Monument Valley Hotels and Campgrounds
Monument Valley has fewer lodging options than its visitor numbers might suggest. The most convenient properties are inside or immediately outside Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, while additional hotels, fuel, and food are concentrated in Kayenta to the south and, to a lesser degree, Mexican Hat to the north.
The best place to stay depends on whether your priority is a sunrise view, a full-service room, an RV hookup, backcountry access, or lower cost. Staying inside the park gives you the easiest access to early and late light. Kayenta gives you more services and a longer drive. Mexican Hat works for some north-south itineraries, while Page is a practical base only if you are treating Monument Valley as a long day trip.
Where to Stay for Monument Valley
| Staying area | Best suited for | Main tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Inside Monument Valley Tribal Park | Sunrise, sunset, night photography, and immediate park access | Limited inventory and on-site services |
| Goulding’s and the park entrance area | Rooms, cabins, RV camping, dining, and tours near the park | Outside the tribal park but still in a remote area |
| Kayenta, Arizona | More hotels, fuel, groceries, and dining | About a 30–45 minute drive to the park |
| Mexican Hat, Utah | Travelers continuing toward Mexican Hat, the San Juan River, or southern Utah | Small lodging and dining base |
| Page, Arizona | Travelers combining Monument Valley with Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, or Lake Powell | Long out-and-back drive |
For help deciding whether to visit Monument Valley from Page, review Monument Valley from Page. If you plan to remain based in Page, compare where to stay in Page.
Stay Inside Monument Valley Tribal Park
The only lodging inside Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is The View Hotel, along with its cabins and campground. This location is the most convenient for travelers who want to be at the valley rim before crowds arrive or stay after day visitors leave.
The View Hotel and Cabins
The View Hotel is a Navajo-owned property positioned above the central valley. Guestrooms face the major formations, and cabin options provide another way to stay inside the park. Room categories can affect the view, balcony position, and sleeping setup, so compare the exact accommodation rather than booking only by property name.
Staying here reduces driving time and makes it easier to return to your room between sunrise and sunset. It also places you close to the visitor center, scenic drive entrance, restaurant, and trading post. The tradeoff is limited inventory. Rooms and cabins can sell out well ahead of popular travel periods, especially for view-oriented categories.
Confirm current room type, view category, accessibility, dining hours, and cancellation terms before booking. Services are more limited than at a full-service hotel in a larger town.
The View Campground
The View Campground provides an overnight option inside the park for RV travelers, tent campers, and visitors using wilderness camp sites. The setting gives campers direct access to the park without a separate commute at sunrise or sunset.
Facilities, hookups, restrooms, and site layouts vary by campground section. Confirm the current site type, vehicle length, generator rules, water availability, and shower arrangements before assuming that the campground offers the same services as a developed RV park. Summer heat, wind, dust, and cold nights require full desert-camping preparation.
Because this is the most convenient campground inside the tribal park, it should be booked as early as possible when your dates are fixed.
Stay Near the Monument Valley Entrance
The Goulding’s area and nearby private properties provide the largest concentration of Monument Valley lodging outside the tribal park. This area is close enough for convenient park access while offering more accommodation types than the in-park properties.
Goulding’s Lodge and Campground
Goulding’s offers lodge rooms, cabins, RV sites, tent camping, a restaurant, a convenience store, guided tours, and access to the Goulding’s Trading Post Museum. Its RV area includes full-hookup sites, while cabins can provide a middle ground between tent camping and a conventional hotel room.
Staying at Goulding’s works well for travelers who want Monument Valley access plus on-site meals, fuel, tours, and lodging choices in one location. It is outside the tribal park rather than inside it, but it remains one of the closest full-service lodging areas.
Verify the exact accommodation type before booking. Lodge rooms, cabins, tent sites, and RV sites have different layouts, facilities, and cancellation terms. Summer demand can be high, especially for travelers who want to combine lodging with a guided park tour.
Mexican Hat
Mexican Hat is north of Monument Valley on US 163 and provides a smaller selection of motel and lodge-style stays. It is useful for travelers coming from or continuing toward Mexican Hat, Goosenecks State Park, the San Juan River, Valley of the Gods, or southern Utah.
The tradeoff is limited inventory and fewer services than Kayenta. It can be a good overnight stop on a regional road trip, but it is less practical if Monument Valley is the only destination and you want repeated park access, extensive dining, or a wide hotel selection.
Stay in Kayenta
Kayenta is roughly 25–30 miles south of Monument Valley and offers the largest nearby selection of conventional hotels. Properties in town include the Hampton Inn, Kayenta Monument Valley Inn, and Wetherill Inn, along with other locally oriented services.
Kayenta is a better fit for travelers who prioritize fuel, groceries, restaurants, chain-hotel familiarity, and lower lodging friction over immediate valley views. It can also work well for visitors arriving late or leaving early because it has more practical services than the smaller Monument Valley area.
The tradeoff is the drive. Staying in Kayenta adds roughly 30–45 minutes each way before you are actually at the visitor area, depending on traffic and stops. That makes sunrise and sunset photography less spontaneous than staying inside or near the park.
Confirm the current distance from your selected property to the tribal park entrance, especially if you are booking based on a “Monument Valley” location label. Some listings use the broader Monument Valley area even when the hotel is a substantial drive from the park.
Camping and Backcountry Permits
Camping in Monument Valley is not the same as finding an undeveloped roadside campsite on public land. Much of the surrounding area is Navajo Nation land, and non-Navajo visitors must follow tribal park access, camping, and permit rules.
Designated front-country options include the campgrounds associated with The View and Goulding’s, along with privately operated campground or RV options near the entrance. Availability, hookups, facilities, and site types should be confirmed directly with each operator.
Backcountry camping and hiking on designated routes require a Backcountry Permit from Navajo Nation Parks in addition to the normal park entry process. The permit system is intended to protect visitors and cultural resources on tribal land. Rules, fees, trail access, and road conditions can change, so verify current requirements before planning an overnight backcountry route.
Monument Valley’s backcountry is not a casual dispersed-camping environment. Trails may be unimproved, water is scarce, roads can become difficult after rain, and weather can shift quickly. Guided Navajo tours are often the more practical way to access remote areas because guides provide cultural context, route knowledge, and permission-aware access.
Respect all closures and restrictions. Rock climbing, drones, and entry into unauthorized areas are prohibited under Navajo Nation rules. Do not camp, hike, or drive onto tribal land without the required authorization.
Choosing Between Page, Kayenta, Mexican Hat, and the Park
Stay inside Monument Valley if sunrise, sunset, night skies, or immediate park access are the main reasons for the trip. Book as early as possible because the in-park inventory is limited.
Stay at Goulding’s if you want the closest concentration of rooms, cabins, RV sites, food, fuel, and tours without being inside the tribal park. It is a practical compromise between scenery and services.
Stay in Kayenta if you want more hotel choices, easier provisioning, and a conventional town base. It is less convenient for repeated sunrise and sunset visits but more useful for late arrivals and travelers who need more services.
Stay in Mexican Hat when Monument Valley is part of a larger north-south route. It is a better road-trip stop than a dedicated Monument Valley base for most visitors.
Use Page as your base when Monument Valley is only one part of a longer northern Arizona itinerary. Page has more lodging, dining, and activity options, but the drive makes it less suitable for travelers who want multiple early or late visits to the valley.
Check Page weather for conditions before a Page-based day trip, and use day trips from Page to compare Monument Valley with the North Rim, Zion, and other regional routes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the closest hotel to Monument Valley?
The View Hotel is inside Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park and is the closest hotel option. Goulding’s Lodge and campground are also very close to the park entrance.
Is it better to stay in Kayenta or Monument Valley?
Stay in Monument Valley or at Goulding’s for views and immediate park access. Stay in Kayenta for more hotel choices, food, fuel, and services.
Can you stay inside Monument Valley Tribal Park?
Yes. The View Hotel, cabins, and campground provide in-park lodging and camping options. Availability is limited, so book early.
Are there RV parks with full hookups near Monument Valley?
Yes. Goulding’s RV area and other private campgrounds near the entrance may offer full-hookup sites. Verify current hookup type, site length, and reservation rules before arrival.
Can you camp in Monument Valley?
Yes, in designated campgrounds and authorized backcountry areas. Camping outside authorized areas on Navajo Nation land can require a permit and may otherwise be prohibited.
Do you need a backcountry permit for Monument Valley?
Yes, designated hiking and camping routes in the tribal park require a Backcountry Permit from Navajo Nation Parks. The permit is separate from park entry and current rules should be verified in advance.
Is Page too far away for a Monument Valley day trip?
Page is roughly a 2.5-hour drive each way, so a day trip is possible. It is less practical if you want sunrise, sunset, or multiple visits to the valley.
Are pets allowed at Monument Valley hotels and campgrounds?
Policies vary by property, but a pet-friendly stay does not automatically mean your pet is allowed in the tribal park. Verify both the lodging policy and current Navajo Nation park rules before traveling with a pet.
Recommended Monument Valley Hotels
Mexican Hat Lodge
Pool | Hot Tub | Great Location | Monument Valley
Kayenta Monument Valley Inn
Monument Valley | Pet-Friendly | Pool | Free Breakfast
Wetherill Inn
Free Breakfast | Pool | Great Location | Monument Valley
Goulding's Lodge
Monument Valley | Pet-Friendly | Restaurant on Site | Great Location
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