Monument Valley is on my bucket list. Thinking about an all day bus tour from Flagstaff or Sedona. I've read the advice to stay overnight but to do that, I'd have to drive there and back myself, which I'm not excited about. Anyone have any reviews good or bad on the day tours by bus or van? Ideas of things to do in and around Sedona also welcome. Thanks

Monument is one of my favorite Parks/Sights in the West. And I have been to most of them.

In my opinion, THE deal is to be there for sunset/sunrise. The view of the mittens (rock formations) are best seen from the visitors center/Hotel.

I've driven the route through the park on a motorcycle twice, taking pics of whatever hit me. Now we simply get there in the afternoon, watch the sun set. Stay overnight, have a nice meal. Watch the sun rise and away we go.

I'll echo what Frank said.



And driving there isn't too bad. You pass through some neat places like Mexican Hat and Valley of the Gods. Depending on your ride, you may also want to drive the road down from the lodge. It's pretty bumpy, but my Forester handled it okay. The tours use open air trucks/Jeeps and it looked extremely dusty.

You definitely want to see Monument Valley for Sunset/Sunrise, plan to drive there and try to get a room or cabin at the View Hotel. I've been there twice, once just passing through, did the self drive tour, during the day. Two years a go we got a cabin at the view, it was terrific.

I know there are tours where you can overnight, that would be the next best choice. Probably expensive, though.

This is how to do it.

quote:

Originally posted by Rick Lee:
Th is is how to do it.

Never done Monument Valley, but this looks like the way to it, but I admit I am predujuced towards that means of transportation!
Monument Valley looks to be a place that defeats the old saying "If you aren't on the lead horse the view never changes! "

I used to live in the area, and was either in, driving through, flying over, flying through, or landing in Monument Valley a lot. I used to land there when it was a dirt runway, and then when it was half-dirt, half-paved, at Gouldings Lodge.

If you're driving there, It's a long drive from Flagstaff (a lot of snow right now), and a long drive from St. George, UT. The drive from St. George is more scenic, though. This time of year, it's also more limited and a lot colder; I'd wait until late spring or early summer to go, personally. It's still a pretty area, but there are some things you'd see later on that won't be available right now (such as North Rim, Grand Canyon, if coming from Kanab and St. George).

Keep in mind when visiting Monument Valley and that area that it's sovereign Navajo Nation land. It's not a national park and not public land.

My wife and I went there last August, as it was on my bucket list as well. We got there before sunset and got up the next morning before sunrise. We took the Navaho run tour. It was fun, hot, dusty and worth it, especially if you are a fan of old westerns. It isn't that long a drive from Phoenix, which surprised me.

In April of 2016 my brother and I spent a few days at Monument Valley. We stayed at Goulding's Lodge (just outside the Navajo Reservation but in sight of the Valley) for 2 nights and 1 night in The View owned and operated by the Navajo.
Our room at Goulding's looked out over the part of the valley that contains the monuments named "Big Indian", "Castle Rock", "The Stagecoach", (in Utah) among others. The View looked out over "The Mittens" and either Mitchell or Merrick Butte (in Arizona) I could never keep the names straight.
We booked an all day tour through Goulding's and it was well worth the ~$150 per person fee. The tour vehicle (open bed 4x4 trucks) picked us up at the Lodge around 7:45 am. There were 2 trucks my brother and I wondered why the first truck was nearly full but the second truck was empty. So we walked up to the two drivers (both Navajo) and asked which truck was for the all day tour. They pointed to the empty truck. As luck would have it, the two of us were the only ones signed up for the all day tour! So we basically had a private tour of Mystery Valley (in the morning) and Monument Valley (afternoon).
Our guide (Navajo Dave we called him) cooked us a lunch of mesquite grilled burgers under the shade of an overhanging Mesa while we explored the box canyon we were in where we stopped for lunch. This was after spending all morning exploring various arches and cliff dwellings in Mystery Valley. After lunch we toured Monument Valley which is just to the north of Mystery Valley. Mystery Valley was MUCH LESS CROWDED and an unexpected bonus to our plans. I highly recommend the all day tour.
The early April weather was perfect for us, mid 30's in the early morning but quickly warming to the Mid 70's by afternoon. And for two ole boys from Kentucky that are used to humidity as a constant companion, the dry air was wonderful! Clear Blue skies wth barely a cloud and it seemed as if you could see for 100 miles or more. We both want to go back again but take our adult sons with us the next time. It would make for an excellent double Father/Son trip!

My ex-mum in the area swears by TJ Travel trips. She's been all over that area on tours.

I hope the bums have been cleaned up. When I visited the area in the 1980s by motorcycle, I stopped for lunch in Kayenta and had barely even shut off my engine and swung my leg over the saddle before I started getting hit up. As was my usual practice anyway, I parked outside a large window and took a seat near that window so I could watch. At least nobody bothered my stuff.

There's not much in Kayenta other than a Burger King. And if it's any indication as to how empty that town is, the memorial to the Navajo Code Talkers is inside that Burger King.

We were there last fall, and you really should stay overnight. The colors are amazing at sunset and sunrise. During the day they can be washed out. I would make the effort to stay overnight. The stargazing is wonderful as well. No light pollution.

Don’t forget Valley of the Gods. If you ever watched old westerns you’ll recognize the scenery. Never crowded.

I’ve never been, but trying to make it out the last week of March. The 15 y/o has spring break.

Plan to fit a few other things in the area as well. Yes, sure I watch a bunch of westerns using the scenery as a backdrop.

Only drove though on my way to Page. Flew over it many, many times. Always beautiful.




Always saw people pasted out just laying near the road. Very sad....

I spent a lot of time on the rez, and lived there, and I don't think I ever saw anyone passed out alongside the road.

Many hitch hike across the rez and on and off the rez, and if a ride isn't forthcoming, they walk; I've picked up a LOT of Navajo hitch hikers in traveling. I'd never leave someone out there. I've gone out of my way, sometimes hours, to drop someone at a remote location, sometimes just a hogan on a bad dirt road in the middle of nowhere in the high desert. Otherwise they'd walk for days, and may die, getting somewhere.

It's a different world.

--I've also pulled over and slept by the roadside, and been awakened by tribal police doing a welfare check.

OK, done! Booked two nights at the View in mid-May ! I'm pumped! Flying into Phoenix and travel from there. Probably hit Sedona at some point. You guys have been a big help. Open to continued advice on tours, etc. Probably do half day tour. All day may be too much dust for the missus. Really looking forward to it.

MV is about a 4.5 hrs. drive from Phoenix. Tons of stuff to see along the way north. If you want to spend a day on the route before hitting the far north of AZ, take I-17 to Carefree Hwy (SR-74) to Wickenburg, then head up to Prescott, Jerome and Sedona from there. Super scenic and 89A is a great road. After Sedona, you can get back on I-17 and then head up toward Tuba City and Kayenta. If you want to stay up north, go see Page, Lake Powell and, if the road is open by then, go to the North Rim and Kanab, UT.

Been looking over the tour companies. They appear pretty numerous so looking for recommedations. As I said, probably looking for the 2.5 hour tour. Thanks.