Red rock national parks loop
This is leg 3 of 4.
Travel leg · Utah Mighty Five
Capitol Reef to Arches
Capitol Reef and Arches sit about 153 km (95 mi) apart in a straight line, with Arches to the east. It is leg 3 of 4 on our Utah Mighty Five itinerary, an 8-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 153 km · 95 mi
- Est. road distance
- 184–215 km
- Est. drive time
- 2 h – 3 h 15 min
- Direction
- Heading east
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Utah Mighty Five itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 184–215 km (114–133 mi) of road and 2 h – 3 h 15 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
You will need a car, and most travelers fly into Las Vegas or Salt Lake City and drive the loop. Distances between parks are real, and services thin out in places. Check road, weather and park conditions before each leg and keep the tank filled.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends, plus 2 places near the straight-line path.
When you arrive in Arches
Spend 1–2 days from Moab: Delicate Arch at sunset, Windows and Devils Garden, then dinner on Main Street.
Arches Visitor Center
Park entrance with exhibits and ranger trail updates.
Park Avenue Trail
Short walk between tall fins that look like a city skyline.
Delicate Arch Trail
Three-mile round trip over slickrock to Utah's most famous arch.
Milt's Stop & Eat
Moab burger stand since 1954 with hand-cut fries and milkshakes.
Moab Brewery
Moab's original brewpub with house beers and a big menu.
Balanced Rock
A 128-ft rock pinnacle with a big boulder on top, with a short loop trail around it.
Near the way
These places from our other itineraries sit within about 23 km of the straight line between Capitol Reef and Arches. The road may not pass them directly, so check how far off your route they are.
Upheaval Dome
Short hike to a strange crater whose origin (salt dome or meteor) is still debated.
Island in the Sky Visitor Center
Info, maps and ranger talks on the mesa-top district.
Before you leave Capitol Reef
Give it a full day: Fruita's orchards and petroglyphs, the Scenic Drive, and one short canyon hike, then dinner in Torrey.
On this curated route
Where Capitol Reef → Arches sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Arches to Capitol Reef is the same 153 km in a straight line, heading west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in July, when Arches averages highs 2°C warmer than Capitol Reef.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capitol Reef high | 6° | 7° | 12° | 17° | 23° | 31° | 34° | 32° | 27° | 19° | 11° | 5° |
| Arches high | 6° | 8° | 14° | 19° | 25° | 33° | 36° | 33° | 29° | 20° | 12° | 6° |
| Capitol Reef rain | 19 | 18 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 11 | 29 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 18 | 20 |
| Arches rain | 23 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 12 | 31 | 31 | 34 | 31 | 21 | 27 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Arches month guides.
Capitol Reef to Arches: questions travelers ask
How far is Capitol Reef from Arches?
Capitol Reef is about 153 km (95 mi) from Arches in a straight line, with Arches to the east. By road, we estimate 184–215 km (114–133 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Capitol Reef to Arches?
An estimated 2 h – 3 h 15 min, assuming 184–215 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
What is there to see between Capitol Reef and Arches?
Near the straight-line path we have 2 places from our curated guides, including Upheaval Dome (Canyonlands), Island in the Sky Visitor Center (Canyonlands). The road may not pass them directly, so check the detour.
Which itineraries include the trip from Capitol Reef to Arches?
Our Utah Mighty Five itinerary includes this leg. Utah Mighty Five runs about 8 days across 5 stops, best in Mar – May.
Onward from Arches
- Arches to Canyonlands 52 km
Getting to Capitol Reef
- Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef 112 km
Guides for both ends
- Capitol Reef travel guide
- Capitol Reef weather best time to visit
- Arches travel guide
- Arches weather best time to visit
Arches by month
Plan Capitol Reef → Arches with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.