Arches National Park Timed Entry Permits: What you need to know in 2022

Post Summary: Arches National Park Timed Entry Permits

Arches National Park has a problem. This popular Utah National Park is often at visitor capacity from April 3 to October 3 and from mid-morning until early afternoon, finding parking in the park can be difficult. Between this and the backup at the entrance station, people attempting to visit Arches often have a less than stellar visit.

To combat this, Arches is going to test a timed entry program in 2022 to space out visitors during the day and prevent visitors from arriving and discovering that the park is full.

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What are Arches National Park Timed Entry Permits?

Arches National Park Timed Entry Permits are being implemented to help the park manage park visitation. Due to its small size, limited parking, and massive increase in visitors, Arches is experiencing EXTREME overcrowding such that the entrance line is backing up for MILES on Highway 191. This backup blocks the highway and creates a major safety concern, and NPS has no choice but to close the park entrance.

It isn’t uncommon for the gates to close mid-morning and the park to turn visitors away until early afternoon. For example, in September and October 2020, the entrance was closed 36 times.

Arches time entry permits will give visitors a 2-hour window to enter the park.

The timed entry permits will help limit the number of visitors accessing the park and spread the use of the park out through the day and hopefully helps minimize crowding at the trailheads and parking lots.

An Arches timed entry permit will be required from 6 am to 6 pm from April 3 to October 3, 2022.

Do you need a Arches National Park Timed Entry Reservation?

If you have camping reservations inside Arches National Park, you do NOT need an Arches Entrance Reservation.

If you have a backcountry permit or Fiery Furnace reservation, you do NOT need an Arches Timed Entry Permit.

If you are traveling with an authorized tour group, you do not need an additional reservation or permit.

Other Important Information about the Arches Timed Entry Permits

As expected, Arches timed entry will be running similar to Rocky Mountain timed entry.

• Permits are expected sell out within a few minutes of being released. So you need to be ready to purchase at the time they are released.

• There is a $2 service fee per reservation in addition to the Arches National Park entrance fee.
  • Arches Entry fee
    • 7 Day – $35 per vehicle
    • Arches National Park Annual Pass – $70
    • America the Beautiful (The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes) – $80

• One reservation per vehicle.

• You will need a timed entry permit for each day you wish to explore the park.

• Tickets must be printed or downloaded.

• Photo ID will be required at time of entry

• Tickets are good for entry during a two-hour window.

• Park visitors staying at the Arches campgrounds do not need timed entry tickets.

• Do not miss your entry window. There is NO guarantee you will be allowed in.

• Timed entry permits do NOT guarantee parking.

How do you get a Arches National Park Timed Entry Permit?

Arches National Park Timed Entry Permits are obtained from Recreation.gov. One permit per vehicle. I

Advanced Rocky Mountain Timed Entry Permits

Advanced Arches Timed Entry Permits are released three months in advance in monthly blocks at 8 am park time which means that you need to account for the time change in March. These ticket reservations can be made at Recrecation.gov.

The majority of the Arches entry permits will be released in advance.

Permits are release dates:

• April reservations (April 3–30) will be released on January 3 at 8 am MST
• May reservations (May 1–31) will be released on February 1 at 8 am MST
• June reservations (June 1–30) will be released on March 1 at 8 am MST
• July reservations (July 1–31) will be released on April 1 at 8 am MDT
• August reservations (August 1–31) will be released on May 1 at 8 am MDT
• September reservations (September 1–30) will be released on June 1 at 8 am MDT
• October reservations (October 1–3) will be released on July 1 at 8 am MDT

One Day In Advanced Arches Timed Entry Permits

The second block of permits is released at 6:00 pm MDT every day for the following day. Such as tickets for May 30 are released on May 29. These ticket reservations can be made at Recrecation.gov.

These tickets will be shown as “Not Yet Released” on the Recreation.gov website or app until they become available.

Frequently Asked Questions about Arches National Park Timed Entry Permits

What happens if I don’t get an Arches Timed Entry Permit?

Timed entry is from 6 am to 6 pm. Arches is open 24 hours a day unless the weather has closed the park road. So read into that statement what you will.

Otherwise, I suggest heading into Canyonlands National Park or exploring the public lands outside of Arches National Park.

Why doesn’t Arches National Park do a shutttle system?

According to Arches officials, it would be complex and overly expensive to implement a shuttle system in Arches. This is typical government bullshit. NPS is way underfunded. Funding-wise, the parks are barely treading water on maintenance let alone having money to make actual improvements.

In my opinion, Arches is park is perfect for a shuttle system. It has one road and there is space to put a nice big parking garage at the entrance then run a shuttle into the park. At the major attractions add nice shuttle pick-up spots that are covered and space for a line to form. At the lesser attractions put a bench and a sign.

Final Thoughts on the Arches National Park Timed Entry Permits

I know it’s frustrating that Arches is piloting timed entry permits, but it is a necessary evil given the situation in this national park.

• The Ultimate Utah National Parks Road Trip 7 Day Itinerary
• Visiting Arches National Park: The Complete Guide
• 11 Things You Can’t Miss on Your First Visit to Arches National Park
• The Ultimate Guide to Camping in Arches National Park
• The Ultimate Guide to Camping in Canyonlands National Park

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