Monument Valley is not a U.S. national park but a tribal park of the Navajo Nation: there is an entry fee and the "America the Beautiful" pass is not accepted. The 17-mile (about 27 km) loop can be driven in your own vehicle during opening hours, but several sites can only be reached with a Navajo guide. Straddling Utah and Arizona, the park covers 91,696 acres (about 371 km²), and its sandstone buttes rise 400 to 1,000 feet (about 120 to 300 m) above the desert. Here are the official hours and entry fees, the Navajo rules, the time zone trap and sunrise and sunset times month by month.
Monument Valley is a classic stop in the American West: see our guide to traveling in the United States (budget, itineraries). See entry requirements for the United States.
Our travel deals for Monument Valley
Affiliate links: we earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
FlightsKiwi.comCompare flights and airline combinations to Monument Valley.Compare flights- eSIMAiraloData plan to install before you leave (eSIM-compatible phone).See plans
Monument Valley: key facts
- Operator: Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation (tribal park, not the National Park Service) — checked on 23 October 2026 on navajonationparks.org
- Winter hours (since October 17, 2026): Visitor Center viewpoint 8 am–5 pm; Valley Drive 8 am–5 pm, last entry at 2:30 pm.
- Entry fee: the park page says $10 per person per day and $15 per vehicle; the "Entry Fee" page shows a different amount ($8). Check when you buy.
- National parks pass: not accepted ("We do NOT Accept the National Park Pass").
- Closed: Thanksgiving (November 26, 2026), Christmas, New Year’s Day; the guides page adds the day after Thanksgiving (NN Family Day).
- Open access: first come, first served; no timed reservation.
- Prohibited: drones, climbing, alcohol, pets; photos of residents only with their permission.
Monument Valley opening hours
Hours change several times a year and the official website presents them differently depending on the page. These are the ones from the park page, the most recent at the time we checked.
| Period | Viewpoint / Visitor Center patio | Visitor Center museum | Valley Drive scenic loop |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 29–October 2, 2026 | 6 am–8 pm | 8 am–7:45 pm | 8 am–6 pm, last entry 3:30 pm |
| October 3–16, 2026 | 7 am–7 pm | 8 am–6:45 pm | 8 am–6 pm, last entry 3:30 pm |
| Since October 17, 2026 (winter hours) | 8 am–5 pm | 8 am–4:45 pm | 8 am–5 pm, last entry 2:30 pm |
The tour operators page of the same website gives an annual calendar: from May 1 to September 30, Visitor Center and loop 7 am–7 pm, last loop entry at 4:30 pm; from October 1 to January 31, 8 am–5 pm, last entry at 2:30 pm. These hours are not fully consistent from one page to another: the main point is that the last entry onto the loop is in mid-afternoon, well before sunset.
The time zone trap
Arizona does not observe daylight saving time, but the Navajo Nation does. Between March and November, Monument Valley is therefore one hour ahead of Page, Flagstaff or the Grand Canyon. A tour time or last-entry time read "in Arizona time" could make you arrive an hour late. Check the time on your phone: it may switch from one time zone to the other on the road.
Entry fees and passes
- Entry: $10 per person per day and $15 per vehicle according to the park page; the "Entry Fee" page says "$8 per person, per location". The website also announces an increase in entry fees and permits on January 1, 2026: the amount you pay on site is the one that counts.
- Buying: on site at the fee booth, or online from the official website; the entry fee and guided tours can be bought on arrival.
- National parks pass: not accepted. The National Park Service annual pass is not valid on Navajo land.
- Backcountry permit: required to hike off the Wildcat Trail or to camp; request it at the Visitor Center.
- Professional photography, filming, weddings: special use permit required.
What to see at Monument Valley
- The Visitor Center panorama: from the terrace, the classic view of the Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte, accessible without entering the loop.
- The scenic loop (Valley Drive): a 17-mile dirt loop with deep sand and very rough sections. The website recommends an SUV or a pickup truck, and bans RVs, camper vans, motorcycles and large off-road vehicles. The park declines all responsibility for vehicle damage.
- Navajo guided tours: only they give access to sites such as Ear of the Wind. The official website lists about twenty authorized operators and says guides wait at the lower parking lot.
- The Wildcat Trail: the only self-guided hiking trail, 1.5 miles (about 2.4 km), with sign-in at the start and back at the Visitor Center.
- Horseback rides: offered by operators listed on the website (Dineh Trail Rides, Tse Bii Trail Rides…).
- The Visitor Center: museum, shop, Haskenneini restaurant in summer; The View hotel is on site.
The Navajo name of the valley is Tsé Bii’ Ndzisgaii. The landscape, the park explains, is the result of 50 million years of wind and water erosion of an ancient plateau.
Navajo rules to respect
These rules come from the official "Rules & Regulations" and "Entry Fee" pages. The Navajo Nation states that its laws are strictly enforced.
- No drones: prohibited on all Navajo land.
- No climbing: neither on the buttes nor on sacred sites; no writing on the rock.
- No alcohol: consumption and possession are prohibited on the Navajo Nation.
- No pets: dogs are not allowed in the tribal parks.
- Stay on the loop and marked trails: leaving the route or entering residential areas is considered trespassing.
- Ask before photographing someone: get the consent of Navajo people before taking any photo.
- Do not pick anything up: rocks, plants and objects are protected by tribal and federal law.
- No scattering of funeral ashes, which is strictly prohibited.
Best time to visit Monument Valley
The park is at 5,564 feet (about 1,700 m): summers are hot and winters cold. The table combines the averages published by the Western Regional Climate Center with sunrise and sunset times, calculated in Navajo time.
| Month (15th) | High | Low | Rain | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5 °C (41 °F) | -4 °C (25 °F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 7:32 am | 5:27 pm |
| February | 8 °C (46 °F) | -2 °C (28 °F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 7:09 am | 6:00 pm |
| March | 15 °C (59 °F) | 2 °C (36 °F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 7:31 am | 7:27 pm |
| April | 20 °C (68 °F) | 6 °C (43 °F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 6:46 am | 7:55 pm |
| May | 25 °C (77 °F) | 11 °C (52 °F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 6:12 am | 8:21 pm |
| June | 31 °C (88 °F) | 17 °C (63 °F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 6:00 am | 8:41 pm |
| July | 33 °C (91 °F) | 19 °C (66 °F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 6:12 am | 8:39 pm |
| August | 32 °C (90 °F) | 18 °C (64 °F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 6:37 am | 8:12 pm |
| September | 27 °C (81 °F) | 14 °C (57 °F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 7:02 am | 7:28 pm |
| October | 20 °C (68 °F) | 7 °C (45 °F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 7:27 am | 6:43 pm |
| November | 11 °C (52 °F) | 0 °C (32 °F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 6:58 am | 5:10 pm |
| December | 5 °C (41 °F) | -4 °C (25 °F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 7:26 am | 5:04 pm |
How to read it: July is the hottest month (33 °C / 91 °F average high), and December and January drop below freezing at night (about −4 °C / 25 °F). August and September are the wettest months: the park notes that the summer monsoon (July to September) can cause flash floods. For photographers, sunrise is the only low light accessible without a guide: the terrace opens before the loop in summer, but at 8 am in winter, after sunrise.
What the hours imply: the last entry onto the loop (2:30 pm to 4:30 pm depending on the season) comes several hours before sunset. To see the sun set over the valley, you need to book a "sunset" guided tour with an authorized operator, or make do with the view from the Visitor Center terrace within its opening hours.
Planning your visit
- Fuel and water: the park asks visitors to stay hydrated and warns of possible long waits and bad weather in high season.
- Rental vehicle: check your contract: the loop is dirt, with deep sand, and the park is not responsible for damage.
- Weather: the website notes possible closures in bad weather.
- Payment: plan to pay the entry fee on site or online on the official website; beware of sites that resell a simple entry fee with a commission.
- Entry requirements: they are those of the United States: See entry requirements for the United States.
What to see nearby
Monument Valley combines with the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas on a Southwest road trip. The Navajo Nation Parks website also manages Antelope Canyon (guided tour required), Four Corners Monument and Canyon de Chelly.
Frequently asked questions
Is Monument Valley a national park?
No. It is a tribal park of the Navajo Nation, managed by Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation. The U.S. national parks pass is not accepted there.
How much does it cost to enter Monument Valley?
The park’s official page says $10 per person per day and $15 per vehicle; another page on the same website shows $8 per person. The fee you pay on site is the one that counts.
Can you drive the Monument Valley loop in your own car?
Yes, the 17-mile loop is open to vehicles during opening hours, but it is a dirt road with deep sand. RVs, camper vans and motorcycles are banned; an SUV or pickup truck is recommended.
Do you need a guide?
Not for the main loop. However, some sites such as Ear of the Wind can only be visited on a guided tour with an authorized Navajo operator.
What time is it in Monument Valley?
The Navajo Nation observes daylight saving time, unlike the rest of Arizona. From March to November, it is one hour ahead of the Grand Canyon or Page.
Are drones allowed?
No, drones are prohibited on all Navajo Nation land.
Our sources
- Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation (navajonationparks.org): "Monument Valley" pages (hours, fees, area, altitude, GPS), "Entry Fee", "Monument Valley Tour Operators", "Rules & Regulations", "Permits", consulted on 23 October 2026
- Wikipedia (EN): "Monument Valley" article (climate, from the Western Regional Climate Center) and "Time in Arizona" (Navajo Nation daylight saving time), consulted on 23 October 2026
- Wikipedia (FR): "Monument Valley" article, consulted on 23 October 2026
- Sunrise and sunset: Destination de Voyage calculation, NOAA solar algorithm, America/Denver time zone, park coordinates, on the 15th of each month (year 2027)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Fees and hours may change: check the official website before you go.
