Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
Red sandstone buttes rise from the desert on the Arizona and Utah border, best seen from the 17-mile Valley Drive at sunrise or sunset.
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Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park sits inside the Navajo Nation, straddling the Arizona and Utah border. Sandstone buttes and mesas rise from a flat desert floor on the Colorado Plateau, a scene many people know from John Ford's Westerns. The Navajo Nation runs the park, so its entry fees and passes are set by the tribe, and a National Park Service pass does not cover entry.
Most visitors come for a day. The Valley Drive is a 17-mile unpaved loop through the buttes, and a Navajo-guided tour can take you deeper into the valley than the public loop goes. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons, since summer heat in the desert can be intense. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water, because there is little shade on the loop. Sunrise and sunset bring out the strongest red in the rock, so plan on a full day, or an overnight stay if you want both light periods.
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park in five
- Pay at the Navajo Tribal Park gateEntry is charged by the Navajo Nation, and national park passes are not accepted. The official site lists the current fee per person and per vehicle, so check it before you go.Navajo Nation Parks
- Know the $100 national park fee does not applyThe nonresident fee covers 11 National Park Service parks, and this tribal park is not one of them. You pay the Navajo Nation entry fee only.The $100 fee, explained
- Choose the Valley Drive or a guided tourThe self-drive loop is on rough dirt roads and open without a guide. Navajo-led tours reach areas that self-drivers cannot enter, and give context on the land.
- Time sunrise and sunsetThe buttes glow in low light, so plan for the first and last hours. The park has set hours and a last-entry time for the Valley Drive, so check them for your date.
- Check the time zoneThe Navajo Nation observes daylight saving time even though most of Arizona does not, so clocks can differ from nearby towns. Confirm tour times when you book.
Things to do in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
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Need to know
- Entrance
- Navajo Nation fee at the gate; national park passes are not accepted Read more
- Permits
- None for the Valley Drive; guided tours book through Navajo operators
- Season
- Open all year; hours change by season and the park closes on some holidays
- Nearest town
- Kayenta, Arizona, and Mexican Hat, Utah, each about 25 to 30 min
- Getting there
- US-163: Moab about 2.5 hours, Page about 2 hours, Flagstaff about 3 hours
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear5 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh3°Low-4°Cold, snowJanuaryClear
Poor
- High
- 3°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 20 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, snow
- FebruaryClear4 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low-2°ColdFebruaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 7°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 16 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- MarchClear4 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh12°Low2°Windy, mildMarchClear
Good
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 22 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Windy, mild
- AprilClear3 rainy daysHigh18°Low6°Mild, windyAprilClear
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 9 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, windy
- MayClear4 rainy daysHigh23°Low11°Warm, dryMayClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 12 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, dry
- JuneClear2 rainy daysHigh30°Low17°HotJuneClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 15 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- JulyClear4 rainy daysHigh32°Low20°Hot, monsoonJulyClear
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 16 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, monsoon
- AugustClear4 rainy daysHigh30°Low19°Monsoon stormsAugustClear
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 21 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Monsoon storms
- SeptemberClear3 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh26°Low15°Warm, clearSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 23 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Warm, clear
- OctoberClear3 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°Mild, clearOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 21 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- NovemberClear3 rainy daysHigh11°Low2°CoolNovemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 16 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool
- DecemberClear4 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low-2°Cold, snowDecemberClear
Poor
- High
- 6°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 16 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, snow
Average daily high and low in Monument Valley, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
11
- Feels like
- 7°
- Humidity
- 50%
- Wind
- 23 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 23%
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
01:39 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today10°3°23%Monday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 23%.
- Tue12°1°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed12°6°5%Wednesday: Clear. High 12°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Thu12°5°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri13°6°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat11°6°3%Saturday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 3%.
Updated 10:08 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Moababout 2.5 hours northA base for Arches and Canyonlands.Read the guide
- Grand Canyon National Parkabout 3.5 to 4 hours by roadAnother iconic stop, with the $100 fee for visitors.Read the guide
- Goosenecks State Parkabout 45 to 60 minutes northA viewpoint over a San Juan River canyon bend.
Before you go to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
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Rules for Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, checked
Plan around Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
Arches and Canyonlands, 2.5 hours north
Read the guideUtahFive national parks and the road between them
Read the guideGrand Canyon National ParkA longer drive south into Arizona
Read the guide$100 park fee for visitorsWhich 11 parks charge non-US residents
Read the guideAll of the USAStates, parks and cities in one planning hub
Read the guideESTA, explainedWho needs it, the fee and how to apply
Read the guideMonument Valley Navajo Tribal Park FAQ
Do I pay the $100 national park fee at Monument Valley?
No. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is run by the Navajo Nation, not the National Park Service. The $100 nonresident fee applies only to 11 NPS parks.
Do national park passes work at Monument Valley?
No. The park's official page does not accept national park passes. You pay the Navajo Nation entry fee, which the official site lists.
Can you drive the Valley Drive yourself?
Yes. The loop is open to self-drivers on rough dirt, and no guide is required. Drive slowly, and expect rough sections after rain.
Is a guided tour worth it?
Yes if you want to see areas closed to self-drivers and hear Navajo guides. Skip it if you only want the main views and a short stop, since the main overlooks and the drive are open to you.
How long do you need at Monument Valley?
A half day covers the drive and the visitor center. Stay overnight if you want both sunrise and sunset, since the nearest towns are 25 to 30 minutes away.