With that, outdoor recreation is clearly a major draw and easily accessible here, from hiking and mountain biking to fishing, off-road adventures, and even golfing in the surrounding high desert and forested areas.
Be sure to also drop by the Monticello, Utah, Welcome Center and the adjacent Frontier Museum for more information about the region, or the Canyon Country Discovery Center for an insider's view of other local parks and must-see attractions nearby.
Choosing the proper gateway town to stop by can drastically shape any Arches National Park visit, whether it’s the convenience of Moab, the quiet charm of Monticello, or the all-around regional access of Grand Junction and Green River. Each offers a good amount of lodging and dining options for a multitude of budgets, as well as proximity to other natural attractions, allowing adventurers like you to tailor an extended road trip that passes through Utah’s unforgettable red rock landscapes.
