Driving through the otherworldly landscape in Monument Valley feels like driving in a postcard or movie set! It’s one of my favorite spots in the U.S. Here are my 5 best tips for your visit:
1. Where to Stay
Mexican Hat and Kayenta are the closest towns to stay in when visiting Monument Valley. Depending on which direction you’ll be coming from… Mexican Hat, Utah is just north and Kayenta (in Navajo Nation/Arizona) is south. Keep in mind these are small towns and don’t expect 5 star resorts. If you’re planning your visit many months in advance – I recommend The View Hotel in the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. They offer hotel rooms, cabins, a campground, and trading post. Unfortunately, we planned our trip very last minute and it was sold out. But – I can vouch for the epic views from here!
2. Visit the Tribal Park
I highly recommend a visit to the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park! My husband and I have driven through Monument Valley a couple times… but this is the first time we spent time here and visited the park (should have done this years ago, it’s such a unique and special area!). There’s a self guided 17 mile loop… but keep in mind it’s very bumpy (a 4×4 isn’t required) and motorcycles and RV’s aren’t allowed. It’s part of the Navajo Nation Park and Recreation; with an $8 per person admission fee.
3. Take a Tour
I also suggest you book a tour with a Navajo guide when you visit the Tribal Park. This is one of our favorite tours we’ve taken! It was so nice to enjoy the breathtaking scenery and take photos without having to worry about doing our own navigating/driving (you’ll also see things you won’t on the main loop, such as petroglyphs). We chose a 3 hour back country tour in an open air 4 wheel drive vehicle through Viator called Monument Valley Extended Backcountry Tour (surprisingly comfortable – but be prepared for dust/outdoor elements and take plenty of water). I loved learning about their sacred land through the local Navajo… his stories and knowledge were educational and also entertaining. Bruce singing one of his native songs to us amongst the monuments is now a favorite travel memory!
4. Forrest Gump Photo Op
Located between mile marker 13 on US 163 between Mexican Hat and Monument Valley, this famous backdrop is the scene where Forrest ends his run in the movie. You can’t miss it – as you’ll most likely see other cars pulled over. My husband and I have documented each of our drives through this area here. 🙂 We embrace the fun of being tourists!
5. Watch for Wild Horses
Seeing horses in the wild has been on my bucket list for some time and my wish finally came true during our two days in Monument Valley! We saw them in numerous areas during our drive and also near the watering holes in the Tribal Park. Pro tip: one of the locals told us to look for them around the old windmills where there’s water (success!).Â
Monument Valley is a bit off the beaten track – but IMHO, a unique place to not be missed! You can also easily combine numerous other areas with your trip… such as;Â The Four Corners, Durango (Colorado), Mesa Verde NP, the famous “Big 5” national parks in Utah, or the Grand Canyon.
This is one of my other favorite off the beaten path destinations: “Visiting the Grand Sand Dunes National Park”.
Until the next adventure – bon voyage!
Kris
