I didn’t know it at the time, but my Monument Valley itinerary was written in my youth. With a great affinity for cinema, this storied location was waved in front of my eyes countless times growing up. Watching Clark Griswold crash his car in National Lampoon’s Vacation. Marty McFly driving through the Valley being chased by native Americans in Back to the Future 3. And my all-time favourite movie with Forrest Gump ending his back and forth US marathon here. And from a cinematic perspective, that’s all before you get into the various westerns that called Monument Valley home.
The word iconic can be often overused, but Monument Valley is exactly that.
You don’t need to be inspired by cinema to make a visit here worthwhile. Whatever your motivation, you can be assured a visit to Monument Valley will be indelibly etched into your memory long after your visit. Of a month long Great American road trip from Atlanta to Los Angeles, this was my number one highlight. And one that feels like a just reward for embarking on an epic road trip.
Read along to learn about our Monument Valley itinerary.
At a glance || A perfect Monument Valley itinerary
Get some shade under the sombrero of Mexican Hat
Go your own way at Forrest Gump Point
Drive the 17 mile loop at Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
Our Passion For Travel contains affiliate links which may provide a commission. Our reviews and commentary remain independent and commission comes at no cost to you. Income derived help us create more content to help travellers like you make the most of your travel experiences. Read more here.
Driving west to begin your Monument Valley itinerary
We had arrived after around 6 hours driving. The trip broken up by a visit to the Four Corners Monument on the borders of Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico. A lot of this drive is through vast, arid landscapes that can fill countless hours on a US road trip.
As we drove west towards Monument Valley on the 163 Highway, the landscape began to shift. The muted tones of the scenery gradually become a deeper shade of red. Rock formations start to rise from the Earth like jagged, unfinished chess pieces. As the road curves around into straights of wavy tarmac, the outline of Monument Valley starts to appear in its silhouette in the distance.
We arrived in late afternoon. This was as much a part of the long drive we’d had but also worked well to coincide with ensuring we were in Monument Valley for sunset.
Mexican Hat
Our first stop on our Monument Valley itinerary was our very first ‘monument’ that sits outside of the formal park. This formation is also home to a very small town of people. Mexican Hat is a weird and wonderful natural formation. It will leave you wondering how long until the hat falls victim to erosion?
Forrest Gump Point
It’s now time to crank Go your own way and Against the wind on your playlist. A soundtrack for this part of the journey is not an option, it’s mandatory. No Monument Valley itinerary is complete without it.
Lying a ~10 minute drive further on from Mexican Hat, turn that stereo up and find yourself at the famed Forrest Gump Point. If you don’t know why it’s called this, shame on you. Please head to your nearest streaming device for 3 hours of epic film watching. Or at the very least watch this snippet of Forrest’s run scene.
Those that do know the movie will instantly recognise this as the spot where Forrest stops running. It will come as no surprise that this point is now an icon unto itself. Forrest Gump point as it has become known is located on a straight, undulating part of the road outside of the Valley proper. Even without its notoriety in film, the spot is still awe-inspiring.
We took in the early part of sunset here. It turned out to be a great time to visit. By all accounts, it can get quite busy along here with other tourists having the same idea to take in the view. We had 2-3 cars to share the space with and everyone had the opportunity to take photos of each other on the road.
You won’t need too long here, although we did spend some time in our car after having a wander and photo session on the road taking in the view.
Safety warning: whilst the road is straight and long with good visibility, ensure someone is keeping an eye on traffic. Whilst traffic was minimal during our visit it is still a live road. From what we’ve read, there are times when it gets busier. Don’t become an entry into the Darwin Awards for the sake of a photo. Take care, and exercise a little bit of patience and caution.
Head on to Oljato-Monument Valley
Driving further on down the 163 highway, you’ll soon hit the main intersection with Monument Valley road. There’s not a whole lot here, but it’s effectively the centre of town, or valley as it were.
At this intersection, turning right will take you towards the local airstrip. Nearby, you’ll find a grocery store, gas station and accommodation – Goulding’s Lodge. The Goulding’s own all of these shops and provide most of the Monument Valley economy.
Where to stay in Monument Valley – Goulding’s Lodge
We stayed overnight at Goulding’s Lodge which was an excellent stay. The rooms are basic, but cosy and warm with a balcony to breathe in some of that fresh country air. You can hear just about everything going on for some distance as you sit in the tranquillity. The dark sky filled with stars is a show unto itself.
Goulding’s has a restaurant called Stagecoach on site which serves a mix of American food and some Navajo dishes. If you’ve not had it before, the must try dish here is the large Navajo taco. Different to a Mexican taco, it is served on frybread and chilli con carne and your usual taco toppings. It’s a large portion, so easily shared between two people alongside an entrée or appetiser.
BOOK NOW: Goulding’s Lodge || From $US100
Other accommodation options in Monument Valley
Other than camping, there is another option for accommodation. The View hotel is situated inside the Monument Valley Tribal Park. We have nothing negative to say about The View, but we were glad we didn’t stay there during our visit. This is no slur on the property itself, but due to a highly unusual occurrence. The Tribal Park was closed upon our arrival due to a dispute between some booked customers of The View and the local tribespeople.
Monument Valley Tribal Park is not a national park. It is run by the local Navajo tribespeople, who took the extraordinary (but within their power) step of closing the Tribal Park.
Bizarrely, this situation escalated quickly. FBI and local enforcement authorities were on site and cut off access to the park. A police barricade was set up and we were told we’d be unable to visit the Tribal park for the unforeseen future.
The offending customers eventually agreed to leave in the middle of the night and the local tribespeople opened the park up once again in the morning (just as we were checking out – phew!). Again, none of this is a negative of the property, indeed we had looked to stay here originally but it was booked out. But it did cause quite the unexpected fanfare in sleepy old Monument Valley during our stay!
The Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
After a good night’s sleep (and hopefully no FBI/police operations) it’s time to pack your bags and head into the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. The Tribal Park is home to the famous ‘monuments’ that you’ve seen in those classic western movies.
In the park, you’ll pay an entry fee of $20 which grants entry for your vehicle and up to 4 passengers. There is a Visitor Center which includes a small convenience store, restaurant and has souvenirs available for sale. From here, you’ll commence the 17 mile loop drive or Valley drive. Along the way, you’ll be able to stop as you like and take pictures. There are bays you can pull over in which make it easy to get out, enjoy the view and take those precious photos.
The road itself is a dusty, bumpy one. Fear not though, a 4WD is not required, our Hyundai Elantra did the job nicely. Just take your time, drive slowly and respect other motorists taking in the same iconic views as you. Some of the amazing sights you’ll take in along the way are:
The Mittens and Merrick Butte
You’ve possibly already seen these on the way in, but there is a great spot up close that you can take in these monuments. They look like mittens you’d wear in winter and Merrick Butte looks similar but without the thumb.
The Three Sisters
Opposite the Mittens, you’ll find the Three Sisters. These three finger like stones rise out of the red rock.
John Ford’s point
This is probably the most iconic spot on the loop. Named after film director John Ford, who filmed Stagecoach, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and Rio Grande amongst others in the Monument Valley area. Here, you can even mount a horse to get that well known photo overlooking Merrick Butte.
If horses aren’t your thing, feel free to wander out onto the promontory and take in the views here. It’s hard not feel small amongst such a vast land.
Totem pole
It’s pretty easy to guess why this spot is called totem pole! It does indeed look like a totem pole, which stands by itself with some distance to the Yel-Bichel formation.
Artist’s point
Another popular vantage point, if you’ve brought a picnic lunch, this is a great spot to enjoy the views with a snack and a drink.
Looking for another south-western destination? Check out our one day guide to Page, Arizona.
Other considerations for your visit to Monument Valley
I’d encourage you to take your time on the drive. Firstly for safety, but secondly it’s a much more enjoyable way of taking in the sights along the way. Everyone seems to have their favourite parts of the loop drive, enjoy taking the time to find a favourite spot of your own!
As mentioned, the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is the land of the local Navajo. It’s not Government owned and the local people do ask for you to respect their rules and beliefs. You can drive the loop and wander around within reason, but do not go off the tracks. Do not go hiking into the wilderness. Follow the rules as you’re instructed, you’re a guest on Navajo land. Be a good traveller.
There are tours available around the loop and other parts of Monument Valley. Enquire at the Visitor Center to find out more.
How to get to Monument Valley
Monument Valley is a destination accessed from many different areas. In saying that, it isn’t exactly close to any major city. You’re out in the wilderness here folks. Like us, it may be easiest reached as part of a larger southwest road trip itinerary. This would be the most convenient way to tie in a trip to Monument Valley.
Distances from nearest sights and cities to Monument Valley
Four Corners Monument – 108 miles
Page, Arizona – 128 miles
Farmington, New Mexico – 155 miles (nearest major airport)
Grand Canyon South Rim – 180 miles
Phoenix, Arizona – 322 miles
Salt Lake City, Utah – 385 miles
Las Vegas, Nevada – 400 miles
How long do you need to visit Monument Valley?
We spent one night in Monument Valley. The afternoon prior and a full day following was enough to see these highlights. Alternatively, if you want to participate in an organised tour and do some further exploring, an additional day may provide more time to do these.
It’s the open countryside, some may argue there is no amount of time that is too much.
When to visit Monument Valley?
We visited in late November. Temperatures in November see highs of 70 degrees Fahrenheit and lows of 30 degrees. Our visit was on the cooler side during both days, but nothing a jacket couldn’t handle. Overnight, it certainly bordered into fresh territory, so you might need to duck in and out of your room only briefly to take in the Milky Way views. I’d happily return at this time of year.
In winter (December-February) unsurprisingly you’ll find much colder temperatures. If you’re very lucky on a winter visit, you may be presented with a dusting of snow. Monument Valley’s impressive scenery becomes an auspicious level of beauty when the red monuments are sprinkled with white snow against a blue sky. The red, white and blue of the United States right there.
As you can imagine when it comes summer, temperatures can be quite oppressive. Any outdoor activities may be challenging and staying hydrated will be your number one challenge. For our itinerary, given how much was conducted inside a vehicle, I’d feel comfortable doing this in the summer too.
With less than 7 inches of rain a year, you’d be unlucky to get wet during a visit at just about any time of year.
Autumn and Spring offer the most pleasant all round conditions. No matter, when your Monument Valley itinerary, it’s a great destination where there is no such thing as bad weather but only a poor choice of clothing.
Are you putting together a Monument Valley itinerary? We’d love to hear where you’re at in planning for this magnificent bucket list destination.
Hello, thanks for your sharing your trip to Monument valley. Is it possible to do the Valley Drive and Forest Gump Point one day?
Hi Pam, no worries at all, it’s an amazing destination. The short answer is yes, you could easily do both in one day. Your key consideration would be if you were staying versus arriving/leaving and how much driving would be ahead of/behind you. Does that make sense?