Navajo Nation: Window Rock, Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley
Across the Navajo Nation from Gallup to Utah, stopping at a historic trading post, the rims of Canyon de Chelly and a 13th-century village.
- Distance
- 384 km (239 mi)
- Driving
- 4 h 16 min
- Suggested days
- 4
- Stops
- 9
- States
- NM, AZ, UT
- Updated
- July 8, 2026
At a glance: 4-day road trip of about 384 km (239 mi) with 9 stops, from Gallup to Mexican Hat. About 4 h 16 min of driving in total.
More road trips in New Mexico, Arizona, Utah
Route description
From Gallup, drive north on US-491 and west on NM-264 into Arizona to Window Rock, the capital of the Navajo Nation, about 40 km away. See the rock arch, the Code Talkers memorial and the Navajo Nation Museum. Unlike the rest of Arizona, the Navajo Nation observes daylight saving time, so check the clock for tour times in summer. Alcohol is banned throughout the reservation.
Continue west on AZ-264 to Ganado and Hubbell Trading Post, still trading rugs and jewelry since 1878. Then drive north on US-191 to Chinle and Canyon de Chelly. The monument is free and its two rim drives, North and South, are paved, each with several overlooks. To go down into the canyon, hike the White House Trail or book a jeep or horse tour with an authorized Navajo guide. Cottonwood Campground is near the visitor center.
From Chinle, US-191 heads north to Many Farms, where Navajo Route 59 cuts northwest to US-160. Turn west toward Kayenta and continue past it to AZ-564 and Navajo National Monument, about 210 km from Chinle. From the visitor center, a paved trail leads to an overlook of Betatakin, an Ancestral Puebloan village in an alcove. The monument has a small free campground at 2,200 m.
Return to Kayenta and take US-163 north for 40 km to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, which charges its own entry fee. The 27 km Valley Drive is unpaved, bumpy dirt, fine for cars driven slowly but closed to motorhomes; guided tours from the visitor center go further. Continue on US-163 over the Utah line to the small town of Mexican Hat on the San Juan River.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Gallup
NM - 239 km
Window Rock Navajo Tribal Park
HistoryWindow Rock, AZA large circular hole in a sandstone cliff beside the Navajo Nation capital, with a memorial to the Navajo Code Talkers. The Navajo Nation Museum is a short drive away.
- 356 km
Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site
HistoryGanado, AZThe oldest continuously operating trading post on the Navajo Nation, opened in 1878 and still selling rugs and jewelry. Tours of the Hubbell home are run by rangers.
- 457 km
Canyon de Chelly National Monument
HistoryChinle, AZRed sandstone canyons with cliff dwellings and Navajo farms still worked today. Rim drives to Spider Rock and White House Overlook are free; entering the canyon floor needs an authorized Navajo guide, except on the White House Trail when it is open.
- 51 km
Chinle
AZ - 6127 km
Navajo National Monument
HistoryKayenta, AZAn overlook trail from the visitor center looks across a canyon at Betatakin, a 13th-century village in an alcove. The monument has a small free campground and a short paved rim trail near the visitor center.
- 731 km
Kayenta
AZ - 840 km
Monument Valley
NatureOljato-Monument Valley, AZSandstone buttes on Navajo Nation land, known from a century of Westerns. The valley drive is unpaved, and Navajo guides lead tours deeper in.
- 933 km
Mexican Hat
UT
Suggested stages and overnight stops
4 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Gallup → Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site · 59 mi · 1 h 03 minOn the way: Window Rock Navajo Tribal Park.
- Day 2: Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site → Chinle · 36 mi · 0 h 39 minOn the way: Canyon de Chelly National Monument.Overnight nearby, for example: Cottonwood Campground (1 mi); Free Campground in Canyon de Chelly NM (12 mi).
- Day 3: Chinle → Navajo National Monument · 79 mi · 1 h 25 minOvernight nearby, for example: Sunset View Campground (< 1 km); Canyon View Campground (< 1 km).
- Day 4: Navajo National Monument → Mexican Hat · 65 mi · 1 h 09 minOn the way: Kayenta, Monument Valley.Overnight nearby, for example: Cottonwood RV Park (18 mi); Coral Sands RV Park (18 mi).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in June and November. Hot in July–August. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Navajo Nation: Window Rock, Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley?
4-day road trip of about 384 km (239 mi) with 9 stops, from Gallup to Mexican Hat. About 4 h 16 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Navajo Nation: Window Rock, Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley?
We suggest 4 days: about 4 h 16 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Navajo Nation: Window Rock, Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley start and end?
It starts in Gallup and ends in Mexican Hat.
Which states does Navajo Nation: Window Rock, Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley pass through?
New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.
Where can you camp along Navajo Nation: Window Rock, Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley?
OpenStreetMap lists 28 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: USA RV Park, Sunset View Campground and Canyon View Campground.
When is the best time for Navajo Nation: Window Rock, Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley?
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in June and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
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