Unearth The Voyage
Looking for the closest airport to Arches National Park? If you are thinking of flying to Arches National Park, we have compiled the top 5 best airports near Arches National Park for you to consider flying into!
We know that planning a trip can be all fun and games until you start looking into booking flights.
It can be stressful and sometimes even intimidating since there are a lot of logistics to consider when flying to somewhere brand new like airlines, prices, distance, directions, and transportation.
Figuring out where to fly into to visit Arches National Park is just one of the many things you will want to put some thought into. You’ll also need to know how far the drive is as well as what you’d like to see along the way.
What is the Closest Airport to Arches National Park?
Canyonlands Field Airport is absolutely the airport closest to Arches National Park.
Even though Canyonlands Field Airport is Arches National Park’s nearest airport at just a 16-minute drive, it isn’t necessarily a feasible option for most travelers.
The second closest airport to Arches National Park is Grand Junction Regional Airport. This airport, located in Colorado, is approximately 110 miles away and about a 1.5-hour drive to Arches National Park.
Flying into Grand Junction Regional Airport can be a great option for travelers coming from Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Dallas, Phoenix, or Denver, but it will still require other travelers, especially international travelers, to find and plan connecting flights which may end up costing way more than you would like to spend.
If you are looking for more affordable flight options with fewer connections and more direct flight options, the closest international airport to Arches National Park is Salt Lake City International Airport.
Salt Lake City International Airport is about 4 hours away or approximately 235 miles from Arches National Park. Being the closest major airport to Arches National Park, Salt Lake City will have a lot more affordable flight options for both domestic travelers and international travelers.
Salt Lake City International Airport is a great alternative option for those that want or require a direct flight in order to get to Arches National Park.
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What is the Cheapest Airport near Arches National Park?
The smaller airport options that are near Arches National Park like Canyonlands Field and Grand Junction Regional Airport, while located conveniently closer to Arches National Park, will tend to have some premium pricing on their flights.
The cheapest Arches National Park airport nearby would have to be Salt Lake City International Airport.
This is because Salt Lake City is a major international airport with many domestic and international airlines that service it. This allows for way more flight options with fewer connections making flights more affordable for all kinds of travelers flying to Arches National Park.
The other international airport options like Denver International Airport and Las Vegas International Airport will have a lot of the same cheap flight options as well, but Salt Lake City International Airport is one of the closest airports to Arches National Park out of the 3 international airports on our list.
Where is Arches National Park Located?
Arches National Park is located in southeast Utah right off of US-191. That means that Moab is the closest city to Arches National Park and lies just 4 miles south of the Arches National Park entrance. The Arches National Park is also adjacent to the Colorado River.
Arches National Park is known for its collection of more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches making it the highest density of natural arches in the world! Arches National Park also consists of a high desert located on the Colorado Plateau.
✈️ Check prices for your flight using Skyscanner ✈️
This is the booking platform we always use to book flights at the cheapest price possible.
How to Get to Arches National Park
The best way to get to Arches National Park is by car via the route of US-191 from Moab, Utah. However, directions to Arches National Park can vary depending on which of the closest airports to Arches National Park you choose to fly into.
- Canyonlands Field: Canyonlands Field is the nearest airport to Arches National Park making the drive super straightforward. Just take US-191 S until you reach the park entrance.
- Grand Junction Regional Airport: Getting to Arches National Park from Grand Junction is also super easy. Follow I-70 W then take US-191 S until you reach the park entrance.
- Salt Lake City International Airport: Salt Lake City, the best airport for Arches National Park, has a couple of SLC to Arches routes you could take. The quickest route will take I-15 S, US-6 E, and US-191 S to the entrance of the park.
- Denver International Airport: Denver International Airport to Arches National Park will take you through the White River National Forest. Follow I-70 W to US-191 S which will then lead you to the entrance of the park.
- Las Vegas International Airport: Las Vegas to Arches National Park is the longest route of the 5. You will take I-15 N until I-70 E. Follow I-70 E to US-191 S which will bring you to the entrance of the park.
Tours are also a perfectly viable option to get to Arches National Park if you rather avoid driving yourself.
Most tours will start in Moab, Utah, and take you through all the Arches National Park has to offer as well as the surrounding areas. Arches National Park Backcountry Adventure from Moab is one of our favorite tours that gets you unique access to the national park.
5 Best Arches National Park Airports
1. Canyonlands Field (CNY)
Getting From Canyonlands Field to Arches National Park
- Distance: Approximately 15 miles
- Drive Time: 16 minutes
Airlines that Fly to Canyonlands Field Airport
United Airlines and Delta Airlines both offer daily flights. United Airlines has daily flights between Moab and Denver, Colorado. Delta Airlines has daily flights between Moab and Salt Lake City, Utah.
Canyonlands Field Airport also offers airplane and helicopter tours over the Arches National Park and surrounding areas.
Backcountry Arches Helicopter Tour and Canyonlands & Arches National Parks Airplane Tour give you amazing aerial views of all of the arches, canyons, and rivers that southeastern Utah has to offer!
Things to see Between Canyonlands Field & Arches National Park
Even though Canyonlands Field Airport and Arches National Park are pretty close to one another, there is still so much to see between the two. There are tons of notable arches and trails to see along the way as well as dinosaurs!
- Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail: Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail is named after the variety of fossilized remains of dinosaurs lining the trail. It’s a great place to hike while learning about the past!
- Utahraptor State Park: Utah’s newest state park, Utahraptor includes recreation spots such as Dalton Wells Quarry and Willow Springs.
- Moab Giants: Moab Giants is a unique park and museum that brings the dinosaurs found in the area back to life. Walk through the breathtaking scenery of Moab while experiencing life-size dinosaurs along the way!
✈️ Check prices for your flight using Skyscanner ✈️
This is the booking platform we always use to book flights at the cheapest price possible.
2. Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT)
Getting From Grand Junction Regional Airport to Arches National Park
- Distance: Approximately 110 miles
- Drive Time: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Airlines that Fly to Grand Junction Regional Airport
Allegiant Airlines, American Airlines, and United are all major airlines that fly out of Grand Junction Regional Airport.
Allegiant Airlines offers direct flights to Las Vegas, Nevada year round as well as seasonal service flights to Los Angeles, California, and Mesa, Arizona.
American Airlines offers direct flights to Dallas, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona. United offers direct flights to and from Denver, Colorado.
Things to see Between Grand Junction and Arches National Park
Traveling from Colorado to Utah gives you an opportunity to see some unique landscapes and impressive monuments along the way.
Our top three things to see between Grand Junction Regional Airport and Arches National Park include the Colorado National Monument, McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, and Scenic Byway U-128.
- Colorado National Monument: Colorado National Monument has amazing red rock landscapes, deep canyons, and towering sandstone monoliths. It is definitely worth at least driving through Rim Rock Drive to check out the scenery!
- McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area: McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area is approximately 123,400 acres of massive sandstone canyons, natural arches, spires, and alcoves carved into the Colorado Plateau through which runs 24 miles of the Colorado River. McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area is the perfect place to get out of the car and go for a hike through the scenic landscapes!
- Scenic Byway U-128: Instead of driving down I-70 W to get to Arches National Park, you can take Scenic Byway U-128 so that you can explore all of the sights that the river road has to offer. The Scenic Byway U-128 also offers access to multiple national parks, state parks, national monuments, scenic overlooks, restaurants, and shops along the way!
3. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Getting From Salt Lake City International Airport to Arches National Park
- Distance: Approximately 235 miles
- Drive Time: 4 hours
Airlines that Fly to Salt Lake City International Airport
Since Salt Lake City Airport is a major international airport, there are quite a few major domestic and international airlines that fly in and out of there. Some of those airlines include:
Aeromexico, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Eurowings Discover, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, and United Airlines.
Things to see Between Salt Lake City and Arches National Park
While you could fly from Salt Lake City to Canyonlands Field to avoid the 4-hour drive, you would be missing out on a ton of things to see on the drive from Salt Lake City International Airport to Arches National Park.
Some of our favorite stops along the way include Temple Square, the Natural History Museum of Utah, and the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium.
These aren’t the only things to see though, so check out our guide to an Epic Salt Lake City to Arches National Park road trip to help plan.
- Temple Square: Temple Square is one of the most popular free tourist destinations in Utah. It consists of 5 blocks of historic sites, engaging exhibits, and activities and tours!
- Natural History Museum of Utah: The Natural History Museum of Utah, located in Salt Lake City, exhibits natural history subjects with an emphasis on Utah and the Intermountain West. It’s the best stop to brush up on your local history!
- Loveland Living Planet Aquarium: The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium is the perfect stop to beat the heat of this United States Southwest drive! It currently houses 4,500 animals representing 550 species.
4. Denver International Airport (DEN)
Getting From Denver to Arches National Park
- Distance: Approximately 380 miles
- Drive Time: 6 hours
Getting From Denver to Arches National Park
Another one of the international airports on our list is Denver International Airport. Denver International Airport offers a lot of major domestic and international airline options to choose from. Those airlines include, but are not limited to:
Aeromexico, Air Canada, Air France, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant, American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and United Airlines.
Things to see Between Denver and Arches National Park
Flying into Denver International Airport also gives you the option to fly to Canyonlands Field if you so choose, but again you would be missing out on an epic road trip.
Our top three must-see stops between Denver International Airport and Arches National Park include Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre, Pearl Street Mall, and Mount Evans.
- Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre: Red Rocks Park covers 868 acres and is home to the famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre. You will definitely want to try and catch a show at the open-air amphitheater that is built alongside the towering red sandstone formations!
- Pearl Street Mall: Pearl Street Mall, in the heart of Boulder, Colorado, is a 4-block pedestrian mall. It is home to many businesses and restaurants that line the famous street. It’s the best pit stop to make if you need a bite to eat!
- Mount Evans: Mount Evans is a high-altitude Rocky Mountain peak and is surrounded by Mount Evans Wilderness. Take a detour up the paved road to the summit of Mount Evans which is as high as you can go by car in North America!
5. Las Vegas International Airport (LAS)
Getting From Las Vegas to Arches National Park
- Distance: Approximately 453 miles
- Drive Time: 6.5 hours
Airlines that Fly to Las Vegas Airport
Las Vegas International Airport is a very popular international airport that has dozens of airlines that fly in and out of it every day. Some of the airlines that fly at Las Vegas Airport include:
Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit, United Airlines, and many more.
You will also find that almost every major international airline flies to and from Las Vegas International Airport.
Things to see Between Las Vegas and Arches National Park
Driving from Las Vegas International Airport to Arches National Park allows for an unforgettable road trip! Our top 3 favorite things to see between the two are Zion National Park, Dixie National Forest, and Bryce Canyon National Park.
There is so much more to see than just those three though. You will want to check out our Epic Las Vegas to Arches National Park Road Trip so you can plan out your favorite stops to make along the way.
- Zion National Park: Zion National Park is famous for its steep red cliffs, beautiful views, and incredible trails to hike. It is a must-stop even if you only drive the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive to catch the scenery!
- Dixie National Forest: Dixie National Forest is the largest national forest in Utah at 2 million acres! It has beautiful landscapes and makes a perfect place to camp overnight.
- Bryce Canyon National Park: Bryce Canyon National Park is known for its spire-shaped rock formations and for the wildlife you can see there. The various overlooks in the park give you the best view of the sunset too!
Wrap-Up: Arches National Park Closest Airport
Each of the 5 closest airports to Arches National Park offers the opportunity to create a unique and exciting trip!
You can fly to Arches National Park directly or you can take a multi-day road trip from one of the 3 international airports. While which airport you choose to fly into will play a part in your trip planning, you really can’t go wrong with whichever route you take.
The best way to get to Arches National Park is ultimately whichever way works best for you!
Whether you fly, drive, or fly and drive, we hope this article helps you achieve your dream trip to Arches National Park!
Check out our other resources to plan your Arches National Park trip:
