Arches, Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point
National park tours from Moab, sorted by how far you walk
Thirty two guided tours run out of Moab into the parks. Every other comparison sorts them by park or by price. We sort them by the thing people are actually anxious about, which is whether they will be walking half a mile or seven.
The short answer
A national park tour from Moab means a guide drives you into Arches or Canyonlands, handles the entrance fee and the parking, and walks you to the formations. Most involve one to three miles of easy walking spread across several stops, not a hike.
Prices run from about $125 to $430 per person for a day, or $500 to $950 as a flat rate if you book privately. Longer backcountry days into the Needles and the Maze run higher and involve real hiking.
Two very different people land on this page. One is worried they have booked something too strenuous. The other is worried they will spend $150 sitting in a van. The scale below sorts every tour so both of you can jump straight to the right group.
Barely any walking
you see the parks from the vehicle and the pulloutsWorth saying clearly, because nobody else will: these are not hikes and they are not pretending to be. They are the right answer for a grandparent who cannot manage uneven ground, a family with a toddler, a cruise style schedule, or a July afternoon when walking is a bad idea anyway. The scenery in Arches is largely roadside, which is why this works better here than it would in most parks.
Arches Backcountry 4x4, half day
Adrift Adventures · 4 hrs · $155
Four wheel drive routes on the park boundary rather than the paved corridor. Youth rate $145 for ages 17 and under. No hiking at all.
Canyonlands half day 4x4
Adrift Adventures · 4.5 hrs · $155
Island in the Sky by vehicle, youth $145. The overlooks here do most of the work without you leaving the road.
Discover Moab, driving only
Moab In A Day · 8 hrs · $349
Three parks in a day with half a mile to a mile of walking total. Nine passengers maximum. Expensive per hour, but it is the only tour that covers Arches, Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point without asking anything of your knees.
Arches sunset, 3 hours
Moab In A Day · 3 hrs · $139
Minimum two guests. The shortest tour on this page, and at three hours in the best light of the day it asks very little of you.
Easy walking, several short stops
the tour most visitors actually wantThis is the category that fits most people, and it is where the bulk of the bookings sit. You get out at four or five stops, walk a quarter mile to a mile at each, and you are back in an air conditioned vehicle before the heat becomes the story. Balanced Rock, the Windows, Double Arch and a Delicate Arch viewpoint make up the standard Arches circuit.
Arches half day
Mild to Wild · 4 hrs · $114
The cheapest guided way into Arches we found. Youth $99, all ages, entrance fee and cold water included, in an air conditioned van. Morning at 8am or afternoon at 3pm, stopping at Balanced Rock, Double Arch, the Delicate Arch viewpoint, Wolfe Ranch and Sand Dune Arch. The trade is group size: up to twelve guests unless you pay for the premium version.
Arches Highlight Tour
Moab Tourism Center · 4 hrs · $149 to $159
The only listing in this tier that tells you the distance up front: roughly 1.5 miles total across Balanced Rock, the Windows loop and Double Arch. Youth $79 to $89, ages five and up, entrance fee and snacks included. Departures at 7:45am or about four hours before sunset.
Arches overview or walking tour
Moab In A Day · 4 to 5 hrs · $169 to $199
Two lengths of the same idea, minimum two guests. The five hour walking version is the one to take if you want more time on foot than in the vehicle, and it is the cheapest way to get that without committing to a full day.
Discover Moab, easy walking
Moab In A Day · 8 hrs · $349
Their most booked option. Two to three miles across Arches, Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point in one long day, capped at nine passengers. If you have exactly one day in Moab and want to see all three, this is the tour.
Arches half day 4x4 and hiking
NAVTEC Expeditions · half day · $198
A genuine four wheel drive component alongside the walking, which most tours in this tier do not have. Their Arches and Canyonlands full day at $275 adds Shafer Trail and Tower Arch and is good value for the ground it covers.
A real hike, with a vehicle to get you there
for people who want to walk, not tourThe middle ground people rarely know exists. You still get the transport, the entrance fee and the interpretation, but the day is built around a hike rather than a circuit of pullouts. This is the right tier if the phrase national park tour has been putting you off.
Private park hiking day
Clapper Adventures · half or full day · on enquiry
The only operator here building the route around your group rather than a fixed circuit. Half days run four to five hours in Arches or on nearby BLM land. Full days reach the Canyonlands backcountry, Chesler Park, Druid Arch and Elephant Canyon among them. Everything is private, so nobody is stuck with strangers, and they will pitch the distance to whoever is slowest in your party. They do not publish rates, so you will need to ring for a quote.
Arches full day with Delicate Arch hike
Adrift Adventures · 8 hrs · $271
Roughly two hours of hiking built into a full day, including the Delicate Arch trail itself rather than the viewpoint. Youth $251, minimum age seven. Worth knowing you can walk Delicate Arch free and unguided, so you are paying for the transport, the timing and the commentary.
Discover Moab, intensive hiking
Moab In A Day · 10 hrs · $429
Five to six miles across three parks in a ten hour day. The longest and most physical of the multi park options, and the clearest labelled. Nine passengers maximum.
Arches all day hiking
Moab In A Day · 7 hrs · $299
One park, seven hours, walking focused. Minimum two guests. A good middle option if three parks in a day sounds like too much driving, which it often is.
White Rim Trail, full day
NAVTEC $298 · Adrift $281 · 8 hrs
A hundred miles of four wheel drive road below the Island in the Sky rim, with short hikes worked in. Two operators run near identical days at near identical prices, so pick on departure time and vehicle rather than agonising over the difference.
Backcountry days
the Needles, the Maze, Horseshoe CanyonThese are the trips where hiring a guide stops being a convenience and starts being the only realistic way in. The Needles and the Maze districts of Canyonlands need high clearance four wheel drive, route knowledge and a full day of driving before you walk a step. The Maze in particular is one of the most remote places in the lower forty eight, and people do get into trouble out there.
- Chesler Park with NAVTEC, $348, crosses Elephant Hill, which is one of the more serious four wheel drive routes in any national park. Worth booking for the drive alone.
- Horseshoe Canyon, $398 with NAVTEC or $275 with Adrift, takes you to the Great Gallery, a panel of Barrier Canyon style rock art that many people rate as the finest in North America. Adrift lists it at roughly seven miles of walking, minimum age ten.
- Needles day trip with Adrift, $281, minimum age ten, is the cheaper way into the district if Chesler Park is booked.
- Multi day options run from about $825 for a three day White Rim camp out up to $2,650 for a five day Maze and Cataract Canyon combination that finishes on the river.
These days are long, hot and remote, and the driving is a substantial part of them. Several involve two or more hours in a vehicle on rough road each way before any walking. If that sounds like a bad day rather than an adventure, tier two or three will make you happier and save you money.
Everything in one place
All 32 tours, side by side
Sorted by walking distance, lightest first. Prices are per person unless the entry says flat rate, and every figure below came off the operator's own website in August 2026.
| Tour | Walking | Park | Length | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arches sunsetMoab In A Day | Minimal | Arches | 3 hrs | $139 | Minimum two guests. Cheapest guided entry to the park |
| Backcountry 4x4 half dayAdrift Adventures | None | Arches | 4 hrs | $155youth $145 | Four wheel drive, no hiking |
| Canyonlands half dayAdrift Adventures | None | Island in the Sky | 4.5 hrs | $155youth $145 | Overlook focused |
| Arches & Canyonlands full dayAdrift Adventures | None | Both parks | 8 hrs | $275youth $265 | Long day, minimal walking |
| Discover Moab, driving onlyMoab In A Day | 0.5 to 1 mi | Three parks | 8 hrs | $349 | Nine passengers max. Best mobility friendly option |
| Arches Highlight TourMoab Tourism Center | 1.5 mi | Arches | 4 hrs | $149 to $159youth $79 to $89 | Ages 5 up. Publishes exact walking distance |
| Arches overviewMoab In A Day | Easy | Arches | 4 hrs | $169 | Minimum two guests |
| Arches half dayMild to Wild | 1 to 2 mi | Arches | 4 hrs | $114youth $99 | Cheapest on this page. All ages, up to 12 guests |
| Arches half day premiumMild to Wild | 1 to 2 mi | Arches | 4 hrs | $199 | Same route, capped at 6 guests instead of 12 |
| Arches walking tourMoab In A Day | Easy | Arches | 5 hrs | $199 | Minimum two guests |
| Arches half day 4x4NAVTEC Expeditions | Some | Arches | Half day | $198 | Genuine four wheel drive component |
| Canyonlands half dayNAVTEC Expeditions | Some | Island in the Sky | Half day | $198 | 4x4 and hiking combination |
| Arches & CanyonlandsNAVTEC Expeditions | Some | Both parks | 1 day | $275 | Shafer Trail and Tower Arch, picnic lunch |
| Discover Moab, easy walkingMoab In A Day | 2 to 3 mi | Three parks | 8 hrs | $349 | Their most booked tour. Nine passengers max |
| Discover Moab, 4x4 off roadMoab In A Day | 2 to 3 mi | Three parks | 9 hrs | $399 | Adds off road driving to the same circuit |
| Arches NP privateMoab Lux Tours | Overlooks | Arches | 3 to 4 hrs | From $650flat, up to 3 | Limo version $750 for up to 7 |
| Island in the Sky privateMoab Lux Tours | Overlooks | Canyonlands | 3.5 to 4 hrs | From $650flat, up to 3 | Early or late departures only |
| Arches sunset privateWild West Voyages | Minimal | Arches | 3 hrs | $498flat, up to 4 | Additional guests about $78 each, 14 max |
| Arches morning privateWild West Voyages | Your choice | Arches | 4.5 hrs | $631flat, up to 4 | Sightseeing or hiking, you decide on the day |
| Arches full day privateWild West Voyages | Your choice | Arches | 8 hrs | $881flat, up to 4 | Picnic lunch, entrance fees included |
| Arches & Canyonlands privateWild West Voyages | Sightseeing | Both parks | 8 hrs | $934flat, up to 4 | Additional guests about $140 each |
| Private park half dayClapper Adventures | Your call | Arches, BLM | 4 to 5 hrs | On enquiry | Private, route built around your group |
| Private park full dayClapper Adventures | Your call | Canyonlands backcountry | Full day | On enquiry | Chesler Park, Druid Arch, Elephant Canyon |
| Arches full day with Delicate ArchAdrift Adventures | ~2 hrs hiking | Arches | 8 hrs | $271youth $251 | Minimum age 7. The trail itself, not the viewpoint |
| Arches all day hikingMoab In A Day | Substantial | Arches | 7 hrs | $299 | One park, walking focused |
| White Rim Trail full dayNAVTEC Expeditions | Short hikes | Island in the Sky | 1 day | $298 | 100 miles below the rim |
| White Rim Trail full dayAdrift Adventures | Optional | Island in the Sky | 8 hrs | $281youth $271 | Near identical to the NAVTEC day |
| Discover Moab, intensive hikingMoab In A Day | 5 to 6 mi | Three parks | 10 hrs | $429 | The most physical multi park day available |
| Needles day tripAdrift Adventures | Included | Needles district | 8 hrs | $281youth $271 | Minimum age 10 |
| Chesler ParkNAVTEC Expeditions | Full day | Needles district | 1 day | $348 | Crosses Elephant Hill, a serious 4x4 route |
| Horse CanyonNAVTEC Expeditions | Full day | Needles district | 1 day | $348 | 4x4 and hiking combination |
| Horseshoe CanyonNAVTEC $398 · Adrift $275 | ~7 mi | Maze district | 1 day | $275 to $398 | The Great Gallery rock art. Adrift minimum age 10 |
Walking distances are as published by each operator where they state one, and estimated from the itinerary where they do not. We mark estimates as ranges rather than figures. Prices were taken from operator websites in August 2026, exclude tax unless noted, and change seasonally. Confirm current rates and what is included before you book.
Beyond the day tours, NAVTEC and Adrift both run camping trips into the backcountry: three day White Rim from about $825, three day Needles from about $895, four day Maze from about $1,250, and five day Maze or Needles combinations with Cataract Canyon rafting from about $1,495 to $2,650. If a full day already appeals, these are the better value per day.
The pricing trap
Private or shared, and when the maths flips
This catches people out, so it is worth ten seconds of arithmetic before you book.
Shared, priced per person
Cheaper for one or two
Moab Tourism Center, Adrift, NAVTEC and Moab In A Day mostly work this way. Two people on the Moab Tourism Center Arches tour pay about $300 total. Four people pay about $600. You are with strangers, on a fixed route and a fixed clock.
Private, priced per group
Cheaper from about four people
Wild West Voyages, Moab Lux Tours and Clapper Adventures price the vehicle or the guide, not the seat. A Wild West Voyages morning tour is about $631 whether one person books or four, so the per person cost falls from $631 to about $158. Add a fifth for roughly $95.
Below four people, shared is almost always cheaper. At four or more, run the numbers on a private tour, because you often get a better vehicle, your own pace and the ability to change the plan mid morning for close to the same money. Families of five or six should always check both.
Choosing
Arches, Canyonlands, or both in a day
Arches
Pick this if you have one day
Compact, dramatic, and most of it is close to the road. It delivers more per hour than anywhere else near Moab, and it is the better choice with children or limited mobility. It is also the busiest, so early or late departures are worth paying for.
Canyonlands, Island in the Sky
Pick this for scale
Enormous views rather than close up formations. Half an hour further from town. Fewer people than Arches, and the Shafer Trail and White Rim give it a four wheel drive dimension Arches does not have.
Canyonlands, the Needles
Pick this to actually hike
Ninety minutes south of Moab and a different world. Chesler Park and Elephant Hill are the draws. Realistically a full day, and best suited to people for whom walking is the point of the day.
All three in a day
Pick this if it is your only day
Moab In A Day builds their whole business around Arches, Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point in eight to ten hours. It works, but it is a lot of vehicle time. If you have two days, splitting them is a better trip.
Arches ended its timed entry reservation requirement this year, so you can enter any time during operating hours with a valid pass and no advance booking. Queues at the entrance station and full car parks are still very real in peak season, which is one of the better arguments for letting someone else drive.
Choosing
A tour, or your own car
Both work, and which suits you depends less on the park than on how you want the day to go. Here is what each one gives you.
Take the tour
What the fee buys
- You have no vehicle, or no vehicle suited to the road you want
- One day in Moab, and you would rather spend it looking than navigating
- Someone in the group cannot manage long walks and you want them included properly
- The Needles, the Maze or Horseshoe Canyon, where a guide is close to essential
- Summer, and you would rather somebody else managed the timing and the water
- You want to understand what you are looking at rather than just photograph it
- Parking and entrance fees handled, which matters more now that trailheads fill
- You would simply rather be driven. That is a complete reason on its own
Drive yourself
What that gives you
- A car, a couple of days, and you enjoy the planning
- Delicate Arch and Devils Garden as your priorities, both signed and straightforward
- Lower cost, since a park pass is a fraction of a tour seat
- No fixed schedule and no group pace to keep up with
If that is you, our sister site covers all 64 trails around Moab with distances, parking notes and what the trail is like in August.
- We do not run these tours
- This site compares operators. We do not own vehicles, employ guides or sell tickets, and you book direct with each company at their own rates. Full disclosure.
- Written from the ground
- By a working Moab guide with a Wilderness First Responder certification. More about who writes this.
- Prices came from the operators
- Every figure on this page was taken from the company's own website, not a booking marketplace, and dated so you know how fresh it is.
Before you book
Common questions
How much walking is on a national park tour from Moab?
It varies enormously, which is why this page sorts by it. Driving focused tours involve half a mile to a mile. The standard Arches circuit is one to two miles across four or five short stops. Hiking focused days run three to six miles, and backcountry days into Horseshoe Canyon reach about seven. Every tour on this page is grouped by which of those four bands it falls into.
Do national park tours from Moab include the entrance fee?
Usually, and it is worth confirming since it is a meaningful part of the cost. Moab Tourism Center and Wild West Voyages both state that park entrance fees are included in their published rates. Ask when you book if the listing does not say.
What is the minimum age for a Moab national park tour?
Five on the Moab Tourism Center Arches tours. Seven on the Adrift full day with the Delicate Arch hike. Ten on the Needles and Horseshoe Canyon days. Several private operators set no published minimum and will build the day around your group, which is usually the better route with young children.
Do I need a timed entry reservation for Arches National Park in 2026?
No. The National Park Service ended the timed entry requirement for 2026, so you may enter any time during operating hours with a valid entrance pass. Reservations are still needed for Devils Garden Campground and for both ranger led and self guided Fiery Furnace hikes.
Is a private national park tour worth the extra money?
From about four people, often yes, because private operators price the vehicle rather than the seat. A private morning tour at roughly $631 for up to four works out near the shared per person rate while giving you your own pace and route. Below four people, shared tours are almost always cheaper.
Can I see Arches and Canyonlands in one day?
Yes, and several operators build exactly that day, including versions that add Dead Horse Point. It involves a lot of vehicle time and you will see highlights rather than explore. If you have two days, splitting them makes a better trip. If you have one, it is a reasonable way to spend it.
What should I bring on a Moab national park tour?
More water than you expect, closed toe shoes with grip, a brimmed hat and real sunscreen. Most operators provide water and some provide snacks or a picnic lunch, but check rather than assume. In summer, long sleeves in light fabric beat bare skin.
What happens to a Moab park tour if the weather turns?
Park tours run in most conditions since they are largely vehicle based. The exception is late summer, when monsoon storms can close backcountry four wheel drive routes at short notice. Ask about the cancellation and rebooking policy when you book a backcountry day, because that is the one most likely to be affected.
Next step
Start from what constrains you
Most people book the wrong tour because they start from the park rather than from their own limits. Pick the constraint that matters most and work outward from there.
Related reading: canyoneering trips if you want something more technical, the best time to visit Moab if your dates are flexible, what to bring before you pack, and desert heat safety if you are travelling between June and August. Our Fiery Furnace guide covers the one part of Arches no commercial operator can take you into.
Operator details and prices on this page were taken from each company's own website in August 2026 and exclude tax unless stated. Tours, rates and park rules change seasonally, so confirm directly with the operator before planning around anything here. We do not sell these tours and receive nothing from the links above.