Parking And Unhitching Your Camper At Monument Valley

Monument Valley, a Navajo Tribal Park, is a popular destination for campers, adventurers, and historians alike. The park offers stunning views of red sand and sandstone towers and is known for its spiritual significance to the Navajo people. While there are limited amenities within the park, there are several campgrounds and RV parks in the area that cater to visitors. These include The View Campground, Goulding's RV & Campground, Monument Valley KOA, and dispersed camping areas such as Valley of the Gods and Mexican Hat Rock. These sites offer varying levels of amenities, from full hook-ups to primitive camping, providing options for different types of campers.

Campgrounds near Monument Valley

There are several campgrounds near Monument Valley, Utah, that cater to RVs and tents. Here is a list of options:

The View Campground

The View Campground offers both RV and wilderness camp sites. The RV sites offer sunset views of Monument Valley, but they do not have any hookups. The wilderness campsites are located on the cliffside of the park, offering breathtaking views. Basic amenities, including restrooms and showers, are available at this campground. The View Campground is just 0.4 miles from the Visitor Center, providing easy access to guided tours and horseback riding. Campers can also access the Wildcat Trail and the 17-mile road through the park.

Monument Valley KOA Journey

This campground is located near US Highway 163 and offers pull-through RV sites with 50-amp service. It provides a well-lit after-hours check-in service and stunning views of the sunrise and sunset. The area is known for its dark skies, making it ideal for stargazing. The campground also serves as a great base for exploring nearby attractions, including the Grand Canyon, Arches, and Zion National Parks.

Goulding's RV & Campground

Goulding's RV & Campground is nestled in the tranquil Rock Door Canyon and offers panoramic views of the surrounding Monument Valley. They provide full hook-up RV sites, including water, 50-amp power, and cable TV. Tent sites are also available, and both options include access to bathrooms, picnic tables, grills, and Wi-Fi. Goulding's also offers cabins with private bathrooms and porches. The campground is located 6.2 miles from the Visitor Center and provides easy access to tours and other attractions.

Goosenecks State Park

Goosenecks State Park is located 32.5 miles from the Visitor Center and offers a more secluded camping experience. The campground has eight first-come, first-served campsites available for $10 per night. While the views are different from those at The View or Goulding's, campers can enjoy the solitude and the stunning desert landscapes. Basic amenities like vaulted toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables are provided.

Muley Point

Muley Point, located near Mexican Hat, offers free BLM camping with sweeping views of the surrounding desert landscape. The dirt roads are well-maintained, and the area provides primitive, private camping with minimal amenities. It's an excellent option for those looking to get away from the crowds and prices of other campgrounds.

RV parking options

• The View Campground, which offers RV sites with sunset views of the valley. Sites are dry with no hookups, and the maximum RV length is 24'. Campers have access to restrooms and showers, and the campground is located on the valley loop drive. The cost is $40-41 per night, plus a $20 entrance fee and a $5 tribal lands fee.
• Goulding's RV & Campground, located 6.2 miles from the Visitor Center, offers RV sites with full hook-ups, including water, 50-amp power, and cable TV. Campers also have access to bathrooms, picnic tables, grills, and Wi-Fi. Goulding's is located in a small canyon, about a mile outside the park, and offers panoramic views of the valley.
• Monument Valley KOA, located 5.2 miles from the Visitor Center, offers long, 75' sites with 50-amp plug-ins and a dog run. The campground has basic amenities like restrooms and showers, as well as a restaurant and a convenience store. The cost is $10 per night.
• Goosenecks State Park, located 32.5 miles from the Visitor Center, offers vault toilets, fire rings, and picnic tables. Camping costs $10 per night, and there are only eight sites available on a first-come, first-served basis.

It's important to note that boondocking is prohibited on the reservation, so RV campers should choose from one of the designated campgrounds listed above.

The best views

There are several options for camping in Monument Valley, each offering its own unique view of the park.

The View Campground

The View Campground offers both RV and wilderness campsites. The wilderness campsites are located on the cliff-side of the park, offering breathtaking views. The RV sites feature the best sunset views of the valley. The View Campground is also the closest campground to the visitor centre.

Goulding's RV & Campground

Goulding's is nestled in the tranquil Rock Door Canyon, offering panoramic views of the valley. Campers can select an RV site with full hook-ups, or keep it simple with a tent site. Goulding's is also located beneath towering red walls, providing views of the Mittens and other towers along Monument Valley Road.

Monument Valley KOA

The Monument Valley KOA campground is located directly across from the Tribal Park. It offers stunning views of the towering red sandstone pillars that give the valley its name. Campers can enjoy sunrises and sunsets from their full-hookup RV site or tent site.

Goosenecks State Park

While you won't get the same views as The View or Goulding's, Goosenecks State Park offers fantastic desert views. At the campground, there are eight sites available on a first-come, first-served basis, offering a kind of solitude that's not found at the other campgrounds.

Hiking trails

Monument Valley is a designated Navajo Tribal Park, a 30,000-acre expanse within the larger 16-million-acre Navajo Reservation. The Monument Valley area is huge and diverse, with landscapes ranging from sandy desert to forested mountains and deep canyons. The hikes in the park are mostly only available through guides with extensive knowledge about the park and its history. The Wildcat Trail is the only self-guided trail in the park. This 3.2-mile loop hike (4 miles including the return) takes hikers through the world-famous Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte. The trailhead begins at the primitive campground and descends nearly 900 feet to the bottom of the valley floor. The Wildcat Trail is rated as moderate difficulty due to sandy sections and takes 2 to 3 hours to complete.

The Wildcat Trail is one of the most scenic areas in Monument Valley, but there are many other trails to explore as well. Many trails lead to impressive ancient Ancestral Pueblo structures and rock art. Some of these include the Natural Bridges Owachomo Trail, Hovenweep Cutthroat Castle Group, and the Fish Creek and Owl Canyon Loop Trail.

For a true Monument Valley experience, you can hire a Navajo guide to traverse the grounds on horseback and see the ancient Anasazi Ruins and natural bridges in the area.

The cost of visiting

There are a few costs to consider when visiting Monument Valley. Firstly, there is an entrance fee to the valley itself. This fee is $8 per person per day, and it allows you to come and go as you please. If you are visiting as a group, the fee is $20 per car (up to 4 people), plus $10 for each additional person. If you are entering the valley by foot or bike, the fee is $10 per person.

In addition to the entrance fee, there are costs associated with camping and accommodation. The View Campground, which offers stunning views of the valley, charges $20 per tent, with an additional $20 entrance fee and a $5 tribal lands fee. Goulding's RV & Campground, located a little further from the valley, offers RV sites with full hook-ups for water, power, and cable TV, as well as tent sites with access to bathrooms, picnic tables, grills, and Wi-Fi. The cost of these sites varies.

There are also costs for tours and excursions within Monument Valley. The average price for a tour is around $80-$90 per person, depending on the company and the type of tour. For example, a photography tour at sunrise or sunset will cost around $125 or more per person. A more expensive option is the Hunt's Mesa tour, which includes unbelievable sunset views, a steak dinner, and an overnight stay, costing around $300 per person.

Finally, there are costs for food and supplies. The restaurants in and around Monument Valley are quite expensive, with entrees costing around $25. There is also a convenience store on the campground that sells camping essentials and food items.

Overall, the cost of visiting Monument Valley can vary depending on your activities and accommodations, but it is important to budget for entrance fees, camping or accommodation, tours, and food.

Frequently asked questions