Desert-bound travelers face crowded national parks this holiday weekend

MOAB, Utah — Those heading south for the Memorial Day weekend should prepare for significant crowds at Utah’s iconic desert parks, officials warned Tuesday.

Arches and Canyonlands national parks are bracing for one of their busiest weekends of the year, with visitors likely to encounter full parking lots, congested roads and long entrance lines.

All visitors to Arches National Park between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. will need a timed entry reservation, unless they have camping permits or commercial tour bookings. Reservations remain available through Recreation.gov, with some next-day tickets released at 7 p.m. daily.

“Timed entry tickets have really helped alleviate congestion once you’re inside Arches,” said Southeast Utah Group Superintendent Lena Pace. “However, we expect many Memorial Day visitors to arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon, which could increase parking lot traffic and lengthen wait times at both parks.”

While Canyonlands doesn’t require timed entry, officials caution that wait times at the popular Island in the Sky district could stretch up to two hours during peak periods.

Officials recommend bringing extra water, wearing sun protection, and maintaining flexibility with travel plans.

“Memorial Day weekend is typically our busiest weekend of the year,” Pace said. “If visitors come prepared with extra water, extra patience, and some flexibility in their plans, that can really help them have an enjoyable holiday.”

Park officials advise visitors to have payment methods, IDs, and reservation QR codes ready when reaching entrance stations. Credit cards are preferred for payment, and no restroom facilities or drinking water are available along entrance roads.

The National Park Service also reminds visitors to park only in designated spaces to avoid damaging desert vegetation and soils.

With temperatures expected to climb into the 90s across southern Utah this weekend, park rangers emphasize the importance of heat safety for all visitors.