Monument Valley Travel Guide: How to Plan the Perfect Visit

Monument Valley was the biggest detour of our Southwest road trip and one we’re so glad we made. We nearly skipped it in favor of another night in Bryce Canyon, but staying at The View Hotel’s Premium Cabins made the extra drive worthwhile. Watching the Mittens glow at sunset and waking up with the sunrise from our private porch was one of the most memorable experiences of the trip. This guide covers where to stay, what to book, and how to plan your perfect visit.

Monument Valley At a Glance


Where to Stay	Premium View Cabins (first choice), back-row cabins (second), The View Hotel rooms (third), Goulding’s Lodge (backup)
Price Range	$300–$400/night for Premium View Cabins
Book How Far Ahead	6 months out for Premium View Cabins; closer to date for other room types
Minimum Time	1 night for sunset + sunrise; 2 nights if you want to hike or tour
Park Fee	Required at the entrance. America the Beautiful pass not accepted (Navajo Nation park)
Alcohol	Not sold on Navajo Nation. Bring your own to the cabins.
Nearest Cities	Page, AZ (2 hr), Flagstaff, AZ (3 hrs), Las Vegas, NV (7 hrs), Grand Canyon South Rim (3 hrs)
Don’t Miss	Sunrise from the porch, Goulding’s Museum, Horseshoe Bend en route

How Much Time Do You Need at Monument Valley?

One night is enough to catch the sunset and sunrise, which are the two things Monument Valley does better than almost anywhere else we explored. If you want to hike any of the trails inside the park or take a guided jeep tour, add a second night so you have a full day.

Best: 2 nights | Minimum: 1 night | Skip: Day trips from Page or Flagstaff. You’ll be rushing and you’ll miss both the light and the peace that makes it so special.

How to Get to Monument Valley

Monument Valley is on the Utah-Arizona border within the Navajo Nation. You’ll need a car. The nearest towns are Page, AZ (about two hours away), Flagstaff, AZ (roughly three hours), and the Grand Canyon South Rim (about three hours). From Las Vegas, budget around seven hours if you want to hit this park first and work your way back. But we found it better to do a loop.

If you’re doing a Southwest road trip loop, as we did with Zion, Bryce Canyon, Monument Valley, and the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley is best visited between Bryce and the Grand Canyon. It adds roughly four hours of driving round trip compared to going direct, but it’s absolutely worth it.

Pro Tip: Stop at Horseshoe Bend on your way in from Page or Bryce. It’s a 1.5-mile round trip walk from the parking lot to the viewpoint and worth the stop. Go prepared: it’s can be very windy, and has no shade. Stop for the photo op, then get back on the road.

Note: Monument Valley park requires an entry fee at the gate. Your America the Beautiful pass does not cover it because it’s on the Navajo Nation, not part of the National Park Service.

Accommodation Options at The View in Monument Valley

You have two options inside the park: The View Hotel and the adjacent cabins.

	Premium View Cabins	The View Hotel Rooms
View	Unobstructed. Direct sight line to the Mittens from the porch.	Valley views from room windows and hotel terrace.
Privacy	Private porch with dividers between cabins.	Shared hotel terrace with more foot traffic.
In-Room Amenities	Mini fridge, microwave, coffee maker, queen bed, bunk alcove.	Standard hotel amenities. Restaurant, gift shop, and museum on site.
Breakfast	Included. Served at the main hotel (short drive or walk).	On-site at the hotel restaurant.
Book Ahead	6 months out. Dates open on a rolling basis.	Available closer to travel date.

The View Hotel Premium Cabins: Our Pick

The Premium View Cabins are the best accommodation option in Monument Valley. They’re right on the valley rim, separate from the main hotel building, with a private porch that looks straight out at the Mittens and Merrick Butte. A wood privacy divider separates each cabin’s porch so you’re not elbow to elbow with your neighbors, but it still feels open and connected to the landscape.

The cabins are better quality than you’d expect for a remote park property with pine walls, a Navajo-pattern blanket on the queen bed, a bunk alcove in its own nook (great for kids or a third guest), wall AC, mini fridge, microwave, and coffee maker. We stocked up at a grocery store on the way in and spent the evening on the porch watching the sunset with no agenda.

Pro Tips: Alcohol is not sold anywhere on the Navajo Nation. Buy wine or beer before you arrive. The cabins have a mini fridge and there’s nowhere to restock once you’re there. Breakfast is included with the cabins and served at the main hotel. We walked down, though most guests drive. It was a nice breakfast in a comfortable restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the buttes.

Pricing range from $300–$400 per night for the Premium View Cabins. We booked six months out, as soon as our dates opened up on the rolling calendar. The back-row cabins are one tier back from the rim but still elevated with good views. They’re worth considering if Premium View is gone.

The View Hotel Rooms: Great Views, More Amenities On Site

If the cabins are sold out or you’d rather have everything under one roof, The View Hotel’s standard rooms are a great choice. You get valley views from the windows, access to the on-site restaurant, the Navajo museum, gift shop, and to-go options for sandwiches and soft drinks. Guests also receive two complimentary waters at the restaurant. Hotel rooms tend to have better availability closer to the travel date than the Premium Cabins, so they’re a realistic option if you’re booking later.

Goulding’s Lodge: The Backup Option Worth Knowing

Goulding’s is located just outside the park entrance, about two miles from The View. It’s a rustic resort with a hotel, restaurant, gift shop, museum, and campground. The setting is still dramatic, as it’s built right against a massive sandstone mesa wall, and the museum documenting Monument Valley’s Hollywood history is fun to explore.

We’d book Goulding’s as a great Plan B if The View was completely unavailable. But nothing at Goulding’s replicates sitting on your own porch with an unobstructed sunset and sunrise view of the mittens.

Pro Tip: Even if you’re staying at The View, stop at Goulding’s on your way out. The museum covers decades of western film history shot in the valley, from Stagecoach and The Searchers to Thelma and Louise, Cars, and more.

Best Things to Do in Monument Valley

Watch the Sunset and Sunrise

The Premium Cabin porch puts you directly in front of the Mittens for outstanding views. The buttes go from dusty red to deep orange to burnished copper as the sun sets. Then it’s fun to watch them appear again at sunrise in gold and blue hues. We literally took hundreds of photos over those 12 hours and it never got old.

Pro Tip: Don’t sleep through sunrise. I popped outside at 6 am and it was totally worth it. The colors were completely different and made for great photography.

Navajo-Guided Jeep Tours

The dirt road through the valley is rough, and if you’re in a rental car, a guided jeep tour is the smarter choice. Tours run approximately 1.5 or 3 hours and are led by Navajo guides through the park. All tour operators are independently run by Navajo Nation members. A full list is available on The View Hotel’s website. We watched a jeep loading up in the parking lot at The View and it looked like a well-organized operation. We opted to stay on the porch instead, which we don’t regret, but the 3-hour tour covers formations you can’t see from the rim.

Hiking in Monument Valley

Several trails are accessible from the park. The Wildcat Trail is the only one visitors can hike independently without a guide. It’s about 3.2 miles and loops around the West Mitten Butte. Other trails require a licensed Navajo guide. If hiking is a priority, plan two nights so you have a full day for it.

Horseback Riding

Several Navajo-operated companies offer horseback tours through the valley. It’s a popular option, particularly at sunrise and sunset. Book in advance, especially in peak season.

Goulding’s Museum

Goulding’s Museum documents Monument Valley’s decades-long relationship with Hollywood, from John Ford’s Stagecoach in 1939 through westerns, road-trip movies, and commercials that influenced how most of the world pictures the American Southwest. The museum is a fun stop full of posters, props, and photographs (the Thelma and Louise poster was my favorite 😭). The views from the lodge grounds looking back toward the valley are also worth a few more photo ops before hitting the road.

What to Know Before You Visit Monument Valley

The Navajo Nation: Key Things to Respect

Monument Valley is part of the Navajo Nation, not a federally managed park. The America the Beautiful pass doesn’t apply here. You pay the park fee at the entrance gate. Alcohol is not sold anywhere on the Navajo Nation, so buy what you want before you arrive. Navajo guides are required for most trails beyond the Wildcat Trail. When you book a tour, you’re supporting Navajo-owned businesses directly, which is worth noting as you plan.

Book Premium Cabins as Soon as Dates Open

The View Hotel releases dates on a rolling six-month basis. We booked the day our dates became available and got the Premium View Cabins we wanted. The back-row cabins and hotel rooms tend to have more flexibility closer to the travel date. Check the availability calendar regularly if your target dates are outside the six-month window.

Check In Separately for the Cabins

The cabin check-in station is separate from the main hotel. When you arrive, go to the cabin check-in first before heading to the hotel building. It’s clearly marked near the cabin cluster by the park entrance.

Stock Up Before You Arrive

The restaurant at The View serves breakfast (included with cabins) and dinner at an additional charge. There are also to-go sandwiches and soft drinks available, plus two complimentary bottles of water for guests. Beyond that, options are limited. We stopped at a grocery store on the drive in and picked up wine, snacks, and a few breakfast items. With a mini fridge and microwave in the cabin, it’s easy to be self-sufficient for the evening.

The Dirt Road Through the Park

The 17-mile Valley Drive is doable in a standard vehicle, but the road is rough in sections. If you’re in a rental car, a guided jeep tour is worth considering to avoid the wear and tear. The park entrance road, however, to The View and the cabins is fully paved.

Monument Valley Travel Guide: Frequently Asked Questions

How far in advance should I book The View Hotel Monument Valley?

Book Premium View Cabins as soon as your dates open on the rolling six-month calendar. They go fast. Hotel rooms and back-row cabins are available closer to the travel date, but don’t count on last-minute availability in peak season.

Is one night enough at Monument Valley?

Yes, if your goal is sunset and sunrise, which are the two best things Monument Valley offers. Add a second night if you want to hike or take a full jeep tour inside the valley.

Can you buy alcohol at Monument Valley?

No. Alcohol is not sold anywhere on the Navajo Nation. Buy wine, beer, or spirits before you arrive. You can bring your own to the cabins.

Does the America the Beautiful pass work at Monument Valley?

No. Monument Valley is managed by the Navajo Nation, not the National Park Service. You pay a separate park entrance fee at the gate regardless of what passes you hold.

What is the closest airport to Monument Valley?

There’s no commercial airport near Monument Valley. Most visitors fly into Las Vegas (about 7 hours by car), Phoenix (about 5 hours), or Flagstaff (about 3 hours) and rent a car. Monument Valley works best as part of a Southwest road trip loop. You can follow our Vegas Loop adventure starting here.

Our Recommendation

Book the Premium View Cabins at The View Hotel as soon as your dates open, six months out if possible. Stop at a grocery store on the way in, bring your own wine for a sunset happy hour, and plan to do very little except sit on the porch and watch the light change. We almost skipped Monument Valley entirely on our Southwest loop, because it was out of the way, but and it turned out to be an absolute highlight. The porch view alone is worth the detour.

Have you been to Monument Valley? Let us know in the comments.