Monument Valley boondocking locations are some of the most popular destinations for tourists on Earth. The valley contains sandstone rock formations that have formed over time. These rock formations are very beautiful with a height between 400 and 1000 feet high. The wonderful features in the valley make it famous and probably the most photographed place on the planet.
Why Visit Monument Valley AZ?
The park is located on the Utah-Arizona border and together with Monument Valley, Utah, it covers 92,000 acres. This valley provides you with some of the most famous and magnificent views that you could explore and enjoy as a tourist. It is truly a place of splendor and majesty and you can experience this beauty by driving through a 17-mile road that takes you from the Visitors Center to most of the beautiful spots in the valley.
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The Visitor Center provides you with a restaurant, museums, a lodge, restrooms, souvenirs, and much more. You are taken through the valley by a vehicle or horseback. Notable features include the Three Sisters, Totem Pole, Mitten Buttes, North Window, and the Yei-bi-chai.
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History of the Monument Valley
Monument Valley AZ has incredible and breathtaking sandstone towers which have an interesting history in their formation. The features were formed as a result of nature’s erosive power. They are some of the most distinctive formations in the world. These features were formed when layers of sediments settled on top of each other in a basin for millions of years.
The basin slowly became a plateau where the softer materials were then gradually removed by natural wind and water forces. This resulted in the features that we see today. Some of them like the Buttes and Spires are slowly being eroded. The features in Monument Valley AZ have received a lot of fame because of the many television shows and movies have been shot there. John Wayne films were the first ones to use Monument Valley as a location.
How to Get To Monument Valley
It’s not that close to any city, airport, or national park and that’s why it takes visitors a while to get there. The closest airport to Monument Valley AZ is Flagstaff which is 176 miles away and takes you approximately three hours to get to the valley. You can get there from other nearby airports, cities, and national parks where the distance between is as follows:
1. From Phoenix Airport to the valley, the distance is 320 miles where you will drive for approximately 5.2 hours.
2. To travel from Las Vegas Airport, you will cover a distance of about 398 miles in approximately 6.5 hours.
3. From Salt Lake City and Albuquerque Airports, you will drive for a distance of 380 and 324 miles respectively.
4. The distance between Grand Canyon and Monument Valley AZ is 156 miles which you will cover in approximately 2.5 hours.
5. To drive from Moab, Utah you will cover a distance of 149 miles and from Four Corners Monument to the valley, the distance is 105 miles.
Entry Fees and the Cost of Camping
The cost of getting into Monument Valley AZ is moderate and many people can easily afford it. For a vehicle that has 1-4 people, you are charged $20 — any additional people in the vehicle you will have to pay $6/person. On the other hand, to enter the valley on a motorcycle, you are charged $10. This Entry Fee is different from the Guided Tour Price. The valley entry fee will cover two days.
10 Great Monument Valley Boondocking Spots
1. Boondocking Location In Navajo National Monument – John’s Canyon Cottonwoods
Address
Mexican Hat
GPS: 37.203056, -109.933705
Elevation: 5138′
Management: Bureau of Land Management
North of Mexican Hat, off of 261, take a right. Nice little campsite along Forest Service Road 244, or Johns Canyon Road. I would recommend a high clearance vehicle and possibly 4×4 make it to the end. There are camp sites along the road so drive as far as you feel comfortable
Best Review:
None
2. Boondocking Site Near Muley Point Overlook
Address
Muley Point Road
Bluff, Utah
GPS: 37.235187, -109.992233
Elevation: 6343′
Management: National Park Service
The road in is Dirt. The maximum RV length at Muley Point Overlook is 15 feet. You may stay two weeks at Muley Point Overlook.
Best Review:
Couldn’t have asked for a better FREE place to lay your head. The views are insane! If you can deal with the wind (tent campers beware, bring stuff sacks to use as anchors and fill with rocks!) there are plenty of spots along the edge to set up your tent or rig. We came in later in the afternoon the week before Memorial Day and still had plenty of room. Aside for the guy passing our SUV on the Moki Dugway at 50mph, the road up was a piece of cake for our Hyundai Santa Fe. Waking up to a view like this is an opportunity you do not want to miss.
3. Boondocking Location at Mexican Hat Boondocking
Address
Mexican Hat, Utah
GPS: 37.172547, -109.847076
Elevation: 4296′
Management: Bureau of Land Management
The road in is Dirt. There are 1-5 campsites at this location and the maximum RV length is 25 feet.
Best Review:
Stayed here on a Monday night in February. One of my favorite boon docking experiences yet. We stayed right in front of the Mexican Hat Rock. Easily accessible in a sedan. Super close to the highway, but didn’t hear the cars from where we were sleeping. We had the whole site to ourselves. Enjoyed hiking around the rock. I had good reception with AT&T.
4. Boondocking Site Near Bashas
Address
Kayenta, Arizona
GPS: 36.709646, -110.251129
Management: Retail Store
Parking lot for a market and a few other shops. Next to a McDonald’s and Taco Bell also but a different lot. We parked here in out van for a night along with a few other RVs and had no issue.
Best Review:
Decent place to stop for one night of sleep driving through. There is a BK that has a sign saying trucks and motorhome free parking all day and all night. There is a designated area behind the BK to park. there were several other trucks and cars sleeping as well. I didn’t have any problems.
5. Boondocking Location Near Valley of the Mortally Inspired
Address
Mexican Hat, Utah
GPS: 37.197993, -109.846705
Elevation: 4346′
Management: Bureau of Land Management
The road in is Dirt and 1-2 miles from a paved road. Valley of the Mortally Inspired is open Year Round. There are 6-15 campsites at this location and the maximum RV length is 15 feet.
Best Review:
The road in is trough-y in spots, but with careful planning I made it a bit further down the road than the previous reviewer did, in my 08 Forester. The view is worth every rock I inched over or around! A little nervous about the wire gate but I doubt there will be an issue.
6. Boondocking Site Near Seven Sailors
Address
Mexican Hat, Utah
GPS: 37.241659, -109.816885
Elevation: 4491′
Management: Bureau of Land Management
The road in is Gravel. Seven Sailors is open year round. You may stay 14 days at Seven Sailors.
Best Review:
We just spent Four nights camping at the beautiful site facing the Seven Sailors. This was definitely one of our favorite camping spots in our four years of camping in a travel trailer. It is BLM land, so no services but plenty of breath taking scenery. The 17 mile drive through the valley was something not to miss (there were spots about halfway through that we would not consider pulling our trailer).
7. Boondocking Location at Clay Hills
Address
Clay Hills Road
Utah
GPS: 37.294158, -110.397671
Elevation: 3714′
Management: Bureau of Land Management
Free Dispersed camping in the Bureau of Land Management Monticello District. First come -> First Camped. Reservations not accepted.
Best Review:
None
8. Boondocking Site Near Valley Of The Gods, Bluff & Mexican Hat, Utah
Address
Valley Of The Gods Road
Bluff, Utah
GPS: 37.316864, -109.850533
Elevation: 5034′
Management: Bureau of Land Management
The road in is Gravel and 1 to 15 miles from a paved road.
Best Review:
Super beautiful, we camped in an isolated little turn off with a perfect view of “Lady in a bathtub.” Basically no traffic and some of the best stargazing we’ve ever done. We came in from the 261 end near the Moki Dugway (determined our rig was sadly a bit to large to make it up there), and this was a wonderful consolation prize.
9. Boondocking Location at Comb Ridge Crossing
Address
Mexican Hat, Utah
GPS: 37.263274, -109.658314
Elevation: 4514′
Management: Utah Trust Land (SITLA)
The road in is Dirt and 1 miles from a paved road. Comb Ridge Crossing is open Year Round, HOT in summer. There are 16-29 campsites at this location and the maximum RV length is 25 feet. You may stay 14 Days at Comb Ridge Crossing.
Best Review:
I stayed here from February 10th-11th. Turned off the highway at the GPS coordinates and found a gate with no lock. I went through the gate and found myself on a dirt/rock road that wasn’t too much trouble in my 2WD Tacoma. This led to an old paved road with bushes and plant life encroaching on the sides of it. I only noticed a few campsites in this area. I pulled off on a large expanse of white rock that I was able to drive up onto and find a somewhat flat spot to sleep on. I was the only person in the area when I went to sleep and I woke up to find some people who had come out to watch the sunrise. It was a great night!
10. Boondocking Site Near Navajo National Monument-Sunset View Campground
Address
Shonto, Arizona
GPS: 36.675304, -110.538597
Elevation: 7294′
Management: National Park Service
The road in is Paved. Navajo National Monument-Sunset View Campground is open Year Round. There are 30 or more campsites at this location and the maximum RV length is 28 Feet. You may stay 7 days at Navajo National Monument-Sunset View
Best Review:
This is a small quiet campground nestled in trees with some amazing views by taking short walks. Due to the vehicle size limits, it was over half rent campers when we stayed. The place emptied out during the day. Also, we were originally going to stay in Valley of the Gods, but it was 99 degrees there. It was 15 degrees cooler here with the addition of some shade. Highly recommend for a few days just to get away and enjoy the quiet.
Things to See in Monument Valley
1. John Ford Point
Your tour of Monument Valley AZ would not be complete if you don’t stop at the John Ford Point to get great and scenic views of the valley. John Ford was a Hollywood director who filmed John Wayne’s movies here and made him famous. At only $5, you can also get a good picture of the kids on a famous horse who was featured in movies like the Marlboro Man.
2. Elephant Butte, Three Sisters, Camel Butte
As you head to the John Ford Point in Monument Valley AZ, you can make a stopover to see the beautiful Camel Butte which looks like a giant sleeping on his back. You can also see the Elephant Butte and the three sisters where a Catholic nun is facing her two pupils.
3. Totem Pole
Totem Pole is behind the Monument Valley AZ scenic drive and is a mythical marker that was made by the Northwestern tribes. Totem Pole has been carved out from the rock by mother nature. This feature shows atypical formation that might result from the Butte that has been acted upon by erosion.
4. Artist’s Point
At Artist’s Point you have a good view of the Merrick Butte, the East, and West Mittens as well as a large part of the whole desert. Take your camera and stay awhile as you take shots around this area.
5. Ear Of The Wind
This is a secluded area that has a massive Sand dune and a large hole on the top of the rock. A stop at this point is also great where you can climb on the top of the dune and enjoy some gorgeous views.
Things to Do in Monument Valley
1. Tour through the scenic Monument Valley AZ driveway
This is a 17-mile drive that you don’t want to miss anytime you visit. Along the driveway, there are beautiful sceneries located in all directions. It is the only road in Monument Valley AZ where private vehicles are allowed while buses and RVs are not permitted. While driving this road you will feel like you are on a Hollywood western set since many movies and tv shows have been filmed there. There are also many formations like the mitten Buttes and Three Sisters that you see along this road.
2. Experience Jeep Tours and Goulding’s lodge
Goulding’s lodge acts as a perfect educational resource for everything you see because of the Goulding Cultural History and Film museum. Also, spending a full day in jeep tours will deepen your experience.
3. Hike the Wildcat Trail
During the Wildcat Trail hike, hikers go around famous rock buttes such as the Merrick and the Mitten Buttes which make the tour more interesting. This trail is the only one in Monument Valley AZ that is self-guided and offers world-class scenery.
4. Watch a Sunrise Over the Valley
The early morning stillness and calmness in the desert is just magical and you will want to be there and watch a sunrise that creates long shadows of the canyon landscape.
5. Take a Tour to the Goosenecks State Park and the Valley of the Gods
Inside Monument Valley AZ, it would be a shame to miss stopping at fascinating features like these.
7 Top Trails to Hike at the Monument Valley AZ
Monument Valley Hiking Trail #1. Wildcat Trail Hike
The hike that you can take without a guide is the Wildcat Trail. This 3-mile circular hike starts at the visitor center, goes around the West Mitten Butte, and brings you back. Wildcat Trail Hike is more fascinating during sunrise or sunset. To get started with this hike, you get yourself a permit from the visitor center, sign in for free and state how many of you will be participating in the hike. It will only take you 2 hours for the whole hike.
Length: 3.9 mi
Elevation gain: 380 ft
Route type: Loop
Dogs on leash
Kid friendly
Hiking
Views
Wildflowers
Wildlife
No shade
Fee
Monument Valley Hiking Trail #2. Hunt’s Mesa Hike
Hunt’s Mesa is 1942 meters high and is the tallest part in the Valley. You need to access the start of Hunt’s Mesa Trail through the help of your tour guide because you can’t go for this hike without the tour guide. When you take it as a day’s hike, it will take you 7 hours while a night stay will take you about 18 hours. There is no other overnight stay hike in Monument Valley AZ apart from the Hunt’s Mesa hike and your tour guide gives you the tent, evening meal, and sleeping bags for the night.
Length: 7.0 mi
Elevation gain: 702 ft
Route type: Out & back
Hiking
Nature trips
Forest
Views
Wildflowers
Wildlife
Rocky
Fee
No dogs
Monument Valley Hiking Trail #3. Teardrop Arch Hike
Teardrop hike is not a easy hike and it requires you to have a tour guide. The hike will take you around 2 to 2.5 hours to complete. The arch frames surround buttes and mesas to form a great scene for photos.
Length: 2.9 mi
Elevation gain: 167 ft
Route type: Loop
Dogs on leash
Walking
Bird watching
Views
Monument Valley Hiking Trail #4. Anasazis Trail
Anasazis Trail takes you 6 hours where you go through past ancient ruins, labyrinth canyons, and sandstone arches. This place is sacred and has a lot of history. You have to book this hike well in advance because it is a very popular hike.
Length: 2.9 mi
Elevation gain: 167 ft
Route type: Loop
Dogs on leash
Mountain biking
Nature trips
Walking
Bird watching
Views
Monument Valley Hiking Trail #5. Monument Valley Scenic Drive
This 13.60-mile loop trek near Monument Valley, Arizona, is worth a try. It is generally regarded as an easy route, and it takes an average of six hours to finish. This is a popular off-road and picturesque driving journey, but you can still find some solitude during quieter times of day. Dogs are not permitted on this trail, so leave them at home.
Length: 13.6 mi
Elevation gain: 1,010 ft
Route type: Loop
OHV/Off-road driving
Scenic driving
Views
Wildflowers
Wildlife
No shade
Fee
Monument Valley Hiking Trail #6. Monument Valley
This 11.90-mile point-to-point trail near Monument Valley, Arizona, is a must-see. It is generally regarded as a moderately difficult route, and it takes an average of 5 h 1 min to complete. Although this is a popular hiking, mountain biking, and walking trail, you can still find some solitude during quieter times of day. The trail is open all year and is a beautiful place to visit at any time. Dogs are not permitted on this trail, so leave them at home.
Length: 11.9 mi
Elevation gain: 328 ft
Route type: Point to point
Hiking
Mountain biking
Nature trips
Walking
Bird watching
Views
Rocky
No shade
Fee
No dogs
Monument Valley Hiking Trail #7. Gouldings Arch
This trail is on private property. Please head somewhere else unless you’ve been invited by the owners.
Length: 0.6 mi
Elevation gain: 78 ft
Route type: Out & back
Camping
Hiking
Nature trips
Walking
Bird watching
Views
Private property
How Much Time Do You Need For Your Visit?
For you to get to Monument Valley AZ, it will take you at least a 3-hour drive from the closest airports or cities in the vicinity. This means that you have to start your trip there very early in the morning so that you can have ample time for an unforgettable adventure. In order to see and do all that you planned for, it is necessary to spend at least one night.
This allows you to have a sunrise or sunset tour in the valley. Having one tour valley drive is important but also enjoying some views from spectacular places like Forest Gump Point makes the experience deeper and you need enough time to do all these. Spending some time in the Valley also allows you to take enough photographs and videos. However, if you are short on time, you can just the valley drive and then plan on taking some tours when you come back later.
Accommodations and Dining Near the Monument Valley AZ
Your options about where to get accommodations in Monument Valley are limited, but the ones that are available are good enough for you to enjoy the stay. You can pick one of the following accommodation options:
1. The View Hotel
The View Hotel provides accommodations of several types. The first is the hotel rooms which allow you to have a view over the Valley. You will get a better view from higher floors but you also pay higher prices for them.
2. The Premium Cabins.
The premium cabins are relatively new and they overlook the Mittens. These cabins are also clean and warm.
The least expensive is camping where you are provided with a campground and RV parking. The campground is between the hotel rooms and the cabins where you can enjoy the view of the Mittens, the sunrise, and the sunset. The cheapest RV spots are $49 while the cheapest cabins are $99.
3. Historic Goulding‘s Lodge
This is the best hotel near Monument Valley AZ. It is one mile away from the valley and for many John Wayne movies, the lodge is known as Western Fort. The lodge provides accommodation, a campground, museum, restaurant, and grocery store.
Dining
The food in and around Monument Valley AZ is not fine dining and it is overpriced. Therefore, the valley is not a place where you go for a great meal. Below are the places you can get food when in the valley:
1. Golding’s Dining Room
The food is average and costs you around $25.
2. The View Restaurant
Here you are offered breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Although, the prices of food are also high, the food is not that bad.
3. Amigo Café
To get to the Amigo Café, you will drive for half an hour from the visitor center to a place called Kayenta. It is a nice restaurant where you can get Navajo and Mexican food. Here you can get foods like Navajo fry bread, Navajo Taco, cheese, beans, lettuce, and much more.
Best Time to Visit Monument Valley AZ
Monument Valley has four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The best time to do a tour is during spring and autumn which occur in April/May and September/October. During these months the temperature is pleasant. In summer the temperatures get too hot and the valley gets crowded by the people taking summer vacations. While in winter it gets too cold and the snow starts falling. Although the snow makes the place look pretty, the temperatures can be too cold for you to enjoy the tour.
What to Pack For Your Visit
Sunscreen, Chapstick, Hiking Boots/Shoes, Sunglasses, Snacks, First Aid Kit
Water to stay nice and hydrated. Water is important when you go for this visit. This is because the place is hot (it’s a desert after all!). You will want plenty of water.
Cameras are a must and a Tripod is optional, but it is excellent for getting the ideal sunset pictures. Being one of the most photographed places on the planet, you don’t want to forget your camera.
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