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Family Road Trip · Summer 2026

Arches
National Park

June 21 – 26 4 Travelers Wentzville, MO → Moab, UT ~18 hrs drive
🎉 Big news for 2026: Arches dropped its timed entry reservation requirement — you can enter anytime during operating hours! However, parking fills before 8am in summer. Arrive early every day.
Before You Leave · Action Items

Book These Now

A few things that sell out fast — handle these before you hit the road.

⚡ Time-Sensitive Reservations

  • 🏛️Park Entrance Pass — Purchase in advance at recreation.gov. $35/vehicle for 7 days. You can also buy at the gate but lines get long.
  • 🔥Fiery Furnace Permit or Ranger Tour — This iconic maze of fins and canyons STILL requires a permit or ranger-led tour booking even in 2026. Book on recreation.gov as soon as you can — ranger tours (highly recommended for first-timers) sell out weeks ahead.
  • 🏨Hotel in Moab — June is peak season. Lock in your hotel now (see recommendations below). Properties fill up, especially for families needing multiple beds.
🌡️
June Heat Is Real
Average highs hit 97–100°F in Moab in June. Plan all strenuous hikes before 9am or after 5pm. Midday is for driving, resting, or pool time.
💧
Water Rule
Carry at least 1 liter per person per hour of hiking. There is zero water on most trails. Dehydration hits fast at this elevation and heat.
🅿️
Parking Strategy
Trailhead lots fill before 8am in June. When lots fill, the park may restrict access for 3–5 hours. Beat the crowds — every day starts early!
🌌
Dark Sky Park
Arches is certified International Dark Sky. After dinner, head back in for star gazing and night photography — some of the best skies in North America.
Getting There & Back

Drive Plan

~1,100 miles from Wentzville. Split over 2 days each way via I-70 West.

Friday, June 19

Day 1 Outbound

Wentzville, MO→Denver, CO
~850 miles · ~12–13 hrs · I-70 West
Leave by 6–7am. Kansas City is just 30 min away, then it's open highway through Kansas all the way to Colorado. Aim to reach Denver by early evening. Good dinner and rest up.
Saturday, June 20

Day 2 Outbound

Denver, CO→Moab, UT
~360 miles · ~5.5–6 hrs · I-70 W → US-191 S
Relaxed morning departure. I-70 through the Rockies is stunning — Vail Pass, Glenwood Canyon. Turn south at Crescent Junction (Exit 182) onto US-191. Arrive Moab early afternoon. Check in, explore town, prep gear.
Saturday, June 27

Day 1 Return

Moab, UT→Denver, CO
~360 miles · ~5.5–6 hrs
You may choose to get one final early morning sunrise at the park before hitting the road. Denver by afternoon.
Sunday, June 28

Day 2 Return

Denver, CO→Wentzville, MO
~850 miles · ~12–13 hrs
Leave early. Kansas goes fast with good music and snacks. Home by evening.
💡 Pro tip: Download offline maps (Google Maps or Maps.me) for the Moab area before leaving. Cell service on US-191 south of Grand Junction can be spotty. Also fuel up in Green River, UT before the final stretch — gas stations get sparse.
Day by Day · June 21–26

Park Itinerary

Built around the heat — hike early, rest midday, chase golden hour. G & W will love this.

01

Welcome to Red Rock Country

Sunday, June 21 · Summer Solstice — Longest Day of the Year!
7–8 AM
Visitor Center + Entrance Pass First Stop
Get oriented, pick up the trail map, and check the ranger's board for any conditions. The Visitor Center opens at 8am. Hit the entrance gate right at opening to beat the line. Being summer solstice, sunrise is around 5:55am — if you're energetic, the park looks magical at first light.
8:30 AM
The Windows Section Hike Photo
North Window, South Window, Turret Arch, and Double Arch — all within a 2-mile radius. This is one of the most photogenic areas in the park and a perfect first morning. Double Arch in particular is jaw-dropping — two massive natural arches sharing the same base.
📏 ~2 miles total ⛰️ Easy – Moderate ⏱️ ~2 hours
10:30 AM
Balanced Rock Quick Stop
On your way back south — an enormous boulder perched improbably atop a thin spire. Easy 0.3-mile loop or just admire from the parking area. Classic photo stop. Kids will be confused by how it doesn't fall over.
11–3 PM
Retreat to Moab Midday Rest
Check into your hotel, have lunch in town, and rest during peak heat. Moab has great lunch spots — try Moab Brewery or Zax Restaurant. Save your energy for the evening's main event.
6:30 PM
Delicate Arch — Sunset Hike 🌅 Iconic Shot
This is the bucket-list moment. The 3-mile round-trip trail gains 480 feet and finishes at the most famous arch in the world. Time your arrival at the arch for about 30–45 minutes before sunset (~8:40pm on June 21). The arch glows deep orange-red in the last light — easily the best photograph of the trip. Bring extra water and headlamps for the walk back.
📏 3 miles RT ⛰️ Moderate 📐 480 ft gain ⏱️ ~2 hrs
10 PM
🌌 Family Stargazing Night — Panorama Point Best Night of Trip
June 21 is your best stargazing night of the entire trip — the moon is only 48% illuminated and sets around midnight, opening up a genuinely dark sky. Don't drive back to the hotel after the sunset hike. Instead, head to Panorama Point — Arches' dedicated stargazing area, open 24/7, drive-up accessible with no hiking required. Set up chairs and blankets, let your eyes adjust for 20–30 minutes, and wait for the moon to drop below the horizon.

The Milky Way's galactic core will arc across the sky in full. With dark-adjusted eyes you'll see the band clearly — it's bright enough in these skies to cast faint shadows. Use the Stellarium app (download offline before the trip) to identify planets and constellations with G & W.

📸 Photography: Set up the tripod, put your phone or camera on a 10–25 second exposure, point at the Milky Way and experiment. The arch silhouettes in the background make for unforgettable shots. Even a modern phone on Night Mode with a tripod will surprise you.

Moon sets ~12:15am — the window from ~12:15am to 2am is the darkest and best. Late, but once-in-a-lifetime for G & W.
🌙 Moon sets ~12:15am 🚗 Drive-up, no hiking 🌡️ Bring warm layers — desert cools fast ⏱️ Plan 1.5–2 hrs
02

Fins, Canyons & the Colorado

Monday, June 22
6:30 AM
Park Avenue Trail Morning Hike
One of the park's best early-morning hikes. You walk down into a canyon flanked by towering walls of red sandstone — the resemblance to a city skyline is uncanny. It's a 2-mile one-way route (do it as an out-and-back or arrange a shuttle). The light at this hour makes the canyon walls glow.
📏 2 miles (OB) or 4 miles RT ⛰️ Easy – Moderate ⏱️ ~1.5–2.5 hrs
9 AM
🔥 Fiery Furnace Ranger-Led Tour Reserve Ahead!
This is the hidden gem of Arches and still requires advance booking. A ranger leads you through an intricate maze of narrow sandstone fins, squeezing through passages and scrambling over rocks. It's 2 hours and completely unlike any other hike in the park. The 9am tour avoids the worst afternoon heat. Book on recreation.gov immediately.
⏱️ ~2 hours 💰 $16/person 📅 Book at recreation.gov
12–4 PM
Lunch + Moab Town Explore Rest Period
Walk Main Street, visit the Museum of Moab (geology, dinosaur fossils, Native history), or just relax at the hotel pool. Moab has good ice cream and coffee shops too.
5 PM
Colorado River Scenic Drive — Highway 128 Scenic
Head east on Hwy 128 along the Colorado River. Stunning red canyon walls tower above the river. Turn around whenever you like — the first 10–15 miles are the most dramatic. Great for photos and a peaceful late afternoon. Watch for rafters on the river.
03

Devils Garden — The Big Day

Tuesday, June 23
6 AM
⚠️ Leave Very Early — Parking Fills Fast
Devils Garden is at the end of the park road, 18 miles from the entrance. It has the most popular trailhead in the park. In June, lots fill before 8am. Being there at 6–6:30am is not too early — you'll be rewarded with soft morning light and far fewer people.
6:30 AM
Devils Garden Trail — Landscape Arch + Extension Featured Hike Photo
Start with the easy 1.6-mile out-and-back to Landscape Arch — the longest natural arch in North America at 306 feet. Then extend the hike on the primitive loop toward Double O Arch (~4.2 miles total RT). The primitive section has some scrambling on bare rock — G and W will love it. Tunnel Arch and Pine Tree Arch are fun stops along the way.
📏 4–5 miles total ⛰️ Moderate + some scrambling ⏱️ ~3–4 hrs
11 AM
Hotel Pool / Recovery Well-Earned Rest
This is the longest hike day. Come back to Moab for a late breakfast or early lunch, and enjoy the pool. The afternoon is your free time — no agenda.
7:30 PM
Golden Hour at Windows Section Photography
Return to the Windows at dusk. With the low angle of summer light, North and South Window glow brilliantly. This is one of the best evening photography spots in the park — the warm light on the arches is extraordinary.
04

Dead Horse Point, Island in the Sky & Needles

Wednesday, June 24 · Canyonlands Day
6 AM
Dead Horse Point State Park — Sunrise 🌅 Must-See
Just 30 minutes from Moab. Dead Horse Point offers one of the most dramatic overlooks in the American Southwest — the Colorado River winds 2,000 feet below in a horseshoe bend. This is the spot where Ridley Scott filmed scenes for Thelma & Louise. Absolutely world-class photography at sunrise. The $20 per vehicle entry fee is 100% worth it.
🚗 ~30 min from Moab 💰 ~$20/vehicle 📏 Easy rim walks
8:30 AM
Canyonlands — Island in the Sky District Scenic
5 minutes past Dead Horse Point. Your Arches pass does NOT cover entry here — use the America the Beautiful Pass or pay separately (~$35/vehicle). Mesa Arch is a quick half-mile hike to an arch that frames the canyon 1,000 feet below — spectacular. Grand View Point at the end of the road offers one of the most expansive panoramas you'll ever see, including a distant view of The Needles district far to the south.
🚗 ~35 min from Moab 💡 America the Beautiful Pass covers entry
11 AM – 1 PM
Lunch Back in Moab + Decision Point Recharge
Head back to Moab for lunch and a midday rest. This is your decision point for the afternoon — recharge at the hotel pool, or make the drive to the Needles District (see below). The Needles is about 90 minutes south, so a post-lunch departure by 1:30pm works well for a late afternoon visit.
1:30 PM
⭐ Canyonlands — The Needles District Highly Recommended
The Needles is the most adventurous and least-visited district of Canyonlands — colorful banded sandstone spires, slot canyons, and a totally different feel from Island in the Sky. It's 75 miles south of Moab (~90 min each way), so plan for a dedicated afternoon. Entry is covered by the America the Beautiful Pass. The Needles Visitor Center is a great first stop for maps and ranger tips.

Best options for your family in June heat:
• Cave Spring Trail (0.6 mi, easy, partially shaded) — cowboy camp ruins, rock art, two ladders that G & W will love, and a year-round natural spring. Best family hike here.
• Pothole Point Trail (2.4 mi, easy) — slickrock loop with fascinating desert potholes teeming with tiny organisms. Fun and educational for the kids.
• Big Spring Canyon Overlook (0.3 mi, easy) — quick walk to a stunning view of the spires at the end of the park road.

⚠️ June heat note: The Needles trails are almost entirely exposed with little shade. Stick to the shorter hikes listed above and arrive early afternoon before peak heat. Carry extra water — it's a long drive back if someone gets overheated.
🚗 ~90 min from Moab 💡 America the Beautiful Pass covers entry ⏱️ Plan 3–4 hrs total including drive
5 PM
Sand Dune Arch — Cool-Down Hike Hike
If you skipped the Needles or returned early — stop at Sand Dune Arch on your way back. This shaded arch sits between narrow rock fins, keeping it cool even in June. An easy 0.4-mile walk. W and G will want to play in the soft sand bowl under the arch.
📏 0.4 miles RT ⛰️ Easy 🌡️ Shaded — cooler!
05

Petroglyphs, Rapids & Stars

Thursday, June 25
6:30 AM
Delicate Arch — Sunrise Sunrise Photography
Second visit, totally different experience. Arrive at the arch for sunrise — the arch glows pink-orange in the morning light with the La Sal Mountains as a backdrop. Fewer people than sunset. The trail is manageable in the cool of early morning.
📏 3 miles RT 🌅 Sunrise ~5:55am ⏱️ Leave hotel by 4:45am
9 AM
Wolfe Ranch Petroglyphs Quick Stop
On your way back from Delicate Arch, stop at the Wolfe Ranch trailhead and walk 1/4 mile to a panel of Ute petroglyphs. It's fascinating context — people have been looking at Delicate Arch for centuries. The historic Wolfe Ranch cabin is also here.
10 AM – 2 PM
Colorado River Whitewater Rafting 🚣 Confirmed Activity
Half-day or full-day rafting on the Colorado River — Fisher Towers / Castle Valley section. Class II–III rapids with stunning red rock canyon scenery. Perfect for all four of you. Being on the water is also a welcome relief from the desert heat! Book in advance — June trips sell out weeks ahead. Top outfitters: Moab Adventure Center (moabadventurecenter.com), Adrift Adventures (adrift.net), or Red River Adventures (redriveradventures.com). If you want more intensity, ask about Westwater Canyon (Class III–IV, full day).
10 PM
Milky Way Night Photography 🌌 Night Sky
Arches is one of the best places in North America for night sky photography. Drive back into the park after dark and head to the Windows Section or Panorama Point. Bring a tripod if you have one. Even without a fancy camera, phones with night mode capture the stars well here. This experience alone is worth staying up late for.
06

Last Morning in the Red Rocks

Friday, June 26 · Final Day
7 AM
Broken Arch via Sand Dune Arch Final Hike
A satisfying moderate loop through open meadows and past two very different arches. Less-visited than the headliners, which means you'll have it almost to yourself on a Friday morning. A perfect peaceful send-off hike.
📏 2.6 miles RT ⛰️ Easy – Moderate ⏱️ ~1.5–2 hrs
10 AM
One Last Drive Through the Park Scenic
Do a final slow drive up the park road to Panorama Point or the La Sal Mountain Viewpoint — the La Sal Mountains provide a striking snowy backdrop to the red rock desert on clear June days. Stop at any spots you want to revisit.
12–1 PM
Check Out + Lunch in Moab Farewell
Last meal in Moab. Moab Diner for diner classics, or Pasta Jay's for a solid lunch. Stock up on snacks and drinks for the drive. Head toward Denver.
Where You're Staying · Moab, UT

Scenic View Inn & Suites

2701 S Hwy 191, Moab, UT · ~15 min drive to Arches entrance · scenicviewinn.com

✅ Confirmed Hotel · June 21–26, 2026
Scenic View Inn & Suites Moab
  • Free daily buffet breakfast included
  • Seasonal outdoor pool (open March–Oct)
  • Hot tub & fitness center
  • Free WiFi (100+ Mbps)
  • Double Queen rooms — great for a family of 4
  • Microwave, refrigerator & Keurig in every room
  • 55" 4K smart TVs
  • Rainfall showerheads · modern bathrooms
  • Quiet south Moab location
  • La Sal Mountain views
  • Ample free parking
  • Car needed for downtown (5–10 min drive)
💡 Booking tip: Request a Double Queen room when booking — perfect for your family of 4. June is peak season so book as soon as possible. Book directly at scenicviewinn.com or compare rates on Booking.com / Expedia. Note that alcohol is not served or permitted on the property.
🗺️ Location & Daily Routine
The hotel sits on the south end of Moab, so you'll drive through town heading north on Hwy 191 to reach Arches — about 15 minutes. Downtown restaurants and shops are a 5–10 minute drive. For the early morning hikes in the plan, leaving by 6–6:30am puts you at the trailhead before the parking crunch. Come back midday for the pool and hot tub, then head back out for golden hour. Perfect rhythm for the heat.
📸 Photography Guide

Best Shots & When to Take Them

Arches rewards early risers and late-stayers. Golden hour is everything here.

Delicate Arch
Sunset (8–8:45pm) or Sunrise (5:30–6:15am)
The arch turns deep orange-red at sunset. Sunrise gives you soft pink light with the La Sal Mountains behind. Sunset is more dramatic; sunrise is more peaceful.
Windows — North & South
Sunrise or Evening Golden Hour
Shoot through one arch to frame the other. Morning light is warmer and less crowded. A wide-angle lens or phone ultrawide captures the scale.
Double Arch
Morning (before 10am)
Stand inside and shoot upward — the two arches frame a patch of blue sky above you. Stunning from below. The kids will love climbing the base rocks.
Balanced Rock
Dusk / Blue Hour
The silhouette against a deepening blue or purple sky is iconic. Works well at last light after the direct sun fades. Also great for kids-for-scale shots.
Landscape Arch
Morning (6:30–8:30am)
The world's longest natural arch. Set up at the end of the flat portion of trail and shoot the full span. Don't walk under it — rocks have fallen.
Dead Horse Point
Sunrise — truly spectacular
The Colorado River horseshoe glow orange and gold at sunrise. Shoot from the main overlook platform. The wide scene benefits from a panorama or multiple shots stitched.
Milky Way — Night Sky
11pm – 2am (new moon ideal)
Arches is certified International Dark Sky. Head to Windows or Panorama Point. Even phone cameras with Night Mode capture the band of the Milky Way. A tripod helps enormously.
Fiery Furnace
During the ranger tour
The narrow fin corridors create dramatic light shafts and shadow patterns. Shoot the canyon walls overhead. The compressed perspective between fins makes for unique compositional shots.