how to tour monument valley

How To Visit Monument Valley in 2024: Your Ultimate Guide

Written By: The Planet D

United States

Updated On: June 11, 2024

Monument Valley just hits differently. The red-sand desert floor stretches over 92,000 acres across the Utah-Arizona border, dotted with sandstone buttes and dirt roads. This region is best known for Monument Valley Tribal Park – a once frequent filming location for old Western movies. You’ve already seen the valley on your TV screen. It has featured as a backdrop for all the John Wayne films, plus classics like Forrest Gump. But there is more to the valley than just good looks. You can visit attractions like the Navajo Shadehouse Museum and enjoy incredible hiking trails.

Researching Monument Valley is so much fun. It is one of the most famous sections of any  Arizona road trip  and one of the leading  US road trips . Between the red-sand scenery and Hollywood-worthy scenic drive, Monument Valley has wiggled its way onto millions of bucket lists.

Table of Contents

How to Visit Monument Valley

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know in order to have a fantastic visit. Get ready for a thorough ‘how to’ guide; by the end of this article, you’ll be well-equipped and raring to go. We’ll teach you all about the main attractions in the valley, like Elephant Butte and the Wildcat Trail. But we’ll also provide all the logistics you need, like how to get there and when is best to visit. One of the best parts about Monument Valley is its location, so skip to the end if you’d like some insights into combining your trip with other memorable attractions, like the Grand Canyon.

Are you ready? Here’s what you need to know about visiting the valley.

What is Monument Valley? A Quick Introduction

So, what is Monument Valley? Well, this 92,000-acre region is a particularly beautiful area of red-sand desert. The valley sits on the border between Utah and Arizona, with land in both states. It is most known as Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, which has a beautiful collection of sandstone buttes that attracted Hollywood’s attention. Chances are, you’ve seen Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, John Wayne movies, or the famous ‘Run Forrest run’ scene in Forrest Gump.

You can drive through the valley on the 17-mile Valley Drive, a year-round accessible tarmacked highway. During your visit, you may need an off-road vehicle to tackle a dirt road or two.

The valley is full of red rock formations, and you can book experiences like  guided horseback tours . You can also embark on hikes to overlook points like John Ford’s Point or take guided hiking tours with a Navajo guide to peaks like Totem Pole or the West and East Mittens. Most attractions are off the main Valley Drive, and there are plenty of designated pull-in places to admire views of specific rock formations. Or you can stop by the Monument Valley Visitor Center and enquire about guided tour options.

How to Get to Monument Valley

So, how do you get to Monument Valley? The easiest way is to fly into one of the major cities in Arizona or Utah, renting a car to road trip your way to this remote valley.

Las Vegas and Salt Lake City are the two most famed international airports and around a 7-hour drive from the valley. Flagstaff is another excellent airport to fly into, only a 3-hour drive away and ideally located to combine Monument Valley with the Grand Canyon. You can book domestic or international flights to one of the airports, rent a car, and drive the remainder of the way to Monument Valley.

Alternatively, you could catch an Amtrak train to Salt Lake City or Las Vegas if traveling from within the United States. This would cut unnecessary flights and provide more adventurous, slow travel. You could then rent a car for the remainder of the journey.

Reading this, you can spot the recurring factor – car hire. You must travel with someone with a license if you can’t rent or bring a car yourself. The valley is one of the most remote places to visit in the US. And you’ll need to drive if you want to see it independently. You can check the best prices here on our favorite site.

With that said, there is a caveat slash loophole to this. If driving  really  isn’t an option, you could book a guided tour of Monument Valley. These tours are more expensive, and you’ll be limited in free time, but they are the perfect solution for those without licenses. You can book  Monument Valley day tours from Flagstaff  and from  Sedona . Budget around $250-300 for a group tour, including transfers, and get ready to kick your feet back with a guided tour experience.

In summary, your options to get to the valley are as follows:

• If you are short on time and want cheap flights , Fly to Salt Lake City or Las Vegas and then rent a car to drive 7 hours to Monument Valley.
• If you are short on time,  Fly to Flagstaff and then rent a car to drive 3 hours to Monument Valley.
• If you have plenty of time and want to avoid flying:  Travel by Amtrak to Las Vegas, Grand Junction, or Salt Lake City and then hire a car to drive to Monument Valley in 4.5-7 hours.
• If you aren’t able to hire a car,  Fly into Flagstaff and stay there or in Sedona. You can then book a guided tour to Monument Valley on a day trip for between $250 and $300.

Best Things to do in Monument Valley

The sheer scale of things to do in Monument Valley is awe-inspiring. It is far from just a place to drive through and passively gaze at the scenery, although we won’t knock road-tripping its 17-mile Valley Drive. Monument Valley has a wow factor that inspires you to get involved with outdoor activities, whether hiking to buttes or horse riding through Monument Valley Tribal Park.

In this section, we’ll help you embrace all the excitement that Monument Valley offers. Get ready for natural attractions, trails, and sightseeing opportunities. These are the very best things to do in the incredible valley.

1. Experience Monument Valley Tribal Park on Horseback

One of the best ways to experience Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is undoubtedly on horseback. You can drive the loop road, but horses go where vehicles can’t or aren’t permitted. You can book a  2-hour Monument Valley tour by horseback , getting up close to the buttes. We did this and absolutely loved it. We do recommend you have a little horseback experience, though.

2. Take a Jeep Tour

A great way to experience the valley is via jeep. Book a jeep tour  across the desert floor and past significant sights like the West Mitten butte. Most tours last 1.5 hours to 3 hours. And you’ll get a hassle-free driving experience with narrated sightseeing. This is a great option if you are traveling with the family.

3. Navajo Shadehouse Museum

Navajo Shadehouse Museum is a cultural attraction in Monument Valley worth visiting. It explains all the culture, traditions, beliefs, and history of the Navajo tribe, including things like how Navajo medicine men pray and what hogan homes look like. While the museum is small, it provides incredible insight into the Navajo Nation. And since the valley is situated on Navajo Tribal park land, it is a must-have addition to your itinerary.

4. Visit West, East, and Merrick Butte

If you want stunning rock formations, West, East, and Merrick Butte are the best formations to see up close. This iconic trio of buttes juts up from the valley floor in beautiful red sandstone. The East and West Buttes stand over 6,000 feet above sea level and are a dramatic sight to see up close. It is illegal to climb the formations, but you can walk around their bases.

5. Drive Monument Valley Drive with Photo Stops

We can’t mention the beautiful Monument Valley Drive. In 17 miles of highway, you embrace some of Monument Valley’s iconic landscapes and rock formations. This scenic drive passes Forrest Gump Point, a.k .a. the famous Forrest Gump Highway. The massive sandstone buttes also appeared in Western movies like the Wayne films. It’s easily one of the most famous scenic drives in the US. Allow 3-4 hours to complete the drive, depending on how long you want at each stop.

6. Elephant Butte

This beautiful butte is famously shaped like an elephant and is an excellent option if you want to see the rock formations outside of the standard trio. Again, climbing is illegal, but you can walk to its base and admire the natural landmark. Visit just before sunset for the best views.

7. John Ford’s Point

This is the money shot overlook. It’s named John Ford’s Point after the American producer and director John Ford. Ford directed tons of movies, including several featuring John Wayne. John Ford featured this viewpoint in several old American West movies. You’ll recognize the sweeping views of the buttes and desert landscape.

8. Wildcat Trail

Wildcat Trail is an approximately 4-mile loop hike that crams in the best of Monument Valley’s views on foot. It takes around 2 to 3 hours and is rated as moderate difficulty due to sections with thick sand. You can easily navigate the trail independently if you have a basic fitness level. Your efforts will be rewarded with up-close views of the famed Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte.

Set off early in the day to avoid the harsh heat in spring and summer. Make sure to bring a camera, too, as Wildcat Trail is one of Monument Valley’s best things to do.

9. Climb Mexican Hat

While climbing isn’t allowed within the valley, you can skip minutes over the border to climb Mexican Hat. This bizarre-looking sandstone rock looks like a tower with a sombrero on top – hence its name. Mexican Hat is popular amongst experienced climbers. If you are experienced enough to tackle medium challenging climbs confidently, you can take on the Bandito Route, a bolted, clip-up route.

If you aren’t a climber, you can still visit to see the rock up close. Plus, you can watch as others tackle the unique rock face.

10. North Window Overlook

Finally, there’s North Window Overlook to visit in the valley. This is brilliant if you want a viewpoint experience in the valley. North Window Overlook offers an alternative view of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park to John Ford’s Point. It is located just minutes from the Monument Valley Visitor Center and is perfect to experience at sunrise or sunset.

When to Visit Monument Valley

It goes without saying that summer is a more challenging time to visit the valley. The sky-high temperatures can reach 94 Fahrenheit in July and August, which isn’t conducive to desert hikes or long drives. Furthermore, summer also means floods of crowds. It is the busiest time of year to visit the valley. So if you are considering visiting in summer, we recommend shifting to the start or end of the season. It is mostly crowded and hot, with fewer parking spaces and shared viewpoints.

So, if not summer, when should you visit the valley? Ideally, you should visit in the fall or spring. Winter can get a little too cold, dropping to 25 Fahrenheit sometimes, so fall and spring are a great compromise. September to early November and March to May are the best periods to experience the valley. You’ll have mild temperatures in the upper 70s Fahrenheit and fewer crowds – a win-win.

Keep in mind what time of day you enter the valley, too. Visiting in the shoulder seasons like fall and spring helps to reduce the crowds. But you can also be tactical with what time of day you visit. Early morning is best if you want to spend a whole day in the park, heading to the most popular sites first. Meanwhile, if you wish to visit only a few sites, late afternoon is a good time to dodge the worst of the crowds.

Of course, choosing accommodation in the valley itself will help you get ahead of the crowds. You’ll also get to tick off sunrise and sunset viewpoints from the comfort of your own home away from home, especially at places like The View Hotel and Campground.

Where to Stay in Monument Valley And Surrounding Area

Where to stay in and around Monument Valley is a fabulous question. There is one important thing to note, though. There are minimal accommodation options inside the park itself. You’ll have to book in advance to stay inside the park boundaries. There are also more B&B or camping-style accommodation options within the valley.

Fortunately, there are many more options for those staying just outside the park boundaries. The small town of Kayenta near the south entrance has multiple inns, and the town of Bluff near the north entrance also has plenty of accommodation choices.

Staying in Monument Valley

Staying within Monument Valley’s park boundaries requires pre-planning and advance booking, but it’s definitely still possible. If you want to make your experience even more unique, snagging those sought-after accommodation reservations is well worth it. You could be bathing in an infinity pool overlooking a beautiful red rock formation or camping in a traditional tipi village. Let’s check out the top options for staying within the valley.

Goulding’s Lodge

Goulding’s Lodge  is a gorgeous property within Monument Valley and easily one of the leading places to stay. Get your reservations in quick. Guests enjoy an indoor pool and a terrace – from which you can actually see the buttes of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. It is a beautiful place to stay and enjoy scenic sunsets and sunrises.

Monument Valley Tipi Village

Monument Valley Tipi Village  is a beautiful accommodation choice for experiencing traditional tipi and hogan stays in Monument Valley. The village is run as part of the Navajo Nation and is a brilliant way to invest in the local community.

The View Campground/The View Hotel

The View Campground and View Hotel  are two adjoining properties in the middle of the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park – the most scenic section of the valley with the dramatic butte scenery. Each guest room in the hotel has a balcony to enjoy private sunrise and sunset views over the Mitte buttes. And you can also enquire about camping experiences in traditional tipis.

Staying Outside Monument Valley

As we explained, the best places to stay outside Monument Valley are Kayenta and Bluff. There’s also Mexican Hat, a tiny census-designated place right at the north entrance with a selection of hotels. Still, we wouldn’t recommend staying here as it lacks facilities.

This section will look at the best places to stay in Kayenta for inn-style accommodation and a quiet vibe. Then we’ll look at the best places to stay in more luxurious and touristy Bluff.

Kayenta is the smaller, quieter option of the two towns. It is located near the south entrance of Arizona. It is a better option for those wanting to go on day trips to Arizona attractions like the Grand Canyon or Navajo National Monument. Kayenta has several town facilities, like Amigo Cafe, the Kayenta Recreation Park, and primarily 3-4-star inns.

Wetherill Inn

Wetherill Inn  is a modest 2-star property ideal for anyone looking for budget-friendly accommodation near Monument Valley. It does have its comfortable perks, though, including an indoor heated pool and a continental breakfast.

Hampton Inn Kayenta

Hampton Inn Kayenta  is a 3-star property, best for those wanting a more mid-range to luxury option. It is a modern property with a tasteful desert-color palette that’s perfect given the reason for your stay. It has an onsite restaurant, which is convenient after a long day in Monument Valley, and a gym and outdoor pool.

Bluff is slightly bigger and best for those who want a busier base while visiting the valley. It has more luxurious places, like Bluff Dwellings Resort and Spa. Bluff also has a few attractions, like the Twin Rocks Trading Post, the Bluff Great House Museum, and the Sand Island Petroglyphs. It is located in Utah, near the north entrance to Monument Valley.

La Posada Pintada

La Posada Pintada  is first up. This 3-star property is beautiful, with traditional rooms, log cabin features and views over the surrounding red rock scenery. A daily continental breakfast is included in your booking rate. Overall, it is ideal for those with a mid-range budget.

Desert Rose Resort & Cabins

Desert Rose Resort & Cabins  is as luxurious as it comes. The property has a deluxe indoor pool, an onsite business center, and thoughtfully decorated rooms featuring traditional stone and wood details. You have all the Bluff facilities on your doorstep and a base where you can rejuvenate between sightseeing in Monument Valley.

Bluff Dwellings Resort & Spa

Bluff Dwellings  is another gem in Bluff. The resort has absolutely glowing reviews and a stunning mixture of rooms and suites. The resort is set within a section of rock formations, giving it a remote appeal despite its central Bluff location. As if that wasn’t enough, you also get an onsite pool, gym, and hot tub. Plus, there is an onsite restaurant for those days when you need a quick meal.

Excursions Near Monument Valley

One of the most incredible things about visiting Monument Valley is how perfectly it combines with other bucket list experiences in Utah and Arizona. As you know, the valley is situated on the Utah-Arizona border, meaning it has almost unbridled access to some of the state’s most sought-after destinations and excursions.

You could be trekking through Canyonlands or snapping photos in Arches National Park. You could head south to spend a few days around the Grand Canyon and Sedona. Or you could take longer, multi-day detours through Utah to visit Las Vegas. There are tons of excursions and worthy destinations near Monument Valley.

In this section, we’ll introduce you to the best of these. Here are the top ten excursions – and multi-day detours – you should combine with a visit to Monument Valley.

1. Goosenecks State Park

Goosenecks State Park is a beautiful park just north of the valley. The San Juan River splits the park and contains over 300 million years of geology. Goosenecks is a great day trip if you want to spend a day admiring geological attractions and canyon river views. Pick a hike from the multiple trail options. You can even camp there overnight if you wish.

2. Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands National Park is one of the leading national parks in the US, with some  brilliant hiking trails , including the route to Druid Arch and Lavender Point. You can admire plenty of viewpoints. There’s the stunning Needles District and Green River Overlook. Canyonlands National Park is split into four main zones, including the Island in the Sky mesa.

The national park is only a 3-hour drive from the center of Monument Valley. It is best experienced at sunset when the red rock scenery is even more beautiful.

3. Dead Horse State Park

Dead Horse State Park is just over a 2-hour from Bluff, near the valley’s north entrance. This state park is famous for its desert landscape and seriously stunning canyon scenery. While it is adjoined to Canyonlands, it offers a much more intimate experience, with fewer trails and less than 5,400 acres compared to nearly 340,000 acres.

If you want a more bitesize chunk, Dead Horse State Park is the perfect place to experience similar landscapes without the scale of Canyonlands.

4. Grand Canyon

Who doesn’t want to see the Grand Canyon ? The canyon is a great experience to add to your Monument Valley itinerary. You can visit the canyon in a single day from Monument Valley, taking 4 hours to reach one way. Or you can fly into Flagstaff and spend a few days visiting the canyon and its surrounding attractions before driving to Monument Valley. Either way, you can combine the two.

5. Visit the Four Corners Monument

This monument is extraordinary, marking the point where all four states – Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado – all converge. The Four Corners Monument is located in the Navajo Nation and has its own visitor center. If you want a novelty experience, you can’t beat this monument. After all, you can say you stood in all four states at once.

It takes around an hour to reach Bluff, making it one of the most accessible self-guided excursions from the valley.

6. Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon is a brilliant excursion to take from Monument Valley. Once you’ve spent a couple of days exploring the valley, you can drive under 2 hours to Antelope Canyon – the famous canyon that looks like it has rock waves in its walls.

As the canyon is sacred in Navajo culture, it is vital to book through a company offering a Navajo guide for a guided tour.

7. Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park is a brilliant excursion from the valley. It is most known for its abundance of Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings, most famously Cliff Palace. A visit to Mesa Verde is ideal for expanding your knowledge of Puebloan history after visiting the Navajo Nation. You can quickly drive to Mesa Verde National Park from Bluff, which takes around 1.5 hours. It is one of  Colorado’s best national parks  and worth the detour.

8. Arches National Park

Arches National Park is a must if you are visiting Monument Valley. It is just too close by to miss out on. The park is named after its dozens of natural arches and is one of Utah’s most beautiful places to visit . It is just under a 2-hour drive from Bluff, near the valley’s north entrance. And you can enjoy  stunning hikes  to see the natural landmarks.

Look into national park passes for multiple parks if you’d like to combine a few of the national parks near Monument Valley.

9. Canyon de Chelly National Monument

This National Monument is one of the best areas of natural beauty within the Navajo Nation. And as a bonus, it is just over an hour’s drive from Kayenta. You can take guided tours, learn about sacred sites, and visit a cliff dwelling and petroglyphs.

10. Horseshoe Bend

Horseshoe Bend is another leading attraction and excursion from the valley. It is just over 1.5 hours from Kayenta by car by the valley’s south entrance. The park is best known for its dramatic river canyon landscape, featuring a curve in the Colorado River that looks like a horseshoe shape.

While there, you could go hiking or boating. Or sightsee other attractions near Page, like Antelope Canyon.

Visiting Monument Valley: FAQs

Are you excited about visiting Monument Valley? Whether you visit Mystery Valley, drive the Monument Valley loop road, or detour to nearby Goosenecks State Park, you’ll love seeing the part of the US. Monument Valley is a tiny section of fiery, red-rock intensity. It is the scenery of the old West that generations of people grew to love on their TV screens. From a sightseeing perspective, it is one of the nation’s most impressive areas of rock formations. That’s before you even get to the cultural side of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, with all its history of the Navajo people.

Before you rush to appreciate Monument Valley in person, check out these common FAQs. These FAQs could provide you with that extra information that transforms your trip.

Why is Monument Valley so famous?

Hollywood has immortalized Monument Valley. Sure, its culture and geology would have still attracted visitors even if Hollywood hadn’t scouted it as a movie set. However, its appearance in John Wayne films and blockbusters like Forrest Gump is what has made Monument Valley famous worldwide.

What town is closest to Monument Valley?

Kayenta is a super close town to Monument Valley on the Arizona side of the border. On the Utah side of the border, Bluff is the nearest town to Monument Valley. Bluff has more tourist infrastructure, with hotels, inns, and a few attractions.

Can you still drive through Monument Valley?

Yes, Monument Valley is open to drivers. The Monument Valley Loop Road is open all year round, although it does restrict its hours in winter, typically opening between 8 am and 2 pm. The Scenic Drive is available from 6 am until 8 pm in summer.

Is Monument Valley in Utah or Arizona?

Monument Valley straddles the border, meaning it is officially in both Utah and Arizona, not just one or the other. However, most of the park falls within the state boundaries of Arizona.

Monument Valley is exceptional; there’s no doubting that. These 92,000 acres contain so much natural beauty and culture. You can learn about the Navajo Nation and pay for a guided tour to embrace Monument Valley with the Navajo people. You can take a road trip through Monument Valley via Highway 163, passing Forrest Gump Point, Hollywood movie scenes, and stunning rock formations. Or, you can venture out on excursions nearby, like visiting Goosenecks State Park, the Grand Canyon, or nearby national parks. A visit to Monument Valley is one you won’t soon forget.

You now know all the practical information necessary to organize a trip to Monument Valley. We hope you have a wonderful time and encourage you to extend your stay to appreciate the wider region and its surrounding attractions. In need of some extra inspiration? These are the most  stunning places to visit in Arizona . And we have a complete guide on  Utah’s ‘Mighty 5’ national parks . Make the most of visiting a destination right on the Utah-Arizona border.

Plan your Next Trip To Utah Or Arizona Here

• Utah National Parks: How to visit The Mighty 5
• 26 Stunning Places to Visit in Arizona That We Love
• 36 Fun Things To Do In Utah
• 33 Best Things to Do in Arizona

Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Book Your Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner. We have used them for years and have found that they have the best flight deals.

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor.

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO . 

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

• Safety Wing - Occasional Travelers.
• Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Book Your Activities: Looking for walking tours, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more? Then we recommend Get Your Guide.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

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1 thought on “How To Visit Monument Valley in 2024: Your Ultimate Guide”

Just stumbled upon your Monument Valley guide, and it’s a game-changer for my travel plans in 2024! The advice on local culture and hidden gems is fantastic. Thanks for putting together such an informative piece. Excited to explore this iconic destination!

The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Monument Valley

Home | Travel | North America | United States | Arizona | Monument Valley | The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Monument Valley

Visiting Monument Valley was a highlight of our West Coast America road trip.

Our American adventure finally started as we walked through the reddish lands of the far west. Up until then, we only got to enjoy these vast territories through classic western films.

As you visit Monument Valley, let your imagination fly to a life-or-death duel between cowboys or an ambush of Indians riding wild horses.

In this guide for planning your visit to Monument Valley in the United States, you will find all the information you need to make the most of your trip.

We spent one night and one morning in Monument Valley during our 10-day West Coast America self-drive holidays. However, if you want to discover this Navajo Indian Reservation in depth, I recommend at least a two-day visit.

TO SUMMARIZE, THESE ARE THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN MONUMENT VALLEY:

• The Mittens and Merrick Butte : See the sunrise from the most famous viewpoint in Monument Valley.
• Hiking routes : Hike the “Wildcat trail”, the only route that you can hike on your own in Monument Valley.
• John Ford’s Point : Shoot the classic western scene of the cowboy and the horse in this viewpoint.
• “Elephant Butte” , “Three Sisters” and “Camel Butte” : Visit some of the most curious formations in the valley.
• Visit the road where Forrest Gump stopped running , located at mile 13 of the Federal Route 163.
• Take a guided Navajo Tour : Like “Hunts Mesa” or “Mystery Valley”.
• Starry Skies : Enjoy one of the best starry skies in the United States with the silhouette of the main rocks of the Valley.
• See historical movie sets : Such as “Stagecoach”, “Fort Apache” or “Back to the Future III”.

VISIT MONUMENT VALLEY

After seeing images of this place, everyone who is planning a West Coast USA road trip wants to visit Monument Valley.

However, you will notice that Monument Valley is on the border between Utah and Arizona, likely the easternmost point of your West Coast trip. Following this, you may consider crossing it out from your travel itinerary because it’s too far from other points of interest.

Well, if you ask me whether visiting Monument Valley is worth it , I would most definitely say yes.

We drove 7 hours from Las Vegas to get to Monument Valley and pitched our tent. We arrived at night, but it only took us 5 minutes to realize how much we would have regretted it if we had not included Monument Valley on our Western USA trip.

If we have persuaded you to include this wonder in your trip planning, I recommend paying close attention to the details of this guide to visiting Monument Valley.

• Best time to visit Monument Valley
• How to get to Monument Valley
• Best things to do in Monument Valley
• Monument Valley Opening Hours
• Monument Valley entrance fee
• Places to stay in Monument Valley
• Monument Valley Map

BEST TIME TO VISIT MONUMENT VALLEY

Visiting Monument Valley is an incredible experience throughout the year, but spring and fall are the most recommended seasons.

When you see the arid and desertic landscape, you might think that temperatures are high during summer. However, being at high altitude (5577 feet), it rarely exceeds 90ºF. The main reason to keep you from visiting  Monument Valley during summer should be the large number of tourists who come here during these months.

On the other hand, if you visit Monument Valley during winter , temperatures can be around 32ºF, so it is not strange to find Monument Valley covered by snow.

HOW TO GET TO MONUMENT VALLEY

If you are going to visit Monument Valley by yourself , keep in mind that you will be driving long distances. The only practical way to get to Monument Valley is by car (or with an RV rental in the USA ).

FIND CHEAP RENTAL CARS IN THE US

You can check our 20 best tips to find cheap rental cars here.

For us, the only reason to not visit Monument Valley would have been the long-distance  travel to get there. However, without any doubt, our visit to Monument Valley was worth it, and the views at the end of the road will make up for it.

If you don’t know where Monument Valley is, I suggest checking this map of the West Coast that we created to help you choose your travel route to the West Coast.

HOW TO GET TO MONUMENT VALLEY FROM PAGE (ANTELOPE CANYON)

People who visit Monument Valley usually also visit the Antelope Canyon. This canyon carved into the reddish sand of Arizona is located in Page. Since Page and Monument Valley are only 124 miles apart, it is not uncommon to visit Antelope Canyon and Monument Valley on the same trip.

I also recommend visiting Horseshoe Bend as it is also in Page a few minutes from Antelope Canyon and can be visited on the same day.

Keep in mind that while the Page and Monument Valley are just three hours apart in the same state of Arizona , the time zone between the two are different during the summer . Although Page also belongs to the Navajo Indian Reservation, it does not observe daylight savings, which maintains the same time throughout the year.

If you are going to spend the night in Page, you can check where to stay near Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend here.

HOW TO GET TO MONUMENT VALLEY FROM LAS VEGAS

The closest international airport to Monument Valley is in Las Vegas, located in Nevada. In addition to this, there are a million things to do in Las Vegas, so it is very likely you are going to visit it at some point. To get to Monument Valley from Las Vegas by car, you will have to travel about 400 miles which will take you at least 7 hours. This is one of my favorite road trips from Las Vegas .

However, if you prefer not to drive you can hire this 3-day tour to Monument Valley from Las Vegas, one of the best tours in Vegas, where you will also visit Horseshoe Bend and the Antelope Canyon.

If you decide to go on your own and spend a few days in the city, you can check the best hotels in Las Vegas here and some tips to rent a car in Las Vegas here.

HOW TO GET TO MONUMENT VALLEY FROM THE GRAND CANYON

The Grand Canyon is the most popular National Park in the United States. There is a  distance between the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley  of 186 miles, which takes about four hours.

Although there are different tour packages to Grand Canyon and Monument Valley in one day, I advise visiting the two Arizonian wonders in at least two days. If you can, I advise you to spend at least two days for visiting the Grand Canyon.

If you’re traveling on your own, you can check where to stay in Grand Canyon Village here.

MONUMENT VALLEY OPENING HOURS

When planning your visit to Monument Valley without a guide, keep in mind that the visiting hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. May to September and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from October to April.

While you can still enter at any time of the day, the Monument Valley Visitor Center will be closed.

HOW MUCH DOES MONUMENT VALLEY COST?

The Monument Valley entrance fee is $ 20 per car (up to 4 people) + $ 10 for each extra person.

If you want to visit Monument Valley for free , enter the park when it is closed and stay at one of its campsites or hotels. This way, you don’t have to pay the Monument Valley entry fee whilst being able to see incredible views the next morning.

Keep in mind that Monument Valley is part of the Navajo Indian Reservation and not a National Park or State Park, so you cannot use your “America the Beautiful” Pass to enter.

The Monument Valley admission fee corresponds with the entry fee to the Navajo Nation, so if you are going to visit different attractions within the Navajo Nation on the same day (i.e. Antelope Canyon + Monument Valley), make sure you only pay this fee once.

BEST THINGS TO DO IN MONUMENT VALLEY

The main attraction of Monument Valley is the diverse rock formations, which you will discover in this section.

There is nothing like exploring through the incredible landscapes of Monument Valley. Driving across the Monument Valley Scenic Drive is the best way to make the most of your trip.

Keep in mind that you will need between 2 and 4 hours to see this arid landscape. Although it is a dirt road, it is not necessary to have a 4×4 car.

You can drive the 16 miles loop and visit the 11 main viewpoints listed in this  Monument Valley map that you will find at the end of the post.

Note: Take into account that some vehicles like motorcycles or RVs are not allowed at the scenic drive .

1. THE MITTENS AND MERRICK BUTTE

From the first viewpoint at the entrance of the reserve, we can see the most famous rock formations of Monument Valley –  The East and West Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte . They are undoubtedly one of the most imposing structures in Monument Valley as they rise 6500 feet above the vast plains.

The Mittens earned its name due to its silhouette – the shape of a mitten. Merrick Butte, on the other hand, was named after one of the two explorers who discovered Monument Valley.

2. ELEPHANT BUTTE

Following the path, we find the Elephant Butte, a rock formation in the shape of an elephant sitting on the desert sand, only recognizable when the shadows at the end of the day cast over the rock.

3. THREE SISTERS

If you turn around, you will find the Thee Sisters. These three high pinnacles recall the figure of a nun teaching two students.

Mitchell Mesa stands next to them. This plateau is named after another explorer in the area.

4. JOHN FORDS’ POINT

The most exciting viewpoint for Western film lovers. Film director John Ford brought Monument Valley to the big screen in 1939, and since then, Monument Valley has become one of the most filmed locations.

To this day, it continues to serve as a film set, not only for movies but also for cartoons and computer games.

This stop is also perfect for buying Navajo made crafts and taking the famous shot of a man on horseback over the ravine.

5. CAMEL BUTTE

Considering its name, you would expect that the shape of Camel Butte should vaguely resemble a camel lying on the desert. However, do not be frustrated if you do not see it, as most others can’t see it either. It is supposed to be seen facing west.

The road continues toward the Rain God Mesa, named after a sacred place of the Navajos. It was also used by healers to praise the God of rain.

After this, we will get to The Hub, which rises 164 feet above the ground. Its unique and solitary needle shape has a group of Navajo homes at the base.

A secondary path that can only be accessed with a guide starts from here, to Saddle Rock or Ear of the Wind near  Thunderbird Mesa.

7. TOTEM POLE AND YEI BI CHEI

Past the Rain God Mesa, we reach the next viewpoint from where we can see a group of needles called Yei Bi Chei (Navajo spiritual gods) and Totem Pole at 140 meters high.

We can also see Sand Springs from here, although you can see it better from the next viewpoint.

8. SAND SPRINGS

On the way to this viewpoint, we find the Sand Springs, different red-orange dunes and the only natural aquifer in the reserve .

From here, we will get an even better view of Yei Bi Chei and Totem Pole. However, if we want to get even closer to these rock formations, we will have to take the Thunderbird Mesa guided tour.

9. ARTIST’S POINT

It is located in front of Spearhead Mesa, but if we turn around, we can see The Mittens and Merrick Butte here from the end of the valley.

Many consider this to be the second-best viewpoint in Monument Valley, following John Ford’s Point.

Of course, it is the best viewpoint to photograph Monument Valley at dawn, since it is facing west and therefore the reddish stone will be illuminated with the first lights of the day making the color even more vivid.

10. NORTH WINDOW

North Window opens like a window to the north of the reserve in such a way that East Mitten Butte is framed between Elephant Butte and Cly Butte. However, it will be difficult to recognize it from this position since the main finger of the mitten will be hidden.

11. THE THUMB

The Thumb is the last point of interest in the Monument Valley Scenic Drive. Some say that the figure of the rock reminds them of a thumb and others of a cowboy boot.

OTHER THINGS TO DO IN MONUMENT VALLEY

In addition to this scenic drive, there are many other things to do in Monument Valley.

HIKING THE WILDCAT TRAIL

The next free activity to do in Monument Valley is hiking the Wildcat Trail.  The is the only hike that you can do for free in the reserve, which consists of going around one of the most popular rock formations, West Mitten Butte.

It is a 3.7 miles loop with elevation gains up to 656 feet that takes two hours to complete.

We didn’t do it since we were told that it could be a bit monotonous.

STOP AT THE EXACT POINT WHERE FORREST GUMP STOPPED RUNNING

The last free activity in Monument Valley will take you to one of the most iconic spots, a stop at the exact point where Forrest Gump stopped running in the United States.

This stop takes place at mile 13 of Federal Route 163, where you will drive through on your way to Monument Valley. There is a small sign indicating the stop, so you should not miss it.

TAKE A NAVAJO GUIDED TOUR

If you want to dig a little deeper into Monument Valley, you can take a Navajo Indian guided tour. There are several companies approved by the Navajo Parks & Recreation Department. You can find a list of these official companies here .

Each company offers different but similar tours at the same time. Some tours focus on photography whereas others are eager to show the Navajo culture . These tend to dig into the spiritual significance of Monument Valley for the Navajos and can show you their traditions, history, music, and even gastronomy.

Other tours focus on showing you the best places to photograph Monument Valley. Some of these tours are night photography tours, and others are sunrise or sunset photo tours.

You can take your vehicle on some of the tours while others provide 4×4s, and some even offer horseback riding through Monument Valley. While it is quite popular, we do not recommend it since it is not right to use animals as a tourist attraction.

Although many tours take you through the same Monument Valley drive that we can do for free, other tours go across some of the private routes found in the valley. Following are the most outstanding ones:

If you want to see the best views of Monument Valley, you must take a tour to the top of Hunts Mesa  in a 4×4 vehicle. After passing through dunes, the plateau rises 984 feet above Monument Valley, and from here you can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire valley.

This excursion usually takes about 7 hours, but you can also find some tourist agencies that offer overnight tours with tents and sleeping bags supplied. This way, you can photograph Monument Valley at sunset and at sunrise with an aerial view that is difficult to get from another point.

Although the price is higher than other tours, keep in mind that it includes lodging, a Navajo dinner and breakfast, and unique priceless experiences like listening to folktales, native songs, and Navajo flute music around a campfire.

MYSTERY VALLEY

Mystery Valley,  just by Monument Valley, is one of the most exclusive tours of the Navajo Indian Reservation. As the Navajo consider the valley to be sacred, access is only allowed if a member of the tribe accompanies you.

Also, the road is barely visible between the dunes, and there are no traffic signals, so it is not a good idea trying to go on your own.

This tour is somewhat physically demanding since the essential points of interest would be visited on foot. Across the valley, we will find the Anasazi ruins (a tribe that lived in the valley before the Navajos arrived), Navajo family homes and spectacular landscapes that include stone arches and views of Monument Valley in the distance. The guide will also tell you about Navajo culture and traditions.

The tour takes between three and four hours and the best time to do it is at sunset.

TEARDROP ARCH

Another frequently photographed point is one known as Tear Drop Arch,  where you can frame Monument Valley in the tear-shaped opening of the rock. This tour is very short and can be done on foot.

As the location is somewhat unknown, most choose to hire a guide to get there. Once you know the location (36 ° 59’59.5 “N 110 ° 11’16.3” W), it may not be necessary.

CURIOSITIES OF MONUMENT VALLEY

We did not want to forget in our guide to visiting the Monument Vally a section to discuss the main peculiarities of Monument Valley.

HISTORY OF MONUMENT VALLEY AND THE NAVAJO NATION

Did you know that the Navajo Indians are not originally from the United States, but from Canada? Nonetheless, they had been inhabiting in Monument Valley, or Tsé Bii ‘Ndzisgaii (‘Valley of the Rocks’) in the Navajo language, long before the Spaniards arrived.

It was not the first tribe to inhabit the Monument Valley. To date, there are many indications of the presence of Anasazis, an indigenous tribe that inhabited Western United States and ancestors of other indigenous cultures such as the Pueblo Indians, the Zuni, and the Hopi.

Politically, the Navajo Nation, Diné Bikeyah, or Navajoland is recognized as a nation within the United States. However, what may seem like one of the most significant victories achieved by an indigenous tribe is fictitious, since the United States continues to enforce its laws on the Navajo Nation.

HOW MONUMENT VALLEY WAS FORMED

Like the rest of the Colorado Plateau, Monument Valley was a seabed that covered the western part of the United States millions of years ago.

The tectonic movement pushed rocks formed by strata of siltstone and shale up to 5900 feet above sea level.

After this, the erosion shaped the landscape. Rain, wind, and rivers that flowed into the basin ended up forming what we know today as Monument Valley.

The characteristic reddish and orange colors of the Monument Valley landscape are from the iron oxide present in the geological formations.

MONUMENT VALLEY IN FILMS

Monument Valley is one of those places in Western America that looks very familiar to you even if you have never been there.

The first moments of Monument Valley on the big screen was thanks to film director John Ford, who used the landscapes as the main stage of the 1939 film Stagecoach , starring John Wayne.

Since then, it has been one of the most iconic spots for Western films such as Fort Apache or The Searchers.

Later on, other films took place across the incredible background of Monument Valley, like Forrest Gump, Lone Ranger, License to Kill or Back to the Future Part III. Some cartoons and animated films staged these landscapes as a base for their stories, such as Wile E. Coyote, the Road Runner, and Cars.

And of course, we can find in many advertisements or even video games featuring Monument Valley landscapes, such as in GTA San Andreas or Red Dead Redemption.

WHERE TO STAY IN MONUMENT VALLEY

Other useful information that we want to share with you are the best places to stay in Monument Valley. In this section, you will find the best campsite, hotel, and lodge in Monument Valley, so you can choose the option that best suits your needs.

THE VIEW CAMPGROUND

If you ask me what is the best accommodation in Monument Valley , without a doubt I would say it is The View Campground (not The View Hotel). This campsite, with only space for 30 tents, has the best views of Monument Valley. Also, there’s nothing like sleeping in a tent in such a place to feel like an authentic Navajo Indian.

The price is $20 per tent. The camp has bathrooms and a small kitchen. However, they do not have tent rental services, so you must bring your own.

They also have space for RVs, however, the reviews are not as good as it is just a parking without connections or the views from the tent sites. However, if you are interested in that option, check the RV rental in the USA

Though they say that you can make reservations online, the campsites can only be booked via phone by calling +1 435-727-5802. Book well in advance if you want to sleep in the best place in Monument Valley.

THE VIEW HOTEL

Another option is to book at The View Hotel , a sister establishment that also manages the campsite. While not as authentic as camping in Monument Valley, if you are looking for comfort, this is the best hotel in Monument Valley . Online booking is available for this hotel.

The premium cabins , though much more expensive, offer very similar views you can see from the campsite.

You will need a credit card to do the check-in for either the hotel or the campground.

GOULDING’S LODGE

A little further away, but still very close to the valley, we found Goulding’s Lodge .

Unlike the previous one, this hotel offers a pool and a museum about the Navajo Nation. The price follows the quality of its rooms, but the possibilities of last-minute vacancies are higher than at The View.

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MORE INFO ABOUT MONUMENT VALLEY

To finish with this complete guide to Monument Valley, we are going to give you some tips for visiting Monument Valley in this section. We will explain, among other things, the time zone that they follow (one of the biggest curiosities of Monument Valley) so that you don’t arrive late to your next destination.

At the end of this section, you will have all the necessary information you need to visit Monument Valley.

MONUMENT VALLEY TIME ZONE

Monument Valley is located within the Navajo Indian Reservation. Navajo Nation follows Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) during the summer months to increase daylight hours.

However, you should know that Arizona, the state in which Monument Valley is located, observe Mountain Standard Time (MST) and does not participate in the summertime change. Instead, it maintains the same time throughout the year.

The reason why Arizona decided not to observe Daylight Savings is because increased daylight hours also meant increased hours of heat and therefore more electricity consumption from the air conditioners.

During summertime, the state of Utah (north of Arizona) and the Navajo Nation (within Arizona) is one hour behind Arizona. However, during the rest of the year, all three are observing the same hours.

We advise you to keep this time difference in mind, especially when you hire tours, for example, to visit Antelope Canyon (which follows MST all year) and you plan to come from Monument Valley (which follow MDT in the summer) or vice versa.

GAS STATIONS IN MONUMENT VALLEY

There is only one gas station in Monument Valley, and that belongs to the Goulding’s Lodge hotel. As with every service, when demand exceeds supply, refueling in Monument Valley will be quite expensive, so we recommend coming into Monument Valley with a full tank.

BEST RESTAURANTS IN MONUMENT VALLEY

There are just a few places to eat in Monument Valley , and they are essentially the hotel restaurants that we have already mentioned.

One of the most outstanding is the restaurant at The View Hotel, where you can find Navajo cuisine (quite similar to Mexican) as well as American classics.

The Goulding’s Lodge also has a restaurant with common Navajo dishes, although its menu is somewhat small.

With both cases, if you’re going to eat in Monument Valley, you can order take-out food and enjoy it throughout your visit, while driving across Monument Valley Scenic Drive.

TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR USA

Do not forget to hire   travel insurance in the United States . Although I always recommend buying the best travel insurance wherever you go, for the US, your policy must have excellent coverage (never consider hiring anything that covers below $300,000).

The cost of healthcare in the US is very high, and if you have to go to the hospital without any insurance, you will have to pay between $10,000 and $15,000 per night at the hospital.

You can get the best quality-price insurance with Heymondo . Right now, I’m traveling with their long term travel insurance plan.

5% OFF your travel insurance

MAP OF MONUMENT VALLEY

You will find the Monument Valley map below. As you can see on the map, Wildcat Trail is marked as the only hiking trail through Monument Valley that can be done on your own.

Also, you will find the loop that can be done in Monument Valley by car, with the different stops and most outstanding viewpoints.

Finally, you can also see the different Navajo guided tours that can be hired, to discover other places such as Mystery Valley, Hunts Mesa and Lower Monument Valley that are off limits without a Navajo guide.

We hope that you have found all the information to visit Monument Valley  through this guide. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to write us 😉

Ascen Aynat

3 replies on “ The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Monument Valley ”

Thank you for providing such detailed itinerary of the west coast trip. Really helps. Very nicely done. Keep up the good work. Did you guys visit any of the monument valley points like tear drop or mystery valley etc in your own vehicle? Or it can only be done with a guided tour.

Hi Karishma, We need to come back to do the Mystery Valley. It’s one of the best views in all the west coast! Sadly, If you want to visit Mystery Valley you need to take a tour. For the tear drop arch, I think you can visit it by yourself. It is only 500m from the road. The exact location is (36°59’59.5″N 110°11’16.3″W).

Let me know if you have any questions.

Hi Can you plan our itenary for 9 days of travel in west coast we are two people traveling with a toddler. Driving is fine with us.

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How to Visit Monument Valley Now that It's Open

How to visit.

The Park has finally opened up! The park was closed since March 2020 and has been opened since July 8th, 2021! The Navajo Nation has set in place strict guidelines for how the park should operate. The Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation department will set the day to day guidelines and those are as follows. Note: Things are bound to change.

Tourists are welcomed back on Navajo Nation roads and into the park, however the park isn't fully operational. Access to the park is still limited. To fully visit and experience Monument Valley, it is recommended to take a guided jeep tour. Visitors are allowed to take the 17 mile loop in their own vehicles.

1) The Monument Valley Welcome Center will have a rotation system with the 10+ tour companies in Monument Valley rotating, prices will vary with each tour company. The tours that are booked from the rotation will be sent out in intervals of 45 minutes.

2) You can also book with a tour company online and they are not subject to the strict timing. Those tours will be permitted to go out at their designated times.

Each group will have to pay a park fee of $20 per vehicle up to 4 people and the more on the tour the less money it become per individual.

These are the only ways to visit Monument Valley currently, so be sure to plan ahead and we will keep you updated on our site.

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

Navajo nation park & recreation.

While visiting the Monument Valley, you will need to try the 17-mile loop drive for a view of the scenic beauty and magnificent formations. Currently, with the monsoon season we want all travelers to know that the valley drive has very rough terrain and deep sand dunes.  Motorcycles/RV’s are Prohibited on the loop drive, due to the rough terrain and deep sand dunes. We ask that travelers be prepared for long wait times and inclement weather during the peak season. Which begins in the months of  May to September, the high volume of travelers will create some wait time. So please be cognizant of your surroundings and please obey all signs, stay on designated routes; stay hydrated and stay safe. The safety of our public and community is our utmost importance. Also, wear appropriate attire as the weather is unpredictable and can change at any time. Wearing a hat, t-shirt, long sleeves and tennis shoes will keep you comfortable and avoid the elements. Including, staying hydrated and have water on you at all times which makes you less prone to heat exhaustion and dehydration.

Welcome to the Navajo Nation’s Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. You are experiencing one of the most majestic – and most photographed – points on earth. This great valley boasts sandstone masterpieces that tower at heights of 400 to 1,000 feet, framed by scenic clouds casting shadows that graciously roam the desert floor. The angle of the sun accents these graceful formations, providing scenery that is simply spellbinding.

The landscape overwhelms, not just by its beauty but also by its size. The fragile pinnacles of rock are surrounded by miles of mesas and buttes, shrubs and trees, and windblown sand, all comprising the magnificent colors of the valley. All of this harmoniously combines to make Monument Valley a truly wondrous experience. Enjoy this beautiful land. While on your travel stop and take a look at some of our vendors on the loop road. Our vendors have beautiful hand crafted jewelry and more. You can buy direct from the artisan, which makes your travel experience so much more to have a momentous keepsake with you while at home.

Navajo Name: Tse’Bii’Ndzisgaii – Monument Valley

Hiking Trails : Wildcat Trail 1.5 miles (Sign in/out at Visitor Center).

Monument Valley Hours of Operation:

Park/administration office:   8:00 am to 5:00 pm. monday-friday.

Winter Hours-

Scenic Drive: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday – Sunday. Last Entry at 2:30 pm, Daily.

Tour Booth: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday – Sunday.

Summer Hours-

Scenic Drive: 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, Monday – Sunday. Last Entry: 4:30 pm, Daily.

Tour Operator Booth: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday – Sunday.

Monument Valley Closures:

We are Closed during all major Holidays in accordance with the Navajo Nation.

• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day
• New Year’s Day

Elevation: 5,564 feet above sea level

GPS Coordinates: N 37.00414 W 110.09889

Backcountry Permit: A Backcountry Permit can be obtained from the Visitor Center, and for San Juan River Permit it can be purchased at the Welcome Center.  Please sign in/out prior to Hiking.  Please proceed with extreme caution. 

Navajo Parks and Recreation is not liable for any damage to vehicle while in loop drive or on Navajo Tribal Park land.

Special Use Permit: Needed for all other types of Land Usage. Photography,  Filming, Weddings, and Paintings.  Please stop by Visitor Center for more information.

Size:  91,696 acres (spans across Utah & Arizona)

Entry Fee: $8 per person, per day.

Additional person: $8 per person, per day, per location.  (subject to change)..

Before human existence, the Park was once a lowland basin. For hundreds of millions of years, materials that eroded from the early Rock Mountains deposited layer upon layer of sediment which cemented a slow and gentle uplift, generated by ceaseless pressure from below the surface, elevating these horizontal strata quite uniformly one to three miles above sea level. What was once a basin became a plateau.

Natural forces of wind and water that eroded the land spent the last 50 million years cutting into and peeling away at the surface of the plateau. The simple wearing down of altering layers of soft and hard rock slowly revealed the natural wonders of Monument Valley today.

From the visitor center, you see the world-famous panorama of the Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte. You can also purchase guided tours from Navajo tour operators, who take you down into the valley in Jeeps for a narrated cruise through these mythical formations. Places such as Ear of the Wind and other landmarks can only be accessed via guided tours. During the summer months, the visitor center also features Haskenneini Restaurant, which specializes in both native Navajo and American cuisines, and a film/snack/souvenir shop. There are year-round restroom facilities. One mile before the center, numerous Navajo vendors sell arts, crafts, native food, and souvenirs at roadside stands.

Buy local, Buy Navajo!

SCAN QR CODE FOR MONUMENT  VALLEY MAP

Monument Valley: Everything You Need To Plan Your Visit (2024)

If you’re traveling through the southwestern United States, visiting Monument Valley is a must. There’s a reason this unique area has been featured in countless Hollywood films and it’s well worth a day or two of any road trip.

The southwestern states are home to some of the USA’s most dramatic landscapes, and one of the best places to visit when you are traveling through the region is Monument Valley, Utah.

Found within the vast expanse of land that forms the Navajo Nation, Monument Valley is known for the imposing rock formations that rise sharply from the otherwise flat plateau.

This is arid, desert-like land too, and it’s Monument Valley that has been featured more than any other location in Hollywood movies set in the Wild West. 

While its landscapes might have been romanticized by famous Westerns, and more recently by Instagrammers living the Van Life and road-tripping west, Monument Valley will always be unnervingly beautiful to see firsthand.

It’s one of the best stops in the southwest, and to inspire your journey, here’s our ultimate guide to Monument Valley. 

Don’t leave home without:  Lonely Planet Southwest USA (Travel Guide)

Where is Monument Valley?

Table of Contents

Monument Valley is located within the Navajo Nation, and it straddles the border between the states of Utah in the north and Arizona in the south.

The valley is just a small part of the vast Colorado Plateau, and Monument Valley itself stretches for around 17 miles in length, through a protected area known as the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park.  

How to Get to Monument Valley

Monument Valley is best accessed on a self-drive tour. If you don’t drive, then your best option is to join a multi-day excursion on an organized tour through the southwest because Monument Valley is in a remote location – it’s not exactly the day-tripping kind of destination! 

Monument Valley is located along Highway 163, which passes through the valley itself on its way from Utah south into Arizona. The highway is around 60 miles long, and starts in Bluff, Utah, and continues south to Kayenta in Arizona.

The entire highway is a beautiful place to road trip, as it passes not only through Monument Valley but through this spectacular desert-like part of the southwest. 

But part of the beauty of Monument Valley lies in its veritable isolation from the rest of the world. This is not a place you can simply visit on a whim, purely because it’s a long way from any major cities.

For this reason, you will want to consider putting together a longer road trip , that takes in many more of the sights in the Utah-Arizona area and across the Colorado Plateau. 

In fact, the nearest major cities are a long way from Monument Valley, and the closest large airport is almost 200 miles to the south in Arizona, in the provincial city of Flagstaff.

There are few connections here – certainly no international ones anyway – and you will need to pass through larger hubs such as Phoenix, Las Vegas, or Salt Lake City anyway, giving you yet another reason to simply turn this into one large road trip through the southwest.

Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City are all at least a 6 hour drive in different directions , but they are great places to start or end your trip, as you can easily pick up hire cars or campervans at the airports.

Depending on how much time you have, you can even start or end your trip on the Pacific coast, in Los Angeles , San Diego , or San Francisco, but be prepared for a lot of driving. 

There are a lot of great places to see in the area, and you can incorporate monumental destinations such as the Grand Canyon , Horseshoe Bend , and Antelope Canyon into your itinerary if you are traveling through Arizona.

To the north of Monument Valley, in Utah, you can call into the Canyonlands, into Moab or you can see the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, amongst many more sights and attractions too. 

Best Time to Visit Monument Valley

As with most other places in the American Southwest, the best time to visit Monument Valley is during the late Spring and early Fall. That is if you want to avoid the peak season crowds and heat that come with the summer months of June through September. 

If you want a totally unique visit, consider the off-season, which runs from late Fall to early Spring. There will be very few people and you will have a high degree of weather fluctuation. The days will be mostly sunny but that intense heat from summer will be gone. 

During these seasons you can also expect cold evenings, overnights, and mornings. Our visit to Monument Valley was in mid-March, during our road trip from Las Vegas to Denver. I can attest to both colder weather and small crowds. 

When we went to dinner in the evening, we had to wear sweaters. When we got up for a sunrise backcountry tour to photograph the sunrise, we had to wear down jackets . It was freezing cold until later morning when the sun was fully up. 

If you are really looking for a unique experience, consider visiting Monument Valley during the winter, when the valley is occasionally blanketed in snow. 

Things to do in Monument Valley, Utah

Monument Valley is a Navajo Tribal Park and is administered and cared for directly by the Navajo Nation. For this reason, you must pay $8 per person to enter the park. National park passes are not accepted.

The Navajo Nation also arranges more in-depth tours, as some areas of Monument Valley can only be accessed with local guides. 

Our Top Recommended Tours in Monument Valley:

• Monument Valley Guided Tour
• Monument Valley Daytime Tour
• Sunset Tour of Monument Valley
• Monument Valley Extended Back-country Tour

Tribal Park Loop

The main thing to do in Monument Valley is to drive the beautiful Tribal Park Loop. This 17-mile long road passes through the best natural sights that the valley has to offer, including the iconic rock formations and rock pillars, and past excellent viewpoints.

In fact, if you are only paying the $20 entrance fee, this is the only part of the tribal park that you can actually access in your vehicle, as anywhere else requires you to be on a tour with a Navajo guide.

The Tribal Park Loop is the best way to see the highlights on an independent trip though, and if this is all you can afford or all you have time for, then don’t worry too much, because you’ll experience the best of Monument Valley anyway!

The Tribal Park Loop starts and ends at the local visitor’s center at the entrance to Monument Valley. While the road is a dirt track, it’s very well maintained and a four-by-four vehicle is not necessary to drive the loop.

West and East Mitten Buttes

One of the most iconic sights that you’ll see on the Tribal Park Loop, is the sight of the West and East Mitten Buttes.

These are the tall, imposing rock formations that rise dramatically from the otherwise flat valley floor, and it’s these rock formations that always seem to make it into scenes from Hollywood Westerns, they even formed an integral backdrop to the HBO TV series, Westworld, a few years ago. 

These enormous rocks are so named because they appear to look like hands wrapped in mittens, pointing toward the sky!

Wildcat Trail

The Wildcat Trail is a fantastic, short hiking trail that takes you around the base of West Mitten Butte. There are few trails in the park that you can hike without a Navajo guide, but the Wildcat Trail is one that you can self-walk.

It’s around 4 miles long, and quite literally takes you into the shadow of the butte, offering you the best view of the rocks. Remember to take lots of water, as the sun can be brutal in summer in Monument Valley. The hike will take around two hours, with plenty of time for taking photographs along the way. 

Lower Monument Valley

If you have more time to explore Monument Valley, then it’s worth joining a tour with a local guide to visit Lower Monument Valley. This area of the tribal park isn’t accessible by the public unless they are accompanied by a Navajo Guide. 

You will not only be given a four-by-four tour of more remote areas, but you’ll also have the chance to learn about Navajo history and culture at the same time.

The highlight of Lower Monument Valley is the Totem Pole, a tall, fragile, and thin-looking piece of rock that rises sharply from its base in the valley – like a Totem Pole.

Most tours last around three hours from start to finish and offer you the opportunity to experience not only a Monument Valley ‘safari’, as they call them, but parts of the park that you cannot visit on your own accord, and that consequently, are much quieter than points on the standard Tribal Park Loop. 

Forrest Gump Point

Monument Valley formed the backdrop to an iconic scene in the quirky movie, Forrest Gump. Partway through the movie, Forrest Gump begins running across the USA, and there’s a famed clip of the character, played by Tom Hanks, running along Highway 163, with the monumental rock formations of the Mitten Buttes in the background.

In fact, Forrest Gump Point, which is around 8 miles north of the state border, has become one of the most photographed spots in the valley, as the highway runs almost perfectly straight towards the rocks in the distance.

If you see a picture of Monument Valley from any road trip, on any Instagram account, it’s going to be from Forrest Gump Point. 

Take a Sunrise Photography Tour

We simply could not resist the opportunity to take a specialized sunrise tour into the backcountry of Monument Valley. We had the opportunity to see and photograph places in the park that are completely inaccessible to the general public. 

The tours generally start around 3 AM (or around there depending on the time of year and sunrise times) from the lobby of the View Hotel . So if you’re not staying there, you will need to make sure you have a rental car or have arranged a ride there from one of the other hotels nearby. 

The tour we did lasted 4 hours and took us to many iconic spots located in the private Navajo areas of the park. The guide was knowledgeable and great about showing us the famous angles for each stop. 

Plan Your Monument Valley Itinerary

One of the biggest challenges you’ll face is just how much time you should give yourself for this massive site. Truth be told, the more time you can give it the more enriching experience you will have. 

At the very least, try to give yourself 2 full days if you can. This would mean spending two nights, with a later in the day arrival before the first night. As we were pressed for time on our road trip and wanted to pack in several famous sites, we only spent one night. 

What it really comes down to is planning ahead and then making the most of your time while there. This is how we put together our itinerary in Monument Valley.

Day 1: Arrival at Monument Valley by car from Page, Arizona just after lunch. Drove the Tribal Park Loop for the afternoon, stopping at various lookouts for photographs. Checked into Goulding’s Lodge then drove up to Forest Gump Point. Dinner at Goulding’s Stagecoach Restaurant.  

Day 2: Early Sunrise Photography tour in the backcountry followed by breakfast at The View Restaurant. We then took a tour of the Lower Monument Valley before leaving Monument Valley and heading East to the Four Corners National Monument.

Where to Stay When Visiting Monument Valley

While you might pass through Monument Valley and spend a few hours exploring and driving around, before continuing your road trip north or south on the highway, you can also take the time to stay nearby and spend longer in the area. 

This is a great idea if you want to catch that early morning sunrise over Highway 163, over the epic rock formations, or if you want to join more in-depth tours with Navajo guides across the valley, rather than simply driving the usual loop.

The nearest towns are Kayenta, which is just under 30 miles to the south, while Bluff is around 50 miles to the north. The intriguingly named town of Mexican Hat is a little closer to the north, but there are fewer hotels or accommodations here than in Bluff.

In Bluff and Kayenta you can find an array of hotels, while you can also find a few camping areas along the highway. These are our recommendations for accommodation during your visit:

• Goulding’s Lodge : (we stayed here in a cabin) Located 2km outside of the park entrance, this hotel offers both standard room and cabin options. The cabins have stunning views over the valley. They have an onsite restaurant too. 
• The View Hotel : Offers comfortable accommodation with onsite dining. This hotel offers insane valley views. They also offer premium cabins too. 

Places to Eat Near Monument Valley

Your options here are limited if you are planning to stay at one of the two places we recommend above. Each of the hotels offers its own onsite restaurant. The options are limited and expensive but you can’t really trade the convenience.

The day we arrived, we ate dinner at the Goulding’s Lodge Stagecoach Restaurant . They were offering a salad bar and a menu with a variety of entrees. The salad bar reminded me of a typical dinner club salad bar, much as we have in Wisconsin. Fresh ingredients and a decent variety.

I would highly recommend that you give the Navajo Tacos a try! They are delicious. 

After our sunrise tour, we opted to try breakfast at The View Restaurant . They offered the typical breakfast options that you would find in any diner across the states. The food was good but as I said, options are limited so you’re going to be left with little choice. 

The alternative is making the drive to either nearby Kayenta or Bluff, where you can find a wider variety of options, gas stations, and some fast food. 

Monument Valley, Utah FAQs

Yes. Anyone can pay to enter Monument Valley and drive the scenic road, as well as partake in a few short hikes. Note that certain areas are off-limit unless you are with a Navajo guide.

Absolutely! It’s a very unique destination and even if you’re visiting other landmarks in the West, Monument Valley still stands out.

Mexican Hat is technically the closest town, though you’ll find little there. Bluff and Kayenta are where most people choose to spend the night.

It will take about 2 to 4 hours, depending on how frequently you stop. There are many different outlooks and photo opportunities, plus some short hikes, so take your time and enjoy!

It costs $8 per person to enter Monument Valley, plus additional fees for any tours with Navajo guides. Note that they do NOT accept national park passes.

The road in Monument Valley that you see in the movies (including Forrest Gump!) and on postcards is Highway 163 Scenic Drive.

Almost all cars can drive the scenic road through the valley. It is not paved but it is well kept, so in most cases, an SUV or even 4×4 is not necessary.

Yes, you can drive Highway 163 Scenic Drive without a Navajo guide. You just need to pay the $8 per person entry fee.

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Lina is an award-winning photographer and writer that has been exploring the world since 2001. She has traveled to 100 countries on all 7 continents. Member: SATW, NATJA, ATTA, ITWA

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Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park: The Complete Guide

Things to do, hiking in monument valley, types of tours, park guides, where to camp, where to stay nearby, how to get there, accessibility, tips for your visit.

David Toussaint / Getty Images

Straddling the Arizona/Utah border, Monument Valley is one of the nation’s most recognizable landscapes, thanks to its appearance in classic Westerns and movies like “Forrest Gump.” (Forrest decides to stop running against the backdrop of Monument Valley’s iconic buttes.) But it’s not your typical national park. In fact, it’s not a national park at all. Located on Navajo lands, Monument Valley is actually a tribal park operated by the Navajo people, who consider it a very sacred place.

As a result, access is restricted within the park. While you can drive a 17-mile section through the park on your own, you’ll need a Navajo guide to do anything more than that. However, that’s part of what makes Monument Valley so unique—you learn about Navajo history, culture, and traditions from the tribal member welcoming you into their lands. Plan to spend the night at the park’s hotel, The View, so you can watch the sunrise, sunset, or both over the amazing rock formations.

If you’re short on time, drive the 17-mile, extremely rough dirt road past the Mittens and Totem Pole formations on a self-guided tour. If you have more time, book a tour with a Navajo guide online or at the park’s visitor center. Tours range from 90 minutes to full-day adventures. Some guides even offer traditional meals, entertainment, and overnight stays in a Hogan.

Beyond that, activities are limited in the park. There are no ranger-led programs, helicopter rides, or hot air balloon rides here. You can’t mountain bike, off-road, or ride your own horse through the park either. Want to climb the monuments? Forget that, too. Rock climbing is strictly prohibited.

TripSavvy / Lauren Breedlove

The Wildcat Trail is the only one you can hike unescorted in Monument Valley. If you want to do anything more, you’ll have to hire a Navajo guide. Book a hiking tour before you go. Otherwise, there’s no guarantee a guide at the visitor center will be available—or prepared—to take you on a hike when you arrive.

Wildcat Trail: This 3.2-mile trail begins at the campground next to The View Hotel and loops around the Left Mitten before returning. Go at sunrise. Not only is it cooler, but the soft light washes the valley in ever-changing color. 

Most people experience Monument Valley on a 4x4 tour, but there are other options, including horseback rides and photography tours. Each Navajo guide or company offers slightly different tours, but these are the common ones available in the park:

• Basic Scenic Tour: Lasting about 90 minutes, these tours follow the 17-mile route through the park that you could drive on your own. So why pay the $65 to $75 per person charge for a guided tour? Many drivers don’t want to subject their vehicles to the treacherous road, but Navajo guides also give you insights on how the formations came to be, point out where movies were filmed, and share their culture.
• Cultural Tour: Held late in the afternoon, this tour builds on the full valley tours, adding a cultural experience like a weaving demonstration or live music. As the sun begins to set, the tour continues with a Navajo dinner, usually puffy fry bread topped with meat and beans, followed by traditional dancing and music.
• Time of Day Tour: Because light can change the color of the rock formations dramatically, several tours revolve around the time of the day. Many consider sunrise the best time to take one of these tours, but sunset can be equally impressive as can a night with a full moon. Often a photographer leads these tours.
• Photography Tours: Led by Navajo photographers, these tours are usually for any skill level with any type of camera—even a cell phone—but you may want to check with the guide or company before committing.
• Overnight Tours: Want to experience Monument Valley at night? Several companies offer the option to stay overnight in a Hogan, a traditional Navajo structure. Dinner and breakfast are included.

You’ll find a list of guided tour operators on the Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation website. It’s not unusual for individuals and smaller guide companies to stop offering tours for a length of time only to start up again later, sometimes under another company name, but some companies are fixtures in Monument Valley. These companies have experienced guides and provide a consistent experience for their guests.

• Roy Black’s Guided Tours : Started by a Navajo person who grew up in Monument Valley, this company specializes in sharing Navajo culture. Tours include the 4x4 adventures and overnight Hogan stays. Roy Black’s Guided Tours is one of the few companies in Monument Valley with guided horseback tours, from 30 minutes to six hours long.
• Monument Valley Simpson’s Trailhandler Tours : Guides with Monument Valley Simpson’s Trailhandler Tours know the valley better than anyone—they were all born and raised here. The company has an extensive list of tours including Hogan stays, cultural experiences, sunrise/sunset outings, and guided hikes.
• Goulding’s Lodge Tours : Operated out of Goulding’s Lodge, 5 miles from the park’s entrance, this company takes guests on partial and full-day tours of the valley. It also offers sunrise, sunset, and full moon tours as well as tours of the areas surrounding Monument Valley Tribal Park.

TripSavvy / Lauren Breedlove 

You can camp inside the park at The View Campground. Nearby, camping is also available at Goulding’s RV & Campgrounds and Monument Valley KOA.

• The View Campground : Located inside the park, this campground has dry RV and tent camping with unobstructed views of the Mittens. The RV sites do not have hookups. Restrooms and showers are available for all campers.
• Goulding’s RV & Campgrounds : Five miles outside the park, near Goulding’s Lodge, this campground has RV sites with full hookups and tent camping. In addition to restrooms and grills, the campground has Wi-Fi and access to the laundromat, convenience store, and indoor pool at the lodge.
• Monument Valley KOA : Campers will find full hookup RV and tent sites about 1.5 miles north of the park entrance at Monument Valley KOA. Campsite amenities include a dog park, basic Wi-Fi, and firewood for sale.

You can actually stay inside the park at The View, aptly named for its balconies overlooking the valley. However, you’ll pay extra for the privilege and have very limited dining options. Nearby, Goulding’s Lodge is a convenient option with similarly limited food options. Kayenta, 25 miles south of the park’s entrance, has chain hotels and several decent restaurants, some serving Navajo specialties. 

• The View Hotel : The only hotel in the park, The View Hotel is operated by the Navajo tribe and boasts some of the most outstanding views in the Southwest. Each of its 96 rooms has its own private balcony, and you can sample Navajo dishes at its restaurant. You’ll also find a gift shop and the park’s visitor center on-site.
• Goulding’s Lodge : Originally a trading post and a base for director John Ford and his crew when they filmed in Monument Valley, Goulding’s Lodge has 152 rooms, Wi-Fi, and cable TV. There’s also a restaurant, indoor swimming pool, museum, theater, laundromat, and convenience store onsite. Planning on a guided tour through Monument Valley? Goulding’s has its own tour company that leaves from the property. 

Monument Valley is quitw remote, the nearest major cities of Phoenix and Albuquerque are both roughly 320 miles away.

From Phoenix, take I-17 north to I-40. Head east to the edge of Flagstaff, and follow signs to pick up US-89 north. Drive approximately 70 miles and turn at US-160, heading east towards Tuba City. Follow this to Kayenta. Turn north on US-163 and continue 25 miles to the park’s entrance.

From Albuquerque, take 1-40 west to Gallup. At Gallup, head north on US-491. Before leaving Gallup, turn left onto SR 264 and head west to Burnside. There, take US 191 north and drive 40 miles north to Indian Route 59. Where IR-59 intersects US-160, turn left. Go 8 miles, and turn right at US-163. Head north 25 miles to the park’s entrance.

The visitor center and facilities are accessible. However, tours may not be. Check with the guide or company before hiring them. Stops on the 17-mile drive are no paved and may be difficult for some to navigate.

• Park admission is $20 per vehicle transporting up to four people. Since this is not a national park, America the Beautiful and other passes are not honored here.
• Navajo Nation observes daylight savings times even though the rest of Arizona does not. When you book a tour, confirm whether daylight savings times will be in effect and adjust your schedule accordingly.
• Drones, weapons, and alcohol are prohibited on Navajo land.
• Because the monuments are considered sacred, you are not allowed to climb them.

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Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

• Weather: Mostly Clear, 72F

Monument Valley, an iconic symbol of the American West and the sacred heart of the Navajo Nation, is the ideal setting for your next adventure in the warm, high desert climate of southeastern Utah. Visitors may explore the 17-mile scenic drive in private vehicles or book a jeep tour to explore the area's backroads and sacred lands with the help of a local guide.  The valley is host to towering sandstone rock formations that have been sculpted over time and soar 400 to 1,000 feet above the valley floor. Combined with the surrounding mesas, buttes and desert environment, it truly is one of the natural wonders of the world. Stay the night and step out after dark to appreciate the timelessness and wonder of the Milky Way. Stopping to appreciate the rhythms of this ancient, sacred land has the ability to change your perspective if you take the time to let it.

Winter in Monument Valley How to Visit Tribal Lands

Monument Valley Fees, Permits & Hours

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is located on the Navajo Nation Reservation, along the state line of southeast Utah and northeast Arizona. The park is a three hour drive from Moab, a little under one hour from Bluff and about 5 hours from Phoenix. Check ahead for current conditions and entrance fees.

• Fees: $8 per person per day. Children 7 and under are free. 
• Visitor Center hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., year-round. 
• Scenic Drive summer hours: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Last vehicles are permitted onto the drive at 6 p.m. and must depart it by 8 p.m.
• Closed during all major holidays in accordance with the Navajo Nation: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
• Permits are required for backcountry hiking, camping, filming and various special uses such as weddings. Visit the park’s website for more information on  current fees and permits .
• GPS coordinates of park visitor center: 37.002449, -110.172615

Visitor Center

Monument Valley Weather

Visitors come to Monument Valley year-round, but most come during spring and autumn to best enjoy the high-desert environment. The onset of searing summer heat usually begins in late May, and it can persist into mid-September. Autumn provides some of the most stable weather of the year. Temperatures may reach mid-90s F in July and August. Clear, warm, sunny days and cool nights make this one of the most delightful seasons to visit.

Winter in Monument Valley can be cold and windy, although there will be some nice days. Average highs in the winter are in the 40s, so you'll want to pack layers and water when you venture out to enjoy serene, sometimes snow-dusted, panoramas.

Utah Weather

Goulding's Lodge is tucked under soaring rimrock cliffs two miles west of the Monument Valley.

Photo: Austen Diamond

Where to Stay

The nearest town to Monument Valley is Mexican Hat , a short drive to the northeast on U.S. 163. For more lodging and dining options, continue along this same highway for another 20 minutes to reach Bluff . Accommodations are also available in Kayenta, Arizona, south on U.S. 163. Goosenecks State Park (near Mexican Hat) also has a campground. 

Gouldings Lodge is another nearby option and the most convenient place to eat inside the park. This lodge is tucked under soaring rimrock cliffs two miles west of the Monument Valley turnoff from U.S. 163 in Utah. Gouldings also has a nice campground that offers RV hookups, a pool and separate cabins. Explore their guided tour opportunities as well.  

The View Hotel is the only lodging inside Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. Reservations well in advance are a good idea if you want to enjoy the amazing views of Monument Valley from this modern hotel.

Things to do in Monument Valley

Guided jeep tours.

Butte after butte and mesas upon mesas are calling your name. Guided jeep tours of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park are a great way to take in the iconic landscape. It is just as much fun for kids as adults, and a great morning or afternoon activity for families.

Hiking the Wildcat Trail

The Wildcat Trail is a 3.2-mile loop hike (4 miles total, including the return to the trailhead and parking area) into one of the most scenic areas that Monument Valley has to offer. This trail lets hikers feel like they stepped back in time into the Wild West.

Mexican Hat

Mexican Hat, one of Utah’s strangest rock formations, balances a flattened pancake disk atop a 300-foot-high talus cone. It’s a novel route and quick summit for expert desert rock climbers.

Monument Valley Area Scenic Drives

A scenic drive around Monument Valley is one of the area’s most popular activities, and for good reason. High-clearance vehicles are recommended to navigate the dirt, gravel and red rock road.

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Visit with Respect

• You are a guest on the reservation and tribal park land, and allowed on site with the permission of the tribe. Act accordingly. Learn more about Native Nations in Utah .
• Avoid taking pictures of people or events unless you have permission. Remember, this is where people live and work. (Watch: Voices of Bears Ears — The Navajo ).
• Act respectfully at all times, but particularly at important sites and burial grounds.
• Don’t remove pottery or other artifacts you may find — this is a violation of federal law. (Read: How to Visit Rock Imagery Sites )

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Monument Valley Itinerary: A Stop-By-Stop Guide

There may be some affiliate links on this page, which means when you click we get a small percentage of the purchase at no extra cost to you. This allows us to keep this page running. Enjoy!

I’ve visited Monument Valley twice over the last few years, and I wrote this Monument Valley itinerary to help you make the most of your visit.

I grew up seeing Monument Valley in the backdrop of John Wayne Westerns and Forrest Gump . For me, and I bet maybe for you too, Monument Valley is just one of those places that is embedded in my mind and captures my imagination. It never occurred to me as a kid that I’d get to visit Monument Valley for myself one day.

This itinerary covers options for self-driving the scenic loop or exploring the backcountry with a guide. It also provides an overview of every single stop so you can decide which to include in your day.

Follow the seven Leave No Trace principles: plan your hike in advance, stick to designated trails, carry out all your belongings, dispose of waste properly, leave natural areas untouched, minimize the impact of campfires, show consideration for fellow hikers, and avoid approaching or feeding wildlife.

Table of Contents

Monument Valley At-A-Glance

• Entrance fee (self-guided): $8 per person, per day
• Tour price range: $80-$150 for 1-3 hour tours
• East and West Mittens
• Elephant Butte
• Three Sisters
• John Ford’s Point
• Camel Butte
• The Hub and Rain God Mesa
• Bird Spring
• Navajo Code Talker Outpost – Artist’s Point
• Spearhead Mesa
• North Window

What is Monument Valley? 

Monument Valley is a breathtakingly beautiful region located on the Arizona - Utah border within the Navajo Nation Reservation. Known for its stunning red sandstone buttes, mesas, and spires that tower over the desert landscape, it is one of the most iconic symbols of the American West.

This vast, picturesque area has been featured in countless films, television shows, and photographs.

Monument Valley is not just a place of striking natural beauty but also a significant cultural and historical site for the Navajo people. The valley is deeply intertwined with Navajo history, traditions, and spirituality. Visitors can explore this magnificent landscape through guided tours led by Navajo guides, offering unique insights into the land’s cultural significance and the stories behind the stunning rock formations.

Who are the Navajo People? 

The Navajo, also known as Diné, are the largest Native American tribe in the United States . Their traditional homeland, Dinétah, encompasses parts of Arizona , Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado .

The Navajo Nation, which covers over 27,000 square miles, is a sovereign entity with its own government, headquartered in Window Rock, Arizona .

Monument Valley is part of the traditional Navajo homeland. The Navajo word for Monument Valley is Tse’Bii’Ndzisgaii and refers to the sacred rock formations, mesas, and buttes here.

These landforms are integral to the Navajo creation stories and are seen as the physical manifestations of their deities and spiritual beliefs.

The area has been inhabited by the Navajo for centuries, and it bears the marks of their ancestors’ presence, including ancient dwellings, petroglyphs, and artifacts.

How to Get to Monument Valley 

To get to Monument Valley, you will need to fly into one of the nearby airports. None of them are particularly close, just to set expectations!

• Flagstaff, Arizona : 2 hours 53 minutes
• Page, Arizona : 2 hours
• Las Vegas, Nevada: 6 hours 30 minutes
• Phoenix, Arizona : 5 hours
• St. George, Utah: 4 hours 40 minutes

Search for flights to Monument Valley here or in the box below!

Whichever airport you choose to fly into, you’ll definitely need to rent a car. You can search for rental cars here or use the search box below!

Navajo-Led Tours

We highly recommend visiting Monument Valley on a guided tour led by a member of the Navajo tribe. This is the best way to learn about their culture and history, which will in turn will add meaning to the landscape you’re exploring.

We booked a group tour through Goulding’s Tours and had a good experience overall. I think next time I would prefer to book an overnight camping tour so we can experience sunrise and sunset in Monument Valley. I mean seriously how incredible would a stargazing tour be there?!

Here are some recommended tours:

• Hunt Mesa Overnight Campout (BUCKET LIST!!)
• Monument Valley Sunrise Tour
• Monument Valley Sunset Tour
• Monument Valley Stargazing Tour
• Monument Valley Highlights Tour with Backcountry Access
• 2-Hour Monument Valley Horseback Tour
• Private Monument Valley Tour
• Overnight Hogan Experience

Monument Valley Map

This map of the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park Map is provided by Navajo Nation Parks. It includes the locations of sites along the 17-mile scenic drive.

Monument Valley Itinerary – Without a Guide

With one day exploring Monument Valley’s stunning landscapes, we recommend following the 17-mile Scenic Loop. This itinerary will guide you through all the major viewpoints, providing plenty of opportunities to take in the iconic scenery.

1. East and West Mittens

The East and West Mitten Buttes are iconic landmarks in Monument Valley, easily recognizable due to their unique shapes that resemble hands. These formations are more than just geological wonders; they symbolize spiritual beings watching over the valley.

The surrounding formations, Merrick Butte and Mitchell Mesa, carry historical significance as well. They are named after two ex-cavalry soldiers turned prospectors who searched for silver in the valley.

2. Elephant Butte

This butte resembles an elephant with its trunk reaching out. It’s a massive formation and offers impressive views, making it a great spot for early morning photography.

3. Three Sisters

These slender spires are said to resemble a trio of nuns in habits. They are often featured in movies and offer a unique view of the valley.

4. John Ford’s Point

Named after the famous director who filmed many Westerns here, this point offers expansive views of the valley. You might recognize it from “The Searchers,” “Cheyenne Autumn,” and “Stagecoach.”

5. Camel Butte

Shaped like a camel, this butte is another fascinating formation. It’s a great place to take more photographs and admire the landscape.

6. The Hub and Rain God Mesa

The Hub is a fascinating formation that symbolizes the hub of a wagon wheel. To the Navajo people, it represents the fireplace in the center of a gigantic Hogan, which is a traditional Navajo home. This connection to their cultural heritage adds depth to the visual appeal of The Hub.

7. Bird Spring

Bird Spring offers a stunning vista overlooking a vast expanse of sand dunes, adding a unique dimension to the Monument Valley landscape.

8. Totem Pole Lookout Point

The Totem Pole stands as a testament to the relentless forces of erosion sculpting the towering buttes of Monument Valley over millennia. Unlike its wooden namesake crafted by Northeastern tribes, this geological marvel is formed from sandstone, showcasing nature’s artistry in shaping the landscape.

East of the Totem Pole lies the Yei Bi Chei formation, representing Navajo spiritual gods.

9. Navajo Code Talker Outpost – Artist’s Point

Formerly known as Artist Point, the Navajo Code Talkers Outpost pays homage to the Navajo Code Talkers whose unbreakable code played a crucial role in military communications during World War II.

10. Spearhead Mesa

Adjacent to the outpost, Spearhead Mesa commands attention with its striking resemblance to the tip of an arrow or spear.

11. North Window

North Window offers a captivating vista of the lower valley to the north, framed by two prominent formations.

To the left stands Elephant Butte, its imposing silhouette commanding attention against the horizon.

To the right, Cly Butte, named after a revered Navajo medicine man known as Cly, rests solemnly. Cly, whose Navajo name translates to “Left,” is buried at the base of this formation.

12. The Thumb

This rock formation resembles a giant thumb, providing another unique photo opportunity and a chance to marvel at nature’s artistry. It is also said to look like a cowboy boot. We see it!

Monument Valley Itinerary with Backcountry Access – Guided

If you book a Navajo-guided tour that includes backcountry access (which you should!) you will get to see several additional locations that are not part of the self-driving route.

Here are our favorite stops in the Monument Valley backcountry (also called Lower Monument Valley):

Ear of the Wind Arch

The Ear of the Wind Arch stands 134 feet tall over Monument Valley. The arch earns its name from a distinctive geological feature—a natural “ear” formation with an opening that interacts with the wind. This unique configuration creates a wind tunnel effect, producing a distinctive sound that echoes through the valley.

Sun’s Eye

Sun’s Eye is a pothole natural arch with a distinct eye-like shape.

Be sure to take a look at the rock along the base to see the Sun’s Eye Petroglyphs!

The Big Hogan

The Big Hogan is a large natural arch in a cave. Like a Navajo Hogan, this formation resembles a circular shelter with a hole in the top.

Moccasin Arch

Like Sun’s Eye, Moccasin Arch is another pothole arch. This is one of the largest and most impressive arches in Lower Monument Valley!

Rain God Mesa

Rain God Mesa, accessible only through guided tours, marks the geological center of Monument Valley. This mesa holds great spiritual significance for the Navajo medicine men, who pray and give thanks to the Rain God here. The Rain God is believed to store water for the people, a vital resource in this arid region.

On the south side of Rain God Mesa, you can see dark streaks painted by the natural aquifer seeping out at the base of the sandstone, highlighting the mesa’s importance in sustaining life in the valley.

Sand Springs

The east portion of the dunes near Bird Springs is known as Sand Springs, accessible only with guided tours. Here, a natural aquifer seeps out, marking the convergence point of the De Chelly and Navajo sandstone formations beneath the shifting sands.

More Things to Do in Monument Valley

Forrest gump point.

At Forrest Gump Point, right off U.S. Route 163 in Utah, you’ll find more than just a roadside view—it’s a slice of movie magic.

Remember that iconic scene from “Forrest Gump” where Forrest Gump decides to end his cross-country run? Well, this spot near Monument Valley is where it all happened.

From here, you get this expansive view of the desert, with those big mesas and rugged buttes stretching out before you. People love to stop here, snap photos, and maybe even recreate that famous running scene from the movie. It’s one of those places that just sticks with you, blending natural beauty with a touch of Hollywood charm.

The GPS coordinates for Forrest Gump Point are: 37.101393, -109.990973

CAUTION! If you decide to take photos on the highway, which we do not recommend, be very careful of traffic. This highway can be quite busy!

Hikes in Monument Valley

There are two hiking trails in Monument Valley. You can sign in for each and get more information at the Monument Valley Visitor Center.

Wildcat Trail

The Wildcat Hike is a 3.8-mile loop trail that typically takes about three hours to complete. This scenic trek around West Mitten Butte offers stunning views of iconic buttes like East Mitten Butte and Merrick Butte. The trail, mostly flat and sandy, winds through cactus and sagebrush, providing an immersive experience in Monument Valley’s unique landscape.

Lee Cly Trail

The 2-mile Lee Cly Trail typically takes 1 hour to complete. Don’t let the length fool you, however. Although short, it is definitely a more challenging hike due to the terrain, with some steep climbs and rocky areas.

Along the trail, you’ll be treated to stunning vistas of Mitchell Butte, Mitchell Mesa, and Grey Whiskers Butte.

The trail also intersects with the Mesa Rim Trail, which involves some rock scrambling but rewards hikers with unmatched views of Monument Valley from above. Combining both trails into one hike offers an ideal way to explore the park’s most scenic spots for a total of about 3 miles.

Tips for Visiting Monument Valley

• GPS : Use a reliable GPS or map application to ensure you stay on course. Be aware that cellular service can be spotty in remote areas.
• Fuel : Fill up your gas tank before you leave larger towns as gas stations can be few and far between in this region.
• Prepare : Bring plenty of water, snacks, and sunscreen . The valley can get very hot, and shade is limited.
• Dress Appropriately : Wear comfortable hiking shoes, a hat, and layers to adjust to the changing temperatures. My biggest recommendation is to wear a buff if you are riding open-air!
• Camera : Ensure your camera or phone is fully charged; you’ll want to capture the stunning scenery. Note that drones are not allowed !
• Respect the Land : Follow the Leave No Trace principles to preserve the beauty and cultural significance of Monument Valley.

Where to Stay 

Although many people stay in Page, Arizona when visiting Monument Valley, it’s a full 2 hours drive. We recommend staying in Monument Valley or nearby instead. You can use the map below to search for accommodations near Monument Valley.

Alternatively, here are our recommendations in Page:

• Courtyard Page at Lake Powell  
• Hampton Inn & Suites Page Lake Powell
• Hyatt Place Page Lake Powell
• Best Western View of Lake Powell Hotel
• La Quinta by Wyndham Page at Lake Powell

What to Pack 

What to wear:.

• Moisture-Wicking Shirt:  Keeps sweat away from your body and dries quickly.  >>>Check out this one from REI.
• Lightweight Hiking Pants or Shorts:  Comfortable and breathable options to protect your legs or keep cool.  >>>I love these Prana hiking pants.
• Sturdy Hiking Boots or Shoes:  Provides good support and traction on rocky terrain.  >>>These Columbia boots are my go-to.
• Wide-Brimmed Hat :  Protects your face and neck from the sun.  >>>Check out this stylish safari-style hat.
• Sunglasses :  Shields your eyes from the intense sunlight.  >>>We love our Goodr sunglasses because they are durable and cute.
• Sunscreen :  Broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher to protect your skin from UV rays.  >>>Check out my favorite sunscreen here .
• Light Jacket or Layer:  In case of cooler temperatures in the morning or evening.  >>>This is my favorite pullover layer.
• Buff or face covering: If you go on a guided tour in Monument Valley and the truck is open-air like ours was, you are going to be pummeled with dust the entire day. We recommend a buff you can pull over your nose and mouth when things get particularly sandy. >>>Here’s our recommended buff.

What to Pack:

• Hydration:  At least 2 liters of water per person; reusable water bottles or a hydration bladder .  >>>Here’s my favorite Osprey backpack with hydration bladder.
• Snacks:  High-energy snacks like trail mix, energy bars, or fruit.
• First Aid Kit :  Band-aids, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, and any personal medications.  >>>This is the medical kit we carry on every hike.
• Multi-tool or Knife:  Useful for various small tasks and emergencies.
• Emergency Whistle :  For signaling in case you get lost or need help.
• Camera or Smartphone:  To capture the stunning scenery.
• Trash Bag:  Leave no trace—pack out all your trash.
• Flashlight or Headlamp :  In case your hike takes longer than expected and it gets dark.  >>>This is the headlamp we use.

More Things to Do Near Page, Arizona

• Hike to Horseshoe Bend
• Take a tour of Antelope Canyon
• Visit Lake Powell
• Visit Mexican Hat
• Try to get permits for The Original Wave (North Coyote Buttes)
• Explore Monument Valley with a Navajo guide
• Check out Glen Canyon Dam
• Visit Goosenecks of the San Juan State Park
• Visit the Paria Townsite Rainbow Mountains
• Hike Yellow Rock
• Hike to Toadstool Hoodoos
• Take a day trip to Kanab

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Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

Iconic Western landscapes inspire visitors to set off on scenic Arizona road trips.

Located in Northern Arizona, Monument Valley’s collection of crimson mesas and towering sandstone buttes capture colors that appear only in nature. The astonishing scenic beauty of the desert landscape also reflects the reverence Arizona’s tribal communities have for the land. Please be respectful of Navajo Nation regulations when visiting Monument Valley to help preserve this ancient site.

Take a Tour

Monument Valley is maintained by Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation. Visitors are welcome to drive the 17-mile dirt loop, Valley Drive, on self-guided tours of this pristine area. Multiple parking areas along the way bring many of the park’s most spectacular rock formations into view. Visitors can also immerse themselves in the natural surroundings on the only public hike in the valley. The Wildcat Trail is an easy 4-mile loop around Mitten Butte, one of the most iconic landmarks of the American West. Or join Jeep tours with local guides for up-close views of ancient cliff dwellings and natural arches in more isolated locations. While up north, add other Navajo Nation natural wonders to the trip, including Antelope Canyon and Canyon de Chelly .

Shop for Traditional Artwork

Meet the silversmiths, potters and weavers who preserve Navajo traditions in their artwork. Inside the park, the Trading Post at The View Hotel offers one of the largest collections of Navajo rugs in the Four Corners area of Arizona. Visitors also find a selection of traditional and contemporary Navajo art such as squash-blossom necklaces, concho belts, hand-woven baskets and sand paintings. Artisans also set up roadside markets along Valley Drive to sell their authentic Native American arts and crafts.

Explore the Colorado Plateau

The high-desert area encompassing the Arizona-Utah border features some of the most scenic drives in the United States. While this area is remote and offers limited services, small towns such as Kayenta and Dennehotso have restaurants and convenience stores to stock up on road trip supplies. Inside the park, The View Hotel offers an overnight option with rooms and cabins that frame magnificent panoramas of the valley. Options for RVs and camping in Monument Valley allow visitors to fully surround themselves with stunning rock outcroppings that come to life with color every sunrise and sunset.

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How To Visit Monument Valley: Which Tour to Pick?

In this post I explain everything you need to know to plan your visit to Monument Valley. I describe why taking a tour is the best way to experience this special place. I provide information on the tour operators available and the best tour to take.

I was talking to a friend recently who was planning a road trip around the American South West. (For an epic southwest road itinerary read this!) She mentioned that she had seen a sunrise photo of mine at Monument Valley and was excited for her visit.

I explained that to see the view from that photograph it was necessary to do a tour in the valley. This got me to thinking – maybe other people would like to know the best way to visit Monument Valley?

Disclaimer:  Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through them I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. This helps cover the cost of running this blog. Thanks for your support!

A Brief Introduction to Monument Valley

The broad term Monument Valley typically refers to the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. It is an area of sandstone buttes on the Colorado Plateau .

Access to the Monument Valley Tribal Park is on US-163, just north of the Utah-Arizona border. The nearest major airport is Flagstaff, Arizona.

Monument Valley is a little out of the way so tourist numbers were typically never too high. However, with the inclusion of Monument Valley in numerous films over the years, visitor numbers have grown.

Monument Valley has featured in classic westerns such as Stagecoach as well as more modern action movies such as Transformers. If you take a tour in the valley your guide will point out which locations have been used for filming.

How to visit Monument Valley – Should I do a tour?

Absolutely yes!

The first time I visited Monument Valley I didn’t know about the available tours. I had very little money to spare and just a basic rental car so driving into the valley for a self guided tour wasn’t an option (high clearance and 4WD recommended).

I admired the buttes from the viewing points, explored the visitor centre and watched a storm roll by during sunset.

It was an incredible sight which I absolutely loved. However, little did I know that in a few years time I would return to Monument Valley for an overnight tour that would lift this special place to a whole new level.

Below, I describe the kind of experience you can expect to have on one of these tours.

Which Monument Valley Tour to Pick?

There are many tour operators offering a wide variety of tours around Monument Valley. There are tours specifically for sunrise or sunset, some for a few hours and some that last all day.

I will focus on the tour that I believe allows you to see the best Monument Valley sights, as well as providing a unique experience which wouldn’t be possible on a self guided visit. That tour is the overnight package.

Tour operators offering an overnight package include: (Click on the tour operator name to visit their site)

What to expect on a Monument Valley Tour

In short you can expect a magical experience that might be your highlight on a trip around the USA.

Yes it’s that good!

The exact itinerary will depend on which tour you book but all will include an unforgettable sunset and sunrise, dinner and entertainment and a night camping or sleeping in a traditional hogan.

I have done the Simpson Trailhandler Tour four times with my groups and I believe it is the best way to see Monument Valley.

On the Simpson Trailhandler tour you set off from the visiter centre just a few hours before sunset. Driving along Monument Valley Scenic Drive you visit popular scenic spots such as John Ford’s Point, before heading deeper into the park.

The informative local guides tell stories and sing traditional songs as you explore the valley.

“We feasted on a steak taco dinner before enjoying a traditional Pow Wow – a chance to experience Navajo dancing and singing around the campfire”.

After fun and games joining in with the dancing, it’s time to lay your heads down for the night.

The inclusion is to sleep in a Hogan – the traditional dwelling of Navajo people. However, I always chose to sleep outside under the stars. Deep down in the valley there is little to no light pollution so the night skies are absolutely incredible.

Early in the morning the guides wake you to head off to the totem pole, where you can enjoy a beautiful sunrise. This area is unaccessible unless on a guided tour. A basic breakfast is provided before slowly making your way back out of the valley.

A truly unforgettable experience.

Monument Valley was always a highlight of my North American Tours and is a must on any Utah bucket list .

Read more about the highlights of our epic overland journey from Alaska to Panama, in a converted American school bus called Betsy!

What to pack on an overnight visit in Monument Valley

A small basic overnight bag that will fit in the jeeps, which includes:

• Warm clothes for the evening
• A warm sleeping bag and matt – in the desert temperatures can plummet to sub zero at night.
• Extra batteries and sim card for your camera and/or a power bank for charging whilst you camp. I use a Zendure power bank for my travels as its robust and provides multiple charges for my devices.

The Best Time to Visit Monument Valley

The best time to visit Monument Valley is during the quieter months of Spring or Fall (May and September). During the peak summer months the temperatures are high and the crowds at their most busy.

Useful things to know before you go

• Monument valley crosses two state lines – Utah and Arizona.
• Tribal Lands don’t recognise daylight saving hours. So in the summer months, even though your phone might tell you you are in Arizona on daylight saving time, you’ll actually be on Utah time who also don’t observe daylight saving time!
• Monument Valley is not a National Park of the Southwest so is not covered by the National Parks Pass. Entrance costs $20 per car. This is not included in the tour package.
• Don’t forget to stop at the Forest Gump Point for that classic photograph. “I was running” (Route 163, 13 miles north of the Arizona-Utah border)
• After Monument Valley why not continue north to Moab? You can discover all the awesome things to do in Moab in this post! Alternatively head west and challenge yourself to a Grand Canyon adventure or embark on a road trip around the best national parks on the west coast .

Final Thoughts On Visiting Monument Valley

Monument Valley is a very special place to visit on a trip to the South West. The way to see of what Monument Valley has to offer to spend a night in the valley and the only way to do this is through booking onto a tour. On the tour you can enjoy beautiful sunset and sunrise at unique locations as well as a traditional Pow Wow and night in a Hogan.

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Louise is an Adventure Tour Guide, Snowboard Instructor & Mountain Leader from South Wales. Through working as a tour guide and snowboard instructor, she has spent the last 15 years travelling Asia, Africa and the Americas. Louise is a published photographer and currently guides mountain trips in the UK.

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Home > USA Parks > Monument Valley > Visit Monument Valley: Things to Do and How to Plan Your Trip

Visit Monument Valley: Things to Do and How to Plan Your Trip

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The three red sandstone buttes that mark the horizon of Monument Valley have now become a symbol of the ideal of the American Far West (great Hollywood westerns were shot here). It is no coincidence that we have chosen them for our page dedicated to the US parks .

So let’s talk about visiting Monument Valley , focusing in particular on what to see and what to do along the scenic drive, the best route to reach the valley, what organized tours are available for the visit and where to stay overnight in Monument Valley or in the immediate surroundings.

How to Get to Monument Valley?

Monument valley time zone, where to stay overnight in monument valley, entrance to monument valley: prices, admission and hours, best time to visit monument valley, monument valley tour, valley drive map: visit monument valley park by car, trails and walks, video: the best things to do in monument valley, monument valley map, restaurants, attractions nearby…, first, some useful recommendations.

Before we focus on the beautiful natural attractions of this wonderful tribal park, here is some useful information for planning your visit.

Monument Valley is run by the Navajo Nation  and is located on the border between Arizona and Utah . To get there we recommend taking I-163 (Scenic Byway 163), a scenic road that will take you straight to the majestic buttes of the valley.

Can You See Monument Valley from Highway 163?

On Highway 163 you will find the famous Forrest Gump Point (picture above), a picture that any tourist with self-respect will take on the road in America.

How to Get to Monument Valley from Las Vegas?

To complete this stretch you can refer to Bernardo’s detailed upcoming travel diary: From Las Vegas to Monument Valley: itinerary between Utah and Arizona.

Pay attention to the time. Unlike Arizona, which is always on daylight saving time, Monument valley is on daylight saving time in spring and summer, so there is a difference of one hour with the surrounding areas and cities (the ones you’ll probably travel from to get to the park). We talked about it extensively in our article about the Arizona-Utah time zone .

If you are looking for accommodations overnight the best are probably The View and Goulding’s Lodge . Both have wonderful views of the valley. Alternatively, you can look in the nearest town, Kayenta , which is not particularly charming, but with a number of different hotels where you can stay for a good price. For more information about finding accommodations you can have a look at our article on Monument Valley Hotels .

Our tips for sleeping in Monument Valley

The general admission to Monument Valley costs $8 per person (children 0-7 are free). There is an option to purchase admission online at the official website ($9 including tax), but this does not allow you to skip the line at the park entrance (“first come, first served”).

Can I get in with the America the Beautiful Pass? As it was explained in a previous article, Monument Valley is not included in the national parks pass because is not managed by the National Park Service; instead, it is managed by the Navajo Nation.

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park Visitor Center Hours

• Peak season (22 April – 30 September) 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, 7 days a week
• Low season (1 October – 30 March) 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, 7 days a week
• Thanksgiving Day – 8:00 am – noon
• New Year’s Eve – Closed
• Christmas Day – Closed

Scenic Valley Drive Hours

Valley Drive Hours:

• 6 AM to 8 PM (peak season). Last entry: 6 PM
• 8 AM to 5 PM (October to March)

Monument Valley is open and can be visited year round and each season can obviously present, as expected, both pros and cons, but nothing that would prevent you from enjoying the beauty of the site. The best seasons are spring and fall , when, thanks to favorable temperatures, your visit will be more enjoyable.

Summertime, the time of year when there are more tourists, can be very hot and you must take the usual precautions (we are in a desert after all). Even if you drive through Monument Valley, the “standard” way to visit the park, you will suffer somewhat from the heat. In winter if you’re lucky you can see snow and take some unforgettable pictures of the snow-covered buttes. For more information I recommend our guide on the best time to visit Monument Valley .

 How to Visit Monument Valley: Take a Tour or Visit It on Your Own?

When you visit Monument Valley you have basically 2 possibilities. Either book one of the many guided tours organized by the Navajo , or explore the valley by a self-guided drive tour . A less commonly chosen option is to go on a hiking tour. Each choice, as always, has its pros and cons. Let’s take a look at all the possibilities:

There are 2 good reasons to opt for a tour:

• The possibility to explore otherwise inaccessible areas
• The fact that you don’t have to drive on Valley Drive, the unpaved bumpy scenic road of Monument Valley

Below is a short list, but for a more detailed overview you can read our article on the Monument Valley tours available.

Guided tours starting from the park

These are guided tours on foot, by bus, 4×4 or on horseback that allow you to explore the park more deeply, visiting places that you would not be allowed to access on your own. Obviously these tours have a cost and they begin directly at the park, so you will have to reach Monument Valley on your own. You’ll find many tours on this page , but the jeep tours available, I suggest you take a look at this one .

If instead you are looking for an unconventional tour that goes into the most remote regions of the park (and shows you breathtaking views!), I suggest you take a look at our in-depth guide of Hunts Mesa .

Some tours can also be found on the official website , although often times they are not really easy to book (often refers to rather outdated sites, not really well done and require  booking tours by phone). Also for this reason we have made a list of the best guided tours available in Monument Valley .

Monument Valley Tour Departing from Nearby Cities

Other tours are more convenient since they depart from nearby cities , often hubs for those wishing to tour the area: Flagstaff (enchanting city near the Grand Canyon ), Sedona (charming city, see the article “Sedona what to do” ), Page (ideal destination to visit Antelope Canyon , Lake Powell , Horseshoe Bend and Vermilion Cliffs ) and Phoenix itself (the capital of the State of Arizona ).

For those who plan their itinerary as they go, stopping in these cities can make the journey considerably easier, reducing the mileage and energy spent the journey. Below you will find some particularly interesting tours of Monument Valley :

1. Monument Valley and Navajo Indian Reservation Tour

• Departures: Flagstaff and Sedona
• Duration: 10 hours
• Pick-up directly at the hotel

A tour designed to explore the beautiful scenery of Monument Valley while getting to know the Navajo way of life. An experienced guide will accompany you not only as you explore Monument Valley, but will also take you to traditional Native homes, bringing you directly into contact with their customs and traditions.

About the tour

2. Navajo Monument Valley Air Tour *

• Departures: Page, Lake Powell
• Duration: Approximately 90 minutes

Do you want to be one of those who can say they flew over the natural wonders of Utah and Arizona by plane? This tour will give you the opportunity you to see not only the stunning Monument Valley from above but also other natural marvels such as Rainbow Bridge National Monument , Lake Powell and more.

*Tour momentarily not available

3. Monument Valley Tours by Plane and Jeep

• Departure: Phoenix
• Duration: 8 hours

“The Best of Both Worlds” as the Americans would say. This is the best solution for those who do not want to miss the thrill of an airplane flight over Monument Valley, but at the same time do not want to give up the exploring it in a jeep, for a closer view of the wonderful valley.

If you plan on driving, you will be a little more limited in terms of where you can go (you will not be allowed to access in some areas, or to stray too far from the road to make an excursion near the hills), however you can travel along the entire Valley Drive , a beautiful scenic road, bumpy but still drivable, which will allow you to go through the buttes and bizarre rock formations of the valley. Right now we will talk about this is the route!

Along Valley Drive you can enjoy a dozen truly spectacular places . Here are the main ones, arranged in order starting from the visitor center. To find your way around, you can also consult this map, with the numbers marking the stops of the route (click to enlarge):

This map is part of the brochure that you will receive at the entrance once you have paid the admission fee. The star indicates the starting point and the route marked in red is the road that you can drive. The southern part (under Rain God Mesa) is accessible only with organized tours.

1) The Mittens and Merrick’s Butte

These three sandstone buttes form one of the most famous landscapes in the world, the true symbol of Monument Valley; it is impossible not to see them, they are close to the visitor center and The View hotel.

2) Elephant Butte

One of the many gigantic and bizarre rock formations of this park. The name comes from the fact that it’s supposed to resemble an elephant. What does it look like to you?

3) Three Sisters

Three rather peculiar thin pinnacles stand out among the much thicker and denser buttes of the surrounding landscape.

4) John Ford’s Point

A decidedly scenic area dedicated to the director who immortalized Monument Valley as the Hollywood symbol of the Far West. Here, if you want, you can take the picture on a horse, just like John Wayne, for just a few dollars. Be careful not to try not to miss this point because it is not well marked. During the route on Valley Drive, near Camel Butte (on your left), you will find yourself at a fork in the road. Instead of continuing on the main road, turn right. You will arrive at a clearing with some shops, where you can view John Ford’s Point .

5) Camel Butte

A large, complex and striking rock formation, called “camel’s hump”.

6) Rain God Mesa

It is a magnificent rock formation situated in the center of the valley, which is striking for its size and grandeur.

7-8) Totem Pole

The strange pinnacles of Totem Pole offer some of the most beautiful views of the Monument Valley. Don’t miss them!

9) Artist’s Point

Another exquisite overlook, where the horizon fades into view.

10) North Window

The “North Window” is the ideal place for a scenic view of the valley from the North.

11) The Thumb

This is another bizarre monolith in its own right, the landmark along the way.

Would you like to get an even better idea of what it means to drive on Valley Drive ? Watch this video below.

Since is on a reservation managed by the Navajo, a good part of the territory is not freely accessible and as a consequence there are not many trails. However, you can still take a nice walk with a close view of the famous  buttes of the valley. The trail is called Wildcat Trail and is the only one in Monument Valley that can be accessed without a guide.

The trail is a 3.7 miles loop round trip and is quite easy and is on predominantly flat sandy terrain. The only real obstacle may be the temperatures that are typical of a desert area. To go on this trail you need to look for the Wildcat Trail sign in the northwest area of the visitor center parking lot in Monument Valley. Along the trail you will also find the Navajo warning signs, including:

• bring enough water
• stay on the marked trail
• do not take plants or rocks
• Look out for animals which may include dangerous animals (such as snakes and various insects)

Another much shorter trail (0.6 miles round trip) that is rewarding and requires minimal effort is located outside the park, just before the entrance. It is called Goulding Arch Trail and it starts at the Goulding Campground ( here the address ). The trail leads to a beautiful natural rock arch unknown to most people.

The GPS coordinates of the Monument Valley visitor center are: 36.982259, -110.111372. Below you can find your way around with an interactive map.

Monument Valley is certainly not known for excellent cuisine, indeed, in general you can say that the quality of the dining options near the park is nothing special. Not to mention the above-average prices of food due to the beautiful landscape that surrounds you and certainly not due to its quality. That being said, here are the places where you can stop for a bite to eat:

• The View Restaurant (inside the park): The food is average and the view is amazing. Probably the best choice if you do not want to leave the beautiful rock buttes of the valley.
• Linda’s Frybread Stand (inside the park): near the John Ford Point and not far from the Ericson Cly Memorial and the Navajo All Native Arts & Craft market is Linda’s traditional frybread stand, which specializes in frybread (a typical Navajo flatbread) that you can enjoy in front of a beautiful view.
• Goulding’s Stagecoach Dining Room (1000 Gouldings Trading Post Road): Goulding ‘s Lodge   dining room lacks a great atmosphere and the food is nothing special either. The menu includes meat dishes, Mexican specialties and frybread.
• The Swingin Steak (2265 US-163, Mexican Hat): in my opinion the best place around . It is located in Mexican Hat, a tiny village with a small population 20 minutes away from the park. The specialty of this place is the way that the meat is prepared. It is cooked on a giant tilting grill. Since it only has outdoor seating (even though it’s sheltered from the elements), the restaurant closes during the coldest months of the year (usually from November to February). NOTE: The restaurant has changed its name and is now simply called Mexican Hat Grill, but everyone still knows it by the old name.
• Olde Bridge Grille (2256 US-163 Scenic, Mexican Hat): Also in Mexican Hat, this restaurant is part of the San Juan Inn hotel complex, which also includes a food court (Trading Post). Here they serve breakfasts, lunches and dinners, and you can also try the typical frybread. According to my experience (I had breakfast here) the quality of the dishes is average.
• Amigo Café (US-163, Kayenta): If you head to Kayenta (but this is more than 30 minutes away from the park) you will find a better value for your money and if you like Mexican cuisine this place is for you.
• Twin Rocks Cafe (913 East Navajo Twins Dr, Bluff): Located at the foot of the scenic Twin Rocks , this is one of the most popular restaurants in the area. The food served is phenomenal, served in good portions and you can have a nutritious breakfast here as well. The only drawback is that it is located near Bluff, about 1 hour away from Monument Valley. However, it can be easily included in an itinerary going from the park to the Moab area or vice versa.

The most interesting attraction you’ll find just outside the park is certainly the Goulding’s Museum & Trading Post ( 1000 Gouldings Trading Post Road), a museum (and at the same time historical residence), which can be visited quickly and is in my opinion worth it, because it gives you a taste of the history of this park and helps you understand how it has established itself as an iconic location for western movies over the years.

This was once the home of Harry Goulding , who moved to the valley in the ’20s and started a profitable trade with the Navajo. In the ’30s, it was he who went to Hollywood to propose to director John Ford that he use the Monument Valley as a set for his western movies. Thus beginning the long history of using this park as a film location and symbol of the American Far West.

In the museum, housed in the current hotel Goulding’s Lodge (1000 Gouldings Trading Post Road), there are preserved frames, posters, photos and other documents that attest the so-called “Golden Age” of Hollywood, well represented by a topographic map with all the locations where the movies were shot. Another interesting place for movie lovers is the John Wayne’s Cabin , whose exterior was used for the film The Knights of the Northwest

But this museum goes far beyond the purely cinematographic interest. It also has a comprehensive display on the historical and cultural aspects that determined the history of the place, Navajo artifacts and objects belonging to the Goulding family, and it gives a small but interesting insight into the lifestyle and commercial activities of the time.

A short distance from the valley there is another park that can be considered basically a counterpart of Monument Valley. Its called the Valley of the Gods and I suggest you consider it as a stop on your West Coast travel . Another area unknown to most but worth a visit is Mystery Valley , an arcane place where, beyond red rock landscapes there are ruins of ancient peoples.

Warning: Operating hours can change and closures for extraordinary events can occur, so we strongly suggest to check the venues official websites.

lorenzo puliti

I am fascinated by the wonders of the world I never tire of going in search of them.

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16 thoughts on “visit monument valley: things to do and how to plan your trip”.

Can I drive my Honda CRV on this road through the park in October?

Hi Sharon. There are no restrictions for driving on Valley Drive based on a specific type of vehicle; nevertheless, one must exercise caution to avoid issues as indicated in our article.

Good morning!

I happened to be looking at your article and I used your link to see the main page for buying tickets to see Monument Valley. I noticed that the Navajo Nation has posted on their page that during the off season, October 1 – March 30, they have listed that they park is only open Mon thru Fri, 8am – 4pm.

Your article shows it to be open 7 days a week.

I wanted to let you know, just so you have up-to-date information.

Thank you for your article. I have it saved for my family and I to use on our trip this year!

Honestly, it’s quite challenging to understand the official Navajo website. In fact, even though the schedule is as you say, it’s possible to book tickets on weekends even beyond October.

Do you need a jeep or 4WD for the drive?

Hi, yes. Generally, a 4wd vehicle is recommended.

I’ve been visiting Monument Valley for over 25 years. And, still, when I visit, with all the photographic stops, it can take me 4 – 6 hours; especially to catch the light, shadows and coloration of the monuments during the morning glow and evening glow. Slow down to Mother Nature’s pace otherwise, you will miss alot, like the wild horses. sheep herds and photo opportunities of the formations thru the juniper.

Please keep in mind Valley Drive is on Navajo Tribal land, is not very well maintained and is extremely bumpy in places (i.e. rocky); especially on the back side of Thunderbird Mesa near Totem Pole view point.

If you just drive through with no stops, you can do the drive in about 90 minutes; perhaps a little less.

Check ahead of time when the Tribal Park opens and closes as their times often changes with the seasons and they only take debit or credit at the entrance station: no cash.

You can drive a little north of MV (i.e. near Forrest Gump point) to avoid the lights from Gouldings Lodge and villas area. It is very close, away from any lights.

We are going to drive through the valley in our car. Would we be able to take our dog? Thanks

Hello, we think there is no problem with dogs, but we suggest you check the official website of the park.

Hi Cooper I am planning to visit Monument Valley for the first time after completing the Antelope Canyon around 12 pm. If I start my trip from Antelope Canyon by 12:30 in the afternoon, will I have sufficient time to explore Monument Valley and nearby areas before returning to Antelope Canyon by night? I have already booked a hotel stay and plan to visit Bryce Canyon the following day.

You can spend a few hours in Monument Valley and then return. It’s not the ideal solution, but if you don’t have any other choice, you can do it.

Thank you!!!

Hi Bernardo Pacini, If I arrive at 3PM. Is that enough to visit? and I don’t stay at The view hotel at night. Where I can to stop to see start at night.

Hei Yang, you will need about 2-3 to travel Valley Drive. Outside the park, you can go in the Goulding’s Lodge area for stargazing.

I was wondering how long the trip to Monument Valley should take assuming I choose to drive it myself according to your itinerary?

Hi Robert! I would say about 2 hours, depending on how many stops you make along the way.

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Visiting Monument Valley: A First Timers Guide

If you are on your way to visit Monument Valley, then you’re in for a treat! The desert scene of Monument Valley is the epitome of the American Wild West landscape. Most people also get intrigued by the coveted rock formation that has been featured in too many TV shows or movies to count. It’s definitely a great sight to visit.

Everything from the best things to do in Monument Valley to Monument Valley tours, we have a complete guide for any first timer looking to plan a visit to the beautiful and ever-impressive Navajo Nation’s iconic landmark.

Visiting Monument Valley

Jump Ahead To:

Monument Facts

• Navajo Name | Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii , meaning valley of the rocks
• Largest Butte | 1,000 ft (300 m)
• Elevation | 5,564 feet above sea level
• Land Size | 91,700 acres (37,110 hectares)
• How Was Monument Valley Formed | Millions of years of erosion
• Who Settled Monument Valley | First, the Anasazi. Then, the Navajo

Where is Monument Valley?

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park spans two states in the southwest of the United States. Located on the borders of Utah and Arizona, the entrance to Monument Valley is located directly off of U.S. Highway 163 in Arizona.

Highly visited sections of Monument Valley, like the Visitors Center and popular viewpoints, are located within the state of Arizona. For reference, the nearest towns to Monument Valley are Mexican Hat in Utah and Kayenta in Arizona.

Get our Ultimate Arizona Road Trip 2 Week Itinerary right here!

Getting To Monument Valley

If you are visiting Monument Valley, understand that Monument Valley isn’t close to anything. Meaning, wherever you are coming from, a rental car is needed to complete your trip to Monument Valley.

In addition, there is no public transportation, outside of taking a tour bus from Sedona , Flagstaff or Las Vegas , renting a vehicle is a must in order to get to Monument Valley.

—->  Check out the latest Van and RV rental pricing and availability at Outdoorsy!

Taking flights to the nearest international airports before renting a car is another easy way to get there. You’ll see more about flying to Monument Valley below:

What Are Some of the Nearest Airports to Monument Valley?

If you were hoping to fly your pretty little self right into Monument Valley, we’re sad to report, there are no commercial airports nearby.

Monument Valley’s closet airport is Pulliman Airport in Flagstaff, Arizona, located 3 hours away. If flying into Flagstaff doesn’t sound all that appealing, no worries! Below is a list of other nearby airports…

• Phoenix : 325 miles | 5 hours 8 minutes
• Albuquerque : 328 miles | 5 hours 21 minutes
• Salt Lake City : 390 miles | 6 hours 42 minutes
• Las Vegas : 430 miles | 6 hours 50 minutes

Once you land, make your way to your RV rental or car. Within a few hours, you’ll be staring at those iconic buttes of Monument Valley!

Monument Valley Nearby Attractions & Parks

When visiting Monument Valley, understand that it is conveniently located a few hours drive from popular attractions and National Parks.

Whether you are going to or coming from, below is a list of popular destinations that are near Monument Valley.

• Four Corners Monument to Monument Valley : 107 miles | 2 hours
• Antelope Canyon to Monument Valley : 122 miles | 2 hours
• Horseshoe Bend to Monument Valley : 130 miles | 2 hours 15 minutes
• Lake Powell to Monument Valley : 130 miles | 2 hours 20 minutes
• Arches National Park : 156 miles | 2 hours
• Grand Canyon to Monument Valley : 158 miles | 2 hours 45 minutes
• Zion National Park to Monument Valley : 232 miles | 4 hours
• Bryce Canyon to Monument Valley : 278 miles | 4 hours 45 minutes

If you’re heading to the Grand Canyon National Park or Antelope Canyon , be sure to read our travel guides for each destination!

Best Time To Visit Monument Valley

Even though Monument Valley is open all year long, the best time to visit Monument Valley is in the spring and fall. These two seasons serve as the peak season for visiting the valley, as the weather and the environment allow for a vast range of activities.

During winter, for example, certain fun experiences like mountain climbing and going for a valley drive is limited.

Also, due to a high number of people who may want to have a glimpse of the scenic views, doing an early booking during the peak times is highly recommended.

Here’s what you can expect during each season:

• Spring & fall: The spring and fall months tend to be cooler during the day and attract less crowds than the summer months do.
• Summer: During the summer, daytime temperatures get into the 90’s and with it being summer vacation, the summer months bring in lots or tourists and their families. Places like the Valley of the Gods that are in the desert parts can become unbearably hot during the summer. Most people will not want to be in these areas at that time. Nevertheless, they come with great amenities like bed and breakfast spots, and tourists can also erect their tents in allocated spaces.
• Winter: In the winter months, Monument Valley gets cold and receives the occasional light snowfall. That being said, the winter months see the least amount of crowds.

Monument Valley Hours

Monument Valley is open daily, but the hours fluctuate depending on the season. In peak seasons, the gates are opened a bit earlier than other times. When visiting Monument Valley, plan your visit around the hours of operation listed below.

Visitors Center Hours

• May – September: 6:00am – 8:00pm
• October – April: 8:00am – 5:00pm
• Closed: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day

Scenic Drive Hours

• May – September: 6:00 am – 8:30 pm
• October – April: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

TIP: If you are wanting to see the stars, no worries, you can stay in the park after closing hours. You just have to be in the park before it closes up for the day. 

Monument Valley Entrance Fee

First things first, you should understand that visiting Monument Valley is not free. An entrance fee to Monument Valley must be paid in order to hike, drive the scenic loop, and visit the Visitor Center.

Separately, Monument Valley is a part of Navajo Nation, which means it is not a National Park. Therefore, your National Park and Golden Eagle passes are not accepted there.

Entry Fees:

• General Admission: $20/per vehicle (up to 4 people)
• Children Admission: Children 9 and under are free
• Commercial Fees: 1 – 6 passengers, $35 | 7-15 passengers, $100
• Individual / Bike Admission: $10

If you decide to book any tours , understand these tours are not included in your entrance fee. The most common tour is the Scenic Loop Drive , and we will talk about that under the things to do in the Monument Valley section.

What To Bring to Monument Valley

Regardless if you are hiking the trail or driving the scenic loop, below is a handful of great items and gear to have with you when visiting Monument Valley.

• Day Pack : REI Co-op Ruckpack  is a perfect day bag for Monument Valley. It’s a perfect size for your camera, water and snacks.
• Water Bottle : You can go two ways with a water bottle – CamelBak Reservoir  or a Hydro Flask . Both options will keep you hydrated in the hot, dry environment of Monument Vally.
• Sunscreen : Speaking of hot and dry, you’re going to want to protect that skin of yours. Best pack some sunscreen !
• Windbreaker : A windbreaker light jacket is a perfect for the windy and ever changing temps of the Southwest.
• Sunglasses : Having a good pair of polarized sunglasses is a must! Keep those eyes safe from the glare of the strong desert sun.
• Snacks: Last but not least, make sure you have some snacks handy for your adventures around Monument Valley.

How Long Do You Need in Monument Valley

Some may wonder, “Will I get to see all of the great sights and enjoy all of the activities in a single day?” The answer is yes, absolutely!

Spending five to six hours in Monument Valley will allow you to see the highlights. However, spending at least one night is our recommendation. By staying one night, you will be able to see a sunrise and sunset — and we must say, both are spectacular.

Things To Do In Monument Valley

Are you wondering what there is to do in Monument Valley? One of our misconceptions of Monument Valley was that there are endless hiking trails and activities.

To our surprise, there actually aren’t a ton of activities to do in the park, which is actually kind of nice! We got to focus on and enjoy what we were doing instead of trying to rush to the next thing.

Below is a list of the best things to do in Monument Valley.

Monument Valley Scenic Drive Loop

One of the major activities is the valley drive, otherwise known as the scenic loop drive . This is a drive along the dirt road that most people find fascinating. There are a number of local tour guides from the Navajo people who can help with this trip along the private roads in the valley.

The guides are knowledgeable of the routes, and you can also opt for a self drive under their close watch. However, most people prefer sitting in the passenger seats, letting loose, and just enjoying the dusty scenes.

The best way to see the famous Monument Valley buttes is by way of the scenic loop drive. You don’t know what this is? Let us tell you. ???? 

The Monument Valley Scenic Drive is a seventeen-mile loop that weaves throughout the park, taking you to the best sites in Monument Valley. In total, you’ll see eleven buttes and viewpoints, some of which you’ll get up close to, whereas you’ll admire others from afar.

Below is a list of sites you can expect to see. Don’t worry about trying to remember which butte is which. When visiting Monument Valley, you’ll be given a Monument Valley map upon entering the park. The eleven buttes you will see are listed as follows:

The Mittens & Merrick Butte

• Elephant Butte
• Three Sisters
• John Ford’s Point
• Camel Butte
• The Hub 
• Totem Pole and Yei Bi Chei
• Sand Spring
• Artist’s Point
• North Window

Self-Driving Monument Valley’s Scenic Loop

The scenic loop road itself is far from a smooth ride. Dirt, holes, rocks, and dust are the components that make up the seventeen-mile loop. It’s a bumpy ride to say the least.

You should maintain a lower speed limit, basically no more than 15 MPH, because of the bumpy roads. Plus, having a lower speed limit gives tourists ample time to take pictures and take in the sights.

Visitors can drive the scenic loop themselves, meaning that you can visit Monument Valley without a Navajo Guide.

However, RV’s, motorcycles, low-riding vehicles, and hiking/walking are not allowed on the loop. If you are in one of these vehicles or on foot, you will need to book a Monument Valley Jeep Tour to experience the sites on the loop.

For those driving themselves, a four-wheel-drive vehicle is not necessary. However, a potential exception to this is if the road is muddy from a rain shower.

Below are a few general tidbits that will be helpful to know as you are planning your loop drive.

• You can expect to spend two to three hours exploring the eleven buttes and viewpoints.
• The scenic drive doesn’t require any permits or additional fees.
• Your entrance fee to Monument Valley is all you need to pay in order to experience the scenic loop drive.
• There are no restrooms on the loop.
• Members of the Navajo Nation do sell soda and water along with a handful of tribal souvenirs.

Hike The Wildcat Trail

Monument Valley isn’t full of hiking trails. Weird, right? The only hiking trail within Monument Valley is the Wildcat Trail.

The Wildcat Trail is a four mile, self-guided loop that takes you to the Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte. The trail is unpaved and full of loose rock and sand, so proper footwear is a must.

The Wildcat Trail starts from the visitor center parking lot. 

• Location: The Wildcat Trail starts from the visitor center parking lot
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Duration: 2-3 hours
• Cost: An entrance fee to Monument Valley is all you need to pay to access the Wildcat Trail

Explore Monument Valley’s Visitors Center

Are you wanting to find one of the most iconic views of Monument Valley? Then head to the Monument Valley Visitor Center. Right outside the Visitor center, you’ll see a view like this.

Additionally, the Visitor Center has a gift shop as well as a small museum explaining the history of the Navajo Nation and Monument Valley.

Are you hungry? You can grab a bite to eat at the on-site restaurant, The View. Needing to relieve yourself? The Visitors Center is also the place to find clean, public restrooms.

Stop at Forrest Gump Point

You know that scene where Forrest Gump stops running? Well, it’s right outside of Monument Valley!

Forrest Gump Point is the popular landmark where Tom Hanks (who played Forrest Gump) proclaims to his loyal running apostles, “I’m pretty tired. I think I’ll go home now.”

• Getting There: From Monument Valley, turn right onto U.S. Highway 163 and drive about 6 miles (20 minutes)
• Best Time To Go : Sunrise

Even if you are not a fan of the movie, the view and drive alone are worth the visit!

Witness a Monument Valley Sunrise & Sunset

If you’ve never seen a Southwest sunrise or sunset, oh maaaaaan, do NOT miss either at Monument Valley. The colors, oh dang the colors! The purples, pinks and blues are unlike anything you’ve ever seen.

Your eyes will cry with happiness, trust us.

Monument Valley Sunrise Photo Spots

• Forest Gump Point
• Visitors Center
• The View Hotel
• Lower Monument Valley Sunrise Tour

Monument Valley Sunset Photo Spots

• Artist Point
• Lower Monument Valley Sunset Tour

Monument Valley Itinerary

Like we said above, you can absolutely finish a Monument Valley visit in one day, but if you can, plan to stay one night. The below itinerary is a two day / one night itinerary for Monument Valley.

Speaking of staying the night, there are some top notch lodges around the area. Take the Goulding’s Lodge , for example. Who doesn’t want to enjoy Navajo delicacies and wake up surrounded by spectacular views? You may not see all of the awesome Valley in its entirety, but trust us, what you will wake up to will be very worth the stay. 

Alternatively, you can spend the night at The View just within the Monument Valley. This particular one offers more views than Goulding’s .

Mid-Morning: Arrive to Monument Valley

• Head to the Visitor Center to explore
• Get some photos of the icons views that lay right outside of the Visitors Center
• Peruse the Visitor Center gift shop
• Get a bit of Navajo / Monument Valley history at the museum

Afternoon: Drive The Scenic Loop

• Spend the next few hours with a Navajo Tour or self-driving the 17 mile scenic loop

Evening: Watch Sunset

• Catch an unforgettable sunset before heading to grab dinner
• For us, we watched the sunset from The View hotel – it was perfect

Early Morning: Watch Sunrise

• Wake up early and watch the sunrise
• We watched the sunrise from Forrest Gump Point
• Another great option is to book a sunrise tour with a Navajo Guide

Mid-Morning: Breakfast & Goodbye

• Grab some breakfast at The View restaurant, in Monument Valley, or at Blue Coffee Pot in Kayenta
• After breakfast, say goodbye to the beautiful Monument Valley

Monument Valley Tours

Outside of self-driving the Monument Valley Scenic Drive Loop or hiking the Wildcat Trail, booking a tour with a Navajo Guide is a must if you are interested in exploring other areas of Monument Valley.

Below are a few popular choices that allow you to have a few unique experiences during your trip.

Mystery Valley Tour

If you are looking for a more secluded experience away from tourists, consider booking a Mystery Valley Tour . To Anasazi and petroglyphs sites to beautiful views, Mystery Valley is a great way to experience areas around Monument Valley.

Hunts Mesa Tour

Hunts Mesa is considered a southwest gem with some incredible picturesque scenes! Capture dramatic views on the Hunts Mesa Tour with experienced Navajo Guides.

Consider extending your stay on Hunts Mesa with an overnight campout on Hunts Mesa.

Cultural Tour

A Monument Valley Cultural Tour is a a perfect way to learn more about Navajo culture and history. For a few hours, be taken through centuries of Navajo tradition and learn about the lands the Navajo call home.

Tips For Visiting Monument Valley

• National Parks and Golden Eagle Passes are not accepted
• Alcohol is not served or allowed in Monument Valley
• Use of drugs is not allowed on Navajo Tribal Lands
• Drones are prohibited
• Rock climbing is not allowed
• Dogs must remain on a leash at all times
• If staying in Monument Valley, campfires are not allowed
• Visitors must remain on marked paths – off trail hiking is only allowed if accompanied by a Navajo Guide

The Best Monument Valley Photography Spots

First, understand there truly isn’t a bad picture of Monument Valley. Well, except for those with lots of people in them 🙂

One of the things we wanted to make sure we got when were visiting Monument Valley were pictures with those iconic views. Below is a list of the top three photo spots in Monument Valley.

John Ford Point

Located on the Monument Valley Scenic Drive loop, John Ford Point is the perfect photo op if you are looking for the classic Western Movie photo.

The Mittens and Merrick Butte are quite possibly the most iconic set of rocks in Monument Valley. Located just outside the Visitors Center and The View Hotel, this setting is a perfect backdrop for an epic photoshoot.

Forrest Gump Point

Honestly, just look at it. This view is mesmerizing! You can find Forrest Gump Point 5 miles outside of Monument Valley.

Monument Valley Time Zone

Monument Valley straddles the borders of Utah and Arizona. So, if you’re wondering what time zone is Monument Valley in, well it’s a good thing to wonder.

In all honesty, when we visited, our phones kept switching between Utah and Arizona time zones depending where we were standing in the park.

However, that being said, the time zone of Monument Valley that is honored is that of Utahs, which is Mountain Standard Time.

TIP: If you are traveling back into Arizona after leaving Monument Valley, make sure you are aware of the time difference, especially if you have to be somewhere by a certain time.

Monument Valley Restaurants

If you are looking for a thriving culinary scene, well, Monument Valley is not it. Wah, wah, wah. You do however have a few options when it comes to dining in and around Monument Valley.

Get the complete Monument Valley restaurant list below.

Restaurants in Monument Valley

We are going to shoot it straight, the below places are a tad overpriced and a bit mediocre. However, if you are looking for something with a view and conveniently located in Monument Valley, then these options should be fine for you.

• Stagecoach Restaurant – Located in the hillside of Goulding’s Lodge, Stagecoach serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner to the Monument Valley goers. From omelets to burgers and sandwiches to steaks, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from at Stagecoach.
• The View Restaurant – Located within Monument Valley’s Visitor Center, you’ll find The View Restaurant. You can expect to find items like Green Chile Stew, Navajo Tacos, steaks and salads.

Restaurants Near Monument Valley

The closest restaurants outside of Monument Valley can be found in the nearby town of Kayenta. Below are some local eateries where you can find options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

• Amigo Café (Mexican & American fare)
• Blue Coffee Pot Restaurant (Breakfast diner)
• Wagon Wheel (Native American and American fare)
• Reuben Heflin Restaurant (Native American and American fare)
• Fast food restaurants (Taco Bell, Burger King, Subway, etc.)

Since we rented and stayed in an RV, we cooked our own meals. However, we did eat at the Blue Coffee Pot Restaurant. It was a perfect stop for breakfast and coffee before we hit the road to our next destination !

Gas Stations in Monument Valley

If you are running low on gas, know that there is only one gas station in Monument Valley. You can find that one gas station at the Goulding’s Lodge hotel.

TIP: Do your best to fill up before you arrive to Monument Valley or after you leave as refueling in Monument Valley is expensive.

Can You See Monument Valley From The Highway ?

The short answer is yes. Once on U.S. Highway 163, you drive right through Monument Valley when you’re between Kayenta and Mexican Hat.

If you have no desire to stop and pay the Monument Valley entrance fee, you can see parts of Monument Valley from the highway. However, to be completely honest, the views are not as good from the highway.

That being said, if you can’t spare a few hours, seeing Monument Valley from the highway is definitely the next best thing! It’s better to see Monument Valley from the highway than to not see it at all 🙂

Movies Filmed In Monument Valley

Monument Valley was made famous on the big screen with its appearance in John Ford’s “Stagecoach” staring John Wayne in 1939.

Since then, the list of movies that have features Monuments Valley epic southwest setting have climbed. Below are a few popular movies filmed in Monument Valley.

• My Darling Clementine (1946)
• The Searchers (1956)
• How the West Was Won (1962)
• Easy Rider (1968)
• The Eiger Sanction (1975)
• National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)
• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
• Back to the Future Part III (1990)
• Thelma & Louise (1991)
• Forrest Gump (1994) – Our below picture was taken from the place Forrest Gump was filmed
• Mission: Impossible 2 (2000)
• The Lone Ranger (2013)
• Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)

Where To Stay In Monument Valley

Monument valley hotels.

If you are looking to stay directly in and/or a few feet from Monument Valley, there are a few accommodations to choose from. And in all honesty, if you are willing to pay a little more, it’s well worth the stay!

• Goulding’s Lodge – From private Cabins to hotel rooms, the views that can be seen from Goulding’s Lodge is why tourists flock to stay here. The location is superb and the rooms are clean – perfect for a few nights stay. This lodging is not technically in the park but offers shuttles and tours from their location.
• The View Hotel & Cabins – Does having the Mittens & Merrick Butte in your backyard sound amazing? Well, then you should reserve a room or private cabin at The View! Since this lodging is in Monument Valley Park, there is no better place to stay for amazing views.

Monument Valley Campground & RV Park

We are happy to report that you can camp in Monument Valley! There is camping directly within and close by Monument. Camping is by far the cheapest accommodation that lies within and near Monument Valley park.

• The View RV Site offers dry RV sites that have hookups with a view you can’t beat! Each RV site comes with a picnic table and is feet away from the shower house.
• Goulding’s RV Site , like The View, come with full RV hookups, Goulding’s hookups have water, 50-amp power, and cable-TV.
• The View Campground , offers campsites in Monument Valley for travelers to enjoy. The campgrounds are nestled within a hillside with direct views to the Monument Valley Buttes.
• Goulding’s Campground comes with a fire pit and picnic table that are nestled under the beautiful red mountains of Monument Valley.

Hotels Near Monument Valley

If staying in Monument Valley is not tickling your fancy, no worries, there are plenty of accommodations outside Monument Valley for you to call home.

• Bluff Dwellings Resort – If you are looking for a desert oasis to relax in, then Bluff Dwellings Resort is it. From an outdoor fireplace, pool & hot tub this desert accommodation is sure to please.
• Canyon Wren Bed & Breakfast – Charlie and Susan aim to please and make sure their guests are well taken care of. With a terrace garden and epic views of the desert landscape, Canyon Wren Bed & Breakfast is a great place to stay while visiting Monument Valley.
• Willow Street Cottages – Featuring an on-site vineyard, Willow Street Cottages is a quant and cozy accommodation. Close to Monument Valley and Mesa Verde Parks, your stay will no doubt be an enjoyable one.

For more accommodation choices and places to stay in and near Monument Valley,  you can check the latest place and prices here  to secure an unforgettable accommodation.

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Happy Travels,

– Lauren & Jesse Stuart (The Stüs)

We're Lauren & Jesse, the creators behind Wandering Stus! We've been traveling for decades, exploring and experiencing the very best this world has to offer. Whether we're roadtripping the U.S. in our camper, hiking through National Parks, or jet-setting to different countries around the globe, we write detailed travel guides to help you plan one amazing (and unforgettable) adventure!

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• Monument Valley
• Monument Valley Travel Guides & Tips

Monument Valley Scenic Drive: The Ultimate Guide

• 2019-10-14 15:45:25

Monument Valley was a relatively unknown area until the 1930s. In 1938, John Ford, a director, fell in love with the area and chose the location for his well-known western film,  Stagecoach.  Monument Valley became an integral part of his films and was featured in many more over the years. Ford’s films made Monument Valley one of the most familiar landscapes in the United States. They really put the region on the map and were the beginning of its increasing popularity. The area’s beautiful red sandstone buttes and panoramic views have become symbolic of the American West and are usually the first thing that comes to mind when one pictures the southwest today.

Many visitors tend to drive into Utah and stop at the popular Forrest Gump Point. From here, they take advantage of the terrific photo ops and take in Monument Valley from a distance. However, Monument Valley is a place you should get up close and personal with. Trust me, you don’t want to skip over it. It will be a highlight of your southwest road trip. In this guide you will learn everything you need to know before visiting this incredible park and embarking on your own Monument Valley scenic drive.

What is Monument Valley?

Monument Valley Park is a desert region of the Colorado Plateau. It is not an official national park, but belongs to the Navajo Nation and thus, a Navajo Tribal Park. It’s a stunning collection of varying rock formations, famous for its dramatic sandstone buttes and mesas. The elevation from the valley floor ranges from 5,000 to 6,000 feet above sea level, with the largest of the buttes being 1,000 feet above the canyon floor.

Where is Monument Valley?

Monument Valley is located off the US-163, just north of the Arizona and Utah border. It’s not a difficult place to reach, but it is somewhat remote and requires a car and a little planning. It’s best done as part of a Southwest road trip. There are a handful of airports you have the option of choosing from, but your best bet is to fly into Phoenix and rent a car. The closest airport is actually Flagstaff, but a change of planes is necessary, so it is easiest to just drive directly from Phoenix. The drive from Phoenix is 330 miles and takes about five hours, but there are some great stops along the way, such as the Grand Canyon and the beautiful sights of Page, AZ. Other airport options include:

• Las Vegas – 410 mi
• Salt Lake City – 390 mi
• Albuquerque – 330 mi

How to Visit Monument Valley

There are two options when it comes to exploring Monument Valley- either with a Navajo guide or through a self-guided tour. The self-guided tour is an easy-to-follow, 17 mile scenic drive loop, referred to as the Valley Drive. If you wish to explore beyond the loop, you will need to make tour arrangements since it is tribal land. Trespassing is not allowed and visitors need to respect and abide by the rules set by the Navajo government. There are sunrise and sunset tours, as well as photography tours available to choose from.

I recommend doing a self-guided tour, or scenic drive. General admission is $20 per vehicle, up to four passengers, with each additional passenger being $6. A map of the loop will be handed to you upon entry with all the major points marked. The entire loop is completely unpaved, so be prepared for a very bumpy and dusty ride. I knew very little about Monument Valley before my visit and when renting a car, I chose a small, compact vehicle. However, I would recommend renting a 4×4. I drove very slowly and didn’t experience any major difficulties with my car, but some of the steeper hills did present more of a challenge and were somewhat worrisome. There was some rain the day before, but I definitely wouldn’t have risked it if there was significant water on the ground.

What to See in Monument Valley

There are eleven lookout points along the loop and one self-guided hiking trail in the park. It’s easy to see all the major sights on the drive. Some points that you will want to be sure not to miss are:

• John Ford Point :  John Ford Point is probably the most popular stop. It is easily recognizable from Ford’s westerns. For an additional fee you can take a photo of a horse and cowboy out on the point or even sit on the horse yourself.
• Merrick and Mitten Buttes:  The three large buttes known as Merrick, East Mitten and West Mitten are located in the same general area and form a triangle. When viewed from the south, the Mitten Buttes actually resemble mittens with thumbs facing inward.
• Artist Pointe:  This lookout has an incredible view of West Mitten Butte, East Mitten Butte, and Merrick Butte. It’s also a great spot for sunrise.

Wildcat Trail is the only self-guided hiking trail in the park. It’s a 3.2 mile loop that takes about three hours to compete. The trail offers hikers some amazing scenery and takes them to incredible views of the Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte. There are some other trails in the area, but you will need to be accompanied by a guide to access them.

How Much Time Do I Need There?

The Valley Drive can be done in two hours, but if you want to do any hiking or exploring beyond the loop, I suggest giving yourself at least a day and stay a night in the area. Monument Valley is a gorgeous place to catch either sunrise or sunset, which makes an overnight stay totally worth it.

While driving in and around Monument Valley, I noticed the time on my phone changing. It’s important to be aware of the time differences between Arizona, Utah and the Navajo Nation when planning your day. Arizona does not observe daylight saving time and uses standard mountain time. Utah and Navajo lands, however, do observe daylight saving. This is something you will want to keep in mind, especially if you have tours booked.

When to Visit Monument Valley

Monument Valley has a desert climate with hot summers and cold winters. Temperatures can get high in the summer months, but it doesn’t get as hot as one would think because of the altitude. Summers, however, are the most crowded and the road is usually packed with visitors. Winters can see light snowfall, but the snow usually stays on the ground for only a day or two. Spring or fall is the ideal time to visit with mild weather. You’ll be able to avoid both the extreme temperatures and the crowds. April through June are the more windy months. I visited in May and temperatures were mild, but it was incredibly windy and made for a very dusty experience. I still had a great time; just be prepared and bring a jacket.

Where to Eat & Stay in Monument Valley

When it comes to hotels in Monument Valley, there are very few options. I would suggest The  View Hotel or Goulding’s Lodge. Both of these hotels book up well in advance and can get expensive, so I recommend making reservations as early as possible. If you find them booked, don’t let that stop you from visiting the park. I opted to use Page, AZ as a home-base and make Monument Valley a day trip, which worked out well for me. Goulding’s also offers camping with the option of an RV site or traditional tent.

When it comes to food in Monument Valley, the options are limited as well. There is The View Restaurant and Stagecoach Restaurant, which are located in the above mentioned hotels. They serve a combination of Navajo and classic plates, such as burgers. The food is pretty average. I would choose The View Restaurant, not for its food, but for its views of the valley. Be aware that the restaurants are not open at all hours and although they do serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, they have specific hours for each meal.

Other Things to Know

• You will want to check the  official site  of the Navajo Nation for park hours and Navajo holidays before planning your visit.
• If you’re only driving the loop, getting out of the car isn’t really necessary, but I would wear sneakers nonetheless. It’s really dusty.
• Don’t forget to bring water and sunscreen.

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The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Monument Valley

March 30, 2018 //  by  Mae-Gene //   8 Comments

Why, hello there! This post might contain affiliate links, which means I earn a commission (at no extra cost to you!) if you purchase from them. 

If you’re traveling through USA’s Southwest – specifically through Arizona or Utah, you need to include Monument Valley on your itinerary.

For travelers visiting the southwest, Monument Valley is a can’t miss on your southwest road trip . The views here are beautiful, and you can’t help but feel like you’re in an old black and white western film when you’re here!

So, if you’re planning a to pass through this part of the US, read on for everything you need to know about visiting Monument Valley!

What is Monument Valley?

Monument Valley or the Navajo Tribal Park is part of the Navajo Nation, the largest land retained by a Native American tribe. Monument Valley specifically is famous for being the filming location of many John Ford country films. It has also featured in many modern films, including Forrest Gump and even Disney’s “The Lone Ranger” starring Johnny Depp.

Monument Valley has featured so heavily in western films that people now think of Monument Valley when they think of American West. The area is recognizable for its massive sandstone “buttes” or monuments.

How to get to Monument Valley

The best way to get to Monument Valley is via car. If you’re visiting from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, it’s about a 2.5 HR drive. The area is not accessible via public transport (it just doesn’t exist!) and there are very few tour options available unless you are on a longer tour of the Southwest.

The entry fee for Monument Valley is $20 per car. You pay your fee upon entry (remember that Monument Valley is  not a National Park and hence you cannot use your National Parks Pass).

Make sure you look up opening hours beforehand, especially if you are short on time. If you want to sightsee, you will need to visit during 6 am to 8:30 pm (during peak season, May 1-Sept 30) or 8 am to 4:30 pm (during off-peak season Oct 1 – Apr 30).

Taking the Self Guided Driving tour of Monument Valley

There are two main ways you can get around or see Monument Valley. One of them is via a self-guided driving tour or a guided tour.

Upon entry to the Navajo Tribal Park, you’ll get a self-driving map with information on points of interest. The self-driving roads aren’t paved here (apart from in front of the visitors center) and can be incredibly steep.

If you have a small car or aren’t comfortable driving in such conditions, you may not want to do a self-driving tour. The roads are more suited to 4WD (though we did see a couple of sedans and small cars!)

Make sure you give your self enough time to take in all the sights if you’re driving yourself around. The recommended time is 3 to 4 hours. Also make sure you check out the hours that the self-driving road is open until (they close at 4:30 pm during off-peak season and 8:30 pm during peak season!)

If you’re planning a road trip through Arizona and Utah, make sure you download my free 7-day itinerary (which includes tips for places to visit!)

Taking a Guided Driving tour of Monument Valley

Another option is the backcountry tour. The tours aren’t as popular as self-driving, but, I highly recommend it! There are many parts of Monument Valley which are not accessible to private vehicles. You’re only allowed to access these areas with a guide, who will take you out on a 4WD.

We took a Backcountry group tour with Majestic Monument Valley Touring Co. and found the tour worth the cost. We ended up being the only people on our tour (the other couple canceled) and so our tour guide took our preferences into account when deciding where to take us. We love photography (as did our tour guide!) so we got to make regular photography stops. The tour went for 3 hrs (make sure you visit the toilet beforehand!)

As Australians who knew very little about the history of the Navajo Tribe or the experiences of Native Americans, we found the tour educational. I’m not sure whether our tour guide had taken around many visitors who weren’t from the US before, however, he was patient in answering our many questions. He even had questions for us about Australia’s history.

If you know very little about the Navajo tribe and you want to see the back roads of Monument Valley, I would highly recommend a backcountry tour.

Check out the TripAdvisor reviews here | Book a tour here

The 4WD for our backcountry tour of Monument Valley

Where to stay when visiting Monument Valley

If you’re looking to stay the night in Monument Valley, you have a couple of options.

For Budget travelers: Goulding’s Lodge 

Goulding’s Lodge is just outside Monument Valley and it’s prime location means it can fill up during busy periods! Every unit has a kitchen (great for cooking your own meals) and comes fully air-conditioned. Some of the rooms come with a balcony, giving you beautiful views of Monument Valley. Check out the Tripadvisor Reviews here.  

Book on Booking.com | Book on Expedia 

For mid-range travelers: The View Hotel

The most popular option (but also most expensive) is The View Hotel, which gives beautiful views of Monument Valley. The View Hotel is the only accommodation option located within Monument Valley. Every room comes with a balcony and has prime views of the valley.

We wanted to spend the night here when visiting, but booked our accommodation too late. It was booked out!  Check out the Tripadvisor Reviews here.  

Book directly through their website

Other accommodation options

There are also a couple of towns nearby that you can stay in. If you’re heading onwards to Page (where Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend are located), we’d recommend staying in Kayenta.

It’s a small town, but there are a couple of budget-friendly options available. Kayenta is also a great place to spend the night if you don’t want to drive all the way to Page on the same day.

When visiting, we stayed at the Wetherill Inn in Kayenta .

Rooms here are budget-friendly, spacious and quiet. You can check out the Tripadvisor Reviews here.  

Some wild horses we saw on our guided tour

Where to eat in Monument Valley

There aren’t many food options in Monument Valley. If you’ve got time, however, we’d recommend eating at The View Hotel .

The restaurant has Navajo inspired food (and the portions are quite generous!) We really enjoyed the food and highly recommend it if you’ve got time. Make sure you get a window seat – the restaurant has beautiful views of monument valley!

If you’re planning a road trip through USA’s southwest or through Arizona and Utah, I would highly recommend a visit to Monument Valley. Regardless of whether you’re a movie buff or not, Monument Valley is a beautiful place that everyone can appreciate.

And if you’re planning a road trip through Arizona and Utah, make sure you download my free 7-day itinerary (including tips of what to see/do!) Just click the image below to download your free copy:

Are you planning a trip to the southwest?

Are you visiting monument valley , leave me a comment and let me know.

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About Mae-Gene Yew

I'm obsessed with eating copious amounts of sushi and hiking in New Zealand. But on most days you can find me in my home city of Melbourne dreaming of my next adventure, working my lil' corner of the internet (this blog!) or gettin' ready to strap on my hiking boots. Read more...

Reader Interactions

April 13, 2018 at 7:41 pm

I am absolutely dying to check out Monument Valley – those landscapes look absolutely increidble! Thanks for this helpful guide, will definitely keep it handy!

April 14, 2018 at 11:46 pm

I hope you get to visit, Caroline! It’s definitely a beautiful place and well worth the long drive 🙂

April 13, 2018 at 8:42 pm

I always look forward to your posts, MG. Your photos are just stunning and you visit such beautiful places. I love roadtripping, so I’ll definitely be adding Monument Valley to my USA to-see list! 🙂

April 14, 2018 at 11:47 pm

Thank you so much, Sarah! The feeling is definitely mutual 🙂 Hope you get to visit Monument Valley on your next US trip!

April 13, 2018 at 11:11 pm

I would love to visit Monument Valley. The landscape looks amazing and would be beautiful during the sunset. Will add this place on a future road trip. Thank you for sharing!

I’m so glad you enjoyed reading this post, Jackie! Hope you get to visit soon 🙂

April 14, 2018 at 5:20 am

I’ve always wanted to visit this national park, looks magnificent. Self guided looks great, although will stick to your advice on 4wd, too many times i’ve driven little cars down unsuitable roads 🙂

April 14, 2018 at 11:48 pm

Cat, I too drive little cars down unsuitable roads (and then later have major regrets!) I hope you get to visit soon 🙂

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Monument Valley: The Ultimate First Timer’s Travel Itinerary

Most of you know Monument Valley because Forest Gump ran across America. Pictures of the famous Highway 163 with towering red monuments in the background are sprawled across Instagram, from the park’s 350,000 visitors a year.

What To Expect: Driving through Monument Valley was somewhat shocking for us – and we’d almost compare it to a bit of culture shock . Being from Kentucky, neither of us had spent a ton of time out West and we weren’t prepared for the spectacular landscapes. From the swirling red desert to the towering monuments… it somewhat felt surreal . On our trip through the Southwest, we had already been to the Grand Canyon and we were still overwhelmed by the beauty of it all!

Monument Valley Navajo Park stretches across the 26,000 square mile Navajo Reservation in Utah and Arizona. The entrance to the park is in Utah – but you’ll technically be driving through the Arizona side to see all of the most famous rock formations.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO How Much Does Monument Valley Cost? $20 Per Car ** Park Hours: Hours change with the seasons. Check here. Is Monument Valley In Arizona or Utah? Both. Best Time To Go To Monument Valley? Spring and Fall. Best Hotels: Goulding’s Lodge , The View Hotel Closest Airport: Page Airport Can I Use My US National Park Pass: No

** There is an additional $6 a person fee if your car has more than 4 people, and ages 9 and under are free. This cost does not include guided tour tickets. At the time of writing this article – normal private car tours have not resumed. Make sure to book your tickets in advance! (See guided tours below!)

Navajo History

While most people know Monument Valley by its common name – the park also has a Navajo name: Tse’Bii’Ndzisgaii. No tour of these fascinating monoliths would be complete without sharing the history of the people whose land you’re driving on!

The first peoples to inhabit the area were the Anasazi Indians in 1200 B.C.E. There is still evidence of their dwellings and pictograph cave drawings in protected areas around Monument Valley. (To access these historic relics – see the Mystery Valley tour below!)

Spanish settlers from the 17-18th century frequently roamed the parts of the desert but there is little evidence that they ever entered or found Monument Valley. With frequent clashes between the Spanish and the Navajo who called themselves Dine, (in English ‘The People’), no outsiders have ever truly settled in what the Navajo considered a sacred place.

• The Spiritual Background of Monument Valley: To the Navajo people, different parts of this region represent different things spiritually. Some spaces between the monoliths were considered ‘doors’ while others were considered the hands of dieties.

The Navajo people did not officially own this tract of land until the late 1920s/early 1930s. That’s less than 100 years!! Now home to the Navajo Nation, over 100 people from the Navajo tribe still live and work in the valley to manage and preserve this natural wonder. Other Navajo Tribal Parks include Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park, Tseyi Dine’ Heritage Area, Four Corners Monument Navajo Tribal Park, and Little Colorado River Gorge.

• FUN FACT: Wild horses can still be seen roaming in Monument Valley! The Navajo people help manage the herds that run in Utah Valley, and there are regular ponies belonging to the tribe rounded up in pens near the scenic loop.

With all that the Navajo people have endured over the years due to settlers, please be deeply respectful. Don’t carve anything into their land and practice strict Leave No Trace principles!

Monument Valley Driving Tours

If you’re doing a self-paced tour through Monument Valley – you’ll likely be able to cover the 17 miles of the park in one day. This is what we did and absolutely loved it for our first time there.

NEW REGULATIONS AS OF 2021 At the time of writing this article – the Navajo Nation had just reopened the park. To do the full 17-mile Monument Valley scenic loop drive – you will have to book a tour. Private vehicles are not allowed at this time to limit capacity and protect the health and safety of the Navajo people. Before planning your trip – make sure to book in advance with one of the tour options we’ve shared below. If you’re willing to risk getting a tour or not, you can also potentially get a spot in one of the daily tours at the parks Visitors Center. Spots are not guaranteed.

After entering the park from Highway 163, visit the visitors center to pay your $20 visitors fee. Take a moment to walk around and look at the exhibits featuring local geology and Navajo culture!

You may then start your driving tour of Monument Valley past The View Campground.

P.S. Something we loved about visiting Monument Valley that you’ll notice right away: it’s not corporate. Even with the sheer volume of people who visit every year – it’s still a local feeling operation and feels like one of the more authentic American experiences!

• Driving Speed: We went no more than 20 miles and hour throughout our entire tour. If you’re short on time – don’t plan to rush through. Just see what you can see!

Scenic Driving Points

There is so much to see on the Scenic Loop – you could go back three or four times and notice something new every time. With that being said – there are a few major formations and gorgeous viewpoints that your guide will point out right away! (Even if you’re not with a guide – most of these fascinating waypoints are pretty easily identified.)

These are the 11 major sites to be on the lookout for while driving :

NO. 1 THE MITTENS AND MERRICK BUTTE: The most recognizable and most photographed section of Monument Valley, comprised of West mitten, East Mitten and Merrick Buttes. It’s where we stopped for the first photo in this post! There is a large area where you can park on your driving tour and take photos! Highly recommend having a tripod and a wide-angle lens!!

NO.2 ELEPHANT BUTTE: Doesn’t look like an elephant but it is MASSIVE! Like the kind of thing you just do not expect to be popping up out of the ground.

NO.3 THREE SISTERS: One of our favorite shots from the trip was at Three Sisters. The sun shone perfectly through three sisters perched high on the hill with a plane trailing close by!

NO.4 JOHN FORD’S POINT

John Ford’s Point is famous for many reasons. It’s a popular horseback riding tour spot, with people getting epic shots into the Valley down below – and also a famous movie scene!! Named after the director John Ford, this scene was in Stagecoach, My Darling Clementine, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, and many more! To get here – make sure you follow the map and take a right instead of following the trail to the left along the main Valley Trail. There are shops and such there so you’ll know you’re in the right place!

• Oljato Navajo Trading Post: Close to John Ford Point is an area with little shops and the histoic national monument ‘Oljato Navajo Trading Post’. While no longer in use – you can still grab a frybread snack from Linda’s Frybread stand closeby!!

NO.5 CAMEL BUTTE: This formation is closer to the road and allows visitors to see striations in the rock. Take a moment to think about how these monuments formed over millions of years!

NO.6 THE HUB: A phallic-shaped formation that you can’t miss. (Insert hand covering face emoji here lol..) This formation is another that’s close to the road and allows you to see layers of sediment and rock that have formed over time.

NO.7 TOTEM POLE AND YEI BE CHEI

Where Are Totem Pole and Yei Be Chei: If you look closely in the background of the photo above – you’ll see the spindly columns of red rocks that form Totem Pole and Yei Be Chei. Totem Pole is farthest to the right and the jagged line of the other column formations is Yei Be Chei. NO.8 You can also see Sand Spring from this point! Sand Spring is where you can truly experience the red sands of the desert near the parking area for the Totem Pole lookout.

NO.9 ARTISTS POINT OVERLOOK: Driving back away from Totem Pole, head towards the loop and take a right. You’ll pass another giant formation called Spearhead Mesa , and before continuing on the loop you’ll see an offshoot to the north of Spearhead Mesa . This road will take you to the viewing area for Artist’s Point. Named Artist’s Point for a reason – this spot offers picturesque views of the Northern side of Monument Valley.

NO.10 NORTH WINDOW OVERLOOK: After leaving Artist’s Point, continue back towards the scenic driving loop and take a right. The first road you come to on your right will take you to North Window Overlook. Standing between Elephant Butte (left) and Clay Butte (right), you’ll have incredible views of East Mitten Butte and small portions of Merrick Butte to the west.

NO.11 THE THUMB: When you’re done admiring the view at North Window Overlook – head back towards the scenic loop. Before you continue driving, you should run smack dab into The Thumb. As the last official stop on the scenic loop, take your time enjoying this unique formation. As one of the only rounded formations in the park, this is where The Thumb takes its name from!

Booking Guided Tours in Monument Valley

There is so much to see and do – it can be somewhat overwhelming in reality? The sky is bigger than anything you’ve ever seen and if you’re from the East Coast or anywhere in the mountains, it’s an odd feeling being so out in the open.

If you’re not sure about driving through the park yourself – we highly recommend taking a guided tour of the park.

Guided tours of the park can be purchased through the Get Your Guide links below to support Navajo Nation! These tours are only available with Navajo Guides. (These tours are also great if you’re short on time and you want to see the best of Monument Valley in a few hours!!)

• Stargazing Tours – With nothing around Monument Valley for miles – stargazing here is one of the last places on Earth you can really go with no light pollution ! See the Milky Way for miles above the purple and red hues of the valley below!
• Scenic Loop Tour (Stopping at John Ford’s Point) – 2.5 Hour Tour – Explore backcountry with a Navajo guide and see landmarks that you can only access with a guided tour.
• Extended Monument Valley Tour & Backcountry Access – 3.5 Hour Tour – Explore deeping into the wilderness of Monument Valley with your Navajo tour guide!! Perfect for photographers – you’ll be allowed extra time at each stop.

All guided tours with Navajo guides will be in open-top guide trucks. 5-6 people can sit comfortably per tour!

Hiking Trails in Monument Valley

Because Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park isn’t a National Park – what you can see is extremely limited. To really get the most of your Monument Valley excursions, most people want to hike and get up close to the monuments. There is only one trail to be able to do that without a Navajo Guide: Wildcat Trail.

• Wildcat Trail – This 3.2 mile loop will take you around Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte. This trail is moeratly difficult and will take you 2-3 hours to complete. (You’ll proabably stop for pictures alot!)

A LITTLE GEOLOGY LESSON! One of the best parts about visiting Monument Valley is the deep red clay and sands that swirl through the desert. Whether you’re hiking or driving – do yourself a favor and really pay attention to the desert around you. What Are The Rocks Made Of? The rocks are an interesting mix of red, purple, and blue hues throughout the day! These colors are made possible by deposits of different minerals throughout the soil. Iron oxides give off red hues and magnesium oxide gives off purple and blue hues!! FLORA & FAUNA: Vegetation of Monument Valley: Juniper trees, yucca, Russian thistle AKA tumbleweeds, and Navajo Tea. Flowers of the region: Purple Smallflower Fishhook Cactus, Yellow Hairspine Pricklypear Cactus, and Desert Tobacco (White Flowers) Animals in Monument Valley: Sparrows, Lizards, Rattlesnakes, Desert Cottontail Bunnies, Antelope Squirrel, and Coyote

Other Places To See Around Monument Valley

If you have time to spare, there are other tours around Monument Valley not specifically on the 17-mile scenic loop. For more hiking adventures – you’ll want to book one of the tours below to gain access to off-road hiking adventures.

The 17-mile scenic loop is the most epic part of the area though so if you have to choose between doing the main loop and other tours – you won’t regret doing the main loop!!

• Mystery Valley – Where you can see the petroglyphs from the anceint Anasazi settlements throusands of years ago!
• Teardrop Arch – This tour will be a 2 hour adventure through Horse Shoe Canyon to see Pearl Drop Ruins along with Teardrop Arch. One of the most highly reccomended tours after the Scenic Drive on Trip Advisor!
• Lower Monument Valley – Typically included with ‘backcountry’ tours and extended tours of Monument Valley that we’ve listed below. You’ll get to be up close with Totem Pole and other scenic spots that you can’t do while on the Scenic Loop.
• Hunts Mesa – The best overnight tour!! Camp out, grill steaks and enjoy the views from this 1200 foot tall mesa in Monument Valley!

Leave a comment below if you’ve done any other tours we should include in this first-timer’s guide to Monument Valley!

What To Pack For Monument Valley

Because Monument Valley is around very few other destinations – you’ll most likely be staying overnight. Beyond your normal toiletries, there are a few factors to consider.

• Are You Hiking or Driving The Park? Depending on how you plan on getting around the park, you’ll have different needs. If you’re driving the park, make sure you pack comfortable clothing to be in the car and your normal travel shoes. If you’re hiking the park, make sure to pack hiking boots.
• A Note For Hikers – If you’ve never been to the American Southwest, keep in mind that it’s an incredibly dry climate. Day 2 our lips were peeling because we’ve never been so dehydrated!!! Pack a reuseable water bottle/hydration bladder for hiking.

Regardless of whether you hike or drive the park – make sure you plan to put extra water in the car. We had reusable water bottles that we constantly filled with gallon jugs we kept in the trunk.

• Food: There is not much around the area for miles. We highly reccomend poacking all sorts of road trip snacks to get your through the day!! Get our guide here for the best healthy road trip snacks!!

Another thing to remember – Monument Valley lays in the Utah Desert. The temperature swings in large ranges between when the sun is highest at midday – and when the sun sets. Between these two extremes – you can go from hot to cold pretty quickly! Other items to include while packing for Monument Valley:

• Layers – Plan on at least bringing sweatshirts even in the dead of summer for the evenings!
• Camera or a Go Pro ( We took our Go Pro and it was a great choice!!! The air is so clear you’ll get some really stunning shots!)
• Reuseable Water Bottle

Restaurants Near Monument valley

As we mentioned before – there really isn’t much around Monument Valley. Finding restaurants can be somewhat difficult in the more popular months. HENCE the reason we highly recommend packing snacks!! That way you’ll at least be able to tide yourself over until you can grab a meal.

TRADITIONAL NAVAJO FOODS When you’re in the area, you’ll have the opportunity to try some traditional Navajo foods. Typically corn, beans, and grains are the main staples in Navajo dishes, with a familiar Mexican-style spice profile. What you may not have had before is frybread! Frybread is a slightly sweet cake, similar in texture to a funnel cake without sugar. Use it to sop up all the last bits of deliciousness!

The best places to eat around Monument Valley from closest to farthest are:

• Haskenneini Restaurant (0 miles): Only open during the summer months, this restaurant is inside the Monument Valley Visitor’s Center. They specialize in Navajo and American cuisines.
• The View Restaurant (1 mile) : Navajo tacos and plenty of veggies. This spot isn’t necessarily amazing food but it’s close and convenient when there isn’t much else around. (In The View hotel)
• Amigo Cafe (29.3 Miles/39 minutes): We hghly reccomend this spot in Kayenta for breakfast burritos! Expect Native American/Mexican cuisine with no fuss.
• Blue Coffee Pot Restaurant (29.5 miles/40 minutes) : A good little crossover between Native American cuisine and American food. Think burgers and breakfast sandwiches on frybread!

How To Get To Monument Valley

Plan to drive into Monument Valley mid to late afternoon from your previous destination. The closest airport is Page or Flagstaff (depending on how many layovers you have – one may be faster than the other.)

• Most people fly into Las Vegas to do a American Southwest Roadtrip. That’s what we did and what we would recommend as far as traveling if you’re not from the region.

If you’re from anywhere close to Monument Valley, flying isn’t worth your time. It’s literally not close to anything. (That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth your time! It’s absolutely worth the 3-4 hour drive out of your way!)

DIRECTIONS TO MONUMENT VALLEY:

• From Las Vegas, Through Zion National Park, to Monument Valley: Starting in Las Vegas means you’ll take Interstate-15 from Las Vegas all the way to Zion National Park for about2 hours. You can either stop here in Zion National Park in Utah, (which we highly reccomend!) or continue on to Monument Valley for another 4.5 hours.
• Directions From The Grand Canyon in Arizona to Monument Valley (3.5 hours): AZ-64E for 1 hour to US-160 E towards Monument Valley. You’ll be on this highway for almost two hours! Then get off onto Main Monument Valley Road for the last 16 minutes of your journey.

You’ll be driving from your previous destination either from Utah or Arizona and all of a sudden giant rocks rise up in the distance. Signs will start pointing you towards Monument Valley and since there’s nothing else around – it’s hard to miss!

We also recommend booking your rental car in advance. With rental car shortages all across the country – booking a rental car at the airport last minute may be difficult! We booked a jeep months in advance because we knew that it would be difficult to get one so close to our trip.

Nearby Attractions

Since you only need one day in Monument Valley to really experience everything it has to offer – make sure to include these nearby attractions on your itinerary! (Most of these are within 6 hours from Monument Valley so it’s easy to add to your American Southwest road trip!)

• Forrest Gump Point: to get those spectacular shots, drive North of the Utah side of Monument Valley to US-163 Scenic, Mexican Hat, UT 84531. (Click the link for Google Maps directions!)

Monument Valley is also one of our favorite destinations for getting out where there are very few people. There are a few destinations left in the United States that lack the massive crowds that frequent many more popular destinations. If you’re looking for a more private hiking experience – read our guide to the most underrated hiking destinations throughout the United States!

If we were planning two separate trips – we would suggest starting in either Las Vegas or Sedona.

Trip Itinerary Starting in Las Vegas:

• Las Vegas – Get our full 24-Hour Las Vegas Guide here .
• Don’t forget to stop at the Neon Musem in Las Vegas – it was the best part of our trip there!
• Valley of Fire (Off I-15 on your way to Zion)
• Zion National Park

Trip Itinerary Starting in Sedona:

• Sedona – Hike to the Hidden Soldiers Pass Cave!
• Grand Canyon
• Antelope Canyon

After you’ve seen Monument Valley from either direction add these stops to extend your trip!

• Mexican Hat & Goosenecks State Park
• Valley of The Gods – Very similar to Monument Valley but much less touristy. You’ll see the Mexican Hat formation on the way
• Bryce Canyon National Park

The Best Time To Go to Monument Valley

The American Southwest is special in that it’s truly beautiful all throughout the year. The red clay and desert-like landscape mean that no matter when you go – you’ll take stunning photos and have epic sunsets.

For the most comfortable temperatures, we recommend going spring and fall. Temperatures in the winter stay in the 40s and 50s, and temperatures in the summer are usually above 90 most days. Since this is also the most touristy time to visit (school is out), the fall and spring tend to be less crowded.

When we visited in November – the weather was epically beautiful. We are hoping to visit again someday soon in the spring to see all of the desert wildflowers and cactus bloom!

• No matter when you visit Monument Valley – you’ll be sure to have one of the most stunning sunsets you’ve ever seen in your life! Get our guide here for the Prettiest Sunsets Across The USA .

HOW LONG DO YOU NEED IN MONUMENT VALLEY? Most people only need about a day and a half – so it can be part of a much longer American Southwest Tour.

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Sharing beautiful places, sustainable & slow living tips, + good food from across the globe. You can probably find Shelbs creating a new playlist or editing photos, and Ev researching the latest and greatest in all manner of travel gear and tech. We're so happy you're here taking a moment to read and slow down a little.

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Sarah Wilson

This is one of the best detailed posts I’ve discovered about Monument Valley. I’m planning a road trip to the States, although being European I have to wait a bit so this is probably a 2023 trip now, I hadn’t realised that the tours on offer were run by Navajo guides, that makes me even more keen to book. I’m planning to do the full scenic route, some hiking and I’d love to do some star gazing.

I’ve been wanting to visit MV and remember seeing it on Forest Gump! I had plans to go last year and even booked a room, but the pandemic shut down the area so I had to cancel my plans. Looks like some areas are limited for safety, but glad to hear it’s back open to visitors. Loved the brief history and I can’t wait to visit soon.

Too bad we had to skip this on our visit to the Southwest, but we plan to make a stop in the future. Not just from Forrest Gump, but I also recognized Monument Valley from the old western movies. I think I will wait until everything is back to normal so we can do our self-guided tour when visiting.

Amazing itinerary made, very helpful. A long way away from me, like a distant dream, but reading this gave a good picture of the place and how the places can be visited.

I also visited the American Southwest for the first time this year. Isn’t it incredible?? I can’t wait to go back, and Monument Valley looks like the perfect next destination. It’s crazy how relatively close it is to the Grand Canyon despite having such a different vibe to it. I also love to hear that it’s not overly commercial. Trying the local food would definitely be a highlight for me, especially the frybread. It sounds delicious!

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How to visit Monument Valley (for a taste of the Wild West)

This post was originally published on A Globe Well Travelled in 2017. The content has been revised and updated with fresh information.

Monument Valley has been on my to-do list since literally forever.

Ever since my first visit to the US back in 2009, I’ve wanted to visit the iconic desert destination, but somehow it never quite fit into my travel plans… until now. This year, Rob and I decided to do a  southwest road trip  just after summer, and I made sure that Monument Valley was locked in to our itinerary.

We were initially going to drive through the valley and not spend much time there, but I’m so glad that we ended up staying overnight! There was something extremely special about my experience sleeping in the desert. If you’re looking for a taste of the wild west, here’s how to visit Monument Valley!

How to get to Monument Valley:

Monument Valley is in southeast Utah, right near the Arizona border. It’s not particularly near any major cities or airports which makes it a little tricky to get to. The closest major airports are Las Vegas or Salt Lake City, both of which are about 7 hours drive away. If you want to fly somewhere closer, then Flagstaff AZ would be your best bet as it’s only 3 hours drive away.

The drive into Monument Valley is via Highway 163 from the north through Utah, or the south through Arizona. Rob and I were coming from Mesa Verde in Colorado so we rented a car in Denver and drove in via the north (which is where we got that phenomenal view pictured above!) then drove out via the south on our way to Page AZ.

When to visit Monument Valley:

Temperatures in Monument Valley range drastically from 68-94°F (20-34°C) in July to 25-42°F (-4-5°C) in January. The shoulder seasons are probably the best time to visit if you want to avoid the summer crowds.

Most people will drive through Monument Valley in the middle of the day, but I think the best time to visit is the early morning or late afternoon. The rocks seem to change colour throughout the day and I definitely think sunrise and sunset was when they looked their best.

Accommodation in Monument Valley:

I stayed in a teepee at the Monument Valley Tipi Village. This place is run by a Navajo family, and it’s actually just a regular campground. There are a few powered sites for caravans, some unpowered sites for tents, and about 8 teepees scattered around the site. If this sounds interesting, you can read all about our desert glamping experience in Monument Valley.

There are other accommodation options if glamping isn’t your thing. Goulding’s Lodge is one of the most popular as it has rooms that have amazing views of the desert.  The View Hotel is another option with hotel rooms and cabins. This is the only hotel inside of the Navajo Park.

If you’re going to book either of these hotels, be sure to reserve your room far in advance as they book up quickly.

Where to eat in Monument Valley:

There are a few restaurant options in Monument Valley. We ended up eating at Goulding’s Lodge restaurant for lunch when we first arrived. This restaurant was large and had amazing views. The food was ok – it mostly consisted of the deep-fried American foods that you’d expect from a restaurant in the middle of literally nowhere.

According to the Goulding’s website there is a coffee shop on site, though I didn’t see this when I was there. There is also a grocery store near the Goulding’s campsite that you can go to for supplies. We ended up stocking up on crackers and hummus to take back to our teepee for dinner.

As far as I can tell, the only other option for food at Monument Valley is The View Restaurant, which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Seeing as this is the only place inside the Navajo Park, I imagine it’s the most popular.

Things to do in Monument Valley:

There are loads of activities in Monument Valley. Start with the Monument Valley Visitor Center , which has awesome views of the mesas and buttes (ie. the massive rocks!). This is inside the Navajo Park, and the entrance fee is $20 USD per vehicle (for up to 4 people).

Self-drive loop:

Start at the visitor center, then drive along the only road. The road is a 17-mile dirt loop that takes you in and around the mesas. There are numerous stops along the way where you can pull over for photos or buy wares from the Navajo people.

Valley tour:

You can choose to do the loop as part of a  Monument Valley backcountry tour , which is what we ended up doing. There are definitely benefits to doing a tour with a Navajo guide over the self-drive loop:

• You get to sit in the back of a truck while your guide drives through the desert. Feeling the air and dust on your skin makes you feel more connected with the land instead of being closed up inside a car.
• You get to visit restricted areas of the park which are available only to guided tours. These areas are pretty special and include spiritual sites and rock monuments where your Navajo guide will play music. This was definitely my favourite part of the tour.
• Your Navajo guide will point out all the best viewpoints for photos, and will also be happy to take photos of you.

My thoughts on the tour was that it’s expensive considering half of the tour is doing the same stuff as the self-drive loop, BUT I honestly think that you just can’t get the same experience doing it yourself, so the cost was worth it. If you want the full Monument Valley desert experience, the tour is going to be the best option.

Goulding’s Museum:

This museum was tiny and the entrance fee was by donation, so it’s one of the cheapest activities in Monument Valley. The museum had information about the history of the lodge and movie posters from all the films that have been set in the area.

Wildcat Trail hike:

This 4-mile roundtrip hike starts at The View Campground and descends 900 feet to the valley floor and then takes you around one of the buttes.

Forrest Gump:

You can stop at the  Forrest Gump filming location where he completed his run in the movie! There’s even a sign commemorating it beside the highway.

Tips for visiting Monument Valley:

Stay hydrated:  It goes without saying: The desert is dry AF. Stay hydrated and keep your energy levels up by having a water bottle (like a  Stanley from Stonex ) and some snacks with you at all times.

What to bring:  During the summer, Monument Valley can get extremely hot. Take sunscreen and a hat with you during the day, and if you’ll be there after the sun sets, have a warm jacket on hand as it will get cool at night. Also note that everything you wear will be covered in a layer of red dust afterwards! Don’t worry, it will wash out.

Gas stations:  Gas stations are sparse throughout Monument Valley. There is one station near Goulding’s Lodge, then the next station in either direction is about 20-25 miles away.

Cell signal: There is cell signal at certain points in Monument Valley, though there are also dead zones. I couldn’t get any signal from our campground, though it didn’t bother me that much as I was getting into the off-grid experience!

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The complete guide to visiting Monument Valley

Monument Valley is one of the top outdoor attractions in the US. The iconic sandstone buttes and mesas found here have been featured in many movies and attract visitors for their singular magnificence.

Imagine you are walking on an orange planet surrounded by towers and hills of different shapes. This is the kind of experience you’ll have while visiting Monument Valley Tribal Park.

If you’re planning to visit this unique destination soon, this post has all you need to visit Monument Valley, including the location of the iconic Forrest Gump spot.

Table of contents

Monument valley at a glance, where is monument valley, how to get to monument valley, best hotels near monument valley, best time to visit monument valley, how long should a trip to monument valley last, drive through the scenic drive (tribal park loop), monument valley tour with a guide, forrest gump spot, best tours to visit monument valley, goosenecks state park, lake powell, valley of the gods, utah’s national parks, where to eat near monument valley, from here to.

This post may contain affiliate links. By purchasing through these links, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you .

Contrary to what most think, Monument Valley isn’t a US National Park . It’s located in the semi-autonomous Navajo Nation Reservation, the largest Native American territory in the country. The destination impresses not only for its majestic features but also for its size – it’s bigger than the city of Portland, Oregon.

Visitors have access to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, and the region borders the states of Utah and Arizona.

Also, Monument Valley is famous for being featured in various movies, such as Mission Impossible 2 and Forrest Gump.

Monument Valley is in the Navajo Nation Reservation, on the border of the states of Utah and Arizona.

You can visit the park from both states and find the state line right before the visitor center.

Because of its location, you can reach the park from different states, such as Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and New Mexico.

Here are the main distances to get to Monument Valley:

• Arizona:  180 miles from the Grand Canyon (South Rim), 125 miles from Page, and 320 miles from Phoenix;
• Utah: 380 miles from Salt Lake City, 150 miles from Moab, and 240 miles from Zion National Park;
• Nevada: 400 miles from Las Vegas;
• New Mexico: 320 miles from Albuquerque;
• Colorado: 500 miles from Denver;
• California: 640 miles from Los Angeles.

The best way to get to Monument Valley and explore the park is by car. You’ll want to have the flexibility to come and go as you please, especially if you’re on a Southwest road trip .

If you don’t want to drive, some tours will take you to the park from major cities in Arizona and Utah.

You can visit Monument Valley on a day trip. However, to explore the park, it’s a good idea to spend at least one night in the region. This way, you can catch an epic sunrise and a memorable sunset.

Fortunately, if you decide to spend one night in here, there are some excellent options of places to stay nearby.

These two are the best hotels near Monument Valley:

• The View Hotel – is an excellent choice with cabins, suites, and RV camping. The View Hotel is the only hotel inside the Monument Valley Tribal Park itself. Apart from this one, you’ll find hotels close, but outside of the park, nonetheless.
• Goulding’s Lodge – is an excellent option because it offers great views of the Monument Valley Tribal Park and the surroundings. It’s where I stayed when I visited the park.

Entrance fee and operating hours

The entry fee to Monument Valley is US$ 8 per person per day, and you can purchase it online .

Additionally, to visit other parts of the park that need a Navajo guide, you’ll have to pay for the guided tours, which range between US$ 50 and US$ 200.

The park’s operating hours vary throughout the year, and it’s good to check Monument Valley’s website before planning your trip.

• Summer hours (from March to August): 6.30 am to 7.30 pm.
• Scenic Drive Hours: 6.30 am to 5 pm
• Tour Booth Hours: 6.30 am to 7.30 pm
• Winter Hours (from November to January): 8 am to 2 pm

Spring and fall are the best time of the year to visit Monument Valley.

During the summer, the temperatures can be high with chances of thunderstorms; and the winters can be cold with chances of snowfall.

You can visit Monument Valley in one day, even for a few hours, and be able to see the highlights of the park.

However, I recommend sleeping at least one night in one of the hotels in the area, so you can see the park at different times of the day and explore the nearby attractions.

Things to do in Monument Valley

In Monument Valley, one of the best things to do is to drive the 17-mile scenic drive.

The loop is on an unpaved road, and it starts at the visitor center.

On the drive, you’ll be able to pass through the towering cliffs and mesas and stop to see the major features. Make sure to stop at the Mittens, John Ford’s Point, and Three Sisters.

Tribal Park Loop drive usually takes between 2 to 4 hours, depending on how many times you stop to take pictures.

The scenic drive (Tribal Park Loop) is the only thing you can do in Monument Valley without a tour.

To visit the rest of the park, you’ll have to schedule a tour with one of the authorized companies.

These tours with Native American guides take you further deep into the park, to areas that are only accessible by tourists with them.

If you choose to stay at Goulding’s Lodge, they offer a variety of tours inside the park.

BEST TOURS IN MONUMENT VALLEY

The Wildcat Trail is the only self-guided trail in the park. It’s a 4-mile hike (round trip) that starts at the visitor center.

For other hikes, you’ll have to go with a guide.

Do you remember the scene at the end of the movie Forrest Gump when he finally decides to stop running?

The iconic scene was filmed in Monument Valley, and you can stand in the same spot that Gump was.

If you also want to be in this iconic place, the GPS coordinates to the Forrest Gump spot in Monument Valley are  37.101393, -109.990973 .

• 2.5-Hour Tour with Backcountry Access
• 3.5 Hour Extended Tour & Backcountry Access
• From Sedona or Flagstaff: Full-Day Tour

Things to do around the park

When visiting Monument Valley, plan to visit the nearby Goosenecks State Park, one of the  amazing state parks in Utah .

Here, you can see the San Juan River cutting through the canyon, creating a fascinating attraction.

In case you want to be near the water, you can take some time to visit Lake Powell, the second-largest human-made lake in the United States.

At Lake Powell, there is plenty to do, including scenic drives, fishing, and renting a boat to navigate its waters.

Valley of the Gods is like a miniature version of Monument Valley but, in the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) area.

While driving in it, you’ll probably find yourself alone amongst the mesas and buttes with unique shapes.

After visiting Monument Valley, you can also continue driving to the National Parks in Utah , such as Canyonlands and Arches National Park.

You can find restaurants in both hotels – The View Hotel and Goulding’s Lodge. You may also want to drive a little bit more to get to the Amigo Café.

Near the park, you’ll also find a gas station, convenience store, and grocery – all located around Goulding’s Lodge.

If after checking out the Forrest Gump spot and driving the scenic loop in Monument Valley, you want to visit other places, or even take a road trip through the Southwest, make sure to add these spots to your itinerary:

• Canyonlands National Park
• Arches National Park
• Grand Canyon National Park
• H orseshoe Bend in Page, Arizona

HIKING FAVORITES

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE TO VISIT OTHER DESTINATIONS IN THE US:

• Arches National Park : The Complete Guide to Arches National Park and The Best Hikes in the Park
• Capitol Reef National Park : Everything you Need to Know to Visit Capitol Reef and The Best Hikes in the Park
• Bryce Canyon National Park : The Ultimate Guide to Bryce Canyon National Park
• Rocky Mountain National Park : First-Timer’s Guide to Rocky Mountain National Park and 3-day itinerary to the park.
• Utah Itinerary : The Ultimate Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary

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The One Stop Monument Valley Guide for Travelers Visiting Southern Utah

LAST UPDATED: 1/28/24 – Monument Valley Guide

If Monument Valley looks familiar to you, there is a very good reason for that.  It is one of the most used locations for media of all formats.  Over the decades there have been dozens and dozens of movies that were filmed among Monument Valley’s beautiful buttes and mesas.  These movies include such blockbusters as the list of films I have included in my Monument Valley guide below:

Monument Valley Guide Navigation Menu

Popular films featuring monument valley.

• Stagecoach (1939)
• The Eiger Sanction (1975)
• National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)
• Back to the Future Part III (1990)
• Mission Impossible II (2000)
• Windtalkers (2002)
• The Lone Ranger (2013)
• The Lego Movie (2014)
• Transformers:  Age of Extinction (2014)

In addition to being a popular movie filming location, Monument Valley has also been used quite a bit by the music industry over the years.  This includes the following list in my Monument Valley guide below:

Monument Valley in the Music Industry

• The Eagles used Monument Valley on the cover of their 1985 UK Best Of Album.
• On the cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Album Twenty.
• Part of the music video for Metallica’s “I Disappear” was filmed in Monument Valley.
• Part of the music video for Panic! at the Disco’s “Hallelujah (Panic! at the Disco song)” was filmed in Monument Valley.

One of my favorite uses of Monument Valley in film has to be in the movie Forrest Gump.  Do you recall the scene where Forrest Gump is running across the country, and after gaining a large group of followers, decides it is time to stop?  Well, that absolutely gorgeous scenery in the background is Monument Valley. In case you don’t recall the scene, I have included a short clip in my Monument Valley guide below that might jog your memory.

In fact, that scene in Forrest Gump garnered so much attention because of the beauty of Monument Valley that the viewpoint location was actually added to Google Maps.  Try and Google it and see for yourself.

Because of its incredible beauty and iconic role in the film and music industry, Monument Valley has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the American Southwest.  The vistas are absolutely breathtaking, but navigating the area can be quite difficult because of the gravel roads. However, with the help of my Monument Valley guide, you will know exactly where to go and what you will need to get there.

In some locations, these roads are really rough.  So please, make sure you have the proper vehicle if you plan on doing a lot of exploring within Monument Valley.  And of course, always make sure you bring enough water.

How to Get to Monument Valley

Monument Valley is located on both sides of the Utah and Arizona border, with the most popular parts of the monument located in Arizona.  To give you a sense of where Monument Valley is located in reference to national parks, other public lands, and large cities in the area, I have put together the table in my Monument Valley guide below for your reference.

View Larger Map

Driving Distance and Time from Other Areas of Interest

Whether you are coming from the North or the South, you will use Highway 163 to get to Monument Valley, as the highway runs right through the valley.  If you are coming from the North, the Forrest Gump Point is located just outside of the town of Halchita. 

If you are interested in checking out John Ford Point , which is another popular viewpoint for Monument Valley, you will need to take Main Monument Valley Rd and Indian Rte. 42 about 10 miles South. For more detailed instructions on how to get to the valley, please review the Monument Valley directions map that I have included in my Monument Valley guide below.

As I mentioned previously, one thing you need to be aware of when visiting Monument Valley is the conditions of the roads.  The roads to and from Monument Valley are paved, but once you pass the visitor’s center the roads are all gravel.  In some places, these roads can be quite rough.  This can be especially true after the area gets some rain.

Within the Park, the Wildcat Trail is a really nice trail that allows you to get a little more up-close-and-personal with the valley.  If you do decide to do some hiking, please make sure you practice proper trail etiquette and leave no trace of your visit.  It is our responsibility to future generations to preserve these beautiful places as they are. For more information on navigating within Monument Valley, please review the Monument Valley map that I have included in my Monument Valley guide below.

V iew Larger Map

Best Times to Visit Monument Valley

Monument Valley is accessible year-round, but depending on your tolerance for really hot weather, some months might be more uncomfortable than others.  During the Summer months of June through September, temperatures can be very hot.  The months of July through October see the highest levels of precipitation throughout the year as well.

In my opinion, the best months to visit Monument Valley are the Spring months of April and May.  During these months the weather is much more moderate and the levels of precipitation are rather low. 

In addition, you will also miss most of the crowds that tend to build throughout the summer months. For more information on the weather at Monument Valley throughout the year, please refer to the charts that I have included in my Monument Valley guide below.

Average Temperature (°F)

The climate in Southern Utah is unique because most of the area is located on a high desert plateau. In fact, other areas of Southern Utah, like Cedar Breaks National Monument on the Western side of the state, are at over 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) of elevation.

While Monument Valley isn’t that high, it is still at 7,096 feet of elevation. To put that into perspective, the city of Denver (known as the Mile-High City) is only at 5,287 feet of elevation. This means, that despite being a desert landscape, the temperatures around Monument Valley are typically much colder in the winter months.

For instance, during the summer months of June through August, the high temperatures can reach 100’s Fahrenheit. During the winter months of December through February, it isn’t uncommon to have low temperatures below freezing.

So, if you are planning your trip to Monument Valley, you will want to review the temperature chart in my Monument Valley guide below to know what type of temperatures to expect when you visit.

Average Precipitation (Inches)

While understanding the average temperatures in the area is important when planning your trip to Monument Valley, it is even more important to understand the average precipitation levels.

If the area gets a lot of rain, the unimproved roads in Monument Valley become very difficult (more so than they already are) to drive on. Not to mention, if you plan on spending any time exploring the slot canyons that are nearby, flash flooding becomes a real danger in these canyons.

For that reason, I would strongly recommend avoiding the late summer and early autumn months of July through October if you want to have the best chance of avoiding the rain. Instead, I would target the early spring months of April and May.

Where to Stay Near Monument Valley

Campgrounds

When visiting the national parks, monuments, and other areas of interest in the United States, it is a really neat experience to camp out during your visit.  Some of the best campgrounds in America can be found inside the country’s national parks, monuments, recreation areas, and the surrounding areas. 

This is especially true of the area surrounding Monument Valley. The extra dark skies in the surrounding area make it a great place to star gaze. If you are interested in camping out during your visit, I have included a map and list of some recommended campgrounds for you to review in my Monument Valley guide below.

If camping is not your speed, you need not worry as there are a variety of good hotels for you to choose from in the area as well.  In fact, three nearby cities have several reasonably priced hotel options for you to choose from.

You will find hotels and motels at various price points in the city of Kayenta to the South and the cities of Mexican Hat and Bluff to the North of Monument Valley.

If you are in the process of planning your trip to see the Monument Valley area, then you are in luck. I have included a map and list of recommended hotels at different price points for you to review in my Monument Valley guide below.

Other Things to See in the Area

In addition to the beauty of Monument Valley, there is a wealth of other incredible things for you to see in the Southern Utah and Northern Arizona areas. In particular, there are several national parks, slot canyons, and viewpoints that I would recommend checking out in the Moab, Utah, and Page, Arizona areas. If you are starting to plan your trip and are looking to fill out your itinerary, I have provided you with some good suggestions in my Monument Valley guide below.

Moab, Utah Area

Moab, Utah is what I would consider to be the outdoor adventure capital of the United States. Not only are two of America’s most popular national parks located just a short distance from the city, but it also has a vast number of hiking and mountain biking trails to offer in the area.

If you are into climbing, the area is also one of the most popular rock-climbing destinations in the Western United States, with many different areas to enjoy some time on a pitch.

In addition, the Moab area is also near what I consider to be one of the most underrated natural rock arches and slot canyons in all of Southern Utah. For more information on what I recommend seeing in the Moab area, please see my suggestions below.

Arches National Park

Arches National Park is one of the most popular parks in the United States. With one of the highest densities of natural rock arches, plus a wide array of other beautiful sandstone rock formations, the park is an absolute must-see when in the Moab, Utah area. For more information on Arches National Park and tips for how to visit, please see my Arches National Park Guide linked below.

Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands National Park is one of my favorite national parks in Southern Utah. It has some of the most breathtaking canyon vistas you will find anywhere in the world. In addition, it is also a great place to go back-country canyoneering and backpacking.

With a variety of different trails for different skill levels, the park has something for visitors of all hiking skill levels to enjoy. And if you aren’t into hiking at all, the roadside viewpoints alone are worth visiting. For more information on how to visit Canyonlands National Park, please see my visitor guide linked below.

Corona Arch

While the beautiful Delicate Arch in Arches National Park may get most of the glory, I think the breathtaking Corona Arch gives it a run for its money. Located outside the national parklands, just a short drive from Moab, the Corona Arch is a gigantic natural rock arch that takes your breath away. The best part is the hike to see this arch isn’t very difficult. For information on how to hike to see the Corona Arch, please refer to my Corona Arch Hiking Guide linked below.

Leprechaun Canyon

While the Leprechaun Canyon isn’t technically in the Moab area, it is located between Moab and Monument Valley, which makes it a wonderful addition to any trip involving both of those destinations.

While not nearly as long as Antelope Canyon or Waterhole Canyon, Leprechaun Canyon isn’t located on Native American tribal lands, so you do not need a guide to see it. It is also located just a short distance off the roadside pullout, so it isn’t very hard to get to either.

The canyon is a popular spot for rock climbers, who like to explore much deeper and higher within the canyon, but the beginning portions of the canyon are very easy and safe to access without climbing gear. For more information on viewing Leprechaun Canyon, please see my visitor guide linked below.

Page, Arizona Area

The other area that I strongly recommend exploring if you are planning a trip to see Monument Valley is the Page, Arizona area. Located right on Lake Powell near the border between Utah and Arizona, Page is another city that is popular with outdoor adventurers. Like Moab, the city of Page is near a wealth of incredible things to see and do. While I don’t cover them all in this guide, I do want to give you some of my top recommendations to see if you plan to visit the Page, Arizona area.

Antelope Canyon

By far, the most popular tourist spot in the Page, Arizona area is the breathtaking Antelope Canyon. This incredible slot canyon took social media by storm more than a decade ago, and since then it has been one of the American Southwest’s most popular tourist spots.

The stunning slot canyon is renowned for its beams of light that enter the canyon at certain times of day, making it a photographer’s dream. However, if you do want to visit Antelope Canyon, you will need to plan ahead.

It is located on Navajo tribal lands, so the only way to see it is on a tour. Because of the popularity of the canyon, these tours sell out well in advance. For information on how to plan your visit to Antelope Canyon, please see the guide I linked to below.

Horseshoe Bend

I still can’t believe that Horseshoe Bend used to be an obscure, unmarked pullout on the side of the highway with a gravel path. Today, there is a paved parking lot and walking path with shaded benches because of how popular this spot has become.

You can no longer visit for free, but that doesn’t mean a stop at Horseshoe Bend isn’t worth the time. This breathtaking horseshoe bend of the Colorado River is one of the most incredible river canyon views that you will ever see. The colors of the sky, red rock canyon, and blue water seem to paint a portrait that touches your soul.

Even though I have seen it countless times, every time I am back in the area, I cannot help but return. For more information on how to see this wonderful viewpoint, please see my Horseshoe Bend visitor guide linked below.

Waterhole Canyon

If you aren’t able to find an open tour to see Antelope Canyon, that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to see a breathtaking slot canyon during your visit to Page, Arizona. While the Waterhole Canyon doesn’t get the iconic light beams that Antelope Canyon is renowned for, it is an equally beautiful slot canyon in every other aspect.

In fact, it is much longer than Upper Antelope Canyon, so you get to see more canyons during your tour. Like Antelope Canyon, Waterhole Canyon is located on Navajo tribal lands, so you will need to book a tour to see it.

When I visited, it wasn’t nearly as busy as Upper Antelope Canyon, but I imagine that will change as word gets out. If you want to plan your visit to see this beautiful slot canyon, please see my Waterhole Canyon guide linked below.

Monument Valley Photo Gallery

Monument Valley is a truly beautiful place that has a long history with both Hollywood and the music industry.  Even if you haven’t been to Monument Valley before, the odds are you have seen it in one form of media or another.  In my Monument Valley guide below, I have included a gallery of some of the photos that we have taken at this beautiful place throughout the years.

If you would like to see more of my travel photography, I would also encourage you to give me a follow on Instagram . Putting this blog together to pass on my free guides, itineraries, and travel photography tips is a lot of work and your support in the form of a follow-on Instagram would be so very much appreciated!

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Published by Josh Hewitt

Avid traveler and photographer who loves to see new places, meet new people, and experience new things. There is so much this world can teach us, we just need to explore! View all posts by Josh Hewitt

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10 comments ›.

More stunningness! You are playing havoc with my wanderlust! Mel

Thank you so much Mel !!!

Fantastic photos! I thought the first one was my favorite until I saw the others. I can’t pinpoint what makes this place so beautiful. It’s desolate, not a big variety in color… but wow!

Thank you so much !!! I know what you mean. Something I can’t put my finger on either makes it special.

Despite all my years living in and exploring the Four Corners area, I have not been to Monument Valley. I was under the impression that the entrance fee was quite high.

It is definitely worth the visit!

Beautiful photos! We are going to Utah in October and staying in St. George. Can not wait!

Thank you so much! You are going to have a blast. I am going to be writing about Zion National Park (right by St George) this week. Safe travels!

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You are very welcome!

Thank you for this information. It looks perfect. Is there a printable form of this that you could send me?

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A perfect Monument Valley itinerary

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I didn’t know it at the time, but my Monument Valley itinerary was written in my youth. With a great affinity for cinema, this storied location was waved in front of my eyes countless times growing up. Watching Clark Griswold crash his car in National Lampoon’s Vacation. Marty McFly driving through the Valley being chased by native Americans in Back to the Future 3. And my all-time favourite movie with Forrest Gump ending his back and forth US marathon here. And from a cinematic perspective, that’s all before you get into the various westerns that called Monument Valley home.  

The word iconic can be often overused, but Monument Valley is exactly that.

You don’t need to be inspired by cinema to make a visit here worthwhile. Whatever your motivation, you can be assured a visit to Monument Valley will be indelibly etched into your memory long after your visit. Of a month long Great American road trip from Atlanta to Los Angeles, this was my number one highlight. And one that feels like a just reward for embarking on an epic road trip.

Read along to learn about our Monument Valley itinerary.

At a glance || A perfect Monument Valley itinerary Get some shade under the sombrero of Mexican Hat Go your own way at Forrest Gump Point Drive the 17 mile loop at Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

Our Passion For Travel contains affiliate links which may provide a commission. Our reviews and commentary remain independent and commission comes at no cost to you. Income derived help us create more content to help travellers like you make the most of your travel experiences. Read more here .

Driving west to begin your Monument Valley itinerary

We had arrived after around 6 hours driving. The trip broken up by a visit to the Four Corners Monument on the borders of Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico. A lot of this drive is through vast, arid landscapes that can fill countless hours on a US road trip.

As we drove west towards Monument Valley on the 163 Highway, the landscape began to shift. The muted tones of the scenery gradually become a deeper shade of red. Rock formations start to rise from the Earth like jagged, unfinished chess pieces. As the road curves around into straights of wavy tarmac, the outline of Monument Valley starts to appear in its silhouette in the distance.

We arrived in late afternoon. This was as much a part of the long drive we’d had but also worked well to coincide with ensuring we were in Monument Valley for sunset.

Mexican Hat

Our first stop on our Monument Valley itinerary was our very first ‘monument’ that sits outside of the formal park. This formation is also home to a very small town of people. Mexican Hat is a weird and wonderful natural formation. It will leave you wondering how long until the hat falls victim to erosion?

Forrest Gump Point

It’s now time to crank Go your own way and Against the wind on your playlist. A soundtrack for this part of the journey is not an option, it’s mandatory. No Monument Valley itinerary is complete without it.

Lying a ~10 minute drive further on from Mexican Hat, turn that stereo up and find yourself at the famed Forrest Gump Point. If you don’t know why it’s called this, shame on you. Please head to your nearest streaming device for 3 hours of epic film watching. Or at the very least watch this snippet of Forrest’s run scene .

Those that do know the movie will instantly recognise this as the spot where Forrest stops running. It will come as no surprise that this point is now an icon unto itself. Forrest Gump point as it has become known is located on a straight, undulating part of the road outside of the Valley proper. Even without its notoriety in film, the spot is still awe-inspiring.

We took in the early part of sunset here. It turned out to be a great time to visit. By all accounts, it can get quite busy along here with other tourists having the same idea to take in the view. We had 2-3 cars to share the space with and everyone had the opportunity to take photos of each other on the road.

You won’t need too long here, although we did spend some time in our car after having a wander and photo session on the road taking in the view.

Safety warning: whilst the road is straight and long with good visibility, ensure someone is keeping an eye on traffic. Whilst traffic was minimal during our visit it is still a live road. From what we’ve read, there are times when it gets busier. Don’t become an entry into the Darwin Awards for the sake of a photo. Take care, and exercise a little bit of patience and caution.

Head on to Oljato-Monument Valley

Driving further on down the 163 highway, you’ll soon hit the main intersection with Monument Valley road. There’s not a whole lot here, but it’s effectively the centre of town, or valley as it were.

At this intersection, turning right will take you towards the local airstrip. Nearby, you’ll find a grocery store, gas station and accommodation – Goulding’s Lodge. The Goulding’s own all of these shops and provide most of the Monument Valley economy.

Where to stay in Monument Valley – Goulding’s Lodge

We stayed overnight at Goulding’s Lodge which was an excellent stay. The rooms are basic, but cosy and warm with a balcony to breathe in some of that fresh country air. You can hear just about everything going on for some distance as you sit in the tranquillity. The dark sky filled with stars is a show unto itself.

Goulding’s has a restaurant called Stagecoach on site which serves a mix of American food and some Navajo dishes. If you’ve not had it before, the must try dish here is the large Navajo taco. Different to a Mexican taco, it is served on frybread and chilli con carne and your usual taco toppings. It’s a large portion, so easily shared between two people alongside an entrée or appetiser.

BOOK NOW: Goulding’s Lodge || From $US100

Other accommodation options in Monument Valley

Other than camping, there is another option for accommodation. The View hotel is situated inside the Monument Valley Tribal Park. We have nothing negative to say about The View, but we were glad we didn’t stay there during our visit. This is no slur on the property itself, but due to a highly unusual occurrence. The Tribal Park was closed upon our arrival due to a dispute between some booked customers of The View and the local tribespeople.

Monument Valley Tribal Park is not a national park. It is run by the local Navajo tribespeople, who took the extraordinary (but within their power) step of closing the Tribal Park.

Bizarrely, this situation escalated quickly. FBI and local enforcement authorities were on site and cut off access to the park. A police barricade was set up and we were told we’d be unable to visit the Tribal park for the unforeseen future.

The offending customers eventually agreed to leave in the middle of the night and the local tribespeople opened the park up once again in the morning (just as we were checking out – phew!). Again, none of this is a negative of the property, indeed we had looked to stay here originally but it was booked out. But it did cause quite the unexpected fanfare in sleepy old Monument Valley during our stay!

The Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

After a good night’s sleep (and hopefully no FBI/police operations) it’s time to pack your bags and head into the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. The Tribal Park is home to the famous ‘monuments’ that you’ve seen in those classic western movies.

In the park, you’ll pay an entry fee of $20 which grants entry for your vehicle and up to 4 passengers. There is a Visitor Center which includes a small convenience store, restaurant and has souvenirs available for sale. From here, you’ll commence the 17 mile loop drive or Valley drive. Along the way, you’ll be able to stop as you like and take pictures. There are bays you can pull over in which make it easy to get out, enjoy the view and take those precious photos.

The road itself is a dusty, bumpy one. Fear not though, a 4WD is not required, our Hyundai Elantra did the job nicely. Just take your time, drive slowly and respect other motorists taking in the same iconic views as you. Some of the amazing sights you’ll take in along the way are:

The Mittens and Merrick Butte

You’ve possibly already seen these on the way in, but there is a great spot up close that you can take in these monuments. They look like mittens you’d wear in winter and Merrick Butte looks similar but without the thumb.

The Three Sisters

Opposite the Mittens, you’ll find the Three Sisters. These three finger like stones rise out of the red rock.

John Ford’s point

This is probably the most iconic spot on the loop. Named after film director John Ford, who filmed Stagecoach, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and Rio Grande amongst others in the Monument Valley area. Here, you can even mount a horse to get that well known photo overlooking Merrick Butte.

If horses aren’t your thing, feel free to wander out onto the promontory and take in the views here. It’s hard not feel small amongst such a vast land.

It’s pretty easy to guess why this spot is called totem pole! It does indeed look like a totem pole, which stands by itself with some distance to the Yel-Bichel formation.

Artist’s point

Another popular vantage point, if you’ve brought a picnic lunch, this is a great spot to enjoy the views with a snack and a drink.

Looking for another south-western destination? Check out our one day guide to Page, Arizona .

Other considerations for your visit to Monument Valley

I’d encourage you to take your time on the drive. Firstly for safety, but secondly it’s a much more enjoyable way of taking in the sights along the way. Everyone seems to have their favourite parts of the loop drive, enjoy taking the time to find a favourite spot of your own!

As mentioned, the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is the land of the local Navajo. It’s not Government owned and the local people do ask for you to respect their rules and beliefs. You can drive the loop and wander around within reason, but do not go off the tracks. Do not go hiking into the wilderness. Follow the rules as you’re instructed, you’re a guest on Navajo land. Be a good traveller.

There are tours available around the loop and other parts of Monument Valley. Enquire at the Visitor Center to find out more.

How to get to Monument Valley

Monument Valley is a destination accessed from many different areas. In saying that, it isn’t exactly close to any major city. You’re out in the wilderness here folks. Like us, it may be easiest reached as part of a larger southwest road trip itinerary. This would be the most convenient way to tie in a trip to Monument Valley.

Distances from nearest sights and cities to Monument Valley Four Corners Monument – 108 miles Page, Arizona – 128 miles Farmington, New Mexico – 155 miles (nearest major airport) Grand Canyon South Rim – 180 miles Phoenix, Arizona – 322 miles Salt Lake City, Utah – 385 miles Las Vegas, Nevada – 400 miles

How long do you need to visit Monument Valley?

We spent one night in Monument Valley. The afternoon prior and a full day following was enough to see these highlights. Alternatively, if you want to participate in an organised tour and do some further exploring, an additional day may provide more time to do these.

It’s the open countryside, some may argue there is no amount of time that is too much.

When to visit Monument Valley?

We visited in late November. Temperatures in November see highs of 70 degrees Fahrenheit and lows of 30 degrees. Our visit was on the cooler side during both days, but nothing a jacket couldn’t handle. Overnight, it certainly bordered into fresh territory, so you might need to duck in and out of your room only briefly to take in the Milky Way views. I’d happily return at this time of year.

In winter (December-February) unsurprisingly you’ll find much colder temperatures. If you’re very lucky on a winter visit, you may be presented with a dusting of snow. Monument Valley’s impressive scenery becomes an auspicious level of beauty when the red monuments are sprinkled with white snow against a blue sky. The red, white and blue of the United States right there.

As you can imagine when it comes summer, temperatures can be quite oppressive. Any outdoor activities may be challenging and staying hydrated will be your number one challenge. For our itinerary, given how much was conducted inside a vehicle, I’d feel comfortable doing this in the summer too.

With less than 7 inches of rain a year, you’d be unlucky to get wet during a visit at just about any time of year.

Autumn and Spring offer the most pleasant all round conditions. No matter, when your Monument Valley itinerary, it’s a great destination where there is no such thing as bad weather but only a poor choice of clothing.

Are you putting together a Monument Valley itinerary? We’d love to hear where you’re at in planning for this magnificent bucket list destination.

Like our one day Monument Valley itinerary? Pin it for later!

3 Responses

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Hello, thanks for your sharing your trip to Monument valley. Is it possible to do the Valley Drive and Forest Gump Point one day?

Hi Pam, no worries at all, it’s an amazing destination. The short answer is yes, you could easily do both in one day. Your key consideration would be if you were staying versus arriving/leaving and how much driving would be ahead of/behind you. Does that make sense?