Grand Canyon National Park offers a broader range of amenities, accessibility features, and lodging options, making it a more versatile destination. Arches National Park excels in stargazing and unique geological formations but has more limited services and can be extremely crowded. The choice depends on priorities: Grand Canyon for comprehensive services and accessibility, Arches for focused natural beauty and stargazing.
| Attribute | Arches National Park | Grand Canyon National Park |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility for visitors with disabilities | Arches National Park offers many accessible areas for visitors with mobility concerns. The scenic drive allows viewing of arches and rock formations from the road. The Visitor Center is accessible with push-button door openers, accessible parking, restrooms, and wheelchair-accessible exhibits. Some trails like a section of Windows Trail (first 100 yards) and viewpoints like Balanced Rock and Delicate Arch Lower Viewpoint are accessible. Two campsites at Devils Garden Campground are accessible. All toilets in the park are wheelchair accessible. | Grand Canyon National Park provides many accessible areas for disabled travelers, including wheelchair-accessible bathrooms, gift shops, service stations, and lodging options. Individuals with disabilities can apply for the Interagency Access Pass, a free, lifetime pass to all national parks. A Scenic Drive Accessibility Permit can be obtained, allowing disabled visitors and their companions to drive scenic roads usually closed to the public. All park shuttle buses are wheelchair accessible, but larger wheelchairs may not be accommodated. The Trail of Time is a 1.3-mile wheelchair-accessible trail. Mather and North Rim campsites offer wheelchair-accessible sites. Most Ranger Programs and Special Events are wheelchair accessible. ASL interpreters and assistive listening devices are available with advance notice. The Grand Canyon Visitor Center is fully wheelchair accessible. Most of Grand Canyon Village is accessible, except for Kolb Studio and Lookout Studio. Hopi House is accessible to wheelchairs narrower than 29 inches. The North Rim Visitor Center is accessible. There are no shuttle buses on the North Rim. |
| Availability of lodging inside the park | There are no hotels or lodging facilities within Arches National Park. Lodging is available in the nearby town of Moab, which is a few miles from the park. | Lodging options on the South Rim include El Tovar Hotel, Bright Angel Lodge & Cabins, Kachina Lodge, Thunderbird Lodge, Maswik Lodge, and Yavapai Lodge. Yavapai Lodge has pet-friendly rooms. The Grand Canyon Lodge is the only lodging inside the National Park on the North Rim. Phantom Ranch provides lodging at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Reservations should be made well in advance, up to 13 months ahead of time. |
| Camping site availability and reservation process | Devils Garden Campground is the only campground in Arches National Park, located 18 miles from the park entrance. Reservations are required for camping between March 1 and October 31. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance. From November 1 to February 28, all campsites are first-come, first-served. Reservations can be made online at Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. | Mather Campground, Desert View Campground, and Trailer Village are located on the South Rim. The North Rim Campground is located on the North Rim. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance through Recreation.gov. Mather Campground is large, with 327 campsites and is open year-round. Desert View Campground is open seasonally, from April to mid-October, and requires advanced reservations. The North Rim Campground is open seasonally, from mid-May to mid-October, and requires reservations. Trailer Village offers RV camping with full hookups and is open year-round. Reservations can be made up to 13 months in advance. Camping outside of established campgrounds requires a backcountry permit. |
| Crowd levels during peak season | Arches National Park is very busy between March and October. Summer is the park's busiest season. Expect long lines, crowded parking lots, and delays. To avoid crowds, visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon. | The South Rim is more accessible and tends to be very busy, especially during the summer. The North Rim is more remote and offers a more secluded experience. To avoid crowds, visit during the off-season (fall, winter, and spring). |
| Entrance fee cost | The entrance fee for a private vehicle is $30, which is valid for 7 days. A motorcycle fee is $25, and the per-person fee is $15. You can purchase the "America the Beautiful" pass for $80, which allows entry into any National Park for a year. | A 7-day vehicle pass costs $35. A 7-day pass for bicyclists, hikers, and pedestrians costs $20. A 7-day motorcycle pass costs $30. A Grand Canyon National Park Annual Pass costs $70. An annual pass that is honored at all federally managed land units costs $80. A lifetime pass for those 62 and older costs $80. There are several free entrance days throughout the year. |
| Hiking trail difficulty and length | Arches National Park has a variety of hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult. Easy: Balanced Rock (0.3 miles), Double Arch (0.5 miles), Sand Dune Arch (0.4 miles), and Windows Trail (1 mile). Moderate: Delicate Arch (3 miles), Tower Arch (2.5 miles), and Broken Arch (1.2 miles). Difficult: Primitive Trail (7.2 miles) and Devils Garden Trail (8 miles). | The Rim Trail is 12.7 miles point to point and is mostly paved and relatively easy. The Bright Angel Trail is 12 miles round trip to Plateau Point and is considered strenuous. The South Kaibab Trail is 7 miles one way to the Colorado River and is considered strenuous. The North Kaibab Trail is 14 miles one way to the Colorado River and is considered strenuous. The Grandview Trail is 6 miles round trip to Horseshoe Mesa and is considered strenuous. The Hermit Trail is 8.9 miles one way to Hermit Creek Campground. The Tanner Trail distance is 9 miles one way to the Colorado River and is considered strenuous. The Boucher Trail distance is 10 miles one way to Boucher Creek. The Rim-to-Rim hike is 24 miles one way and is extremely strenuous. |
| Junior Ranger program quality | Information about the Junior Ranger program quality was not found in the provided search results. | Not available |
| Pet-friendliness and restrictions | Pets are very limited at Arches. Pets are not allowed on any hiking trails, at overlooks, or in the backcountry. Pets are allowed in the campground, at pullouts along the paved scenic drives, on roads, and in parking lots, but must be leashed at all times. | Leashed pets are allowed on trails above the rim on the South Rim, in Mather Campground, Desert View Campground, Trailer Village, and throughout developed areas. On the North Rim, leashed pets are only allowed on the bridle trail. Pets are not allowed below the canyon rim, inside buildings (except pet-friendly lodging), or on park shuttle buses. Pets must be kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times. Pets cannot be left unattended. The Grand Canyon Kennel is located on the South Rim and provides boarding services. Service animals are allowed in all facilities and on all shuttle buses and rim trails. |
| Ranger-led program availability and quality | Ranger-led programs are offered regularly during the summer months. Rangers have led regular astronomy programs and special events in the park since at least 2012. | Many Interpretive Ranger Programs are wheelchair accessible. Assistive listening devices and ASL interpreters are available by reservation. Contact the park at least three weeks in advance to request an ASL interpreter. |
| Shuttle service availability and frequency | There is no shuttle service available within Arches National Park. | Free shuttle buses are available on the South Rim. Buses arrive every 15-30 minutes. All park shuttle buses are wheelchair accessible. The South Rim has multiple shuttle routes, including the Village Route, Kaibab Rim Route, Hermit Road Route, and Tusayan Route. Shuttle service on the North Rim is limited. A free shuttle takes hikers from the Grand Canyon Lodge to the North Kaibab Trailhead twice a day. The Tusayan Route runs from the town of Tusayan to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center and operates seasonally. The Hikers' Express shuttle provides early morning service from Grand Canyon Village to the South Kaibab Trailhead. |
| Stargazing opportunities and dark sky rating | Arches National Park was certified as an International Dark Sky Park in 2019. The park preserves some of the darkest night skies in the Southwest. Areas off the main park road, such as Balanced Rock Picnic Area, The Windows Section, Garden of Eden Viewpoint, and Panorama Point, are best for stargazing. | Most of the Ranger Programs and Special Events are wheelchair accessible such as the nighttime Astronomy Programs located on the South Rim. |
| Visitor center exhibits and information quality | The Arches Visitor Center is accessible and provides information, exhibits, and tactile displays. | The Grand Canyon Visitor Center is fully wheelchair accessible. Paper copies of the Accessibility Guide are available at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. The Yavapai Geology Museum is also accessible. |