Monument Valley
Oljato-Monument Valley, AZ
Sandstone buttes on Navajo Nation land, known from a century of Westerns. The valley drive is unpaved, and Navajo guides lead tours deeper in.
Monument Valley, Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii in Navajo ("valley of the rocks"), is a Navajo Nation tribal park of about 371 km² (143 square miles) straddling the Utah–Arizona line. The park sits at about 1,700 m (5,564 feet), and its sandstone buttes rise 120 to 300 m (400 to 1,000 feet). Ever since John Ford filmed "Stagecoach" here in 1938, the Mittens and Merrick Butte have defined the image of the Wild West.
You can already see the formations from the visitor center terrace. The roughly 27 km (17-mile) Valley Drive is an unpaved track of gravel and deep sand; a regular car can manage it in dry weather only if driven slowly and carefully, and high-clearance vehicles are recommended. RVs, camper vans and motorcycles are prohibited. Areas such as Mystery Valley or Hunts Mesa are open only with licensed Navajo guides. Summer often tops 38 °C (100 °F); spring and fall are more pleasant. You can stay overnight at The View Hotel inside the park.
- Nearest town
- Oljato-Monument Valley, AZ
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 36.9980, -110.0985
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
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. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
© Jamie Hagan dearjamie · CC0Utah's five national parks, in one loop from Las Vegas
© Ken Lund from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0Canyons and cliff dwellings of the Four Corners
© Steven Baltakatei Sandoval · CC BY-SA 4.0Navajo Nation: Window Rock, Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley
© Daniel Olah danesduet10 · CC0Red walls, starry skies – the great canyon tour through the Southwest
© Outdoor Craziness · CC BY-SA 3.0Mesas, bridges and buttes: by camper through Bears Ears and Monument Valley
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- The view campgroundCampsite1 mi from Monument Valley
- Monument Valley CampgroundMotorhome stopover1 mi from Monument ValleyMotorhomes
- Monument Valley KOAMotorhome stopover3 mi from Monument ValleyMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalWi-Fi
- TiPi VillageMotorhome stopover5 mi from Monument ValleyMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Goulding's RV Park & CampgroundsCampsite6 mi from Monument ValleyTents
- Goosenecks State Park CampgroundMotorhome stopover15 mi from Monument ValleyTentsMotorhomesToilets
All campsites in Arizona · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Monument Valley?
Monument Valley is in Oljato-Monument Valley, AZ, at GPS 36.9980, -110.0985. It is about 17 mi from Mexican Hat.
Can you camp near Monument Valley?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is The View RV Sites, about 1 mi away; within 25 mi there are 13 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Monument Valley?
Monument Valley is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Utah's five national parks, in one loop from Las Vegas, Canyons and cliff dwellings of the Four Corners, Navajo Nation: Window Rock, Canyon de Chelly and Monument Valley, Red walls, starry skies – the great canyon tour through the Southwest and Mesas, bridges and buttes: by camper through Bears Ears and Monument Valley.
What is there to see near Monument Valley?
Places worth a stop nearby: Goosenecks State Park (15 mi), Moki Dugway (21 mi), Valley of the Gods (22 mi) and Navajo National Monument (33 mi).
When is the best time to visit 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)