National park tours
Mild to Wild, and the cheapest way into Arches with a guide
The lowest published price for a guided Arches half day in Moab, and the only operator in town who sells the same trip twice at two different group sizes so you can see exactly what a smaller group costs.
The short answer
Best for: visitors on a budget, and anyone who wants to see the price of a smaller group stated plainly rather than buried.
The Arches half day is $114 adult and $99 youth with up to twelve guests. The same route capped at six is $199. Park entry is included, which several competitors leave off.
The numbers
The same trip, sold two ways
| Trip | Group size | Adult | Youth | Park entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arches half day | Up to 12 | $114 | $99 | Included |
| Arches half day, premium | Capped at 6 | $199 | Ask | Included |
Per person as published by the operator, checked September 2026, before tax and gratuity.
Nobody else in Moab does this. Every other operator either runs one group size or quotes privately, which leaves you guessing what the difference is worth. Here it is $85 per person, stated up front.
Arches charges $30 per vehicle at the gate. When an operator includes entry, that cost is inside the ticket price rather than added on the morning. Not every tour company does this, so it is worth asking when you compare two similar looking prices.
The comparison
What the extra $85 actually buys
Group size changes a park tour more than price does, and this is the clearest place in Moab to see the trade priced.
- Standard
- 12 guests$114 adult
- Premium
- 6 guests$199
- The difference
- $85per person
- Against private
- From about $631per vehicle, elsewhere
On a quiet March morning at the Windows, twelve people and six people are not very different. On a busy morning in May they are two different mornings: loading and unloading a full van at each stop takes real time, and a guide answering twelve people's questions is answering yours less often.
The sum that matters is your group size. Four people paying the standard rate is $456. Four people paying the premium rate is $796, and at that point a private vehicle from another operator, which starts around $631 for up to four, is worth pricing too.
Fit
Who this suits
Families on a budget
The clearest case
A published youth rate of $99 and park entry included makes this the cheapest guided way to see Arches as a family. Four people for $426 including entry is hard to beat anywhere in town.
First visit, limited time
A half day
If Arches is one item on a longer holiday rather than the whole point of it, a half day covers the headline stops and leaves the afternoon free.
Not for
Walkers
This is a vehicle based highlights tour, not a hiking trip. If you came to be on your feet, the guided hiking pages will serve you better.
Before you book
What to ask when you ring
- What is the rate at our group size, and what changes if somebody drops out.
- What is included. Transport, gear, park entry, meals, tax and gratuity all vary.
- How much walking is there on our date, in miles rather than in adjectives.
- How many guests are already booked, if the trip is shared.
- What is the cancellation window, and is a deposit required.
The specific question here is which version you are booking. The $114 and $199 trips cover the same ground, so confirm the group size on your booking rather than assuming, particularly if you booked through a third party site where the two can look similar.
We do not run trips, own gear or employ guides, and no operator pays to appear here or to appear higher. Details below are from each company's own published material, checked September 2026. Full disclosure.
Common questions
Questions
How much does a Mild to Wild Arches tour cost?
$114 per adult and $99 per youth for the half day with up to twelve guests, or $199 per person for the same route capped at six. Park entry is included in both. Rates are before tax and gratuity.
Is park entry included with Mild to Wild?
Yes, on the Arches half day. Arches charges $30 per vehicle at the gate, so an included entry fee is worth factoring in when you compare two similar looking tour prices.
What is the difference between the $114 and $199 Arches tours?
Group size. The $114 trip carries up to twelve guests and the $199 trip is capped at six. The route is the same. On a busy morning the smaller group moves faster between stops and the guide's attention is split fewer ways.
Does Mild to Wild have a child rate?
Yes. The Arches half day is published at $99 per youth against $114 per adult. Confirm the youth age band when you book, since it varies between operators in Moab.
Is Mild to Wild a hiking tour?
No. It is a vehicle based highlights tour of Arches with short walks at stops. If you want a day built around trails, the guided hiking and private hiking pages cover operators who do that instead.
Next step
Compare the alternatives
Prices and inclusions from the operator's own published material, checked September 2026. Rates change seasonally.