![]() Some points that you will want to be sure not to miss are: It’s easy to see all the major sights on the drive. There are eleven lookout points along the loop and one self-guided hiking trail in the park. There was some rain the day before, but I definitely wouldn’t have risked it if there was significant water on the ground. I drove very slowly and didn’t experience any major difficulties with my car, but some of the steeper hills did present more of a challenge and were somewhat worrisome. However, I would recommend renting a 4×4. I knew very little about Monument Valley before my visit and when renting a car, I chose a small, compact vehicle. The entire loop is completely unpaved, so be prepared for a very bumpy and dusty ride. A map of the loop will be handed to you upon entry with all the major points marked. General admission is $20 per vehicle, up to four passengers, with each additional passenger being $6. I recommend doing a self-guided tour, or scenic drive. There are sunrise and sunset tours, as well as photography tours available to choose from. Trespassing is not allowed and visitors need to respect and abide by the rules set by the Navajo government. If you wish to explore beyond the loop, you will need to make tour arrangements since it is tribal land. The self-guided tour is an easy-to-follow, 17 mile scenic drive loop, referred to as the Valley Drive. ![]() There are two options when it comes to exploring Monument Valley- either with a Navajo guide or through a self-guided tour. The drive from Phoenix is 330 miles and takes about five hours, but there are some great stops along the way, such as the Grand Canyon and the beautiful sights of Page, AZ. The closest airport is actually Flagstaff, but a change of planes is necessary, so it is easiest to just drive directly from Phoenix. There are a handful of airports you have the option of choosing from, but your best bet is to fly into Phoenix and rent a car. It’s best done as part of a Southwest road trip. It’s not a difficult place to reach, but it is somewhat remote and requires a car and a little planning. Monument Valley is located off the US-163, just north of the Arizona and Utah border. The elevation from the valley floor ranges from 5,000 to 6,000 feet above sea level, with the largest of the buttes being 1,000 feet above the canyon floor. It’s a stunning collection of varying rock formations, famous for its dramatic sandstone buttes and mesas. It is not an official national park, but belongs to the Navajo Nation and thus, a Navajo Tribal Park. Monument Valley Park is a desert region of the Colorado Plateau. In this guide you will learn everything you need to know before visiting this incredible park and embarking on your own Monument Valley scenic drive. It will be a highlight of your southwest road trip. Trust me, you don’t want to skip over it. However, Monument Valley is a place you should get up close and personal with. From here, they take advantage of the terrific photo ops and take in Monument Valley from a distance. Many visitors tend to drive into Utah and stop at the popular Forrest Gump Point. The area’s beautiful red sandstone buttes and panoramic views have become symbolic of the American West and are usually the first thing that comes to mind when one pictures the southwest today. They really put the region on the map and were the beginning of its increasing popularity. Ford’s films made Monument Valley one of the most familiar landscapes in the United States. ![]() In 1938, John Ford, a director, fell in love with the area and chose the location for his well-known western film, Stagecoach. Monument Valley became an integral part of his films and was featured in many more over the years. Monument Valley was a relatively unknown area until the 1930s. ![]()
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