The 16 Best Things To Do In Monument Valley

Monument Valley Park is filled with buttes, mesas, and striking views. Monument Valley was on my bucket list for quite some time, and I enjoyed every minute of it. The views, the vibes, the people, the food, all the beautiful bright orange colors engulfed me. I loved all of it. That is why I believe Monument Valley is the perfect Northern Arizona Road trip stop. It is one of those areas that people usually see for only a couple of hours, but I believe it is best to explore for a day or two. There is just so much to do and see. That is why I have created the best things to do in Monument Valley list below which includes tours, all the stop points on the famous Monument Valley drive, hotels, restaurants and so much more! So keep on reading on to find out exactly what to do in this magical place!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, I may receive a small commission (for which I am very grateful for) at no extra cost to you.

About Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

Monument Valley History

Monument Valley Navajo Park is a 92,000-acre park set aside by the Navajo tribe in 1939. It is located inside of the Navajo Nation Reservation and is said to be one of the most photographed areas in the world. The area is filled with stunning, orange mesas and buttes. Monument Valley became famous around 1939 because of John Wayne films which include Stagecoach and Rio Grande.

Although many people mistake Monument Valley as a United States National Park, it is not because it is located within the Navajo Nation Reservation.

How Was Monument Valley Formed

Monument Valley was formed due to erosion. For millions and millions of years, small sediments formed a basin which eventually became a plateau. Finally, water and wind removed parts of the plateau, creating what we all see and love today.

Monument Valley Hotel

1. The View Hotel: We stayed at this hotel. The hotel is owned by a local Navajo Tribe Woman named Armanda. The hotel is the only Monument Valley accommodation within the park. If you want the full Monument Valley experience, I highly recommend this hotel. This hotel is the best place to stay in Monument Valley >Check Prices and Availability Now
2. The Goulding Lodge: is another excellent option for Monument Valley lodging. This hotel has splendid views, and hikes nearby. >Check Prices and Availability Now

Monument Valley Restaurants

The two main restaurants at Monument Valley are located at the two hotels I listed above. We ate at the view hotel and enjoyed the food. I recommend trying the Navajo Tribe traditional dishes. They were scrumptious.  Please note that Beer and Wine are not allowed to be sold within the Navajo Borders. 

• The View Hotel Restaurant
• Goulding’s Stagecoach Monument Valley

Monument Valley Camping

The Monument Valley Campground and the Monument Valley RV Park sites are located within Monument Valley. You can reserve the campsites here. A full restroom and shower are available to all campers. There is also a convenience store with camping supplies, food, and drinks.

When to Visit Monument Valley

The Monument Valley weather is pretty mild in the winter making it a perfect year-round travel destination. Here is some information on the different times of year:

• April-May (Spring): The average temperature is around 66°F. Although less crowded then the summer months, It can get extremely windy and dusty.
• June-August (Summer): The average Monument Valley temperature in the summer is around 90°F. There are also occasional summer thunderstorms. Even with the high temperatures, this is when Monument Valley has the most crowds.
• September- October (Fall): October is probably the best time to visit in the year. With stable weather, fewer crowds, and an average temperature of 70°F.
• November-March (Winter): There is an occasional light snowfall. Winter is the best time to avoid the crowds and the steep prices. We went at the beginning of March and it was still pretty cold. The average temperatures in the winter are in the 40’s.

The hours at Monument Valley scenic drive depend on the season. I have listed the hours below:

• Peak Season (May 1-Sept 30) 6:00am – 8:30pm
• Off Season (Oct 1 – Apr 30) 8:00am – 4:30pm

Closest Airport To Monument Valley

Monument Valley is located on the border of Northeast Arizona and Southeast Utah. The valley is part of the Navajo Tribal Park and is not near any major cities. But, I have still listed the closest cities and airports below:

• Page to Monument Valley: A 2 hour and 15-minute drive, 127 miles.
• Flagstaff to Monument Valley: A 3-hour drive,  178 miles.
• Phoenix to Monument Valley: A 5 hour and 12-minute drive, 322 miles, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
• Grand Canyon to Monument Valley: A 2 hour and 42-minute drive, 158 miles.
• Moab to Monument Valley: A 2 hour and 50 minutes drive, 152 miles.
• Salt Lake City to Monument Valley: A 6 hour and 33-minute drive, 385 miles, Salt Lake City International Airport.
• Las Vegas to Monument Valley: A 6 hour and 35-minute drive, 401 miles, McCarran International Airport.
• Albuquerque to Monument Valley: A 5 hour and 15-minute drive, 324 miles, Albuquerque International Sunport.

>>>Rent A Car Here<<<

Monument Valley Map

When we arrived at the Monument Valley visitor center, we were given the map shown above. The image shows the famous Monument Valley loop road map. The Monument Valley 17-mile loop drive is the main attraction of this area. You can either take a self-driving tour or a guided tour. This is further discussed below.

What To Wear On A Monument Valley Trip

1. Sunscreen: Super important to carry around this area.  >Buy Sunscreen
2. Chapstick: This one has SPF so your lips won’t get burned in this hot sun! >Check Out This Chapstick
3. Hiking Boots/Shoes: If you use tennis shoes, you can easily hurt your toes hitting a rock by accident (Trust me, I have done it so many times before). >Check Out My Hiking Shoes
4. Hiking socks: Having the correct socks helps you prevent getting blisters. Smart Wool is probably my favorite brand out there. 🙂 >Buy Hiking Socks
5. Water Reservoir: Water reservoirs help prevent getting dehydrated while hiking. The great thing about this reservoir is that it doesn’t have the plastic taste. >Here Is My Water Reservoir
6. Water: Stay nice and hydrated.
7. Sunglasses: It can get sunny, so make sure to pack some sunglasses. >Check Out These Sunglasses
8. Snacks: The best snacks are jerky, nuts, and energy bars. Clif Bars are great for hiking.
9. Camera: The Sony A6000 was one of the first cameras I started traveling with. The Sony A6000 is an excellent camera for people that want to start improving at travel photography.  >Buy Sony Camera Here
10. First Aid Kit: This is one of the first things I bought when I first started going on adventures. It is super portable. >Buy This Awesome First Aid Kit Here
11. Day Pack to carry all your things: To carry all your gear, water, and food, you need a good backpack. Osprey is known to have some of the best backpacks in the market. >Buy This Great Quality Backpack
12. Leggings or Hiking Pants: I always wear leggings while hiking because it is what I feel most comfortable with! >Click For My Favorite Hiking Leggings
13. Breathable sweat-wicking shirts: Cotton shirts soak up your sweat when hiking, so make sure to wear something breathable. >Check out this awesome breathable shirt here.
14. Mid Base Layer: If you are hiking in the fall, winter, or spring, this might be a great idea. >Check Out My Sweater Here
15. Sports Bra: For women.
16. Jacket: I went in the early spring so I brought my jacket.  >Buy The Jacket I wore On This Trip!
17. Tripod: This is an optional item, but it is excellent for getting the ideal sunset pictures. >Check out this tripod

Things To Do In Monument Valley Arizona

Watch Sunrise And Sunset At Monument Valley

When visiting Monument Valley, viewing a sunrise or sunset is a must! You can easily view them from The View hotel, which is what we did for sunrise and sunset. Or you can walk around the area to take pictures. Please note that taking sunrise or sunset pictures on the loop drive can be difficult due to scenic drive hours because they usually close right before sunset and open right after sunrise. There is another option though, you can take a sunrise or sunset tour which will let you in the scenic drive. You can book the tour below.

Monument Valley Self Drive Tour

The main attraction at Monument Valley is the drive (loop) around the valley, where many of the Monument Valley butte’s beauty was on display. The Monument Valley self-guided tour loop is around 17 miles, and it takes about 2 hours to complete.

When we started the drive, the road was very bumpy, so we had to go slow at times. We didn’t mind at all though because we were able to experience all the orange and brown filled views of the valley.

You also have the option of booking an official tour guide to take you around the loop. This is great if you want to hear about the Navajo culture and history. >Book Tour Here

I also want to point out that many of the activities on this list require a tour guide. This area is protected so please do not go wandering around certain areas without a tour guide.

West Mitten Butte, East Mitten Butte, And Merrick Butte

When you think about Monument Valley you think about these three gorgeous structures! They are absolutely breathtaking and you definitely need to relax and take in these views. Two of the buttes got the name because they resemble mittens as you can see from the picture above. Both look like they have thumbs sticking out.

Before you start your scenic drive I recommend parking at the view hotel and taking pictures of them. If you want you can hike to them and I talk all about this below.

Elephant Butte And The Three Sisters

Our first stop on the Scenic Drive was the “Three Sisters Overlook” which shows the three pinnacles next to Mitchel Mesa, as shown above. I loved taking pictures of these beauties. There are many places to stop and take photos on the road. Remember to take your time exploring.

John Ford Overlook

Our next stop was at the John Ford’s Point Overlook. This overlook has Sentinel Mesa, West Mitten Butte, Big Indian, Merrick Butte, and the Castle Rock-Stagecoach group. This was my favorite overlook of Monument Valley. I loved how the picture above turned out with the powerful and impressive buttes shown in the background while I was sitting and taking in all the views.

This area was crowded so, I had to wait to take the picture. There was also a food truck, with people selling souvenirs and handcrafted items. The John Ford overlook area was the most popular area for a good reason.

The picture below shows the iconic image of the lone rider on a horse. Be aware that if you take a picture of the lone rider, it is “highly suggested” you tip the rider $1 – $5. Jameson didn’t know and got harassed until he paid the money.

At the John Ford Viewpoint, you can also take more pictures with The Three Sisters. Be aware that natives live inside Monument Valley and the surrounding areas, so make sure not to trespass near their homes.

Rain God Mesa

Rain God Mesa is the large Mesa located in the middle of the loop. There are many places you can photograph this beauty.

Totem Pole

The next few areas (The Hub, Bird Spring, Totem Pole, and Yei Bi Chei) did not have the best lighting for early morning. Since the sun was behind the rocks, the light wasn’t able to capture all of the brilliant colors.

It was still pretty cool to see the Totem Pole.

Artist Point

Another great overlook was The Artist’s Point overlook as shown below. The overlook includes West Mitten Butte, Merrick Butte, and East Mitten Butte. This was my second favorite area of the drive (After the John Ford Overlook) mainly because it was virtually empty. The Buttes were far away and felt elusive and unobtainable. Like something out of a dream, movie or fantasy.

The North Window

The last area we experienced was The North Window as shown below. It is a great place to capture a well-framed picture of East Mitten Butte. Framed photos are always a great way to have an outstanding picture, so this is a perfect photography spot.

As you can see from the photos below there are rocks that are an indicator not to pass beyond that point. As I have said please respect the tribe’s wishes and do not explore areas without a guide.

Mystery Valley Tour

The Mystery Valley Tour shows the Anasazi ruins, petroglyphs, secluded natural arches, and pictographs. The tour includes a few hikes and is a great way to immerse yourself in the Navajo Tribe culture. >Book Your Mystery Valley Tour

Hunts Mesa Tour

Hunts Mesa tour is one of the best ways to experience a Monument Valley jeep tour. The Monument Valley guide will take you above Monument Valley, and you will have the chance to see the sunset from a different perspective. There are two types of tours. A day tour and an overnight camping tour. >Book an Overnight Hunts Mesa Tour Here

Wildcat Trail

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Distance: 3.9 miles
• Elevation Gain: 380 ft
• Trail Guide: Click Here

The Wildcat Trail Monument Valley is the only self-guided hiking trail inside the Navajo Tribal Park. The trail starts near the visitor’s center (can be seen on the map above). The trail is a great way to get closer to the West and East Mitten Buttes. There is a good elevation gain in the sand at the end.

Highway 163 Monument Valley (Forrest Gump Point)

One of the best things to do near Monument Valley is to take a great picture at Forrest Gump Point. The Instagram famous point is relatively well known because of Forrest Gump the movie. Now you have a great chance to take your picture. The GPS coordinates are 37.101393, -109.990973. Please note that this area can get pretty crowded.

Big Hogan Arch

Big Hogan is such a unique-looking arch. This arch is a cave natural arch eroded in DeChelly sandstone. It is one of the few hidden gems of Monument Valley because you need a guide to experience it. Book a tour here and experience this one-of-a-kind arch. This tour also includes other backcountry spots that can only be seen with an official tour guide.

Stargaze At Monument Valley

Are you into Astronomy? Then Monument Valley is a fantastic spot to check out the stars. When you drive to Monument Valley you will realize just how remote this place is. You can even take an official tour here.

Visit The View Hotel

I know I mentioned this hotel as one of the places to stay above, but I really feel like you should still stop by the View Hotel even if you are not a guest. The views around the hotel are phenomenal and I also LOVED the restaurant. Getting to eat local Navajo food was such a treat! I also loved that they had an awesome gift shop. We ended up buying my mother-in-law a beautiful handmade Navajo tribe pot.

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Final Thoughts On Things To See In Monument Valley

Well, that is it on the best things to do around Monument Valley. Please let me know if you have any questions and also check out these other posts on Arizona:

• 5 Amazing Things To Do In Page AZ
• Everything You Need to Know About The Havasu Hike and More
• One Day Itinerary To Petrified Forest National Park
• Best Hikes In Sedona, Arizona
• 21 Of The Best Grand Canyon Views

Also, follow me on Instagram, where I discuss all things hiking, camping, and backpacking. You can get ready for your next outdoor adventure!  Follow Me Here.

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