Guide to the Southwest: Monument Valley + Valley of the Gods + Goosenecks State Park
Tour the icons of the southwest on a trip to Monument Valley, Valley of the Gods, and Goosenecks State Park. This complete guide shares everything you need to know before you go plus a one day itinerary.
Monument Valley might be one of the most iconic destinations in all of the southwest, but, it’s not the only gem you can find among these towering red rocks.
Just a short drive down the road is Utah’s Valley of the Gods and Goosenecks State Park, offering breathtaking scenic views, endless desert camping, and incredible night sky viewing.
Not to mention it’s also the filming location for the popular movie, Forrest Gump. Together, these stunning sites make for an unforgettable southwest road trip.
It’s important to note that Monument Valley is not a national park. It’s on Navajo land which is not run by the US Government, so rules and regulations may be different when you visit.
ABOUT MONUMENT VALLEY
Monument Valley is a Tribal Park owned and run on Navajo land near the Arizona/ Utah border. The most popular thing to do is take the parks 17 mile scenic drive that winds in and around the iconic towers, buttes, and mesas with plenty of spots to stop along the way. Also inside the park are hiking trails, guided tours, lodging and camping.
ENTRANCE FEE
$8 per person
PARK HOURS
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Last Vehicle to enter at 2:30 p.m.
POPULAR HIKING TRAIL
Wildcat | 4 miles | Moderate | 380 feet of Elevation Gain
The 17 mile scenic drive is accessible to most vehicles, however, it is a dirt road so be cautious and take your time. Always check for current conditions before planning a trip out to Monument Valley.
GETTING TO THE MONUMENT VALLEY AREA
Monument Valley is located in northeastern Arizona, right on the border of Utah in the Four Corners Region. It’s off US Highway 163 and a part of the Navajo Reservation .
The closest cities to Monument Valley are Moab Utah to the North and Page Arizona to the West.
It’s within a 30 minute drive to other popular attractions in the area, such as, Forest Gump Point, Valley of the Gods, and Goosenecks State Park.
Page, AZ - 128 miles or 2 hours
Moab, UT - 152 miles or 3 hours
Las Vegas, NV - 400 miles or 6.5 hours
Phoenix, AZ - 319 miles or 5 hours
NEAREST AIRPORTS
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Harry Reid International
WHEN TO VISIT
In our opinion, the best time to visit Monument Valley is early or late summer when the weather is most ideal. The busiest time for the park is July to September. August and September receive the most rain. Summers are hot with temperatures climbing over 100 degrees. Winters are cold with highs in the 40s and lows in the 20s. Snow may occur from November to March.
AMENITIES NEARBY
INSIDE MONUMENT VALLEY
THE VIEW HOTEL & CAMPGROUND
The View is the first and only lodging available inside Monument Valley Tribal Park. It’s open year round and offers cabins, camping, restaurant, gift shop, and guided tours of Monument Valley.
OUTSIDE THE PARK
LODGING
Gouldings Lodge
Tear Drop Arch B&B
Mother Earth Father Sky B&B
Monument Valley Air B&B
Hat Rock Inn
CAMPING
Sleeping Bear Campground
Arrowhead & Hummingbird Campground at Chiefs Cabins & Campsites
Valley KOA Journey
Monument Valley Tipi Village Campground
Gouldings RV Park
Goosenecks State Park
Valley of Gods BLM
DINING
San Juan Cafe
Gouldings Stagecoach Dinner
Linda’s Red Traile
Gouldings Grocery Store
TOP SIGHTS NEARBY
FORREST GUMP POINT
If you’ve ever seen the movie Forrest Gump, then you’ll know the iconic scene where Forrest stops running and he’s got the gorgeous red rocks in the distance. That spot is a popular destination among tourists and road trippers traveling across the southwest. It’s located off US Hwy 163 in Utah just past the Arizona border.
It’s located before Monument Valley coming from the east and after Monument Valley coming from the west. There is a small sign indicating the exact point which you can also find by the all the cars pulled over. However there are several pull offs to stop along the road to take pictures. It is an active road so if you do decide to stop, be cautious.
For less crowds, visit early in the morning or stop by for sunset and enjoy the last days glow over the red rocks.
VALLEY OF THE GODS
Valley of the Gods is Utah’s version of Monument Valley. It’s located near Mexican Hat Utah, a 30 minute drive from Monument Valley, and while it may not be as grand, the 17 mile scenic drive offers stunning views of the valley as you wind through red sandstone mesas, buttes, and towers.
Valley of the Gods is on public land so there is no entrance fee to take the drive or camp overnight. At the end of the drive there is a cute B&B open year round and powered by solar and wind.
It’s important to note the entire drive is a dirt road and while most vehicles can navigate this road fine in dry weather, rain will require a high clearance 4 wheel drive vehicle.
We drove through Valley of the Gods one late October afternoon and we barely saw anyone on the road. If you’re looking to camp, the most accessible sites to big rigs are in the beginning of the drive when the road is mostly smooth. A couple miles into the drive it gets a little bumpy so we saw more tents in this area.
GOOSENECKS STATE PARK
Goosenecks is a small state park near Mexican Hat Utah. It’s located 30 miles from the popular Monument Valley and 8 miles from Valley of the Gods.
The park showcases a scenic lookout over a 1,000 foot deep canyon carved by the San Juan River and offers incredible night sky viewing and camping along the rim.
There is no visitor center, water, or other amenities inside the park. Only vault toilets, trash cans, picnic tables, and fire pits are available.
We spent 2 nights camping here while we toured the southwest and the breathtaking views, colorful sunsets, and dark skies made it was one of our favorite spots.
If you plan to camp here, the earlier you arrive the more you’ll be able to pick which spot along the rim you’d like. When we arrived the park ranger told us we could go anywhere so you should definitely be able to get a spot even if it’s busy. As the day went on spots along the rim filled up way past where the road ends even though there are only 8 designated sites.
ONE DAY ITINERARY
Stop 1. Visit Monument Valley Tribal Park and take the 17 mile scenic drive. Stop in the gift shop and if you’re feeling up for it walk the 4 mile Wildcat Trail.
Stop 2. Head to the Forrest Gump Point.
Stop 3. Take the 17 mile Valley of the Gods scenic drive.
Stop 4. Head to Goosenecks State Park for sunset.
Let us know in the comments your favorite spots in the southwest!
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HEY THERE!
WE’RE MIKE & DEANDRA.
Two adventure seekers traveling the U.S in our 37 FT. travel trailer with our two companions, Griffin & Lucy. We share our life on the road and travel guides to our favorite destinations.
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