Monument Valley at a glance
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is run by the Navajo Nation, not the National Park Service. Its sandstone buttes and mesas, the Mittens, Merrick Butte and the Totem Pole among them, became famous through Western films and are now one of the most photographed landscapes in the American Southwest.
There are two ways to see it. The 17-mile Valley Drive is open to private cars and passes the best-known viewpoints. Everything beyond it, including the arches, rock art and backcountry viewpoints, is only accessible on Monument Valley tours led by Navajo guides. Many visitors combine both: the loop on their own in the afternoon, a guided tour at sunrise.
Driving the Valley Drive yourself
The loop starts at the visitor center and runs on a rough, sandy dirt road with numbered viewpoints. Plan two to three hours with stops.
The Mittens from the visitor center
The classic view of West and East Mitten and Merrick Butte is right at the visitor center terrace, no driving needed.
Three Sisters and John Ford's Point
The three slim spires at the end of Mitchell Mesa, and the ledge named after the director who filmed his Westerns here.
Artist's Point and North Window
Two wide panoramas on the far side of the loop, best in the late afternoon light.
What to know
Motorcycles are not allowed on the loop. Drive slowly, stay on the marked route and check whether your rental contract permits unpaved roads.
Monument Valley tours compared
Typical tour formats offered by Navajo guides in and around the park. Exact routes, times and prices vary by operator and season.
| Format | What you see | Length | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-drive Valley Drive | The numbered viewpoints on the loop | 2–3 h | Entry fee only | Tight budgets, own schedule |
| Guided valley tour | The loop plus restricted areas with arches and rock art | Short to half day | $$ | First visits, rental cars barred from dirt roads |
| Sunrise or sunset tour | Backcountry viewpoints in the best light | Short to half day | $$–$$$ | Photographers |
| Backcountry tour | Areas such as Mystery Valley or Hunts Mesa | Half day or longer | $$$ | Hikers, repeat visitors |
| Horseback ride | Trails at the foot of the buttes | Varies | $$ | A classic Western experience |
| Day trip from Page | Transport plus a guided valley tour | Full day | $$$$ | Travellers without a car |
Our picks: Monument Valley tours
All three go with a Navajo guide into areas you can't reach on the self-drive loop.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Sunset tour with Navajo guide
Timed for the late light on the buttes. Remember that Monument Valley runs on Navajo time, which differs from Arizona time in summer.
Check availability →
Backcountry jeep tour with Navajo guide
The classic viewpoints plus backcountry areas that are closed to private cars.
Check availability →Horseback ride in Monument Valley
A short guided ride between the buttes, a good add-on to a jeep tour on the same day.
Check availability →Navajo-guided Monument Valley tours
Valley tours, sunrise and sunset drives, backcountry trips and day tours from Page, with live prices and availability.
Fees, opening hours and the time zone
The Navajo Nation raised its park fees on 1 January 2026. As of October 2026, the park's own page lists $10 per person per day and $15 per vehicle. Another Navajo Parks page still shows an older figure, so check navajonationparks.org before you go. America the Beautiful and other national park passes are not accepted, because this is tribal land.
Hours change with the seasons. In the winter schedule that began on 17 October 2026, the visitor center viewpoint is open from 8 am to 5 pm and the Valley Drive from 8 am to 5 pm, with last entry at 2:30 pm. In summer the hours are longer and the last entry is later. The park closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Watch the clock: the Navajo Nation observes daylight saving time, Arizona does not. From March to early November, Monument Valley is one hour ahead of Page, Flagstaff and Phoenix. Always ask whether a tour time is given in Navajo or Arizona time. If you drive in from Page in summer, you lose an hour on the way.
The only self-guided hike is the Wildcat Trail around West Mitten Butte. Sign in and out at the visitor center. All other hiking needs a guide.
Forrest Gump Point on US-163
The famous view down the highway towards the buttes, where Forrest Gump ends his run in the film, is not inside the park. It is on US-163 in Utah, about 16 miles (26 km) north of the visitor center, roughly 25 minutes' drive towards Mexican Hat, near mile marker 13.
There is no official parking area. Pull completely off the road, watch the traffic and do not stand in the lane for photos. Early morning is the quietest time and has soft light on the buttes behind you.
If you come from Page or the Grand Canyon, you do not pass this point on the way in. It is a short detour north, easy to combine with a drive towards Moab or a night near the park.
Sunrise, sunset and practical tips
Monument Valley is at its best in the first and last hour of daylight.
Sunrise
From the visitor center terrace the sun rises behind the Mittens and Merrick Butte. Silhouettes and colour in the sky, ideal for photos.
Sunset
The low sun lights up the faces of the buttes in deep red. Since the loop closes in the late afternoon, sunset from the backcountry is only possible on a guided tour.
Stay overnight
There are only a few hotels and campgrounds near the valley, and they fill early. Book as soon as your dates are fixed.
Plan your road trip →Respect the land
This is home to Navajo families. Do not enter homes or fenced areas, and ask before photographing people. Filming and commercial photography need a special permit.
Combine Monument Valley with
The valley is about two to two and a half hours from Page, the natural next stop.
Antelope Canyon
The famous slot canyons near Page, open only on Navajo-guided tours.
Horseshoe Bend
The great river bend below a short trail, best at sunrise or sunset.
Lake Powell
Boat tours through side canyons of Glen Canyon.
Grand Canyon
South Rim viewpoints, flights and guided tours compared.
Monument Valley: frequently asked questions
Do you need a tour to see Monument Valley?
No, you can drive the 17-mile Valley Drive yourself. A tour with a Navajo guide is required for everything beyond the loop, including arches, rock art and the backcountry viewpoints.
How much does Monument Valley cost in 2026?
The fee was raised on 1 January 2026. The park page lists $10 per person per day and $15 per vehicle as of October 2026. National park passes are not accepted.
Is Monument Valley in Arizona or Utah?
Both. The park straddles the state line within the Navajo Nation. The visitor center is on the Utah side, and Forrest Gump Point is in Utah on US-163.
What time zone is Monument Valley in?
It follows Navajo Nation time, which uses daylight saving time. From March to early November it is one hour ahead of the rest of Arizona.
How long should I spend in Monument Valley?
Half a day covers the Valley Drive. Stay one night to see sunset and sunrise and add a guided tour.