Monument Valley - Iconic Southwest Roadtrip -

Some of the most amazing and iconic southwest photos are from Monument Valley. This beautiful area of the world is on tribal lands. Monument Valley sits within the Navajo Nation, and visiting here is about more than just snapping a few photos.

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The towering sandstone formations, deep red hues, and wide-open skies are just part of the story. You’ll also find Navajo-guided tours, traditional food stands, and handmade crafts that offer a window into the heritage of the Diné people.

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Kayenta Arizona – Gateway to Monument Valley

If you’re road-tripping to Monument Valley, chances are you’ll pass through Kayenta, Arizona. Just 25 miles south of the valley and about 150 miles northeast of Flagstaff , Kayenta is the last full-service town before you hit the wide-open beauty of the tribal park.

Need gas? Hungry? Forgot to pack snacks or water? This is your spot to fuel up—both literally and figuratively. You’ll find everything from fast food chains to local restaurants serving up Navajo tacos and frybread. There’s also a grocery store, a few motels, and yes, even a Tesla Supercharger, which makes this remote location surprisingly EV-friendly.

Is Monument Valley in Arizona or Utah?

Monument Valley is on the border of the states of Arizona and Utah. Most of the park is located within Arizona.

Monument Valley 17-mile scenic drive

There are two ways to see Monument Valley: a guided tour or take the 17-mile unpaved scenic drive. Due to the sand dunes and road conditions, no motorcycles or RVs are allowed on the drive. When we drove this road you were still able to drive a motorcycle on this road and that is what we did.

During this 17-mile drive you can view rock formations like Merrick Rock.

Camel Rock.

Cly Butte

The last named rock formation is The Thumb.

Beyond the Scenic Drive

Besides driving the 17-mile unpaved scenic road you can hike the 4-mile Wildcat Trail. This is the only trail you can hike without a guided tour. A guided tour allows you to see much more of the park. You can purchase a back-country guided tour for Monument Valley at the Navajo Tribal Parks site.