Best Time to Visit Arches National Park
Crowds and weather by month · Utah · NPS visitor counts through 2025
The short answer
Mild weather, fewer people: November — 46% as busy as May, about 2,827 visitors a day, average high 56°F (13°C).
Quietest month: January — about 1,029 visitors a day, average high 42°F (cool).
Busiest month: May — about 6,205 visitors a day.
Arches month by month
| Month | Crowds · visitors/day | High / low · precip. |
|---|---|---|
| JanuaryQuietest× Cool | Quiet17% of peak · 1,029/day | 42° / 22°F5° / -5°C · 0.6 in · 2 wet days · snow 2 in |
| February× Cool | Quiet30% of peak · 1,848/day | 50° / 29°F10° / -2°C · 0.6 in · 2 wet days · snow 1 in |
| March○ Mild weather, busy | Busy76% of peak · 4,739/day | 62° / 37°F17° / 3°C · 0.7 in · 2 wet days · snow 1 in |
| April○ Mild weather, busy | Busy85% of peak · 5,253/day | 70° / 44°F21° / 7°C · 0.7 in · 2 wet days |
| May○ Mild weather, busy | Peak100% of peak · 6,205/day | 80° / 53°F27° / 12°C · 0.8 in · 2 wet days |
| June× Hot | Peak97% of peak · 6,026/day | 92° / 63°F34° / 17°C · 0.4 in · 1 wet days |
| July× Very hot | Busy84% of peak · 5,237/day | 99° / 70°F37° / 21°C · 0.7 in · 2 wet days |
| August× Very hot | Busy77% of peak · 4,764/day | 96° / 68°F35° / 20°C · 0.9 in · 3 wet days |
| September× Hot | Peak85% of peak · 5,276/day | 87° / 58°F31° / 15°C · 0.9 in · 3 wet days |
| October○ Mild weather, busy | Busy77% of peak · 4,752/day | 72° / 44°F22° / 7°C · 1.1 in · 3 wet days |
| NovemberBest◎ Mild weather, fewer people | Moderate46% of peak · 2,827/day | 56° / 33°F13° / 0°C · 0.6 in · 2 wet days · snow 1 in |
| December× Cool | Quiet26% of peak · 1,599/day | 42° / 24°F5° / -5°C · 0.6 in · 2 wet days · snow 4 in |
Crowds = visitors per day as % of the busiest month: ●●●●● Peak (85–100) · ●●●●○ Busy (60–84) · ●●●○○ Moderate (35–59) · ●●○○○ Quiet (15–34) · ●○○○○ Very quiet (under 15). ◎ mild weather, fewer people · ○ mild but busy · △ very few visitors (often seasonal closures) · × cold or hot. Wet days = days with at least 0.1 in of rain or melted snow.
Visitors per year
| Year | Recreation visits | |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1,399,247 | |
| 2016 | 1,585,718 | |
| 2017 | 1,539,028 | |
| 2018 | 1,663,557 | |
| 2019 | 1,659,702 | |
| 2020pandemic | 1,238,083 | |
| 2021pandemic | 1,806,865 | |
| 2022 | 1,460,652 | |
| 2023 | 1,482,045 | |
| 2024 | 1,466,528 | |
| 2025 | 1,511,740 |
Where the weather numbers come from
Temperatures and precipitation are 30-year averages (1991–2020) from the NOAA station ARCHES NP HQS — Park headquarters (near Moab), at 4,094 ft (1,248 m). Higher viewpoints and trails can be much colder and snowier than the station.
Months with very few visitors often have roads, campgrounds or visitor centers closed for the season. Check current conditions on the official Arches National Park website before you go.
Other parks at their best in November
- Yosemite
40% of peak · high 56°F
- Zion
51% of peak · high 64°F
- Everglades
60% of peak · high 83°F
- Saguaro
56% of peak · high 75°F
How “best” is chosen: the least crowded month with an average high between 55°F and 85°F (13–29°C), skipping months with under 30% of peak visitors because those are often seasonal closures. Crowds compare visitors per day, so short and long months are treated fairly.
Sources. Visitor counts: National Park Service, Visitor Use Statistics (recreation visits, final figures through 2025; typical months use 2022–2025). Weather: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station ARCHES NP HQS, USC00420336, 4,094 ft / 1,248 m). Both are U.S. Government works in the public domain. How we calculate.
Park Months is an independent site and is not affiliated with the National Park Service or NOAA.