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 US bucket list for years.
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, my husband 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!
Quick summary:
In this Monument Valley travel guide, I’ll share everything you need to know: how to get there, the best time to visit, where to stay and eat, plus the top things to do — from self-drives and Navajo-guided tours to stargazing, horseback riding, and the classic Forrest Gump filming location.
Recommended tours:
🏜️ Monument Valley Backcountry Tour – Explore restricted areas with a Navajo guide, see sacred sites, and get the best photo spots.
🌟 Stargazing Tour – See Monument Valley under the stars and moonlight, with telescope viewing, photo tips, and a ceremonial music performance.
🐎 Horseback Adventure Tour – Ride through the desert with a Navajo guide past Eagle Mesa, Sleeping Bear, and the Mittens, no matter your skill level.
Where to stay:
🛎️ Goulding’s Lodge – Popular option with hotel rooms, cabins, a restaurant, and museum — all with sweeping desert views.
🏨 The View Hotel – The only hotel inside Navajo Tribal Park, offering unbeatable sunrise and sunset views.
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.
If you’re doing a Monument Valley road trip, you’ll drive in via Highway 163 from the north through Utah, or the south through Arizona. My husband 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.
Best time 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.
Where to stay 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.
Monument Valley hotels
🛎️ Goulding’s Lodge is located just outside the Tribal Park and has been welcoming visitors since the 1920s. It still retains that old Wild West charm! Many of the rooms come with incredible views of the buttes and mesas.
Goulding’s has a mix of standard hotel rooms, suites, and vacation-style apartments with kitchens. There’s an on-site restaurant, gift shop, and even a museum that showcases the history of Monument Valley in Hollywood films. Be sure to reserve your room far in advance as they book up quickly.
Hotels inside the park
🏨 The View Hotel is the only accommodation located inside Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. Every room has a private balcony that faces east, which means you can watch the sun rise over the Mittens without even leaving your bed!
The hotel also has cabins with kitchenettes for families or groups who want a bit more space. The location is unbeatable — you’ll be just steps from the Visitor Center and the starting point for the scenic drive. The accommodation here is in super high demand, so book well in advance to secure your room.
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 hommus 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.
Best 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).
Monument Valley scenic 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.
Backcountry tour of Monument Valley
🏜️ We ended up doing a Monument Valley Backcountry Tour. There are definitely benefits to seeing the area with a Navajo guide, as you get to visit restricted areas of the park, including spiritual sites and rock monuments, which are available only to guided tours.
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. Your Navajo guide will point out all the best viewpoints for photos, and will also be happy to take photos of you.
The restricted areas felt really special. Our Navajo guide played music while we sat in the shadows of huge rock formations. It was magical! This was definitely my favourite part of the tour.
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.
Stargazing in Monument Valley
The night sky in Monument Valley is sensational, as there is very little light pollution. I was in awe as I looked out from the entrance to our teepee in the evening! If you want to experience Monument Valley after dark, there are some tours that take you into the desert under the stars.
🌟 On a Monument Valley Stargazing Tour, a Navajo guide will lead you to a handful of scenic stops like Forrest Gump Hill or Teardrop Arch where the monuments glow under moonlight.
You’ll learn how to use a telescope, get tips for photographing the night sky, and even enjoy a short ceremonial music performance at the end — it’s a magical way to see the valley in a completely different light.
Horseback riding in Monument Valley
🐎 For something really unique, you can saddle up for a Monument Valley Horseback Adventure Tour. These rides are led by Navajo guides who’ll match you with a horse to suit your experience level (no worries if you’re a beginner!).
Trails take you past landmarks like Eagle Mesa, Sleeping Bear, and the 2 Mittens. It’s an authentic way to connect with the land, as horses are a sacred part of Navajo culture, and you’ll get sweeping views of the valley that you can’t always reach by car.
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 filming location
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. 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!
FAQs:
Is Monument Valley worth visiting?
Yes! Monument Valley is one of the most iconic landscapes in the American Southwest, famous for its red rock formations, Navajo culture, and scenic drives.
Do you need a tour for Monument Valley?
No, you can self-drive the 17-mile scenic loop, but Navajo-guided backcountry tours allow access to restricted areas and provide cultural insights.
What is the entrance fee for Monument Valley?
The entrance fee is $20 USD per vehicle (up to 4 people) to enter Navajo Tribal Park.
Can you stay overnight in Monument Valley?
Yes, options include camping, teepees, The View Hotel (inside the park), and Goulding’s Lodge nearby.
When is the best time to visit Monument Valley?
Spring and autumn offer the best balance of comfortable weather and fewer crowds. Sunrise and sunset are the most beautiful times of day.
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